14 drivers entered the 2024 F1 season without a contract for the 2025 campaign. Despite the signings of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton with Ferrari, half the drivers are still without a seat for 2025. But one new driver just got locked up, and it was Fernando Alonso.
Last week it was announced that Fernando Alonso re-signed with Aston Martin. His deal runs through 2026 at the least. Alonso is 42 years old, so his deal will bring him until he’s at least 44 years old. In 2023, he scored 206 points and finished in fourth place in the Drivers’ Championship. This season, he isn’t off to as good of a start, having 24 points in the first four races. Alonso is considered by many to be the greatest driver of all time. Aston Martin locking him up most likely until he retires is a great move. He not only brings a lot to the table on the track but can offer a lot of insight to the team as well.
However, that move shook up the whole paddock. High-end teams like Mercedes and definitely Red Bull might’ve inquired about pursuing him. This makes drivers like Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez more valuable.
Sergio Perez
Sergio Perez has his midseason slumps, but he’s always a reliable source to score you a few points. Last year, he was sitting comfortably in second place. But qualifying and race mishaps allowed Hamilton to keep it interesting. In 2023, Perez finished in second and tallied 285 points. This season, he’s sitting in second place again with 64 points. Red Bull really has no reason to replace him. He’s had consistent results for the team alongside Max Verstappen.
Carlos Sainz
Carlos Sainz has been the most consistent and one of the best drivers in the world even back in his McLaren days. And ever since making the move to Ferrari, he’s gotten even better. In the process, he has gained more respect throughout the sport. Sainz is the only driver to step on the top step of the podium except Max Verstappen for the last two years. There are only two races in the last 28: Singapore and Australia. Sainz finished seventh in the Drivers’ Championship, tallying 200 points. This year, Carlos is sands in fourth place, four points behind his teammate. He has 55 points and a race win. Sainz is arguably the best driver on the market right now.
F1 silly season is officially underway, so expect some big things to come out sooner rather than later.
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