F1 fans been voting for the best driver line-up on the grid ahead of the 2025 season. Three of the top four in the constructors’ championship will field new pairings for this year.
That includes Mercedes. Toto Wolff has promoted teenager and driver academy talent Kimi Antonelli straight from Formula 2 in place of Lewis Hamilton.
George Russell, a three-time Grand Prix winner, should in theory become the team leader. Hamilton partners Charles Leclerc at Ferrari.
| Driver | 2024 Team | 2025 Team |
| Jack Doohan | N/A (Alpine reserve driver) | Alpine |
| Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | Ferrari |
| Esteban Ocon | Alpine | Haas |
| Oliver Bearman | N/A (Ferrari reserve driver) | Haas |
| Isack Hadjar | N/A (Red Bull reserve driver) | Racing Bulls |
| Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | Red Bull |
| Nico Hulkenberg | Haas | Sauber |
| Gabriel Bortoleto | N/A (McLaren development driver) | Sauber |
| Kimi Antonelli | N/A (Mercedes development driver) | Mercedes |
| Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | Williams |
Elsewhere, Red Bull dropped Sergio Perez after separation talks at the end of the season. Like Mercedes, they have taken a gamble by hiring Liam Lawson after just 11 Grands Prix.
McLaren are the only team to retain their 2024 duo. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri signed long-term contracts before last season had started.
In the midfield, Alpine, Haas, RB, Williams and Sauber have all made at least one new signing. Aston Martin offer some rare continuity with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll.
Williams ahead of Mercedes in best F1 driver line-up vote for 2025
Even though Norris and Piastri delivered the constructors’ title last year, they only finished second in the voting. In fact, Hamilton and Leclerc nearly doubled their share with 56% to 29%.
Hamilton is a seven-time world champion and statistically the most successful driver in F1 history. And among those who have yet to win a title, Leclerc has collected the most wins (eight).
There’s then a significant drop-off, with Red Bull third on 6%. The presence of an all-time great in Max Verstappen clearly isn’t enough to outweigh the uncertainty around Lawson.
Williams effectively gatecrash the top four on 5%. They have just signed multiple Grand Prix winner Carlos Sainz to sit next to Alex Albon.
James Vowles’ squad finished second from bottom in the standings last year. Therefore, it’s a surprise to see them ahead of Mercedes, who earned just 1% of the vote.
Mercedes have an ‘extreme’ issue Lewis Hamilton will no longer have to face at Ferrari
Russell’s stock may have suffered from the limitations of his car. After all, he deservedly beat Hamilton last year, but that was only enough for sixth in the championship.
Indeed, former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer has called Russell underrated. On the other side of the garage, Antonelli must justify Mercedes’ hype.
He only finished sixth in the F2 standings, a good effort for a rookie but perhaps not the result one would expect for a fast-tracked Mercedes signing. Antonelli completed 9,000km of test mileage, so perhaps those lap times formed the basis for Wolff’s decision.
Mercedes’ 2024 had ‘extreme’ handling, but they’ll hope the W16 allows both drivers to display their talents. No longer facing that issue, Hamilton’s relative performance at Ferrari will be telling.
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