The 2025 Formula 1 grid is complete. The final moves took place this week, with Sergio Perez announcing his Red Bull exit, Liam Lawson replacing him and Isack Hadjar filling the vacancy at RB.
Even before Lewis Hamilton joined Ferrari, it was clear that the F1 driver market would be manic. More than half the field were out of contract coming into the season.
But Hamilton’s exit was still a seismic and unexpected twist. Carlos Sainz became the most desirable free agent out there – even if Mercedes and Red Bull thought otherwise – as Williams, Alpine and Sauber all clamoured for his signature.
In the end, it was Williams who won a protracted race. Toto Wolff turned to teenage talent Kimi Antonelli to succeed Hamilton instead.
McLaren and Aston Martin both retained their line-ups, but it was all change at Haas, who acquired Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman. Nico Hulkenberg left the American squad to join Sauber, partnering F2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto.
Jack Doohan replaced Ocon at Alpine – even before the 2024 season had finished. Doohan is one of five rookies on the grid, arguably six given that Lawson has yet to complete a full calendar.
Ralf Schumacher doesn’t understand how Jack Doohan secured Alpine drive
Speaking to Sky Germany, former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher warned the drivers that there were more moves to come in the near future. Even after the influx of rookies, he says there are plenty of overlooked young talents applying pressure.
Indeed, the 2025 F1 rookies will be wary of Franco Colapinto, who’s currently set to be Williams reserve driver. While he suffered a spate of late accidents, he also showed formidable speed in his early outings for the team and stands out as a ‘plug and play’ option.
Schumacher is keeping a particularly close eye on Alpine because he believes that Doohan is vulnerable. His suspicion is that Flavio Briatore wasn’t particularly enthusiastic about signing the Australian.
As for Lawson, even though the 22-year-old is still learning, Red Bull will apparently give him just ‘half a season’. If he doesn’t show enough promise in that time, he could face a swift demotion.
“In Formula 1 you don’t have a lot of time,” Schumacher said. “There are enough young drivers who are waiting. I am curious in any case and there will be more things to come, also at Alpine.
“I still can’t believe that Jack Doohan is signed, even though the contract is done. I think Flavio Briatore had other things in mind.
“And that will not be different now at Red Bull. I think he will get half a season. And if he shows it then, he will have a good seat. But next to Max Verstappen that is quite a challenge.”
Why Ralf Schumacher can’t be neutral about Jack Doohan
Contrary to what Schumacher says, Doohan is completely deserving of an F1 seat. His record in the junior formulae was strong – most notably his third-place finish in F2 in 2023.
In all, he won six times in the series, taking five poles and 11 podiums. Doohan also showed a ‘Herculean’ commitment to his reserve duties at Alpine.
It was only fair that those performances, and that attitude, were rewarded. Yes, Sainz would have been a better signing, but he deserves a full year to prove himself.
Unfortunately, the criticism may not be objective. Schumacher hit out at Alpine after his nephew Mick lost out on the seat next to Pierre Gasly, and there could still be some ill feeling.
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