The 2024 Formula 1 season won’t be halfway complete until the upcoming triple header in Spain, Austria and Great Britain is complete.
However, already the grid is starting to take shape for next year with more seats confirmed than empty at this stage.
Speaking on the Missed Apex Podcast, journalist Joe Saward shared details of two more deals that he expects to be completed ahead of next season.
It’s yet to be seen when Aston Martin will officially state that Lance Stroll is staying in F1 with his seat unlikely to be in any danger.
In contrast, Visa Cash App RB have a very difficult decision to make between Daniel Ricciardo and Liam Lawson and are under no time pressure to choose between the two.
Two drivers who appear set to discover their fate sooner rather than later are Esteban Ocon and Carlos Sainz.
Saward believes their next destinations are all but confirmed for 2025.
READ MORE: Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz’s life outside F1 from full name, girlfriend and height
Esteban Ocon and Carlos Sainz set to learn their fate for the 2025 F1 season
Carlos Sainz was the first driver on the grid who knew that he had to look elsewhere to stay in Formula 1 beyond this year.
Lewis Hamilton is preparing to take his place at the Scuderia and since then Sainz has been linked with nearly every seat on the grid.
Unfortunately for him, he’s seen his opportunities to stay with a top team beyond this year disappear.
Sainz appears to have a choice between joining Williams and Sauber and Saward agrees with F1Oversteer’s report that the British team is his preferred destination.
Meanwhile, Esteban Ocon only announced after a turbulent Monaco Grand Prix that his five-year stay with Alpine would be ending.
It was always a bold choice to pair him with Pierre Gasly given their previously fractious relationship.
Despite no official confirmation, it appears as though Ocon will be spending another season in the paddock at another team in the bottom half of the Constructors’ Championship.
READ MORE: Alpine driver Esteban Ocon’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend
2025 Formula 1 grid beginning to take shape
Talking about the driver’s market, Saward said: “The deal is effectively done, however, both sides and I spoke to both sides in Montreal, both sides are saying, ‘It’s not done yet’.
“Just as Esteban [Ocon] and Haas are saying, it’s not done.
“But, the fact is that both of those are going to get across the line. I would be utterly astonished if Carlos Sainz went to Audi.
“I did a thing the other way looking at how Mercedes did and how long it took them to become winners and Mercedes is not a bunch of incompetents.
“But they started in 1991 and won a championship in 1998, so this is what you have to look at.”
The decision for Sainz to join Williams over Audi – if it happens – will have fascinating implications for the rest of the driver’s market.
If Ocon goes to Haas as well, then Audi would have missed out on two of their top three targets.
They also missed out on Yuki Tsunoda and the rush to join the newest works team on the grid has well and truly stopped.
Ocon to Haas makes sense for both parties as the American outfit are having a surprisingly strong season this year.
The Frenchman is an accomplished driver and alongside expected teammate Oliver Bearman will form a formidable partnership.
The post ‘Effectively done’: Journalist shares the two 2025 F1 driver deals that are ‘going to get across the line’ appeared first on F1 Oversteer.