Formula One is argued by many to be the pinnacle of motor sports. Having only 20 seats available per season, not only are people watching the seasonal races, they also get to watch many drivers come and go throughout each season.
At the end of the 2024 season, it was known that Sergio “Checo” Perez would no longer have his Red Bull Racing seat for the 2025 season. Fans across the world were outraged, some relieved. I personally believe that, while it wasn’t an expected outcome (some people might say otherwise), it was one that will allow for other possibilities.
With Cadillac coming into the racing world, specifically Formula One, it leaves room for Checo to come back into the racing scene for the 2026 season. However, it is believed that Cadillac would want an American driver to fill up one of their spots. Even though Checo is backed up by some pretty big sponsors, such as Disney, Telmex and Jalisco, due to his performance last season it will be hard for a team to pick him to be in one of their seats.
Perez’s departure from the Red Bull team caused many to think that the team would have Yuki Tsunoda in its second seat. However, he was not a contestant for that spot. I believe Tsunoda to be a great driver with loads of potential. It is not likely that that potential will shine in a team like Visa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team (Can we go back to it being named Alpha Tauri or Toro Rosso?) It is likely he will be doomed with the same future as his ex-teammate Pierre Gasly.
When it comes to Carlos Sainz and his move to Williams Racing, I think that it is going to be a tough few seasons for Sainz. However, having signed a multi-year contract with the team, I believe it leaves room for improvement from the team. Williams has a great history with a harsh present, which is why Sainz’s move was a huge shock and disappointment to many of his fans. I think the move can potentially give Sainz an opportunity to perform even better than he had been doing with Ferrari. Sainz has also now become one of four drivers in Formula One history to have driven for Willliams, Ferrari and McLaren. Having both Sainz and Alex Albon, it is likely that Williams will start performing better than they have in the last couple of years.
As for seven-time world champion (or eight, depending on who you ask) Lewis Hamilton, I believe his move to Ferrari will result in the same path as the one and only Sebastian Vettel, four-time Formula One world champion. While he is an amazing driver, I think it is more so the team that will end up setting him back with the funky strategies that they have at times. I do deem it likely that Ferrari will win the Constructors Champion once and for all, having last won it in 2008.
We are going to see a very competitive season within most teams, as well as a lot of drama, such as Jack Doohan only having a five-race contract and the likelihood of Alpine F1 Team having Franco Colapinto step-in and much more. With that being said, I think this upcoming season will be one worth watching.
