by Topher Smith & Alex Johnston
Alex and I love a good old prediction article, which is why we thought it would be a good idea to get the crystal ball out once again and think a little bit further into the future for this piece.
There is plenty of incredible talent coming up through the ranks of motorsport. 2025 will see the debut Formula 1 season for one of the most impressive rookies in history, namely Andrea Kimi Antonelli, while we will also see consecutive Formula 3 and Formula 2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto will begin his maiden campaign in the top echelon, along with the likes of Oliver Bearman, Jack Doohan, and Isack Hadjar.
Being fans of the junior categories, Alex and I have been following the careers of such drivers long before they get to F1 and we got thinking about who could potentially join the grid in the coming years.
So, without further ado, let's have a crack at predicting what the Formula 1 grid *might* look like in five years, at the turn of the next decade in 2030, by which point a fair number of drivers will have retired, left, or been dropped.
Disclaimer: This will follow the order of the 2024 World Constructor's Championship standings, with the assumption that all ten teams plus Cadillac will still be on the grid in 2030.
McLaren
Topher Smith: As it stands, in 2025, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are in it for the long haul. However, I find it very difficult to believe that the same line-up will be there in 2030. If Max Verstappen should call time on his F1 career early it could potentially open up talks between Norris and Red Bull once again.
It should also be considered that McLaren may want to start making use of its junior drivers at some point, which could pave the way for one of my choices.
If either of McLaren's current drivers will stay until 2030 I believe it will be Piastri, and by the time 2030 rolls around I think Alex Dunne will have completed the ladder to F1. The Irishman already has the British F4 title to his name along with consecutive runners-up spots in Italian F4 and GB3.
Alex Johnston: A not so common occurrence, but I can only agree with Topher here.
By 2030, Piastri will be an established name in F1 and perhaps even a world champion or multiple champion. With Norris possibly departed, he’d be the team leader here.
Set to be announced for a drive in Formula 2 this year, Irish teenager Dunne is the strongest academy candidate on McLaren’s books. He perhaps didn’t ‘wow’ anyone in Formula 3 last year, but definitely showed flashes of what he’s capable of. Could he be the first Irish F1 driver since Eddie Irvine?
TS: Oscar Piastri & Alex Dunne
AJ: Oscar Piastri & Alex Dunne
Ferrari
TS: I really can't imagine Charles Leclerc going anywhere other than Ferrari until the day he retires. At this point in time, he *is* Ferrari. There have been murmurings in the last couple of years about a possible move to Mercedes but I just can't see this happening, or a move to any other team for that matter.
By 2030, Ferrari could have potentially brought through one of its junior drivers with the most likely being Oliver Bearman, who will contest his first full F1 season in 2025 with customer team Haas. Bearman has future Ferrari superstar written all over him, so this one is fairly easy to predict as far as I'm concerned.
AJ: ‘Ollie’ Bearman appears to be the best option in a ‘post Lewis Hamilton’ era, the successor to the seven time world champion driver. He’s already adored by the Ferrari hierarchy, evidenced by his stunning debut drive for the team in 2024 at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
In car two… Bearman’s 2024 Formula 2 teammate Andrea ‘Kimi’ Antonelli. A bold choice on paper but given the opportunity if Charles Leclerc were to leave the team, would an Italian driver turn down the opportunity to drive for the Scuderia? Stuff of dreams for Kimi, no?
TS: Charles Leclerc and Oliver Bearman
AJ: Oliver Bearman & Kimi Antonelli
Red Bull
TS: I have no doubt that by 2030 Max Verstappen will be gone from F1. He has other interests outside of F1 and I reckon he might be the best option to become the first driver since Graham Hill to complete the Triple Crown. He's already won Monaco, he's interested in sportscars so Le Mans might be inevitable, and why not have a crack at the Indy 500 too?
Red Bull's newest recruit Liam Lawson appears to be the future of the team providing he can avoid the fate of the likes of Daniil Kvyat, Pierre Gasly, and Alex Albon before him, so could be the next long term prospect for the team.
