The excitement is beginning to build around the world of Formula 1 that some new drivers will finally be on the grid in 2025.
The FIA have lowered the required age to earn a Super License in a boost to Mercedes junior Kimi Antonelli’s chances.
Haas are lining up a move for Ferrari academy star Oliver Bearman with Nico Hulkenberg moving on.
And Esteban Ocon’s decision to leave Alpine might just be the opportunity that Jack Doohan needs to earn a race seat for 2025.
That, however, puts several established drivers on the grid in an awkward position.
The rejection of Andretti’s application to join Formula 1 means there will still only be 20 drivers on the grid for the foreseeable future.
On the RacingNews 365 Podcast, journalist Ian Parkes was talking about one driver who appears to be at real risk of missing out.
Valtteri Bottas is almost certain to lose his seat at Sauber next year and despite being a 10-time race winner, is in danger of failing to earn a race seat anywhere in the paddock.
It would be a sign of how strong the grid next year could potentially be if a ‘standout’ driver of Bottas’s calibre is looking for opportunities in other series.
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Valtteri Bottas at serious risk of missing out on 2025 F1 seat
At the beginning of the season, Valtteri Bottas was very keen to retain his seat at Sauber ahead of Audi’s full takeover of the team in 2026.
However, once Nico Hulkenberg’s move from Haas was confirmed for next year and their pursuit of Carlos Sainz for the other seat was publicised, he and Zhou Guanyu would have realised that their time with the team was up.
They might not be too upset considering how poor Sauber have been this year.
The Swiss manufacturer have been left behind by their rivals and are rooted to the bottom of the Constructors’ Championship.
While that may be true, a bad F1 seat is better than no F1 seat.
Unfortunately, the way that the driver’s market may shake out may leave Bottas struggling to stay in the paddock.
He’s already turned down joining one team but may have to reconsider that decision.
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Valtteri Bottas may have to consider alternatives outside of Formula 1
Talking about the Finn’s future, Parkes said: “Given James Vowles’ push for Carlos Sainz over the Canadian Grand Prix weekend, making a clear play saying look Carlos this is what we’ve got to offer you, please come and join us.
“I don’t hear him saying the same things about Valtteri [Bottas] even though we know Valtteri has had discussions with Williams.
“We know he has a history/relationship with James Vowles given their time together at Mercedes and as I say and we know Esteban Ocon is out of a seat at Alpine.
“Without a shadow of a doubt, he’ll be under consideration, but I think we might be starting to look at Valtteri not being in F1 this season the way things are beginning to shape up for him.
“Which therefore means that he could be looking at other opportunities outside, maybe a WEC drive or something like that. I think that would be a really good opportunity for him actually.”
Jacques Villeneuve suggested during the Canadian Grand Prix race weekend that he’d like to see Bottas return to Mercedes.
They have to find a replacement for Lewis Hamilton and it looks like the inexperienced but highly-rated Kimi Antonelli will be in that seat.
Bottas has admitted that he’s ‘confident’, via Autosport, that he’ll still be on the grid next year.
It’ll be interesting to see where he thinks he’s going to end up.
The post ‘Beginning to shape up’: Journalist believes 10-time F1 race winner is in danger of missing out on 2025 seat appeared first on F1 Oversteer.