Top 5 F1 prospects who could make their way to the grid by 2025

The 2024 F1 grid will feature the same drivers that the 2023 season ended with. In terms of driver market commotion, this is the first time that something like this has happened.

However, the 2024 F1 season's driver market is going to be a true musical chairs situation. There are far too many drivers whose contracts end at the end of this season.

What this could eventually do is create an atmosphere where not only is there going to be a real shuffle amongst the teams but there's going to be a keen eye on a few that are not part of the grid yet but looking to get in.

In this piece, we are taking a look at five F1 prospects that could be in contention for a seat on the 2025 grid.

#1 Liam Lawson (AlphaTauri)

Arguably one of the only drivers in this list who could be termed a 'proven entity' in F1 already.

The New Zealander has already made his debut in the sport in 2023, having served as a replacement for Daniel Ricciardo and impressed everyone. He's someone Red Bull is keeping a keen eye on, with Helmut Marko eyeing a seat for him as well.

Lawson should be on the 2025 grid and most likely it's going to be at AlphaTauri. However, if Marko can't get him a seat we might see the Kiwi courting offers from other teams as well.

#2 Ollie Bearman (Haas)

It's not often that a single practice session impresses a team principal like Guenther Steiner. Ollie Bearman impressed Haas in his FP1 outings and Steiner was quite vocal in giving the kid a shot with the team.

Bearman is an interesting prospect and his first season in F2 in 2023 cemented the belief that the kid would make it to F1 one day. Being part of the Ferrari academy means Ollie should find a path to F1, it does remain to be seen how he does in his second F2 season, especially with another young prospect turning heads.

#3 Jack Doohan (Alpine)

If he had better luck and arguably a functioning car at the start of the season in 2023, Jack Doohan would have been the F2 champion.

The Australian driver is very impressive and was compromised by something wrong with his car at the start of the F2 season in 2023. He finished his F2 career with a win and a P3 finish in the championship.

He will be the Alpine reserve driver this year and with both French drivers out of contracts at the end of this season, the French brand could look at Doohan as a potential option.

#4 Kimi Antonelli (Williams)

Now, let's talk about arguably the hottest prospect in Formula 2. Kimi Antonelli is a name that has done the rounds in F1 circles as a prodigy who could be the next Max Verstappen. His junior career has been splendid and he's getting fast-tracked into F2.

Realistically he should not be a title contender this season but being a Prema driver and having a ton of support from Mercedes boss Toto Wolff means he will be as prepared as one driver could be.

If somehow Antonelli can adapt quickly to F2 then all bets are off and we're looking at the young Italian being promoted to a Williams seat.

#5 Theo Pourchaire (Stake F1 team)

Finally, a name that should arguably have been on the F1 grid this season alongside Valtteri Bottas is Theo Pourchaire. After a scintillating start to his F2 career in 2021, Pourchaire has not set the world on fire in the other two years in the series.

Yes, he won the championship in 2023 but there were far too many question marks over drivers around him who were maybe better but just unlucky to miss out.

Having said that, an F2 champion is a badge that should mean something and Pourchaire is one driver who could be looking at the Sauber/Stake F1 team for an opportunity in the car for 2025.