Shock F1 verdict revealed on EARLY 2025 driver replacement

Ollie Bearman, Kimi Antonelli, Jack Doohan, Brazil, 2024 — Photo: © IMAGO

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Shock verdict revealed on EARLY F1 2025 driver replacement

One F1 team have been dealt a surprise verdict over their 2025 driver lineup

Kerry Violet F1 News Editor

F1 editor and journalist covering motorsport since 2024.

Monday 18 November 2024 11:55 Updated: 12:09

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A Formula 1 team has been dealt a surprise verdict over an early 2025 driver lineup swap according to a recent poll conducted by GPFans.

With just three races left in the 2024 season, all of the teams on the grid bar Visa Cash App RB have secured their driver pairings for next year.

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Having brutally sacked Daniel Ricciardo earlier this season, the fan-favourite was immediately replaced at RB by young star Liam Lawson, with Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko declaring both he and team-mate Yuki Tsunoda would be auditioning to replace Sergio Perez, despite his contract suggesting his seat is safe for 2025.

Williams also implemented a similar strategy in a mid-season bid to secure points, dropping Logan Sargeant for rookie Franco Colapinto, who has impressed the paddock and already gained a mass fan following. The young Argentine is now also reportedly in the mix for a seat at either Red Bull or VCARB for 2025.

Whilst Colapinto may not have a confirmed full-time contract for 2025, the grid next season will feature four young rookie drivers, with Ollie Bearman, Kimi Antonelli, Gabriel Bortoleto and Jack Doohan all having signed with an F1 team for their first full season on the grid.

Red Bull have reportedly expressed interest in adding Franco Colapinto to their talent pool

Jack Doohan has been confirmed as Alpine's second F1 driver for 2025

Will Alpine change 2025 driver lineup?

Despite Alpine F1 team confirming they will be sticking with French star Pierre Gasly for next season and replacing the outgoing Esteban Ocon with Doohan, recent reports had suggested the team's controversial advisor Flavio Briatore had his eyes set on Colapinto to join the ranks.

Although Alpine refused to comment on the rumour when contacted by GPFans, our recent poll has revealed a whopping 57% of F1 fans would be in favour of dropping Doohan before the season has even begun in order to make way for the talent of Colapinto.

Having already achieved more points than his previous two predecessors at Williams combined, the 21-year-old will not be driving for the team next season thanks to the already agreed signing of Carlos Sainz.

Whilst the F1 driver market can and has been unpredictable throughout the year, 32% of voters believed Alpine have made the right decision in going with the wise pairing of experience in Gasly and youth in Doohan.

In an unprecedented result that not even the F1 rumour mill has conjured up just yet, 11% of F1 fans that took part in the GPFans poll suggested Alpine should scrap their 2024 lineup altogether, instead bringing in Colapinto to replace Gasly, with a team of two youngsters claiming their vote.

Written by

Kerry Violet - F1 News Editor

Having graduated from the University of Sheffield with a 2:1 in Journalism in 2022, Kerry continued her pursuit of finding a full-time position in motorsport through work with the F1 Arcade in London, where she got to meet true fans of the sport and make a live grand prix watch party memorable for them. It was here that she confirmed her dream of combining her background in journalism and love of motorsport, going on to volunteer with the female-led platform Empoword Journalism. Having completed stints as a screen editor and sports editor, Kerry landed her first F1-specific editorial role with GPFans and has thoroughly enjoyed continuing to work closely with the sport ever since. The access GPFans offers Kerry has allowed her to interview big names such as Naomi Schiff and David Coulthard and given her experiences she could only have dreamt of as a young F1 fan.

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