The F1 drivers out of contract at the end of 2024 season

At the start of this year, more than half of all F1 drivers had contracts that expired at the end of 2024, but that number has dropped to five. Now that Carlos Sainz has signed for Williams — rejecting offers from Sauber and Alpine — more drivers are expected to confirm their futures shortly, with the final look of the 2025 grid quickly emerging.

Sainz had been described as the cork in the bottle of the F1 driver transfer market, with three teams waiting on his decision after he became a free agent when Ferrari announced that Lewis Hamilton would take his seat next season.

However, others have moved to secure new deals, including Pierre Gasly, Lance Stroll and Yuki Tsunoda signing new extensions with their current outfits; Nico Hülkenberg moving from Haas to Sauber; Fernando Alonso remaining at Aston Martin; and Jack Doohan being promoted into a full-time seat with Alpine. Haas will start next year with an all-new line-up. After signing F2 sensation Ollie Bearman on a multi-year deal, the American outfit parted ways with Kevin Magnussen, signing Esteban Ocon for the remaining seat.

In contrast to last year, when there were no end-of-season driver changes for the first time in history, 2024 has seen plenty of activity, starting early with contract extensions for Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris, before Hamilton announced his blockbuster move to Ferrari next season.

There’s even more at stake than usual, as drivers and teams look ahead to a rule shake-up in 2026 when new power units and chassis regulations are introduced. It’s likely to see a reshuffle in F1’s performance order, which could suddenly see a midfield team fighting for the title. Making the right move now could be a world championship-winning decision for one driver — if they manage to pick the right team.

There are still several decisions to be made. Here are the F1 drivers still needing to secure their futures this season.

All drivers out of contract for 2025

Logan Sargeant

Williams

Having scraped through 2023 to stay on the grid for 2024, Logan Sargeant now knows for sure that there will be no space left for him at Williams in 2025. The young American is out of contract at the end of the season and the signing of Sainz means that there’s no space left, with Alex Albon already confirmed.

It leaves Sargeant facing an F1 exit — at least from a permanent race seat. While he’s shown flickers of his potential, the American hasn’t performed consistently enough to attract the attention of other teams.

Williams has said that it “will give Logan every support as he looks to continue his racing career for 2025 and into the future”, and a reserve or development role may be available, but he’ll need to look outside the series for a race seat next year.

Daniel Ricciardo

Visa Cash App RB

Ricciardo’s return to AlphaTauri halfway through 2023 would not been on everyone’s bingo card. It didn’t take long for him to prove that he belongs on the F1 grid though, and he earned a contract extension to see him until the end of 2024.

The clear target for Ricciardo was the second Red Bull seat of Sergio Perez, but his early form in 2024 for the now-renamed RB team appeared to deal a blow to those chances, particularly when Perez’s contract was extended. He was outqualified by team-mate Yuki Tsunoda in eight of the first ten races of the year and looked to be slower on race pace too.

But so often in F1, form is relative and a slump in Perez’s performances has led to rumours that Ricciardo — now on a run of more impressive results — could replace the Mexican at Red Bull alongside Max Verstappen. That wouldn’t necessarily guarantee him a 2025 seat at the team, or even at RB, but would offer him a platform to show he can still fight at the front.

Zhou Guanyu 

Sauber

Having become a reliable choice for Alfa Romeo (now Sauber), Zhou signed a one-season extension for the rebranded outfit last year. Zhou and teammate Valtteri Bottas have become a solid pairing despite the disappointing cars they have been gioven this season and last, but his long-term place in F1 looks under serious threat.

Looming over the team is Audi’s imminent takeover from 2026 onwards. Nico Hülkenberg has already been signed for next year and beyond, leaving one seat at the team available. An offer to Carlos Sainz made it clear that Zhou was not the first choice.

Valtteri Bottas

Sauber

Everyone’s favourite calendar model has his eyes set on an Audi drive as his contract approaches expiration at the end of 2024. Sauber has underwhelmed in recent years, but Bottas has proven himself as an experienced and well-liked figurehead within the team.

That may not be enough, however, with Nico Hülkenberg already signed for next year. F1 veteran Bottas will be well aware of the shifting sands as the team approaches the Audi takeover, and will no doubt be looking elsewhere as well as making his case within the team — assuming he’s keen to continue.

Kevin Magnussen

Haas

Having secured Haas’s first-ever pole position in 2022, Magnussen faced a difficult 2023 with a car that didn’t suit him, costing him valuable places in qualifying.

He still secured a one-year extension to see him through 2024, but with owner Gene Haas aiming to make the team bolder and more ambitious in 2025, it’s been decided that the Dane will not retain his seat for next season. Ferrari Academy driver Oliver Bearman recently signed a multi-year deal with the American outfit while Esteban Ocon is widely rumoured to be the Dane’s replacement, having reportedly been in contract negotiations for months.

At 31 years old, Magnussen is far from the youngest driver on the grid but he’s also far from the oldest — making him a possible experienced option for the likes of Sauber or Alpine.