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F1 Driver Market: Understanding The Domino Effect

A comprehensive analysis of the unpredictable and dynamic Formula 1 driver market for the 2025 season, driven by key moves and emerging talents.

Published

10 months ago

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F1 Driver Market: Understanding The Domino Effect

The F1 driver market in 2024 has been everything but straightforward. It all started when Lewis Hamilton announced his shocking departure from Mercedes. He was leaving a team that had been with him from the start of his career. All of his 7 World Championships came with Mercedes power. He left the Stuttgart team to join the team in Maranello. Statistically, the most successful driver on the grid was on his way to the most successful team on the grid.

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With Carlos Sainz out of a seat, he became the hottest prospect on the driver market. Every team that had a seat available wanted to get a Spaniard in it. He had proved he was a good midfield driver during his Renault/McLaren days, and when he got a competitive Ferrari, he showed he had it in him to fight for wins too.

Carlos Sainz: The Bottleneck

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Carlos Sainz is a very crucial driver to understand and put together the driver market for 2025. His single move to a team determines the placement of all other drivers. Williams, Audi (currently Stake Sauber), and Alpine are showing interest in the Spaniard. It’s up to Sainz to decide where he wants to drive next year. In an ideal scenario, Sainz would’ve liked to remain in a top team, either with Red Bull or Mercedes. But with Red Bull confirming Perez alongside Max and Mercedes in no hurry to make their decision, Sainz would have to settle for a lower-table team.

Audi F1 Project

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Audi has been clear from the start, that they want Carlos Sainz in the team. The team earlier signed Nico Hulkenberg who was a no-brainer, a German driver in a German team. Sainz has been offered a very lucrative deal to join the project. However, Sainz is interested more in performance than money. Audi which is currently Sauber sits at the bottom of the Constructor Standings. With Audi coming in 2026, the team would still take a few years to move up to the top half of the field. So while monetarily the deal sounds good, on the performance side it’s not so much. For Audi, the other option would be Esteban Ocon, who left Alpine and is considered a strong midfield driver. Another option would be to re-sign Valterri Bottas who is already at the team and is a former race winner with another German team on the grid.

Alpine’s second seat.

Ever since Flavio Briatore joined the Enstone team, the rumours of Alpine wanting Sainz have picked up the pace. Alpine wants to move up the field quickly and is making its decisions to align them on this path. Bringing Briatore back into the team as an executive advisor was part of it. Signing Carlos Sainz would be a statement of intent from the team. They have already confirmed Gasly on a multi-year deal, bringing some consistency in their future. On the second seat, should Sainz decide not to partner up with Gasly the other option would be Jack Doohan.

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The Alpine Academy driver who finished 3rd in Formula 2 last year is currently the team’s reserve driver. Promoting him to the team will also show the team’s confidence in their academy and junior drivers. Another option would be to bring the ex-Alpine Academy driver Zhou into the team. The Chinese driver will most probably end up without a seat next season with Audi (Sauber) showing no interest in him. Alpine can also promote other Academy drivers, Victor Martins or Kush Maini, should either one of them have a stellar Formula 2 campaign in the remainder of the year.

Williams Rebuild

Williams under James Vowles are on their way to the front. The team has shown promise and an uptick in form compared to their previous years. Recently the team announced the hiring of top technical talent from around the grid. Carlos Sainz is the driver that the team wants to lead its rebuilding. Sainz is also said to be inclined more towards Williams out of all his offers. Vowles’s leadership and a promising Mercedes engine in 2026 are what attract the Spaniard to the team.

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Williams also has Bottas as their backup plan in case Sainz doesn’t join them. The Finn started his career with Williams and would come to a full circle should he end up there. Another option could be to bring Mercedes junior Kimi Antonelli to the team. But with the Italian all but confirmed for Mercedes, this outcome could be an unlikely one.

VCARB’s Dilemma

VCARB or RB was quick to extend Yuki Tsunoda’s contract with the team. It’s the other seat they have a dilemma about. Daniel Ricciardo needs no introduction, and it is safe to say he brings in wealth of experience and knowledge to the team. However, his performances are not meeting the standards he has set for himself, something he has also said multiple times. RB is a junior team, on the grid to train young drivers before they step up to Red Bull Racing. In that sense, the team might think about promoting Liam Lawson.

