No rookies made their way onto the grid for the 2024 Formula 1 season but that’s almost certainly going to change next year.
Eddie Jordan called the decision for all 10 teams to retain their drivers last year ‘scandalous’ but F1 fans will see some new faces on the grid in 2025.
Speaking on the F1 Nation Podcast, journalist Frederic Ferret was discussing one of the open spaces in the paddock.
On Monday, Alpine announced that after five seasons they would be parting ways with Esteban Ocon.
After a single race win and several podiums, the Frenchman will be moving on although his next destination on the grid hasn’t been confirmed yet if he even manages to secure another F1 seat.
There is a chance for team principal Bruno Famin to promote a rookie into Ocon’s vacant seat.
Reserve driver Jack Doohan is being touted as one option, however, Alpine have several talented young drivers on their roster.
Ferret believes that F2 star Victor Martins could be the perfect candidate for Alpine next season.
The 22-year-old has risen through the ranks and could be one strong season away from reaching Formula 1.
Victor Martins told he could be the ‘perfect candidate’ for 2025 Alpine seat
Alpine currently have two French drivers with Pierre Gasly partnering Ocon and while their relationship isn’t the best, it’s a combination that harks back to the days of Ligier being on the grid.
It’s not a requirement for Alpine to have an all-French line-up but they have the combination to continue that trend next year with Victor Martins.
The 22-year-old had a very successful karting career as a youngster, before finishing 2 in the French F4 Championship in 2017.
Martins spent two seasons in Formula 3, finishing as the best rookie in 2021 before winning the championship the following year ahead of the likes of Oliver Bearman.
The Frenchman stepped up to Formula 2 last season, once again finishing 5 and took home the crown as the best rookie.
Ferret has now said that if Martins can turn his current F2 campaign around, he’ll be perfect for Alpine.
However, that might be easier said than done considering his results after the first five rounds of the season.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Alpine F1 Team from team principal to lineage
Victor Martins has work to do to make step up to Formula 1
Ferret: “We also forget that we have another French driver whose name is Victor Martins.
“He’s not delivering well at this time in Formula 2, he’s suffering like hell but we can see glimpses of very good things coming up now.
“And he was one of the favourites of the championship and I think that he can recover and if he wins the championship, then he’s the perfect candidate to be in the other seat at Alpine.
“And maybe Pierre [Gasly] will move too, I don’t have any clue of what he will be doing.”
How is Victor Martins performing in the 2024 Formula 2 season?
Before the start of the F2 season, Martins would have been a good bet to challenge for the title against the likes of Bearman, Isack Hadjar and Mercedes hopeful Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Martins drives for ART Grand Prix, who are traditionally one of the strongest manufacturers at this level, but F2 introduced new cars in 2024 that have jumbled up the expected order of the grid.
The 22-year-old has had some seriously bad luck throughout the season though and is currently third-bottom of the Drivers’ Championship, having only scored points in four of the first ten races.
He suffered an engine failure in Bahrain, had an accident in Saudi Arabia before picking up a time penalty before finally recording a double-points finish in Australia.
Martins qualified last in Imola but drove brilliantly to score points in the Feature Race before having more bad luck in Monaco.
The Frenchman qualified on the front row, but crashed out of the Sprint Race and had a very slow start in the Feature Race, being swallowed up by the pack and coming home in 9.
Martins needs a way to turn around his luck quickly and can start at the next round in Barcelona, if he can catch Paul Aron at the top of the standings, a seat on the F1 grid might be waiting for him.
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