With around two-thirds of the Formula 1 season left, four drivers have already confirmed team changes for 2025. Leading this list is Lewis Hamilton, who will be moving from Mercedes to Ferrari.
Carlos Sainz has been aware since the winter that he would be displaced by this move.
After months of searching, he is now set to join Williams, passing up the chance to reunite with former Renault teammate Nico Hulkenberg at Sauber/Audi.
Haas announced Hulkenberg’s departure in April.
READ: Mercedes Pick Andrea Kimi Antonelli as Lewis Hamilton’s Successor in F1
Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu have begun seeking new teams after being unofficially informed by Sauber that they are not part of the team’s future plans.
Alpine recently announced a mutual decision to part ways with Esteban Ocon at the end of the season.
This decision followed a collision between Ocon and teammate Pierre Gasly at the start of the Monaco Grand Prix, which enraged team principal Bruno Famin.
BBC F1 pundit Marc Priestley expressed concerns about the situation at Alpine on his YouTube channel. Despite the team’s best season result in Canada, controversy marred their success.
Ocon, hindered by an engine issue, was ordered to let Gasly pass in the closing laps.
He complied only after ensuring that Gasly would return the position if he couldn’t overtake Daniel Ricciardo.
Alpine then decided the cars would hold their positions until the race’s end, angering Ocon who voiced his frustration on the radio, as Los Angeles Oracle reported.
Priestley believes the relationship between Ocon and Alpine is deteriorating rapidly.
He commented, “Although the team at Alpine had a good result in terms of a double points finish, there’s a massive situation brewing in terms of driver harmony, or team harmony, at that organization.”
He added, “Given that he’s already lost his drive, in inverted commas through ‘mutual consent’ – that’s rarely ever the case – I suspect that’s a relationship that’s going downhill rapidly.”
The strained atmosphere at Alpine suggests Ocon might leave mid-season.
Martin Brundle speculates he might be headed to Haas, reducing the need to showcase his skills.
Some believe Alpine might part ways with Ocon during the summer break, though this remains uncertain.
Alpine could dismiss Ocon if they prove he’s not acting in their best interests or reach an amicable pay-off.
READ: Esteban Ocon Has ‘Zero Chance’ of Replacing Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes
This would allow reserve driver Jack Doohan to step in ahead of a full 2025 campaign.
Doohan was slated to drive in FP1 in Canada but did not complete a timed lap due to tricky conditions.
Meanwhile, Alpine aims to secure Pierre Gasly with a long-term contract, warding off interest from Audi.