Kevin Magnussen – Syndication Server

Magnussen gets BMW works driver role

BMW M Motorsport has confirmed that current Formula 1 driver Kevin Magnussen will become one of its works drivers in 2025 and join the marque’s roster for its FIA WEC Hypercar and/or IMSA GTP program with the M Hybrid V8. Magnussen joins the …

Magnussen joins the Bavarian brand after his second spell in F1 with Haas ends after this weekend’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. It will make a second foray into top-class sports cars for the Dane following his run with Cadillac in 2021. Then, he completed a full season in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, where he achieved one victory and five podium finishes in the DPi category. That same year, he also competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in an LMP2 car alongside his father, Jan Magnussen.

BMW’s full driver line-up for both IMSA and WEC will be announced at a later date, along with further information about Magnussen’s commitments.

“Kevin Magnussen is an outstanding addition to our LMDh program,” Andreas Roos, head of BMW M Motorsport, said. “He has regularly demonstrated his speed at the highest level in Formula 1 over the past decade. Thanks to his extensive experience, he is a true asset to our project.

“His previous full season with a sports car prototype in 2021 is another advantage for us, as it will surely ease his acclimatization to the BMW M Hybrid V8. I am very delighted that Kevin Magnussen is part of the BMW M Motorsport family now.”

Magnussen added: “I am happy and proud to represent such an iconic motorsport brand as BMW in some of the world’s most legendary races. After 10 years in Formula 1, I am embarking on a new and exciting chapter and I look forward to taking on the challenge in the most innovative and advanced sports cars in the history of endurance racing.

“A huge thank you to BMW M Motorsport for this fantastic opportunity. I can hardly wait to start the preparations and look forward to kicking off the 2025 season with the rest of the team.”

Drivers throw support behind GM F1 entry

A number of the Formula 1 drivers have backed General Motors’ arrival in the sport with the Cadillac brand, with the likes of Valtteri Bottas and Kevin Magnussen open to future race seat opportunities with the team. F1 announced it is working …

F1 announced it is working towards GM joining the grid in 2026, whereby the team will run under the Cadillac name and use a customer power unit deal until its own works engine is ready in 2028. Its addition will expand the field to 11 teams and 22 cars, and Lewis Hamilton said it will also provide extra positions for engineers and mechanics as well as drivers.

“I think it’s great,” Hamilton said. “I’ve always been super supportive of having another team; more cars on the grid. To think of how many more job opportunities that is… I’m so happy to hear that it’s happening.”

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Hamilton is one of the drivers who has raced in a grid of more than 20 cars in the past – the last year being 2016 when the Manor team was last competing – and Fernando Alonso similarly backed a project that includes some of his former colleagues such as technical director Nick Chester, advisor Pat Symonds and COO Rob White.

“Eleventh team, 22 drivers, it’s not the first time that we will be 22 on the grid,” Alonso said. “It’s a complex decision for the sport in general but if they came to that conclusion it’s because it’s the best for everybody. I will always support whatever management think that is the best.

“For the team personnel, they have a couple of people that were in the Renault days and for sure they will have a huge contribution right now at the very early part of the project, with a lot of experience in Formula 1 and in the sport. So I wish the best of luck. A new team is never an easy task, but I think they will be well prepared and they have the right people.”

For many of the younger drivers it will be the first time they race on a grid of more than 20 F1 cars, and Charles Leclerc said that provides more chances for up-and-coming driving talent, too.

“It’s the first time in my career that I’ll be 22 on the grid in F1, and that’s exciting,” Leclerc said. “I also think that there are lots of young drivers waiting for a place in Formula 1, and that will obviously give more opportunities to very talented young drivers that are dreaming to get into Formula 1. So for that, this is a good thing, and cool to have two more cars on the grid.”

Pierre Gasly echoed Leclerc’s sentiments, and emphasized benefits from a racing spectacle point of view.

“It’s exciting,” he said. “It’s going to be my first time to race with 22 cars in F1. So more rivals, probably more action, more racing. So, exciting times. I think it’s been a long topic for quite a long time. So I’m sure if they came to that conclusion, definitely means it’s the best for the sport. So I’m excited about it.”

