Five F1 drivers frantically trying to avoid being axed in 2025

Which five F1 drivers are under th🌟e most pressure to avoid being axed for 2025?

(L to R): Valtteri Bottas (FIN) Sauber with team mate Zhou Guanyu (CHN) Sauber on the drivers' parade. Formula 1 World
(L to R): Valtteri Bottas (FIN) Sauber with team mate Zhou Guanyu (CHN) Sauber on the drivers'…

Daniel Ricciardo

Heading into the 2024 F1 season, 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Daniel Ricciardo’s sole aim was to make a swift return to Red Bull alongside 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen. It’s now fair to say that Ricciardo is closer to not being on the grid for 2025 than signing for F1’s leading team൩.

Things haven’t worked outꦍ for Ricciardo in 2024 with his performances reminiscent of his days with McLaren. He’s yet to out-qualify teammate Yuki Tsunoda, and his only t🅷riumph on race day came in Bahrain, benefitting from a RB team orders call.

Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) RB VCARB 01. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 4, Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka, Japan, Qualifying
Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) RB VCARB 01. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 4, Japanese Grand Prix,…

To Ricciardo’s credit, he showed a better turn of pace at Suzuka last time out, despite missing FP1 as Ayumu Iwasa w🀅as handed an outing in the RB and then second practice was unproductive given the weather. However, he threw away a solid starting position with a clumsy incident on the opening lap.

RB are giving Ricciardo a new chassis for China - so there’s no excuses for him now. Ricciardo has to up his game fast or risk losing his seat to 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Liam Lawson.

Logan Sargeant

168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Logan Sargeant shows no sign of improving in his sophomore season at Williams. He’s yet to beat168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: Alex Albon in a competi꧅tive session - qualifying or the race - and errors continue t♈o creep into his driving. 

Ironically, Sargeant performed at his best during the first few races ꦰof his F1 career, showing flashes of speed and potential in Bahrain and Azerbaijan. Since then, Sargeant has continued to disappoint, and a lack of obvious replacement was ultimately why Williams decided to retain him for tꦓhis season.

While it’s unlikely, Sargeant needs an incredible upturn in form to keep his drive for 2025. If the American is replaced, Andrea K🌺imi Antonelli seems likely if Mercedes don't opt for him.

Zhou Guanyu

168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Zhou Guanyu tends to go under the radar for his performances - or lack of. Zhou has been out-qualified 12-1 by 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Valtteri Bottas in the🙈 last 13 races - a remarkable stat given the general perception that the ಞpair are fairly evenly matched as teammates.

In similar fashion to Sargeant, Zhou hasn’t kicked on since his rookie year. By th🌜e middle of 2022, Zhou exceeded everyone’s expectations and the ‘pay driver’ꦫ tag had somewhat disappeared.

Zhou Guanyu (CHN) Sauber C44. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 4, Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka, Japan, Qualifying Day. -
Zhou Guanyu (CHN) Sauber C44. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 4, Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka,…

Since then, while he’s has some high moments (Spain 2023, Hungary 2023 qualifying) generally speaking, they have been few and far between. In 2023, he was knocked out in Qꦯ1 on 15 occasions - only Sargeant (17) had more eliminations. 

While the Sauber package since the start of 2023 has rarely threatened the top 10, Zhou has stagnated, often going mi𝐆ssing during weekends. With Audi gearing up for their F1 entry in 2026, they will be keen to have two high-performing drivers.

Unfortunaꦿtely, on the evidence of the last two and a bit years, Zhou isn’t that𒅌.

Kevin Magnussen

With Oliver Bearman waiting in the wings, 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Kevin Magnussen is another driver fighting fo🌟r his F1 future. To Magnussen’s credit, the struggles of last year seem to have lessene⛄d, particularly in qualifying.

While 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Nico Hulkenberg continues to have the edge, Magnussen i💃s perform🐟ing closer to his best. Haas have a long-standing relationship with Magnussen and would prove to be a solid experienced option alongside Bearman in 2025.

Haas would love to keep Hulkenberg,🐼 b🐟ut it looks like Audi awaits him, which is good news for Magnussen.

Valtteri Bottas

The best performing driver on our list is Bottas. The Finn is o💮n a remarkable qualifying streak against teammate Zhou, coming out on top on Saturdays in eight consecutive week♉ends.

Without Sauber’s recurring pit stop woes, Bottas would have likely scored in♓ at least two of the opening rounds. So despite Bottas’ off track 'distractions' or claims he’s not interested in F1, the Finn is still performing at a very high level.

However, it seems that Sauber CEO Andreas Seidl💖 is still keen to replace him, with some reports suggesting he wanted Bottas out at the end of last year. Harsh? Most definitely♓ given the level of the car on top of all of the operational errors costing him several opportunities of headline results.

Valtteri Bottas (FIN) Sauber on the grid. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 4, Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka, Japan, Race
Valtteri Bottas (FIN) Sauber on the grid. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 4, Japanese Grand…

Regardless, Audi will be keen to bolster their driver line-up ahead of 2026, and with the likes of168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: Carlos Sainz also linked, the current Ferrari driver would be an obvious upgrade on Bottas. The German factor goes in Hulkenberg’s favour while one of the Alpine drivers could be also available - and with 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Esteban Ocon and 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Pierre Gasly being younger than Bottas - that cou𒀰ld make them an 🅠attractive proposition for Audi. 

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