Formula 1: All driver changes from 2024 to 2025 (two teams left out)

As a seasoned F1 enthusiast with decades of following the sport under my belt, I can confidently say that the driver lineup changes for the 2025 season have been nothing short of breathtaking! The offseason shake-ups are reminiscent of a game of musical chairs, with teams scrambling to secure top talent and secure their place on the grid.

I’ve never seen such a significant number of driver changes in one year, and it’s been quite the rollercoaster ride keeping up with all the comings and goings! From Lewis Hamilton joining Ferrari after a brief hiatus at Mercedes, to Liam Lawson taking over from Sergio Perez at Red Bull, it’s clear that the 2025 season is going to be one for the history books.

I must admit, I was taken aback when Red Bull opted to sign rookie Isack Hadjar instead of sticking with Daniel Ricciardo or Liam Lawson for the full season. But hey, who am I to question the genius of Helmut Marko? The series is set to see five full-time newcomers, and it’s going to be fascinating to watch them adapt to the rigors of F1 racing.

I can’t help but wonder if these changes will lead to a shift in team dynamics and ultimately, the championship standings. With so many fresh faces and established drivers moving to new teams, it feels like anything is possible!

On a lighter note, it seems that the 2025 season is going to be one big game of musical chairs, with teams constantly shuffling their driver lineups in search of the perfect pairing. Who knows, maybe by the end of the year, we’ll have another team scrambling for a driver like a kid without a chair in a game of musical chairs! Let the games begin!

Last year, for the very first time in the history of Formula 1 racing, the driver roster remained unchanged from the conclusion of one season to the beginning of the next.

For one season, RB (previously known as AlphaTauri) swapped drivers, transitioning from Nyck de Vries to Daniel Ricciardo, with this change happening midway through the 2023 season.

However, it’s evident that the offseason following the 2024 season will unfold quite differently compared to usual, with signs pointing towards this change as early as 2024, well before the start of the season itself.

8 out of the sport’s 10 squads have switched their driver pairings, and interestingly, 2 out of these 8 teams have chosen to completely revamp their lineups.

For the year 2025, only two racing teams, McLaren and Aston Martin, have decided not to make any changes in their driver lineups. McLaren will continue with drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, while Aston Martin will keep Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll on board.

As a lifelong Formula One fan, I couldn’t be happier with Red Bull’s decision to extend Sergio Perez’s contract through 2026. Having watched him climb his way up the ranks in motorsports, it’s great to see him secure a long-term deal with such a top-tier team like RB.

I remember when he made his F1 debut back in 2011 and struggled to find consistency early on. But over time, he proved himself as a reliable and talented driver, earning a well-deserved seat at Red Bull alongside Max Verstappen.

Their dynamic has been nothing short of electric, with both drivers pushing each other to be the best they can be. With Perez now locked in through 2026, I think we’re going to see some incredible performances from him and Verstappen over the next few years.

And let’s not forget about Liam Lawson, who has shown immense potential during his time as Red Bull’s test driver. His promotion to replace Daniel Ricciardo in the 2023 season was a smart move by RB, and I can’t wait to see him grow and develop alongside Perez.

In short, Red Bull has made an excellent decision by keeping their driver lineup stable for the foreseeable future. I’m confident that we’re in for some exciting races with these two drivers at the helm of the team. Bring on 2025!

It’s important to note that Lawson was not officially confirmed by Red Bull for 2025, suggesting he remained a potential replacement for Perez alongside Max Verstappen. Indeed, he is set to take on this role. This decision triggered another change at Red Bull, leading them to recruit rookie Isack Hadjar to partner with Yuki Tsunoda instead.

10 seats on the grid will be occupied by different drivers during the 2025 season compared to 2024. Seven drivers from the previous year, including two who were replaced before the end of the 2024 season, are not scheduled to compete in 2025. Instead, five new drivers are expected to make their full-time debuts. Additionally, five drivers who competed in 2024 will be racing for new teams in 2025.

Here is a full list of the driver lineup changes made for the 2025 Formula 1 season.

Ferrari

In: Lewis Hamilton
Out: Carlos Sainz Jr.
Staying put: Charles Leclerc

Red Bull

In: Liam Lawson
Out: Sergio Perez
Staying put: Max Verstappen

Mercedes

In: Kimi Antonelli
Out: Lewis Hamilton
Staying put: George Russell

Alpine

In: Jack Doohan
Out: Esteban Ocon
Staying put: Pierre Gasly

Haas

In: Oliver Bearman, Esteban Ocon
Out: Kevin Magnussen, Nico Hulkenberg

RB

In: Isack Hadjar
Out: Daniel Ricciardo/Liam Lawson
Staying put: Yuki Tsunoda

Williams

In: Carlos Sainz Jr.
Out: Franco Colapinto/Logan Sargeant
Staying put: Alex Albon

Sauber

In: Gabriel Bortoleto, Nico Hulkenberg
Out: Valtteri Bottas, Zhou Guanyu

2025’s Formula 1 racing season will kick off on March 16th (Sunday) with the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park Circuit. This year marks a record-tying schedule of 24 races, as seen in the previous year.

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