But it’s not just young drivers who are excited by the prospect. Bottas is out of a seat at the end of this year and said he has spoken to GM already about his availability for 2026.

“I think that’s just increased the chances of getting a seat for 2026, which ultimately is the goal,” Bottas said. “But if not, then there’s lots of other cool things in other series.

“Yes (I’ve had talks), I think for sure I’m not the only one, but of course, it’s interesting for me, and I think it’s great for F1. Great brand, GM is a big backer behind it so, for sure, it’s an interesting project.”

Magnussen is another who is set to drop off the grid next year, and he has history with the manufacturer after racing a Chip Ganassi Racing Cadillac in IMSA in 2021.

“Absolutely, I think it’s exciting to see,” Magnussen said. “It’s a proper competitor coming in, a great name and an OEM who’s going to come in with guns blazing and throw everything at it I’m sure. So it’s exciting for the sport, exciting for the driver market, for the grid.

“You never know of course. I have driven for the factory before in IMSA, it was the factory Cadillac that I drove there, so I know the management, I know the people there. They know me. So you don’t know.”

Along with those more experienced names, Zhou Guanyu – who scored his first points of the season in Qatar on Sunday – has links to the GM entry’s advisory team, and says he’s also looking at the new constructor as a potential opportunity to get back on the grid in just over a year’s time.

“I’m fully aware that GM and also Cadillac joined the grid,” Zhou said. “I think it’s very good for the sport in general because a lot of people are always talking about having not enough seats for the people, the young drivers available. Clearly, I think we have a lot of young drivers for next year.

“From my position, it’s a great opportunity and a great chance for next season when I’m not having a seat. So I can probably think about what the future will be and try to have an opportunity there. So I’m aware of that.

“But everything was just only announced this week. We still need to go through further details a bit more on that. But for me, my priority is trying to have another chance of coming back on the grid. So for me, I don’t really have where I go, but if there’s a chance to grab, I will absolutely take it.”

Magnussen expects Qatar to be F1’s ‘hardest race of the year’

Kevin Magnussen says the Qatar Grand Prix is likely to be the hardest race of the year due to the nature of the circuit and potential weather conditions. Last year was Formula 1’s second visit to race in Qatar, but the first time with the new …

Kevin Magnussen says the Qatar Grand Prix is likely to be the hardest race of the year due to the nature of the circuit and potential weather conditions.

Last year was Formula 1’s second visit to race in Qatar, but the first time with the new generation of cars. The high-speed circuit is already a physical challenge but racing in October made for high temperatures and humidity that led to a number of drivers struggling to complete the race. This year the temperatures are set to be lower, but Magnussen says the schedule and track layout combine to really test the drivers.

“Qatar is the hardest race of the year, probably,” Magnussen said. “It’s super high-speed, and unique in the sense that it’s more like a motorbike track rather than a Formula 1 track. It’s got a very particular flow to it — you’re never really braking in a straight line, you’re more kind of sailing.

“It’s the final Sprint of the year, so that’s always another thing to think about, and the time zone change is going to be a challenge. Last year it was the opposite way around — we went from Qatar to America — and honestly it’s hard to figure it all out as it’s pretty hard to adjust. You can’t find a way around it, it just takes time, so we’re going to be jet-lagged!”

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Nico Hulkenberg’s performance coach Martin Poole admits there is little that can be done about the significant time zone swing, with the race at Lusail starting at 7pm local time — the equivalent of 8am at the last race venue in Las Vegas.

“Qatar is one of the most physically demanding tracks we visit,” Poole said. “The ambient temperature is very hot, which we saw last year, but as we’re returning a few weeks later hopefully it will be a bit cooler. It’s still going to pose a big physical challenge for the drivers; it’s physical anyway, but with the heat it’s very difficult.

“It’s going to be very important to stay very well hydrated and we’ll be using all the cooling methods that we have available to us, such as the traditional ice bath, iced towels, making sure he’s drinking lots of cool drinks and staying out of the heat whenever possible.

