Although the 2024 Formula 1 season only finished a few weeks ago, already attention has turned to 2025 and the anticipation of what could be one of the sport’s closest-ever seasons.
The Drivers’ Championship is unlikely to be dominated by Max Verstappen again, while nearly every team on the grid has changed its line-up this year.
There’s already plenty of excitement surrounding the rookies joining the grid who each have very different expectations.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli could end up competing for race wins at Mercedes after replacing Lewis Hamilton, while F2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto will simply be hoping that Sauber are no longer stuck at the back of the grid.
With so many youngsters on the grid, several drivers have had to make way this winter.
Red Bull confirmed Sergio Perez’s exit after the season ended, with Liam Lawson stepping up to face Max Verstappen after just 11 Grand Prix starts.
Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu have both left Sauber and Kevin Magnussen departed F1 for the third time after one of the most impressive seasons with Haas.
The final name to disappear off the grid was Franco Colapinto after a very promising cameo with Williams following Logan Sargeant’s departure.
F1 world champion Jenson Button was particularly impressed with the Argentine and speaking to Crash.net, he explained he found Colapinto so refreshing last year.
Jenson Button explains Franco Colapinto’s ‘really refreshing’ Formula 1 debut
Button was reviewing how last season played out for Williams and said: “There have been some good results from Williams from Alex and Franco.
“It’s been really refreshing to watch a driver jump into the car and be competitive from the word go.
“I think we all have a lot of respect for Alex, how good he is and what he is able to achieve in this sport. For somebody young to be able to jump in and push him is very impressive.
READ MORE: Who is Williams academy driver Franco Colapinto? Everything to know
“You learn from your teammates no matter how old or young they are, whether they’re inexperienced or experienced, you still learn from the data.
“It really helps the team move forward as well if they have two drivers that are competitive, that can learn from each other and move this team forward.
“Points-wise, not as many points this season as the team would’ve hoped, but they have been in the latter part of the season which has been great, so it bodes well heading into ‘25.”
Franco Colapinto could make return to Formula 1 in 2025
Colapinto may feel slightly hard done by that he didn’t manage to secure a race seat for 2025.
When team principal James Vowles promoted him after the Dutch Grand Prix, Williams had already confirmed Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz for the upcoming season.
In fact, Lewis Hamilton’s decision to join Ferrari was announced in February accelerated how the driver market played out, leaving Colapinto with only a couple of potential landing spots away from Williams.
READ MORE: Jenson Button reveals what Franco Colapinto has just done at Williams that ‘we’ve not seen before’
Colapinto was linked with Red Bull and while they didn’t decide to move for him when dropping Perez, it highlighted just how quickly he made an impression in the paddock.
With so many rookies on the grid, the pressure for each of them to perform immediately is high and if someone isn’t up to the required standard, it won’t be long before Colapinto is linked with their seat.
Alpine have shown an interest in Colapinto and Jack Doohan will be aware that he needs to hit the ground running as Flavio Briatore has never been shy when it comes to making tough decisions.
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