London, Aug 4 (AP) Formula 1 is entering its annual pause, allowing its daring drivers, dedicated engineers, and busy team principals a well-deserved break. With four weeks to go until the next race, all racing operations will be put on hold for a mandatory 14-day shutdown starting next week.
This period, known in F1 circles as "silly season," is typically dominated by contract discussions and swirling rumors. Speculation has been rife about Max Verstappen potentially switching from Red Bull to Mercedes. However, with Verstappen confirming his stay at Red Bull, contract negotiations, particularly at Mercedes, may now accelerate.
Russell at Mercedes
Most F1 teams anticipated the major regulation changes set for 2026 and pre-emptively secured their star drivers with lengthy contract extensions in preceding years. The aim was to ensure seasoned drivers are on hand to aid in car development until 2025, ahead of the major changes in 2026.
Mercedes, however, has taken a somewhat unique approach. While there have been inquiries about Verstappen, team principal Toto Wolff has yet to finalize contract renewals for George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, who are only contracted through 2025. Both drivers progressed through Mercedes' young driver program, granting the team considerable influence over their careers. "Mercedes manage me as well, so there's not really a deadline in my hands," Russell, a four-time Grand Prix winner, mentioned last month, revealing he hasn't had talks with any other team. Antonelli, now 18, impressed initially in his debut F1 season but has seen his form wane a bit recently.
Red Bull's Other Seats
Though Verstappen's decision alleviates some stress, Red Bull still has three open spots to address—one at Red Bull Racing and two at Racing Bulls. It's still uncertain who will make the final call, especially after longtime team principal Christian Horner was dismissed. If the decision to replace Sergio Perez last year was meant to yield better results, it hasn't paid off. Liam Lawson lasted only two races as Verstappen's teammate, while Yuki Tsunoda has garnered points only thrice in twelve race weekends since being promoted.
The partnership with Honda also concludes this year, potentially affecting Honda-backed Tsunoda's future. French rookie Isack Hadjar, racing for Racing Bulls, has surpassed both Tsunoda and Lawson in terms of points this season and might lead the race for the Red Bull seat. Furthermore, Red Bull-affiliated Formula 2 driver Arvid Lindblad received a super license exception from the FIA in June ahead of turning 18.
Cadillac's Entrance
Valtteri Bottas raised eyebrows in June with playful comments on social media about a Cadillac, further embedding him in fans' minds as a top contender for a spot with the new GM-backed team for 2026. Both Bottas and Perez are race winners who have drawn significant fan support, even though both endured lackluster performances in 2024 and aren't participating in 2025. Their experience might be valuable for the new team, though other possible candidates include Ferrari reserve Zhou Guanyu, known for potentially attracting immense sponsorship from China, or ex-Haas driver Mick Schumacher, the son of legendary seven-time champion Michael Schumacher.
The Alpine Carousel
Often ruthless, Alpine has yet to find success. After replacing Esteban Ocon with Jack Doohan at the end of 2024, they soon replaced Doohan with Franco Colapinto just six races into 2025. Given that neither driver has scored points for Alpine, the search for a stable partner for Pierre Gasly remains ongoing. One potential candidate is Alpine reserve Paul Aron, poised to become the first Estonian in F1. Despite two practice stints with Sauber, misfortune struck last week when his car failed after a mere eight laps. (AP) APA APA
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