“Moving from Vegas to Qatar timing-wise will be difficult — there’s no easy way to do it so we’ll do the best job we can to get into a good sleep pattern as soon as we get to Qatar. Nico’s quite good at sleeping well and finding time in the day to nap if he needs to, so I’m sure we’ll get through it.”

Bearman replaces ill Magnussen at Haas for Sao Paulo Sprint

Oliver Bearman will race for Haas in the Sprint at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, in place of Kevin Magnussen. Haas has announced that Magnussen is sick and will not be able to drive on Friday, leading to a substitute call-up for reserve driver Bearman. …

Oliver Bearman will race for Haas in the Sprint at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, in place of Kevin Magnussen.

Haas has announced that Magnussen is sick and will not be able to drive on Friday, leading to a substitute call-up for reserve driver Bearman. With only one free practice session ahead of competitive running on Friday, Bearman will take part in FP1 and Sprint qualifying, with the latter session also mandating he must race in Saturday’s Sprint.

“MoneyGram Haas F1 Team driver Kevin Magnussen will not participate in Friday’s track running at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix after suffering with sickness,” a team statement read. “Official reserve driver Oliver Bearman will take over driving duties. The team wishes Kevin a quick recovery and will provide a further update in due course.”

While Bearman will race in the Sprint due to qualifying the car on Friday afternoon, Magnussen is able to attempt to return on Saturday if he feels well enough to complete qualifying for the grand prix itself. If he qualifies the car, he will be permitted to start the race, but if Magnussen is not able to drive in qualifying then he cannot take part in Sunday’s grand prix.

Fernando Alonso was also suffering from an intestinal infection following last week’s race in Mexico City but is set to take part in FP1 for Aston Martin.

Komatsu praises Magnussen for “amazing” Mexico performance

Kevin Magnussen’s drive to seventh place in the Mexico City Grand Prix was the best performance he has produced for Haas, according to team principal Ayao Komatsu. Haas entered Sunday’s race off the back of scoring in five straight events, including …

Kevin Magnussen’s drive to seventh place in the Mexico City Grand Prix was the best performance he has produced for Haas, according to team principal Ayao Komatsu.

Haas entered Sunday’s race off the back of scoring in five straight events, including the Sprint in Austin, and lined up with Magnussen seventh on the grid and Nico Hulkenberg 10th. Magnussen did not lose a position in the race and kept a fast-charging Oscar Piastri at bay in the closing laps, ending up just four seconds behind sixth-placed Max Verstappen.

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“Singapore, I expected him to be strong and we didn’t quite get there, but then in Austin he was so strong,” Komatsu told SiriusXM. “He was strong in the Sprint, he was strong in the race, but we didn’t operate correctly as a race team in the race so he should have scored points in the main race as well.

“Here (in Mexico), from FP1, he was strong. And it’s very difficult to put a lap together here in qualifying, but when it counted, when the pressure was on in Q3, his lap was amazing.

“Then to deliver this race performance, I think this is the best race performance I’ve seen from Kev. Especially in that second stint, once Piastri was behind us, his pace was incredible. He was quicker than Max!

“We are looking at [the gap to Verstappen]. Of course we are completely focused on beating Piastri, you don’t get too greedy, but it just doesn’t take away from the fact that it was just amazing. In Sector 1 I remember watching sometimes Kevin was taking three tenths out of Max, but we were constantly telling him the gap to Piastri because we knew Piastri had something in reserve, which he did.

“A couple of laps from the end he closed at a second a lap, but it was just an incredible drive, such consistency. I think every single lap was like qualifying. It was amazing.”

Magnussen himself said he was proud to be able to capitalize on Haas’s improving form Haas is showing, and with to be able to respond to missing out on points in the main race at COTA.

“Only just!” Magnussen said of beating Piastri. “It was very tight and I knew when he was sort of [going to arrive] – with 20 laps to go I could do the math and say ‘OK, it’s going to be a tough one’. But the tires just lasted really well, so his tires went off more than mine. He was still quicker than me at the end, but he just stopped catching up that fast, so we just about managed to keep him at bay.

“I think it’s nice to get the maximum out of this weekend while we had the strength and real competitiveness – it’s good to capitalize on that. We didn’t feel like we did that last week, we scored points in the Sprint but completely made a blunder in the race, so really good to come back from that.