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The Kiwi turned out for the team last year during Ricciardo’s injury phase and impressed everyone. Should RB promote Lawson, that would mean Ricciardo would be available on the driver market. If you’re a team that’s looking for a driver with experience and a wealth of knowledge, it’s a no-brainer for you to sign Ricciardo. Teams like Audi or Williams should try and get the Australian’s signature should he be dropped by RB.

Junior drivers set for promotions

Oliver Bearman and Andrea Kimi Antonelli who are currently teammates at Prema in Formula 2 are all but confirmed to get their Formula 1 call-ups. Oliver Bearman who subbed at the last minute for Carlos Sainz is vouched to get a seat at Haas for next year. The Brit impressed everyone on his Formula 1 debut for Ferrari, scoring 6 points. He was also voted the “Driver of the Day” by the fans.

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Bearman’s current teammate might end up partnering George Russell at Mercedes. The Italian already has enough super license points to his name. Just 17 years of age, he has won 4 Feeder Series titles in the last 2 years. He was also promoted to Formula 2 after just one year in the Formula Regional European Championship, where he won the title. Mercedes would look to bring Kimi into the team to secure their future. With Lewis Hamilton out of the team, George Russell automatically takes the leadership role within the team. Kimi is someone they can bring into the team in 2025 and prepare him for the future. Bringing someone like Sainz could hamper the team dynamics as neither Russell nor Sainz would settle to be the ‘Second Driver’. The team has learned its lessons from 2016 and would want to have a compatible driver pairing at their helm.

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Mercedes also has another out-of-the-box option for their vacant seat, signing Max from Red Bull. It is no secret that Red Bull is having internal conflicts within the team. From Horner’s scandal at the start of the year to Newey leaving the team more recently, the Austrian team might be losing its stability. Mercedes would do anything to bring Max into the team. Jos Verstappen has also been very vocal about not being a fan of Horner lately. His most recent comments came today calling Horner “childish”.

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Max has said that he is happy where he is now. Red Bull offers him the chance to fight for championships. Max himself too is very comfortable with how the car behaves and can drive it according to his preference. In the recent few races, it is Max who has won the races from others rather than the car who has won it for him. So it’s safe to say that Max might not leave Red Bull for a much inferior Mercedes, but in the silly world of F1, you just never know.

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Formula 1

Jeddah’s High-Speed Challenge: Bravery, Precision, and Peril Await at the 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

As the final stop of the triple-header, Formula 1 heads to Jeddah. One of the fastest and most challenging street circuits on the calendar, setting the stage for a thrilling race weekend.

Published

36 minutes ago

on

April 18, 2025

By

Jeddah’s High-Speed Challenge: Bravery, Precision, and Peril Await at the 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

The Formula 1 circus heads to Jeddah for the 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, where speed and precision will be pushed to the limit. Known for its blistering pace and unforgiving layout, the Jeddah Corniche Circuit leaves no room for error. With narrow walls, high-speed corners, and minimal margins, it’s a true test of nerve. Drivers and teams will need sharp focus as the championship begins to take shape under the lights of the Arabian coast.

About The Circuit

The Jeddah Corniche Circuit, designed by Carsten Tilke, son of renowned track designer Hermann Tilke, is a challenging and fast street circuit that spans 6.1 kilometres along the Red Sea coast. It is characterized by 27 corners, most of which are high-speed and require precise car control through quick changes in direction. The circuit’s layout, with a mix of long straights and tight corners, presents 2 crucial overtaking opportunities, particularly into Turn 1 and Turn 27. The narrow nature of the track, combined with concrete walls just millimetres away, adds a high-risk element, making every mistake potentially race-ending.


While the technical sections test a car’s balance and setup, the long straights allow teams to focus on straight-line speed and braking stability. The night race, illuminated by bright floodlights, increases the sense of urgency, as visibility can be tricky around some of the track’s tighter corners, demanding even more from the drivers’ reflexes and strategic thinking.

Jeddah’s High-Speed Challenge: Bravery, Precision, and Peril Await at the 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

(Credit – formula1.com)



Tires For This Weekend



For Round 5 of the season, Pirelli has opted for a softer compound range than seen in Rounds 1–4. Teams will have the C3 (Hard), C4 (Medium), and C5 (Soft) tyres available in Jeddah.

