08/11/2024
NEWS STORY
The news that Gabriel Bortoleto is to partner Nico Hulkenberg at Stake leaves just one seat still be confirmed... or is it two?
The one remaining vacancy is at RB, and while Liam Lawson is currently partnering Yuki Tsunoda, there remains the little question of Sergio Perez.
If, as seems likely, Perez is dropped by Red Bull, Lawson would be the obvious candidate, though Helmut Marko hasn't been overly impressed with the kiwi's two races thus far since replacing Daniel Ricciardo.
Perez insists that he will be on the 2025 grid - and he brings with him some substantial backing - but surely wouldn't want 'demotion' to Red Bull's second team.
Then there is Franco Colapinto who was being linked with Stake and Red Bull until his disastrous Sunday in Brazil.
One gets the feeling that there might yet be some reshuffling before the cars line up on the grid in Melbourne in March.
| Driver | Nat | Team | Comment |
| Max Verstappen | NED | Red Bull Racing | Confirmed to 2028 |
| Sergio Perez | MEX | Red Bull Racing | Has Contract to 2026 |
| Lando Norris | GBR | McLaren | Confirmed to 2027 |
| Oscar Piastri | AUS | McLaren | Confirmed to 2026 |
| Charles Leclerc | MON | Ferrari | Confirmed to 2026 |
| Lewis Hamilton | GBR | Ferrari | Confirmed |
| George Russell | GBR | Mercedes | Confirmed to 2025 |
| Kimi Antonelli | ITA | Mercedes | Confirmed |
| Lance Stroll | CAN | Aston Martin | Dad Owns Team |
| Fernando Alonso | ESP | Aston Martin | Confirmed to 2026 |
| Yuki Tsunoda | JAP | RB | Confirmed for 2025 |
| Liam Lawson | NZL | RB | To Be Confirmed |
| Esteban Ocon | FRA | Haas | Multi Year Contract |
| Oliver Bearman | GBR | Haas | Multi Year Contract |
| Pierre Gasly | FRA | Alpine | Multi Year Contract |
| Jack Doohan | AUS | Alpine | Confirmed for 2025 |
| Alex Albon | THA | Williams | Confirmed Indefinitely |
| Carlos Sainz | ESP | Williams | Multi Year Contract |
| Nico Hulkenberg | GER | Stake | Multi Year Contract |
| Gebriel Bortoleto | BRZ | Stake | Confirmed for 2025 |