“I’m very proud. It’s been some turnaround for this team, I think there’s a bright future ahead for Haas.”

Magnussen jokes he’s ready to cause chaos on return from ban

Kevin Magnussen says it’s funny that he is now free to race even more aggressively than in the past at the Singapore Grand Prix, having served a one-race ban last weekend. Oliver Bearman replaced Magnussen at Haas in Baku because the Dane had …

Kevin Magnussen says it’s funny that he is now free to race even more aggressively than in the past at the Singapore Grand Prix, having served a one-race ban last weekend.

Oliver Bearman replaced Magnussen at Haas in Baku because the Dane had accumulated 12 penalty points within a 12-month period, leading to an automatic race suspension. The final two points were earned by light contact when trying to overtake Pierre Gasly in Monza, but with just seven rounds remaining and a clean license after the ban, Magnussen says he won’t change his approach.

“You get punished, and then you come back, and you’re like all ready to f**k s**t up now!” Magnussen said. “It’s funny how that works.

“In a way, it hasn’t really affected me. I think with those points, it was annoying to have the knowledge that the next time anything happens, there’s a race ban. It’s nice to know that’s not a factor anymore. But I actually don’t think it has affected me in how I’ve driven. I’ve really tried to say, ‘Look, I need to crack on here, and whatever happens, happens.’

“I don’t think it’s going to change anything. In that moment in Monza, in all the battles I’ve had, I’ve never found myself thinking, ‘Oh, I need to be careful here, otherwise I get a race ban.’ In those races before Baku, before the race ban, I didn’t think about it.”

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Magnussen was also critical of the way the penalty points system punishes drivers who might make mistakes when they attempt to fight on track, as he feels it will discourage hard racing.

“My own opinion is it’s not a great situation for F1, I think, to restrict racing in that way. It feels bad when the sport you love so much changes in a way you don’t appreciate,” he said. “I like hard racing, and I think that’s a big part of the beauty of motorsport, is the battles. The on-the-limit-and-slightly-over, that balance between going slightly over and under the limit is what makes your race.

“At the moment, it feels like they’re punishing ridiculous things. Personally as a Formula 1 fan, I’d like to see the sport open up again and allowing the great racing that can be seen on-track.

“The penalty points thing is… a slightly strange one. Maybe it would be better to kind of give race bans for extraordinarily dangerous driving, or for a specific incident, and not like accumulate. Because it can get into situations where you get punished harder than others because, like in my case, I came into the season with zero points, accumulated all of them, and then I knew the rest of the season that none of these points were running out.

“I actually got punished harder because of not having had any points last year. So in a way, I should have got some points last year!

“But I just think it’s a very complex thing. So for me to sit here and say, ‘We should do this, this and this, and that would be the right way forward,’ is very difficult. I’ve raced in IndyCar, I’ve watched the races on television, and I think they have it going over there. They have fantastic racing. The drivers are respectful to each other. They’re left with that responsibility in their hands, and I think that works.

“It has to be tough, and these cars are put on-track with the knowledge that they might get damaged, and if they do, the driver that damages the car, he gets penalized naturally.

“I think the only thing that is different in Formula 1 to IndyCar are the tracks. The tracks are not great for racing, with all this track limits stuff — I got all my penalty points pretty much for track limits. At the end of the day, I think that’s kind of stupid, to be a few centimeters out of a white line and end up with a race ban because of that, it’s not the sport I love.”

F1 drivers call for review of penalty points after Magnussen ban

Multiple Formula 1 drivers have said they expect the series’ penalty points system to be reviewed as a result of Kevin Magnussen’s one-race ban at this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Magnussen picked up the final two penalty points that triggered …

Multiple Formula 1 drivers have said they expect the series’ penalty points system to be reviewed as a result of Kevin Magnussen’s one-race ban at this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Magnussen picked up the final two penalty points that triggered the ban for causing a collision with Pierre Gasly in Monza, with light contact between the pair resulting in both drivers run off at the second chicane and continue in the order they arrived. Magnussen had been attempting to overtake but was penalized after reaching 12 penalty points within the past 12 months, and his teammate Nico Hulkenberg believes such a ban risks harming the quality of racing overall.