This softer allocation suggests a likely shift towards two-stop strategies for most teams, although some may attempt a one-stopper with extreme tyre management. Final strategies will become clearer after FP3, once teams have completed longer race simulation runs.

What to look out for

McLaren Duel: Teammates Turn Title Rivals

McLaren teammates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris currently lead the World Drivers’ Championship, separated by just three points. Piastri will be looking to build on his flawless weekend in Bahrain, where he showcased consistency and composure. The Jeddah circuit has been kind to him in the past—he won both the Sprint and Feature Race here during the 2021 F2 season.

Lando Norris will be looking to get back to form and maintain his WDC lead after his messy weekend in Bahrain.

“Jeddah is a track that i really enjoy and have good memories of from past visits. I’m determined to hit the ground running in Saudi.”, said Piastri.


Red Bull Reset: Pressure Mounts After Bahrain Blip

Red Bull endured a disappointing race in Bahrain, with Max Verstappen finishing sixth and Yuki Tsunoda claiming just two points in ninth. Tensions reportedly rose behind the scenes, as Verstappen’s camp clashed with Helmut Marko over team performance.

Despite the drama, Verstappen has a strong track record in Jeddah, having won in 2022 and 2024. He’ll be eager to return to form this weekend. Tsunoda, on the other hand, will focus on scoring solid points and strengthening his position within the team.



Mercedes Momentum: Russell Shines, Antonelli Grows

George Russell impressed once again with a P2 finish in Bahrain, holding off Norris in the final laps. With three podiums in four races, he’ll aim to extend his strong form. Rookie Kimi Antonelli also shone in qualifying, though a strategic blunder compromised his race. He’ll be hoping for a clean weekend and a shot at his first F1 points.


Ferrari’s Next Step: Hamilton Adapts, Leclerc Targets Podium

Ferrari introduced an upgrade package in Bahrain, which Lewis Hamilton praised, saying he’s beginning to better understand the car’s behaviour. He hopes to convert that knowledge into a stronger result in Jeddah. Charles Leclerc, who finished P4 last time out, is also targeting a podium finish.



Williams Regroup: Sainz and Albon Aim to Rebound

After a frustrating weekend in Bahrain filled with penalties and missed opportunities, Williams will look to return to the points. Carlos Sainz was handed four penalty points for two incidents, while Alex Albon narrowly missed out on a top-10 finish. Both drivers are motivated to rebound and regain momentum.

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Haas on the Rise: Ocon and Bearman Impress Again

Haas had a surprisingly strong showing in Bahrain, with Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman gaining 8 and 10 places respectively to finish in the points. Another double-points finish would be a huge achievement for the American team. Bearman also made his F1 debut at this circuit last year, finishing ahead of Norris and Hamilton.

“It’s difficult to predict exactly how the VF-25 will perform in Jeddah”, said Ayao Komatsu

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Lawson Under Pressure: Crucial Weekend Ahead

Liam Lawson has yet to score a point this season and has underperformed in all four races so far. With Red Bull’s known impatience toward underperforming drivers, Lawson will be under pressure to deliver. Teammate Isack Hadjar, by contrast, has shown promising race pace and consistency.

Liam Lawson looks on in his cockpit during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at Jeddah Corniche Circuit
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA – APRIL 17: Liam Lawson of New Zealand and Visa Cash App Racing Bulls looks on in his cockpit during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on April 17, 2025 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202504171383 // Usage for editorial use only //


Aston Martin and Alpine’s Recovery

Aston Martin is still searching for form in 2025. Fernando Alonso has yet to score a point this season, while Lance Stroll has managed two points finishes out of four. They’ll be looking to break into the top 10 in Jeddah.

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Alpine had their best showing of the season in Bahrain, with Pierre Gasly finishing just shy of sixth place and Jack Doohan close behind. The French outfit hopes to build on that momentum this weekend.



Sauber’s Search for Stability

Sauber has had a disappointing start to the season. Nico Hülkenberg’s only points came from the chaotic Australian Grand Prix, while Gabriel Bortoleto is still searching for form after four underwhelming races.

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Weekend Schedule




Weather Forecast

Friday: 31°C, wind speeds up to 16 km/h

Saturday: 32°C, wind speeds up to 14 km/h

Sunday: 33°C, wind speeds up to 18 km/h

The consistent conditions will allow teams to collect consistent data across all sessions.

