Abu Dhabi, UAE, 8 December 2024: The Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit marks the final race for two seasoned drivers before making team changes for the 2025 season.
Carlos Sainz of Ferrari was replaced early in the year when seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton was announced as Charles Leclerc’s teammate. Sainz took time to weigh his options as the driver market evolved.
With no spot available at Mercedes and no opening at his former team, Red Bull Racing, Sainz considered two viable paths: joining Williams Racing for a development role under James Vowles or moving to Sauber, which will become the Audi F1 factory team in 2026.
Opting for a resurgence at Williams, Sainz will race alongside Alex Albon, creating one of the fastest driver pairings on the grid. The team now faces the challenge of providing both drivers with the car to match their skills and ambitions ahead of the 2026 regulation changes.
Sainz explained his decision, stating, “It was more about the people, the feeling I got from talking to the management and owners, and the overall atmosphere of the organization, rather than just focusing on immediate performance gains.”
He continued, “What truly convinced me wasn’t the added downforce or where the team would be in six months or a year, but the professionalism, the people, and the vision behind the project they were building.”
Sauber eventually found their driver in German F1 veteran Nico Hulkenberg, who will move from Haas to fill the seat previously held by Valtteri Bottas. Hulkenberg will race alongside rookie Gabriel Bortoleto, who replaces Zhou Guanyu.
Hulkenberg’s experience will be a valuable asset for Sauber in 2025, and as a German driver, he aligns well with Audi, which will join as both a constructor and power unit supplier in 2026.
Hulkenberg’s spot at Haas will be filled by French driver Esteban Ocon, who left Alpine after the Qatar race. Ocon will join British driver Oliver Bearman in Haas’ revamped lineup. Ocon was substituted by Jack Doohan for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix before his full season with Alpine next year.
Bearman, however, is eager to prove himself in his first full-time season after impressive stand-in performances. The 19-year-old has a different character from both Ocon and Pierre Gasly but will still provide a tough challenge, potentially helping Haas after a much more successful 2024 season under new team principal Ayao Komatsu.
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