There are some interesting scenarios up and down the Formula 1 grid right now that could see some drivers earning a new race seat in 2025.
It’s yet to be seen what domino effect Carlos Sainz’s exit from Ferrari is going to cause, but it’s looking less likely that he’ll perform a straight swap with Lewis Hamilton and head to Mercedes next year.
Speaking on DRS: De Race Show, former F1 driver Giedo van der Garde was examining another transfer that could happen soon.
Several drivers – such as Sainz, Fernando Alonso and potentially even Max Verstappen – are going to determine the futures of more than half of the current grid this year.
Mercedes are courting the three-time world champion despite his current Red Bull deal not expiring until the end of 2028, but internal politics within the team could see him move on sooner.
Fernando Alonso – despite suggesting he could race until he’s 50 – is nearing the end of his Formula 1 career and if an opportunity arises to join a faster team, he’ll take it.
However, until this trio of drivers decide where they’ll be racing in 2025, everyone else is patiently waiting to see what happens.
One driver who has put himself in the shop window with his performances this season is Yuki Tsunoda.
Tsunoda’s RB contract expires at the end of 2024 and Van Der Garde believes there’s a very good chance he ends up at Aston Martin one day.
It would be a decent step up for the Japanese driver, but the unique situation their drivers are in makes an immediate move slightly tricky.
READ MORE: Visa Cash App RB driver Yuki Tsunoda’s life outside F1 from height to parents
Giedo van der Garde suggests Yuki Tsunoda could join Aston Martin
There were suggestions within the paddock before the start of the 2024 season that Yuki Tsunoda might be under pressure at Visa Cash App RB.
Liam Lawson proved during his five-race stint with AlphaTauri that he’s ready for a full-time F1 race seat, but they stuck with the 23-year-old for this year.
The V-CARB 01 appears to suit Tsunoda perfectly and he’s taken big steps forward this year.
However, that doesn’t appear to be enough to prove to Red Bull that he deserves to be considered for a seat with the current champions.
It means Tsunoda will have to look outside of the group – just as Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon have done – to take his next step in F1 and Van Der Garde suggests a move to Aston Martin is a very realistic possibility.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Aston Martin F1 Team from team principal to lineage
Yuki Tsunoda’s next move could be bad news for Lance Stroll
Speaking about the options available to Tsunoda, Van der Garde said: “I don’t think so [when asked about Red Bull move].
“Look, he’s a Honda driver, isn’t he? Honda will imminently go to Aston Martin so there is a good chance that he will be taken to Aston Martin.
“I think there is a very good chance that he will go [in 2026]. Yes, yes and he [Lance Stroll] can just go on holiday.”
Aston Martin have already suggested that they would love to keep hold of Fernando Alonso beyond the end of his current contract.
The Spaniard is carrying the team right now and outperforming what he believes is the fifth-best car on the grid.
Lance Stroll scored decent points in Australia but only finished ahead of his teammate due to Alonso’s penalty.
His performance in Japan was particularly worrying while Tsunoda starred as the best of the rest in his RB.
Helmut Marko believes he’s overcome some of his key weaknesses this year and as Van Der Garde suggests, Aston Martin might end up taking a closer look at Tsunoda once Honda are in the picture.
The post ‘He will be taken’: Giedo van der Garde says 23-year-old driver has ‘very good chance’ of joining Aston Martin appeared first on F1 Oversteer.