“I didn’t see two penalty points in that, and a 10-second penalty is very harsh in my opinion, and most drivers feel the same way about that,” Hulkenberg said. “I had a case with Fernando [Alonso] in the Austria Sprint race where I tried to make a move into Turn 3, locked up, went wide and he had to go off the track, but that is racing.

“To overtake, we have to leave our comfort zone, and take some risks and then this kind of thing happens sometimes. In my case with Fernando, and also with [Magnussen and] Pierre, both drivers said: ‘It’s nothing’ so it seems that whenever there is a little bit of contact, the stewards want to get involved, they want to have a consequence for it.

“The drivers feel that it isn’t really necessary for every contact so maybe the penalty guidelines need to be reviewed and changed because we need to be able to race and it is just difficult otherwise.

“It will be boring and dull as we can’t race anymore — we’ll just get penalized all the time. But I am sure it will come up in the drivers’ meeting, and there will be talks with [race director] Niels Wittich.”

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Hulkenberg’s point of view was largely shared by Alex Albon, although the Williams driver felt Magnussen had exploited the rules at earlier points in the season and was deserving of some stronger punishments on other occasions.

“I don’t think anyone’s a real fan of it,” Albon said. “Punishment in the race itself should be what’s done. If I look back at the incidents which Kevin created in a couple of races, those races he should have been penalized much more than he was. That set a precedent and he kept repeating them. It’s got a little bit messy.

“There’s been a couple that have been dangerous, but some of them have not been. So it seems a little bit odd. It even seems odd that it resets straight after your one-race ban and then you are on a clean slate again. So I don’t quite understand it.

“We have spoken about it in drivers’ briefings. Everyone’s under an understanding that we’ve just got to shuffle the system around a little bit. It needs to be a little more forgiving around what constitutes penalty points. If it’s done right it can be OK to have. I think the whole system is going to get reworded. Some of it will be addressed for next year.”

Yuki Tsunoda suggested the threshold needs to be increased given the number of races that are now taking place over a 12-month period.

“I was in a similar situation and almost got banned two years ago,” Tsunoda said. “The penalty points didn’t seem to be changed over the last 10 years, since they were introduced. Now, it feels like the penalty points should get a little bit more compliant — it seems kind of strict for 24 races. But at the same time everyone is in the same position, so we have to deal with it.”

As much as Magnussen’s move on Gasly has been defended as not worthy of triggering a ban by most drivers, George Russell says there needs to be a line drawn somewhere for repeat offenses, and that Magnussen had multiple other incidents that could not be allowed to reoccur.

“It’s a conversation which has been had in previous years as drivers sail close to the wind,” Russell said. “No one has been banned in 12 years so, you could argue, were the penalty points harsh enough?

“His penalty points in Monza were harsh but you could argue that some of the others were not harsh enough. Also, we need to set a precedent for the junior series. You shouldn’t be able to get away with dangerous or erratic driving. At some point, you need to be punished for it.”

‘Where is the logic?’ Magnussen fumes over Monza penalty

Kevin Magnussen was left “flat out, just completely confused” by the penalty he received in the Italian Grand Prix that triggered a race ban. The Haas driver attempted to overtake Pierre Gasly into the second chicane, but locked up and the pair …

Kevin Magnussen was left “flat out, just completely confused” by the penalty he received in the Italian Grand Prix that triggered a race ban.

The Haas driver attempted to overtake Pierre Gasly into the second chicane, but locked up and the pair banged wheels, both running wide and continuing. Magnussen was handed a 10s time penalty for causing a collision, with the standard two penalty points that came with it taking him to a total of 12 and triggered a one-race suspension for the next event in Baku.

“I’m frustrated about the penalty — I don’t understand it at all,” Magnussen said. “Flat out, just completely confused. We raced hard into Turn 4, we had slight contact and we both missed the corner, we came back on track again, no damage to either car, no consequence in the race for either of us and I get a 10s penalty.

