Anthony Davidson has made a huge prediction about what could happen in the F1 driver market in the coming weeks.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton sent shockwaves through the sport in the winter when he decided to join Ferrari for the 2025 season.
Davidson, speaking during Sky Sports F1’s coverage of FP1 at the Japanese Grand Prix, says we could ‘soon’ see more big moves.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff needs to find a replacement for Hamilton to partner George Russell.
Meanwhile, Australian Grand Prix winner Carlos Sainz is without a drive after Ferrari moved him aside for the Englishman.
Overall, more than half of the 2024 F1 grid find themselves out of contract at the end of the year.
That group includes Red Bull driver Sergio Perez, who finished runner-up behind Max Verstappen in the 2023 standings, and two-time world champion Fernando Alonso.
Both drivers at Aston Martin, Alpine, Sauber, Visa Cash App RB and Haas are approaching the end of their deals.
Anthony Davidson expects F1 driver market to explode into life
Davidson thinks it won’t be long before the chain reaction unleashed by Hamilton takes effect.
While the make-up of this year’s grid was unchanged for the first time in F1 history, he expects a ‘big turnaround’ this year.
Teams may drop ‘established’ drivers in favour of new faces, having seen Oliver Bearman produce one of the best debut performances in history as a stand-in for Ferrari at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Davidson said: “I really get the feeling that the driver market is about to erupt.
“I don’t know if it will happen this weekend, or other weekends coming, but it’s going to happen soon.
“And when it does I’ve just got a feeling that we’re going to have new drivers coming in, drivers that are established here maybe leaving.
“I feel like it’s going to be quite a big turnaround.”
Will Max Verstappen leave Red Bull?
While Hamilton’s future is already settled, much will now depend on whether Verstappen makes a similarly sensational exit from Red Bull.
The Dutchman is under contract with the world champions until the end of 2028, but Wolff seems prepared to do whatever it takes to sign him.
Wolff has looked into hiring Red Bull engineer Pierre Wache, regarded as a vital figure by Verstappen’s camp, and is willing to hand the 26-year-old a lucrative and long-term ambassadorial deal too.
He even refused to meet Hamilton’s demands for a similar position after his racing career.
Mercedes aren’t the only team pushing for Verstappen, with Aston Martin going after Adrian Newey in the hope of luring the Dutchman in tandem.
It would be remarkably brave to ditch a Red Bull team that delivered the most dominant car in F1 history last year, enabling Verstappen to seal a third straight title.
He remains the overwhelming favourite to make it four in a row this year despite his retirement in Australia.
If he does leave, then several drivers will no doubt prioritise the vacancy, not least the aforementioned Alonso.
When the paddock receives total clarity on his future either way, it could spark a flurry of moves.
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