As for his teammate, this is entirely dependent on how volatile the Red Bull junior program is for the next few years. Having said that, Arvid Lindblad absolutely looks the real deal and could bypass the likes of Isack Hadjar in getting the call-up to the main team even before 2030.
AJ: It does seem likely that Max Verstappen will leave before 2030, meaning Red Bull will shuffle their pack. In car one, I’ve chosen French-Algerian Isack Hadjar who has been likened to fellow Frenchman and F1 legend, Alain Prost due to his methodical but aggressive driving style.
Arvid Lindblad could be the future of Red Bull. In 2024, he equalled the all-time race wins record in FIA Formula 3 (4 - with Zak O’Sullivan, Frederik Vesti, Franco Colapinto, Jack Doohan & Dennis Hauger), a feat made more impressive as the previous drivers did it over two seasons, whereas Lindblad achieved it in his rookie year. The term ‘next big thing’ is banded around a lot, but Lindblad could very well be just that.
TS: Liam Lawson & Arvid Lindblad
AJ: Isack Hadjar & Arvid Lindblad
Mercedes
lTS: It might be fanciful to think that Mercedes will have the same driver line-up five years from now, but I genuinely see this as the long-term future for the Silver Arrows.
George Russell is now the team leader following Lewis Hamilton's Italy-bound departure and, in my opinion, has done enough to justify his long stay in Formula 1. As for his new teammate, Andrea Kimi Antonelli is surely set for a long career in the top echelon and given it has been Mercedes that has helped him up the ladder, I imagine the Italian remaining loyal for many years to come.
AJ: In what would be a new age for Mercedes I’ve opted for Lando Norris in the first car here. He’d be into his 30’s by 2030 and full of experience with plenty time still ahead of him. By then he’d be a potential world champion and multiple race winner, capable of challenging for the Silver Arrows who will be hoping to be back to their former glory.
In car two, Charles Leclerc completes an all star lineup. A Norris-Leclerc lineup would dazzle as much as 2025’s Hamilton-Leclerc one and would partner two drivers who get on well with each other off track, and a popular one with fans to boot.
TS: George Russell & Andrea Kimi Antonelli
AJ: Lando Norris & Charles Leclerc
Aston Martin
TS: Yuki Tsunoda moving away from the Red Bull family will be the making of him, in my opinion. Aston Martin's incoming Honda engine partnership may well influence its choice of drivers and Fernando Alonso most likely will have retired by 2030, and I fully expect Tsunoda to be the one to make the move to the green team in Alonso's place.
By this time, Lance Stroll may or may not still be racing in F1 for his father's team. Nothing personal, but I hope not as Stroll has proven time and time again that he is out of his depth in F1. He would be much better off being part of Aston Martin's new team in the World Endurance Championship, in my honest opinion.
Should Stroll finally move on or be moved on, the door could be open for someone like Lando Norris. In my mind, the Brit may eventually move on from McLaren for a new challenge and be drawn to the Adrian Newey-designed Aston Martin. A British driver in a British team is always an appealing prospect, and I could imagine this being a realistic option for Norris.
AJ: British team, British driver? George Russell matches that criteria, and fits the mould of a popular driver to lead the team. Aston Martin is a name steeped in history, and by 2030 they’ll be hoping to be a race-winning outfit with Adrian Newey’s help - a very handy piece of persuasion for any driver to go with him.
Current FRMEC and FRECA star Taito Kato is very much someone to keep an eye on. A product of the same Honda Formula Dream system that rapidly propelled Yuki Tsunoda to F1, he shot to glory in 2024 with a French F4 title, taken in his first single seater campaign. With Honda’s impending involvement with Aston Martin, he’ll have an eye on being there come 2030 or sooner.
TS: Yuki Tsunoda & Lando Norris
AJ: George Russell & Taito Kato
Alpine
TS: I think it's evident that Franco Colapinto is going to be the future of Alpine. His signing as reserve driver at the beginning of 2025 immediately threatened the future of Jack Doohan who, to be honest, I don't think will have a long career in F1.
