2025's Pilot Dilemma: Sleepless Over Steering?

Steering-free pilots in 2025 face restless nights, as Bottas, Ricciardo, and Magnussen navigate an uneasy future.

The ‘silly season’ is in full swing in F1, and one man holds the keys: Carlos Sainz.

The choice of the Ferrari driver (will he join Williams? Audi? Haas?) will trigger a domino effect on the rest of the grid.

This decision is imminent, according to the Spaniard. He did not reveal his decision in Barcelona, but can he at least say more about his criteria?

For instance, will the 2026 season, the one with the new engine regulations, matter more than the 2025 season in his decision? If so, it seems that Williams F1, which will have Mercedes as an engine supplier, appears a more attractive destination…

“Yes and no, just because… For 2026, it is practically impossible to guess today, in 2024, who will be the most competitive. I’ve used the term ‘lottery’ or ‘coin flip.’ Knowing who will be faster in 2026, given that the regulations are so different, that the cars are completely different, the chassis, the engine, it’s almost impossible to predict. That’s why 2025 also becomes important.”

“But it’s also the long term that matters. It’s also about trying to understand what concerns the power unit. It’s trying to understand the team dynamics. All these factors come into play when it comes to making a decision. And yes, that’s why it takes time for me to find the time to make the decision.”

Team dynamics, choice of engine partner… The portrait of Williams F1 seems to be taking shape. But the Grove team will be a customer team, unlike Audi from 2026.

However, today, aren’t the gaps between factory teams and customer teams narrower?

“Yes, it seems closer, but there are so many other things that come into play in my decision, and not just that,” continues Carlos Sainz.

Magnussen, Bottas, Ricciardo: three drivers in limbo

At Haas F1, Kevin Magnussen has admitted that his fate, like that of other drivers, hangs on Carlos Sainz’s choice.

Isn’t that a source of stress for the Dane?

“Yes, not knowing your future is not something very pleasant. This job has a significant effect on your life in general, not just on you as a driver, but also on your whole family – and your entire year is dictated by being in Formula 1 when you are driving. So that’s the most important thing for me, because I don’t know what my life will look like in six months or more.”

“But I think I’ve been in this situation many times before. I’ve left Formula 1 several times and you know life outside Formula 1 is quite nice. So, when I was younger, I was very afraid of losing all this, the F1 etc. But it’s not necessary to have this fear in my opinion. I think it’s a great privilege to be in F1, I love driving these cars, I love racing in Formula 1, but I’m much more relaxed about it now than I was in the past.”

“We are very early in the year, so in that sense, it’s a different situation from what I’ve experienced before. All decisions will be made in the coming weeks, it’s still a bit early. But we’ll see how it all ends.”

2025's Pilot Dilemma Sleepless Over Steering

Valtteri Bottas, who would like to stay at Stake or perhaps return to Williams F1, is also in an uncomfortable situation… but he remains calm.

“Yes, as Kevin said, it’s not that late in the season. It becomes more difficult if we go past the August break, if we advance in the season and if we remain in the unknown. But obviously, over the years, you learn to handle it yourself. You learn to focus on the weekends and to find the right energy. And yes, it’s not my first rodeo either. So everything will be fine.”

The future of Daniel Ricciardo is less tied to that of Carlos Sainz… but the Australian’s steering wheel at RB F1 is nonetheless threatened.

He seems less serene than Valtteri Bottas or Kevin Magnussen…

“It’s tough because there isn’t really one thing behind a decision. There are so many… It can be very challenging. Of course, you have to devote the necessary time – because it’s about your future and your career, and it’s obviously something you work very hard for, but at some point, you just want to make the decision and move on.”

“But yes, it’s difficult because you can’t take it lightly. I guess we all go through it. We’ve all experienced it in one way or another. But it means a lot to us and that’s why we place so much importance on it.”