“Then lap one, [Daniel] Ricciardo and Nico [Hulkenberg]… Ricciardo put Nico on the grass at 300kmh, completely destroyed Nico’s race, massive consequence and damage to Nico’s car and he gets a 5s penalty. Where is the logic? I just don’t get it.”

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The time penalty still didn’t demote Magnussen out of the points, dropping him from ninth to 10th, just 0.1s ahead of Fernando Alonso in the final classification. As he was speaking immediately after getting out of the car, he admitted he hadn’t seen the official document from the stewards yet confirming his ban, but had been true to his word that he wouldn’t change the way he raced in order to try and get the best result.

“I only know I have the two points from you; I haven’t heard it officially,” he said to the media. “But I said all the time I am not going to hold back. It doesn’t make sense. I scored a point today, so see you later.”

Team principal Ayao Komatsu confirmed to SiriusXM that Oliver Bearman was the likely replacement for Magnussen in Azerbaijan, but that he would need final approval from Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur.

“It’s a time penalty so we cannot do anything,” Komatsu said. “We just accept it and then just have to put a plan in place. It’s a shame because [at] Baku, I think Kev would be really strong. That’s a circuit where he’s strong, so it’s a shame.

“I cannot say [if Bearman will drive] at this minute; I need to get confirmation from Fred. It’s [TBD].”

Magnussen picks up one-race ban for Baku after Monza contact

Kevin Magnussen had his one-race ban confirmed by the FIA after picking up more penalty points at the Italian Grand Prix. The Dane was handed a 10s time penalty and two penalty points for causing a collision with Pierre Gasly, with the contact …

Kevin Magnussen had his one-race ban confirmed by the FIA after picking up more penalty points at the Italian Grand Prix.

The Dane was handed a 10s time penalty and two penalty points for causing a collision with Pierre Gasly, with the contact between the two at the second chicane seeing both miss the corner but continue. Magnussen has been walking a tightrope on 10 penalty points for a number of months — with 12 within a 12-month period triggering a ban — and the two given to him in Monza led to his Super License being suspended for the next race in Baku.

“On the approach to Turn 4, Car No. 20 attempted to overtake Car No. 10 on the inside,” the stewards’ explanation read. “While Car No. 20 had its front axle past the mirror of Car No. 10, the Driving Standards Guidelines specify that an overtaking car has to ‘be driven in a safe and controlled manner throughout the maneuver.’

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“The stewards determined that this was not the case for Car No. 20 and hence the driver was wholly to blame for the collision and hence the standard penalty and penalty points are allocated.”

Following that explanation, a separate document from the stewards confirmed: “The Super License of the driver of Car No. 20 is suspended for the next competition of the 2024 FIA Formula One World Championship.

“Following this suspension, 12 penalty points will be removed.”

Haas is likely to promote reserve driver Oliver Bearman — who will replace Magnussen at the team in 2025 — into the seat in Azerbaijan, although that is pending final approval from Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur as he’s a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy and was due to race in Formula 2 that weekend.

Now Sainz is signed, who’s steering the F1 driver market?

It was not even 24 hours after the Belgian Grand Prix had ended, when members of Formula 1 teams were preparing to take a few weeks off during August, that Carlos Sainz finally announced his next move. Sainz had been described as the cork in the …

Sainz had been described as the cork in the bottle by Kevin Magnussen – on the record, and in sometimes more colorful language by multiple other drivers off it – when it came to the driver market, with so many teams showing interest and making offers to the Spaniard.

Realistically Sainz’s options came down to a choice between Williams, Alpine and Stake/Sauber/Audi, and while Sainz’s decision has brought clarity for the first of that trio’s situation, the other two still have vacancies that need filling.

Further clarity may be imminent as the paddock reconvenes in Zandvoort this weekend, but there’s also a chance there’s going to be less of a rush as neither team appears to have been able to secure their first choice.

If we start with the more competitive of the two at the moment, Alpine might finally be about to promote one of its junior drivers into a race seat – and fair play to the team for putting itself in that position given its ongoing off-track instability and where it started this season.

It’s always tough to compare drivers, but the success of Oscar Piastri after a year in the reserve role at Enstone shows that Alpine can prepare young talent even if it hasn’t always then handled their contracts effectively, and Jack Doohan has been following in his fellow Australian’s footsteps over the past two years.