Desi Racing Co. is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.

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Formula 1

Oscar Piastri Perfects Bahrain Masterclass as McLaren Clinches Double Podium

Drama, divebombs, strategy shake-ups, and a weekend to remember under the Sakhir lights.

Published

3 days ago

on

April 15, 2025

By

Oscar Piastri with his winners trophy at the podium of the Bahrain Grand Prix

Oscar Piastri executes his race to perfection, George Russell holds off Brit Lando Norris for P2, Ferrari makes offset strategy work, RedBull Pitstop Woes, Alpine Shock, Race-altering strategy calls, thrilling divebombs, we saw it ALL this weekend at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

McLaren Dominate: Piastri’s Perfection, Lando’s Recovery

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Oscar Piastri delivered a flawless drive to take his fourth Formula 1 victory, converting pole into a controlled race win for McLaren. Despite briefly surrendering the lead during pit stop cycles, the Australian dominated the race from start to finish, showcasing calm execution and strategic awareness.

This result also marked McLaren’s 192nd win as a constructor, and with the maximum points haul, Piastri reduced his deficit to teammate Lando Norris in the Drivers’ Championship to just three points.

On the other side of the garage, Norris had a tougher start. A disappointing qualifying session saw him line up P6, and a 5-second grid penalty was handed to him after he overshot his grid box—a mistake noticed by title rival Max Verstappen.

At lights out, Lando had a blazing start, jumping all the way up to P3 on Lap 1. Lando was unable to get past George Russell for Second place before the first round of pit stops, serving his penalty in the pits, he came out behind Charles Leclerc after all the softs runners had completed their pitstops, being able to overtake Charles on New Medium Tires put him behind the Mercedes-ran George Russell once again. The chase for P2 went on till the last lap of the race, where George ultimately held on to the second spot on the podium.

Mercedes Prevail Despite Technical Issues

Both the Mercedes Drivers had a stellar Saturday, with George Russel and Kimi Antonelli Qualifying P2 and P4 respectively, but a post-qualifying penalty for the pair of them dropped them to P3 and P4.

George had a good start to the race, jumping ahead of Leclerc’s Ferrari into P2, and he stayed in P2 crossing the chequered flag after 57 laps. However, it was easier said than done for the Brit. Following a mid-race Safety Car caused by debris on the track, George Russell was faced with the challenge of taking a scrub set of softs for 20 laps to the end, whilst almost every driver around him bar the Ferraris were on Mediums.

To add to the challenge his tires presented, he had multiple issues hampering his performance.

“It felt all under control for a moment, then suddenly we had a brake-by-wire failure, so the pedal was going long, then it was going short… I didn’t know what was going on… the steering wheel wasn’t working properly,” Russell explained.

He also had a DRS issue, where it had randomly opened whilst not in any DRS zone and also whilst he wasn’t within 1 second of any car ahead of him. Whether this is going to be a recurring issue for Mercedes, or a one-off, is something that we will get to know more about in the foreseeable future.

Oscar Piastri Perfects Bahrain Masterclass as McLaren Clinches Double Podium
George Russell and Kimi Antonelli on Saturday – Wolfgang Wilhelm


Kimi Antonelli on the other hand followed his career-best Qualifying Performance in P4 on track, which converted to P5 following his one-place grid penalty. He had a mediocre race start dropping him behind Carlos Sainz in P6. He stayed there for most of the race, later trailing behind Esteban Ocon in the Haas. Ultimately, he finished in P11 after a strategic miscalculation on behalf of Mercedes.


Ferrari’s Strategy Debate

Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton started P2 and P9 respectively, both of them were notably on the Medium Compound Tires, whilst almost everyone else was on Softs. Charles Leclerc had his eyes on Polesitter Oscar Piastri but an underwhelming start dropped him down to P4 on Lap 1.

The Men in Red went long on their first stint of medium tires, resulting in them running 1-2 for lap 16-18. Before Charles’ In-lap, we were able to hear discussions about the strategy for Charles Leclerc. Leclerc wanted the Italian Outfit to consider moving to “Plan Delta” rather than the Ferrari-insisted “Plan Bravo”.

During the Safety Car Period, Both the Ferraris had to use the Hard Tires, to finish the race which was notably despised by 4-Time WDC Max Verstappen. Following a late race effort by Charles Leclerc to defend P3 from WDC Leader Lando Norris, it was a valiant effort from Leclerc but his defence could only last so many laps.