If we assume that Alpine would like to keep some French influence in the team, there could be the possibility of a young French driver coming through, maybe an Evan Giltaire, for example. However, I can see a future in F1 for current Alpine Academy driver Gabriele Mini, who shall be my pick for Colapinto's teammate in 2030.
AJ: When Franco Colapinto debuted in F1, the form he came with was very impressive indeed. However, a large handful of accidents showed fans he was very raw and not yet the finished product quite yet. That’s not deterred Alpine though, who have picked him up and he appears to be the future of the team.
Topher mentioned another driver before; Evan Giltaire - and he’s who I’m putting in this seat. Currently a FRMEC and FRECA prospect, he gives me reminders of watching Sebastian Vettel: raw natural pace, calculated overtakes and just a smidge of not being afraid to race with his elbows firmly out. One to watch.
TS: Franco Colapinto & Gabriele Mini
AJ: Franco Colapinto & Evan Giltaire
Haas
TS: Haas' new Toyota links could be key here. The team has recently gifted Japanese superstar Ritomo Miyata his first taste of F1 machinery which could potentially lead to bigger and better things for the Toyota junior.
A champion in both Super Formula and Super GT, Miyata is absolutely the real deal and has the potential to be Japan's first Grand Prix winner, should he be afforded the opportunity. With the number of titles to his name on the junior ladder already, Miyata may be too good to overlook, especially if he can impress with ART Grand Prix in his second season of Formula 2.
As for his teammate, Rafael Camara looks every bit like a future Formula 1 star as he has only finished outside of the top three in the standings once in his junior career so far. A serial race winner, Camara is a name you might hear a lot of in the coming years.
AJ: A rarity here but I’ll agree with Topher on his selection of Ritomo Miyata. The Toyota links help, but as a Super Formula and Super GT champion, there’s no doubting his ability - despite an underwhelming F2 campaign in 2024. He’s already tested with Haas, this is a move to watch out for.
A really bold one here, IndyCar up-and-comer and American-Lithuanian driver David Malukas. At 23, he’s got a big future despite previous setbacks and is being touted as a potential replacement for IndyCar legend Will Power already. Why not give F1 a go? Aside from tests for Santino Ferrucci, Haas - an American team - has never raced an American driver. Malukas first?
TS: Ritomo Miyata & Rafael Camara
AJ: Ritomo Miyata & David Malukas
Racing Bulls (or whatever they're called in 2030)
TS: Given the revolving door that is the Red Bull Junior Team, there is every chance that the junior driver roster will be vastly different to what it is now. Thankfully, I reckon Yuki Tsunoda will finally be out of the sister team by this point, so I have to think about two possible junior drivers for this one.
My first choice is a driver who I think is rather underrated on the junior ladder at the moment, with plenty of potential to fight for victories and titles with the 2022 Euroformula Open title to his name, that name being Oliver Goethe.
I really don't know who the second driver could be as I have no idea who will be on the junior roster by this time, but for a bit of fun let's imagine that serial title winner Freddie Slater is picked up by Red Bull and graduates to F1 by 2030.
AJ: German teenager Tim Tramnitz, currently in Formula 3, could be the next long-standing driver in the RB team, following the footsteps of Yuki Tsunoda who should clock over 100 races for the team in 2025. Tramnitz has drawn comparisons to fellow German and former Red Bull alumni, Sebastian Vettel, but Tramnitz seems to have a much calmer head on his shoulders and perhaps compares better to someone like Nico Hulkenberg or Valtteri Bottas in that he is there to get the job done. Not a bad trait by any means.
Alisha Palmowski could be the one. Is it time? Could we actually see a female driver take to the track in a race for the first time since 1976? Giovanna Amati, Desire Wilson and Divina Galica have attempted, but failed to qualify, meaning Alisha Palmowski, 2024 GB4 Championship runner-up and 2025 F1 Academy driver, could be next in line. She’s with Red Bull’s academy now which is a huge step, but can she make some even bigger strides and be the female driver that bucks the trend of no woman racing in F1? I hope so.