This year is far more similar to Piastri’s final year with Alpine, as Doohan isn’t racing but solely focused on the reserve and development role, and he has made a strong case for a chance in F1 with testing outings on top of some of his previous F2 performances.

But he’s not alone on that list, with Valtteri Bottas still on the market and serving as an experienced option should Alpine want to head that way. So is his current teammate Zhou Guanyu, a former Renault junior who never got a shot in a race seat with the team. The latter could bring backing as well as some experience now, but would also be a slightly harsh call over Doohan.

Mick Schumacher has ties through Alpine’s hypercar program and will also be a consideration, and Kevin Magnussen is also a free agent if the team wants more experience and doesn’t get Bottas.

Bottas and Magnussen are both experienced options. Andy Hone/Motorsport Images

The future Audi project has been a bit of a mess over the past 18 months, and it has shown through the managerial changes that have taken place recently, alongside the fact it couldn’t convince Sainz to join.

But the hirings of Mattia Binotto and Jonathan Wheatley are strong ones, and all of the drivers above will hold some interest in being part of the transition next year. Sebastian Vettel’s name has also been linked with a return to F1 with Audi, although Helmut Marko clarified he was one of multiple options he mentioned as attractive German drivers that could partner Nico Hulkenberg.

Such is the lack of clear expectations over where the team goes next after missing out on Sainz, however, that even the name of Formula 2 title contender Gabriel Bortoleto has cropped up in passing. The Brazilian impressed in his rookie year, but is part of the McLaren young driver setup.

The lack of firm interest from Mercedes in Sainz was somewhat surprising to Williams team principal James Vowles, but it also served to somewhat keep Toto Wolff’s team out of the limelight when it comes to its driver situation. In any other year, there would be incessant focus on the vacancy at Mercedes, with the team needing to replace the most successful driver in F1 history when Lewis Hamilton heads for Ferrari.

That’s not to say there hasn’t been attention on Mercedes, but certainly less than you might have expected for that seat given the way the driver market has been playing out, and with the growing feeling that it will be Andrea Kimi Antonelli making the step up as a rookie.

Antonelli turns 18 at the end of this weekend, and that opens up the possibility of him making an FP1 appearance at his home race in Monza. He has tested for Mercedes already this year, but it would be another step on the path towards a full-time race seat if he were to get a Friday practice outing. If he does, take it as a sign of the continuing trend towards Antonelli partnering George Russell in 2025.

Lawson and Perez’s futures have been constant talking points. Andy Hone/Motorsport Images

And the other factor to keep in mind, despite comments at the start of the break, is the ongoing focus at Red Bull relating to Sergio Perez.

Marko promised a decision on reserve driver Liam Lawson next month – meaning in September – and he’s certainly a strong candidate for the as-yet-unconfirmed RB seat, but that doesn’t mean there couldn’t be movement elsewhere too.

The decision from Red Bull to stick by Perez and show faith in him heading into the break was sensible in the way that it meant there were no doubts or strong rumors during those few weeks. But that also doesn’t mean the team is guaranteeing him his spot indefinitely.

The focus will be on making sure the car helps Perez feel more confident behind the wheel, and Red Bull is taking on its share of the responsibility on that front. But if there is not an upturn in performances and results alongside that work, then Perez is not immune from replacement.

That could provide a lifeline to Daniel Ricciardo, who is currently staring at a departure from RB unless he produces some remarkable performances. He probably needs to be doing that anyway, but if Perez does regain the type of form that he had at the start of the season then there won’t be room for Ricciardo at Red Bull and Lawson could well be replacing him in 2025. And that’s without factoring in the job Isack Hadjar is doing in F2, where he leads the championship.

Decisions and announcements could come at any time, but what it all adds up to is at least the potential for a quiet spell, because Mercedes and RB look extremely likely to promote from within their own ranks.

Alpine and Stake then have a large number of potential candidates to choose from. The ball is now more in their courts than Sainz’s, as was the case previously, so if they don’t make quick commitments there could still be a few twists and turns in the market yet.