Here is the second part of the grid recap before the opening race of the season in Australia!
Haas
Drivers: Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman
Ocon was long associated with Alpine before making a major switch to Haas for the 2025 season. The French driver made his Formula One debut in 2016 with Manor at the Belgian Grand Prix, completing the rest of the season with the team.
He then moved to Force India, where he raced alongside Sergio Perez for two seasons. After losing his seat, he spent a year as Mercedes’ Reserve Driver before returning to the grid with Alpine, where he remained until the end of last season.
Bearman is no stranger to the Formula One grid, though 2025 marks his first full-time season. He previously served as a Reserve Rriver for both Ferrari and Haas, making his Formula One debut as a substitute for Carlos Sainz at the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Later that season, he also stepped in for Kevin Magnussen at the Azerbaijan and São Paulo Grands Prix.
Williams
Drivers: Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz
Albon made his Formula One debut with Toro Rosso in 2019 before being promoted to Red Bull to drive alongside Max Verstappen. Unfortunately, his stint was short-lived as he was replaced by Perez in 2021 and served as a reserve driver for both Red Bull and AlphaTauri. He made a full-time return in 2022, signing with Williams, which ultimately ended his ties with Red Bull. He has remained with the team ever since.
Sainz, who recently moved to Williams after four years with Ferrari (2021-2024), made way for Lewis Hamilton. He made his Formula One debut in 2015 with Toro Rosso, driving alongside Max Verstappen, and has since been part of Renault (2018) and McLaren from 2019.
Red Bull
Drivers: Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson
Verstappen made his Formula One debut at the age of 17 with Toro Rosso, becoming the youngest driver to race in Formula One; a record that was surpassed by Antonelli this year. He was promoted to Red Bull just two years later and has remained with the team ever since, beginning his championship-winning streak in 2021, which continues to this day.
Lawson served as a Reserve Driver for Red Bull and AlphaTauri from 2022 and made his Formula One debut at the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix, replacing Daniel Ricciardo, who was sidelined by injury for five races. He eventually secured a full-time seat after replacing Ricciardo permanently following the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix.
Aston Martin
Drivers: Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll
Alonso, the oldest driver on the grid, made his Formula One debut in 2001 with Minardi. Despite not scoring any points that season, he was later made a test driver for Renault before securing a race seat again in 2003. He won his first World Championship title in 2005, becoming the youngest champion in Formula One history at the time, and successfully defended his title in 2006. Over the years, he has driven for McLaren and Ferrari before temporarily retiring in 2018. After competing in World Endurance and Le Mans, he made his return to Formula One in 2021 with Alpine, before moving to Aston Martin in 2023.
Stroll, previously part of the Ferrari academy, made his Formula One debut with Williams in 2017, where he stayed until 2019. He then moved to Aston Martin (formerly Racing Point) after the team was acquired by his father, Lawrence Stroll, and has remained with the team ever since.
McLaren
Drivers: Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri
After joining the McLaren Young Driver Programme in 2017, Norris secured a direct entry to the McLaren Formula One team in 2019, partnering with Carlos Sainz. He has remained with the team ever since. Last season, he was a title contender and is expected to be in the fight again for the 2025 season.
Piastri, who made his Formula One debut after winning both the Formula 3 and Formula 2 Championships back-to-back, has been with McLaren since the 2023 season. McLaren also clinched the Constructors’ Championship last season.
And that wraps up the second part of the grid recap, just in time for the season opener. Wishing you an amazing race weekend!
Written by Isha.
Featured Image Credit: bbc.co.uk
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