Carlos Sainz is perhaps the top free agent on the market for the 2025 season. Ferrari have informed Sainz they won’t be renewing his contract after they signed Lewis Hamilton.
Sainz is a three-time Grand Prix winner who has also scored five poles and 21 pole positions during his career. His victory in Melbourne in March even led Mark Webber to question whether Ferrari had made the right choice.
More than half of the grid entered 2024 without a contract for next year. While Sainz is perhaps the most desirable driver on that list – hence his links with Red Bull – there are a number of other big names up for grabs.
Sergio Perez could be available if the world champions don’t renew his contract, while teams may take a look at 32-podium finisher Daniel Ricciardo if he parts ways with RB. Alpine’s Grand Prix-winning duo of Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly are both ‘exploring their options’ too.
Elsewhere, former Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas is approaching the end of his deal at Sauber. There’s only one seat available with the Swiss team as it stands after they signed Nico Hulkenberg.
Four pieces of the puzzle have already fallen into place, with Hulkenberg and Hamilton switching teams and Alex Albon and Fernando Alonso both signing extensions. But there are still plenty of questions that need to be answered.
Valtteri Bottas may need to lower pay expectations to secure 2025 F1 seat
According to The Race, Bottas is after a ‘long-term deal’ as he assesses his next move. He’s very much shopping around as he confronts the strong possibility of losing his Sauber drive.
With Hulkenberg already through the door, Audi have made an offer to Sainz. They appear to be exerting control of the team’s driver search ahead of their 2026 takeover.
Bottas would ideally like two guaranteed years at a new team, with the option for a third (under his control). On top of that, he wants to be ‘well-paid for his efforts’.
The Finn, who’s scored 67 podiums during his career, currently earns £154k a week at Sauber (Spotrac). But he might find it ‘difficult to convince’ his suitors to pay him as handsomely.
When he joined the Hinwil outfit in 2022, he was just coming off a successful stint at Mercedes. Now he’s seen as a ‘bit-part player’.
While his market value has dropped, then, it remains ‘healthy’. That’s because of his vast experience (229 race starts) and his strong pedigree relative to the drivers around him.
Haas view Valtteri Bottas as ideal Oliver Bearman teammate
What are Bottas’ options for 2024? The report mentions three teams who see him as an ‘attractive’ candidate – Williams, Haas and Alpine.
To begin with the first of those, Williams no doubt have fond memories of Bottas’ first stint with the team between 2013 and 2016. Alongside Felipe Massa, he helped them enjoy a long-awaited resurgence.
One journalist has claimed he’s ‘almost certain’ to return to Grove after he was seen leaving the Williams hospitality building at Imola last time out. He’d be replacing Logan Sargeant as Albon’s partner.
Haas have a vacancy thanks to Hulkenberg’s move, and while youngster Oliver Bearman is set to fill it, the future of Kevin Magnussen remains uncertain. The American outfit reportedly view Bottas as a stronger benchmark for Bearman.
As for Alpine, Bottas’ management will no doubt have their eye on a potential opening as Gasly and Ocon look around. The French team are also showing interest in his current teammate Zhou Guanyu.
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