There are three Formula 1 drivers fighting hard for their futures at the Canadian Grand Prix this weekend. They’re out of step with the rest of the grid after last year’s reshuffle.
As ever, Red Bull are at the centre of the F1 driver market storylines. The team have indicated that Yuki Tsunoda will stay until the end of the season, but he’s at risk beyond that point.
Tsunoda’s deal is due to expire in December, and on current form it’s hard to envisage an extension. He’s only scored seven points in as many races for Christian Horner’s team.
Isack Hadjar may not think he’s ready for Red Bull, but he’s still applying inadvertent pressure. The team’s history suggests they won’t hesitate to promote him if they deem it the best option.
| DRIVER | TEAM |
| Franco Colapinto | Alpine* |
| George Russell | Mercedes |
| Andrea Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes |
| Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls |
| Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls |
| Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull |
*Franco Colapinto on an initial five-race contract
Liam Lawson has no hope of returning to Red Bull right now and is instead focused on staying in Formula 1. He’s been comprehensively outperformed by Hadjar since his demotion two races into the season.
Away from Red Bull, Franco Colapinto is under scrutiny. Alpine announced Colapinto on a five-race deal after dropping Jack Doohan, but he isn’t maximising his chance.
Karun Chandhok says Franco Colapinto has been a step down from Jack Doohan
Colapinto’s record so far features two Q1 exits and zero points. He hasn’t been higher than 13th in any competitive session.
Predecessor Doohan also failed to score, but as Karun Chandhok pointed out during Sky Sports’ coverage of FP1 at the Canadian Grand Prix, he was closer on average during qualifying.
Mick Doohan compared his son’s results to Gasly on social media when Flavio Briatore made his ruthless decision. He may feel vindicated by what he’s seen so far.
Briatore has played down the prospect of another Alpine driver change after the Austrian GP in two races’ time. But he hasn’t definitively said that Colapinto will be in the car until the end of the year.
“[Pierre Gasly is] comprehensively out-performing Colapinto, who I have to say hasn’t really been any closer to Gasly than Doohan has been,” Chandhok said. “If anything, he’s been further behind.
“The ultimate guide is qualifying, and on average, Doohan was .27 away from Gasly, Colapinto is .39, so nearly four-tenths away on average so far. In percentage terms, it’s an extra 50% that Colapinto is away from Gasly compared to Doohan.”
Why Sergio Perez won’t be Franco Colapinto’s replacement at Alpine
Colapinto was compared to Daniel Ricciardo by one pundit this weekend on the basis that he’s apparently losing the mental battle. He made a spectacular start at Williams last year when he was drafted in for Logan Sargeant, but he’s lost that spark in 2025.
Alpine have been seen holding talks with Sergio Perez, who lost his Red Bull seat at the end of last year. The team can only field up to four drivers in the space of a season under the rules.
It’s understood that Perez won’t be replacing Colapinto, though, as he instead focuses on Cadillac. The American newcomers still have two vacancies.
Should Briatore decide to axe his long-term loan signing, Paul Aron is likely to be the beneficiary. The former F2 star is part of Alpine’s reserve pool.
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