Lewis Hamilton had another day of learning, he managed to finish P5 behind his teammate, resulting in a decent point haul for Ferrari.



Pitstop Woes Haunt Red Bull

Following Verstappen’s masterclass at the Japanese Grand Prix, There were high hopes from the Red Bull Team. However, throughout the weekend, Red Bull struggled to find a good balance in the car. They had a disappointing qualifying and race overall, with Max qualifying in P7 behind his title-rival Lando Norris, and Yuki Tsunoda lining up 3 positions behind in P10.

The disappointment followed in the race, with slow pitstops for the pair of them caused by a LED malfunction of the pit box lights, holding up the drivers for 2 seconds more than it should have. Red Bull opted for the Hard tires on Verstappen’s car. Clear messages were heard on the radio about how the tires were not a good race tire, holding max up in traffic. Come the finish line, Verstappen pipped Alpine-driven by 1.3 Seconds to come home in P6, limiting the damage.

Recently promoted Yuki Tsunoda maintained his P10 position at the start, and was on a decent race until a collision with the Williams of Carlos Sainz almost hampered his performance. Luckily, Yuki was able to continue the race and secure the first points for a Red Bull Second Driver since Las Vegas 2024.



Alpine Shock The Grid

Pierre Gasly had a shock qualifying, dragging the Alpine car into Q3 and lining up on the Second Row!

Jack Doohan also had a brilliant one-lap pace in Q1, but unfortunately fell short and qualified just short of a Q3 appearance in P11.

At the race start, Pierre Gasly was jumped by Lando Norris. He was able to hold off Kimi Antonelli for a few laps before letting go of P5. Other than that, it was a clean and good race for the Frenchman and a decent points haul as well for finishing in P7. This is a good sign of progress for the French Team showing that they can be competitive come the right conditions.

Haas’ Mega Comeback To The Points

From P20 to P10, Oliver Bearman drove a sensational recovery race. His Haas teammate, Esteban Ocon, climbed from P15 to P8, making it a double-point finish for the American team—an incredible turnaround from a tough qualifying session.



Tricky Day For Williams

Albon Qualified P16, but a delayed lap time deletion of Nico Hulkenberg promoted him up to P15, unfortunately, he didn’t get a chance to participate in Q2 because of how late the lap time was deleted. In the race, he moved up 3 positions, finishing P12, being slightly shy of the points-paying positions.

Carlos Sainz excelled in qualifying and looked more comfortable in the car than his teammate for the first time this season. He qualified P8 and was looking forward to bagging home some points for his new team.

Throughout the race, he battled hard with Yuki Tsunoda and also collided with him at T2 on Lap 28, giving him considerable damage on his right side-pod, ultimately ending his race.
Some debris had come off the Williams car, bringing out a Mid-Race Safety Car on Lap 34.
The fight with Tsunoda gave Sainz 2x 10 Second Time Penalty of which 1 was left un-served. It will carry on as a grid penalty for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.



Underwhelming Race for Aston Martin and Racing Bulls

Both the Aston Martin Cars just did not have the performance in the car this weekend to bring out any points. Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso qualified P19 and P13 respectively, and crossed the finish line in P17 and P15 respectively.

For the Racing Bulls Team, Isack Hadjar qualified in P12, shy of a Q3 appearance. Liam Lawson had a DRS issue on his final Q1 run, holding him back from improving his laptime. Hence, leaving him P17.

There was not much to note from either of the cars, other than Hadjar trying to fight for the wooden spoon of the points.

Sauber Goes Back To The Drawing Board

Both the Saubers started closer to the back of the grid with Nico Hulkenberg starting P16 and Gabriel Bortoleto starting 2 positions behind in P18. They did not make much progress throughout the race, staying in the latter positions for most of the time.

A post-race disqualification for Nico Hulkenberg for Planck-Wear just added salt to the wound for the Sauber Team.


Overall Weekend Summary

The weekend was an overtake galore along with chaos and drama, Track Limits violations were awarded a whopping 36 times throughout the race. Red Bull’s progress through the field was affected by their pitstop woes. Lando still leads the WDC by 3 points over his teammate, and McLaren leads Mercedes in the constructors by 58 points.



