The Formula 1 driver market has already been a topic of conversation just six races into the 2025 season.
Liam Lawson has been replaced by Yuki Tsunoda at Red Bull after a tumultuous two-race spell with the team.
The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix will also see Franco Colapinto make his debut for Alpine after replacing Jack Doohan.
This highlights how quickly things can change on the F1 grid, and next year will see another seismic change take place.
Along with F1’s new regulations being introduced, American team Cadillac will become the 11th outfit in the paddock.
Plenty of drivers are scrambling to make their case to Graeme Lowdon that they should be part of the team’s inaugural line-up.
Sergio Perez is high on Cadillac’s shortlist, and Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu would love to join him.
However, journalist Andrew Benson, when asked about their potential line-up has ruled out another driver who fell off the grid last season.
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Benson was writing for BBC Sport ahead of the race in Imola and after Cadillac’s official launch in Miami.
He was asked which drivers are in contention to join the American manufacturer and explained, “Daniel Ricciardo’s time in F1 is almost certainly over.
“Sergio Perez is a strong candidate for the Cadillac seat. Valtteri Bottas is another contender.
“There is definitely interest at Cadillac in having an American driver – and Colton Herta was the front-runner when the project was initially launched as Andretti – but they have made it clear it is not an immediate requirement.”
Benson then relayed the message from TWG chief Dan Towriss, the organisation running Cadillac’s F1 team, at the Miami Grand Prix.
He said, “We’re committed to having an American driver. It’s important to all of us to do it the right way.
“It’s not a gimmick to just grab somebody and drop them in the seat because it’s important to us that they’re successful.
“We want that seat respected when that American driver does come in for the team.
“We’re committed to that and we’ll find the right way and the right time to bring the right driver into Formula 1.”
Naomi Schiff previously explained why Cadillac could sign Ricciardo, but his mind seems made up about his racing future.
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Ricciardo lost his seat to Lawson after last season’s Singapore Grand Prix, setting off a chain reaction of driver movements.
Perez’s exit was confirmed at the end of last season, with the New Zealander promoted into his seat.
That opened up a position at Racing Bulls which was filled by Formula 2 runner-up Isack Hadjar.
| YEAR | RACE | TEAM | PODIUM |
| 2014 | Canadian Grand Prix | Red Bull | Nico Rosberg, Sebastian Vettel |
| 2014 | Hungarian Grand Prix | Red Bull | Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton |
| 2014 | Belgian Grand Prix | Red Bull | Nico Rosberg, Valtteri Bottas |
| 2016 | Malaysian Grand Prix | Red Bull | Max Verstappen, Nico Rosberg |
| 2017 | Azerbaijan Grand Prix | Red Bull | Valtteri Bottas, Lance Stroll |
| 2018 | Chinese Grand Prix | Red Bull | Valtteri Bottas, Kimi Raikkonen |
| 2018 | Monaco Grand Prix | Red Bull | Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton |
| 2021 | Italian Grand Prix | McLaren | Lando Norris, Valtteri Bottas |
The Frenchman has started the season brilliantly after his initial setback on the formation lap at the season opener in Australia.
Hadjar has admitted Ricciardo really impressed him last year and the youngster would be doing brilliantly to emulate his F1 career.
However, while he would be a marketable and rapid option for Cadillac, Ricciardo’s time on the grid appears to be over after 257 starts.
