As the 2024 Formula One season comes to a close, the motorsport world is set to say goodbye to several familiar faces who will be leaving the F1 grid.
F1 Drivers Bid Farewell: Who’s Leaving the Grid in 2024?
This year, a mix of established stars and emerging talents will be moving on to new chapters in their careers. From long-serving veterans to promising rookies, the 2024 season marks the end of an era for some drivers and uncertain futures.
In this article, we take a look at the drivers who will be leaving F1 at the end of 2024, and what led to their exit from the sport.
Valtteri Bottas – A veteran at a crossroads
Bottas has won 10 Grands Prix in 12 seasons. He has also finished second in the Formula One World Drivers’ Championship twice with Mercedes in 2019 and 2020. He joined Sauber (formerly Alfa Romeo) in 2022.
Unfortunately for the Finn, KICK Sauber have decided to let both their drivers go at the end of this season, leaving him with an uncertain future.
With Sauber set to transition into Audi’s works team in 2026, Gabriel Bortoleto has already been confirmed as one of the team’s drivers for 2025, while Nico Hulkenberg’s announcement came earlier in the season.
While Bottas won’t race in F1 next year, rumours suggest he could return to Mercedes as a reserve driver. This potential move might open opportunities in the World Endurance Championship (WEC), where Mercedes is set to debut in 2025.
Zhou Guanyu – Fighting for a seat
Zhou Guanyu made history as the first Chinese driver in Formula 1. His consistency has earned him respect within the paddock. However, like his teammate Bottas, Zhou’s position is precarious as Sauber prepares for its Audi rebranding.
Despite a standout performance in Qatar, where he ended the team’s long pointless streak, Zhou’s seat for 2025 remains unconfirmed. While Hulkenberg and Bortoleto have secured Sauber’s 2025 seats, Zhou faces competition from younger prospects.
Zhou remains in a race against time to prove his worth to other F1 teams.
READ MORE: Sauber Collect First Points in 2024 at the Qatar Grand Prix
Kevin Magnussen – Haas’s longtime soldier
Kevin Magnussen has been loyal to Haas since 2017, returning in 2022 to continue his relationship with the team. However, 2024 will be his seventh and final season with Haas.
The American team have confirmed that Esteban Ocon and Ferrari junior Ollie Bearman will be their drivers for 2025.
A return to F1 in 2025 has been ruled out. BMW M Motorsport recently announced that Kevin Magnussen will race in its LMDh programme starting in 2025.
Whether the Dane will compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and the IMSA SportsCar Championship is yet to be revealed.
His 2025 racing schedule will be announced in due time.
Liam Lawson – Red Bull’s rising star in waiting
Liam Lawson currently drives for RB, having replaced Daniel Ricciardo mid-season. However, his future with the team remains uncertain, as he does not have a confirmed seat for the 2025 season.
While Yuki Tsunoda has already been confirmed for 2025, Lawson’s prospects at Red Bull are clouded by stiff competition from emerging talents.
Despite signing a contract extension with Red Bull, Sergio Perez’s future also hangs in the balance due to his poor performances throughout the 2024 F1 season. Lawson, along with Tsunoda, are considered potential replacements if the team decide to part ways with the Mexican driver.
Additionally, Red Bull’s junior driver Isack Hadjar, who could win the F2 title this weekend, is also vying for a promotion to F1, with RB being a likely destination.
There are also rumours linking Williams’ Franco Colapinto with a potential move to Red Bull. However, the chances of the Argentine driver joining either Red Bull or RB appear slim.
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Franco Colapinto – The rookie with a question mark
Logan Sargeant was replaced by Franco Colapinto halfway through the 2024 season. In his abrupt introduction to F1, he has shown flashes of potential.
However, the team’s decision to sign Carlos Sainz for 2025 leaves Colapinto without a confirmed seat.
Although the Argentine is aware that he will only be driving the car until the end of the year, he is a part of Williams Academy. He will probably continue to be mentored by the team in some capacity after this race stint. That is unless he is able to find a race seat elsewhere.
But whether Colapinto find a race seat elsewhere, or be relegated to a reserve role remains uncertain.
What lies ahead?
As the curtain falls on the 2024 F1 season, the departure of these drivers marks the end of an important chapter in Formula One.
Each of them has left a permanent mark on the sport, whether through impressive performances, determination in the face of challenges, or simply being part of the dynamic world of F1.
While their time on the grid may be coming to an end, their contributions to the sport will not be forgotten.
As new talent rises and the sport continues to evolve, F1 will undoubtedly look different in the years to come.
For the departing drivers, however, the future remains full of opportunities. Their legacy in motorsport will continue to inspire generations to come nonetheless.
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