What to expect coming into Saudi Arabia

Come the next week, The Formula 1 Season move to the Fast-Sweeping and Dangerous Street Circuit of Jeddah, where drivers will need to be at the limit at all times if they want a chance to finish high up considering how close the grid is. The track is known for having at least 1 red flag and/or Safety Cars. The track has the Second- Fastest average speed, being 250kmph. It also features the most corners on any track with 27 corners.

Desi Racing Co is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.

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Formula 1

Is Kush Maini getting close to an official FP1 outing with Alpine in 2025?

Kush Maini could become the first Indian driver to participate in an official Formula 1 session since Narain Karthikeyan’s final race at the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix.

Published

1 week ago

on

April 8, 2025

By

Is Kush Maini getting close to an official FP1 outing with Alpine in 2025?
Image Credit - James Sutton

Kush Maini was announced as one of Alpine’s four Reserve and Development drivers for the 2025 season earlier this year. Here’s why we believe Maini is getting closer to securing an official FP1 outing with Alpine during the 2025 Formula 1 season.

Alpine’s 2025 Reserve Drivers

Ahead of the 2025 season, Alpine promoted their then-reserve driver Jack Doohan to a full-time race seat following Esteban Ocon’s departure from the Enstone-based team. To bolster their driver development program, Alpine have signed not one, not two, not three—but four Reserve and Development drivers for 2025: Paul Aron, Ryo Hirakawa, Franco Colapinto, and Kush Maini.

Is Kush Maini getting close to an official FP1 outing with Alpine in 2025?
Paul Aron
Is Kush Maini getting close to an official FP1 outing with Alpine in 2025?
Ryo Hirakawa
Is Kush Maini getting close to an official FP1 outing with Alpine in 2025?
Franco Colapinto
Kush Maini gets announced as the Test and Reserve driver for BWT Alpine F1 Team
Kush Maini

Ryo Hirakawa’s mid-season switch to Haas F1 team

The 2022 FIA World Endurance Champion and 24 Hours of Le Mans winner, Ryo Hirakawa, has made a surprise mid-season move, leaving Alpine just three race weekends into the 2025 season. The switch came immediately after the Japanese Grand Prix—Hirakawa’s home race—where he made his official Formula 1 debut in the rookie Free Practice 1 session. On the Monday following the race weekend, the MoneyGram Haas F1 Team announced Hirakawa as their official reserve driver for the remainder of the 2025 season, marking a return to the Toyota family through Haas’ technical partnership.

Franco Colapinto NOT eligible for a rookie FP1 session

The Argentinian driver made a surprise Formula 1 debut in 2024, replacing the underperforming Logan Sargeant at Williams ahead of the Italian Grand Prix. In just nine races, Colapinto managed to score five points—more than the combined tally of his predecessors over the previous two seasons. His move to Alpine as a reserve driver for 2025 appears to be a strategic one, possibly intended to apply pressure on Jack Doohan in Alpine’s main lineup. However, Colapinto is not eligible for a rookie FP1 session, as per FIA regulations. A rookie is defined as a driver who “may not have participated in more than two F1 World Championship races during their career,” making Colapinto ineligible due to his nine-race stint with Williams.

What about Paul Aron?

The Estonian made an impressive Formula 2 debut in 2024, securing a race win, eight podiums, and even briefly leading the championship. Aron also made his Formula E debut with Envision Racing during the Berlin E-Prix, stepping in for Sébastien Buemi. Toward the end of the 2024 season, Aron became the first of Alpine’s four reserve drivers to be officially signed for 2025.

While he did get his first taste of Formula 1 machinery in the post-season test, completing over 120 laps in the Alpine A524, Aron still lags behind Kush Maini in terms of F1-specific experience. Maini has participated in multiple Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) sessions with Alpine across a variety of circuits, giving him a stronger case when it comes to real-world F1 seat time.

So is this the time to shine for Kush Maini?

It’s still early and unclear which direction Alpine will head toward with their rookie FP1 selections for the 2025 season. With Franco Colapinto ruled out of rookie eligibility, Ryo Hirakawa switching to Haas, and Paul Aron still catching up in terms of mileage, Maini emerges as Alpine’s most viable option to fulfill their mandated rookie FP1 slot. If Alpine follows a performance- and preparedness-based approach, Maini’s name should be at the top of their list.

Desi Racing Co is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.

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