The 2024 Formula 1 driver market likely ended the careers of several established drivers. And more could soon follow them to the sporting graveyard.
Logan Sargeant has been quickly forgotten in F1 circles after Williams axed him at the midway point of the campaign. Replacement Franco Colapinto initially impressed but is now fighting for his own future on loan at Alpine.
Daniel Ricciardo considers himself retired after losing his Racing Bulls seat with a quarter of the season to go. Sergio Perez, Kevin Magnussen, Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu were all let go after the finale in Abu Dhabi.
DRIVERTEAM2025Logan SargeantWilliamsInactiveDaniel RicciardoRacing BullsRetiredKevin MagnussenHaasWECValtteri BottasSauberMercedes reserveZhou GuanyuSauberFerrari reserveSergio PerezRed BullInactiveWhat happened to the F1 drivers who lost their seats last year?
Perez and Bottas are set to join Cadillac, much to the disappointment of Zhou. Magnussen hasn’t been linked with that seat, nor any other, as he focuses on other racing commitments.
Colapinto is also looking at alternative series, and predecessor Jack Doohan may have to follow the same path. Over in the Red Bull stable, Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda are fighting for their careers.
Yuki Tsunoda’s Formula 1 career is under threat – not just Red Bull seat
It’s already been reported that Tsunoda has an ‘almost zero percent’ chance of being on the grid in 2026. While that would be an enormous blow to a driver with 30 points finishes in 101 races, plenty have recovered in the past.
Alex Albon has transformed his image since returning with Williams in 2022, a year after Red Bull let him go. Nico Hulkenberg’s comeback has now delivered a fairytale podium finish and Esteban Ocon, who spent a year as the Mercedes reserve between stints at Racing Bulls and Renault (now Alpine), is also in the top 10.
As outlined above, Perez and Bottas could be the next to return.
Photo by Bryn Lennon – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images
But fears around Tsunoda are worsening. According to Autosport Web, ‘his once-promising career may be on the brink of collapse’.
Tsunoda’s agent has spoken to Cadillac, while he’s also been linked with Aston Martin in the past. However, neither of those moves are likely to materialise for 2026, and it may be that December’s Abu Dhabi GP – the final race of his Red Bull contract – is his last F1 appearance.
Only one Red Bull employee would have been disappointed by Max Verstappen pledging to stay
Tsunoda could have few complaints if indeed Red Bull release him. He’s fallen to 18th in the championship after scoring just seven points in his first 12 appearances.
Tsunoda is producing the worst results since the David Coulthard era, when Red Bull were a midfield team. In his defence, many feel that’s where they would be without Max Verstappen.
Still, Tsunoda needed Verstappen to leave to boost his prospects. With Lawson improving, Isack Hadjar pushing for a promotion to the main team and Arvid Lindblad poised to step up to F1, there are five candidates for four seats.
Albon and Pierre Gasly, the team leader at Alpine, have proven that drivers shouldn’t be written off based on their performance against Verstappen. But it remains to be seen whether there’s an appetite in the paddock to give Tsunoda another chance.