TS: Oliver Goethe and Freddie Slater
AJ: Tim Tramnitz & Alisha Palmowski
Williams
TS: Williams has begun to make a habit of trusting its junior drivers recently, which has been great to see with the likes of Logan Sargeant and Franco Colapinto being given their chances in Formula 1 in recent times, regardless of how well they took those chances. This is a trend I expect to continue as I look into the crystal ball for 2030.
I really don't know how long Carlos Sainz will be at Williams for, but he may well outlast Alex Albon assuming that he stays long-term, while I can't help but feel Albon's time in F1 might have ended by 2030.
Looking at Williams' driver academy, I can see a strong future for French driver Alessandro Giusti, who has won races in every season of his junior career so far and took home the 2022 French F4 title. Quite possibly a future F1 driver with his results to date.
AJ: Williams is a team on the up. Despite rumours of low development and a focus on 2026 this season - they have a long history of success and they’re certainly building towards it. In car one here, 2024 F2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto who, potentially leaving Audi, could land a cushty seat at the Grove team. By 2030, he’d have five seasons under his belt and hope to have achieved enough to stay on the grid…and there’s no reason he can’t. He is a huge talent.
Next to Bortoleto, up-and-coming British driver, Freddie Slater. Slater has already a great amount of single seater experience, winning Italian F4 and F4 UAE in 2024, and now moving up to FRECA and FRMEC in 2025 - alongside tests already completed in F3 machines at the end of 2024. He could be a big part of Britain’s motorsports future, and where better to go than Williams? The history, the driver development…it makes sense for Slater.
TS: Carlos Sainz & Alessandro Giusti
AJ: Gabriel Bortoleto & Freddie Slater
Audi
TS: Leaving the McLaren junior team to join Audi could be the makings of a long career in F1 for Gabriel Bortoleto, who surely is going to be a star of the future after picking up consecutive titles in F3 and F2. Providing Audi can be competitive, I can see the Brazilian sticking with the team for a long time.
By this time there is every possibility that Pierre Gasly could have moved on from Alpine, with it being my belief that he is good enough to command respect as far as the driver market is concerned. In the event that he should leave Alpine, I can see Audi being a good landing spot for the Frenchman as he brings race-winning experience with him.
AJ: I really like this lineup. Liam Lawson, perhaps another to sit in Max Verstappen’s shadow, could be someone who thrives in a team leader role and Audi could be the perfect setting for the New Zealander to do just that after the rise of Hadjar and Lindblad sees him eked out of the Red Bull setup.
Next to him, a German driver in a German car in the form of Oliver Goethe. Goethe’s racing in F2 this year and has the finances to make it to the elite table of racing. Another who is currently in the Red Bull setup, he would surely, certainly grasp the opportunity of driving for a name such as Audi with two hands.
TS: Gabriel Bortoleto & Pierre Gasly
AJ: Liam Lawson & Oliver Goethe
Cadillac
TS: F1's newest team Cadillac is known to be keen on having an American driver, with Colton Herta being the top candidate for the job. The question will be whether Herta wants to move to an unknown F1 project or stick with his so far successful career in IndyCar.
For the purposes of this piece I will go along with the narrative that Herta does take on the F1 project, as I just don't think there are any Americans currently on the European junior ladder that will make it to F1, not even 2024 Macau Grand Prix winner Ugo Ugochukwu.
Given that Cadillac will take on Ferrari engines, it's entirely possible that the Italian marque could have some influence on the second seat, much like it did with Antonio Giovinazzi at Alfa Romeo. For this reason, I believe that Ferrari Academy driver and future superstar Tuukka Taponen will be on the F1 grid by this time as the next Flying Finn.
AJ: Well, well, well…Topher and I agree once again. Colton Herta is IndyCar’s ‘sweetheart’ driver of the moment, seemingly destined for some greatness in the not too distant future. Previously denied the opportunity to race in F1 over super license issues, which should now be a bygone problem: allowing him to take a rightful seat in Cadillac’s exciting project.
Italian driver Leonardo Fornaroli wrapped up the FIA F3 title in 2024 in scintillating fashion with a never-say-die last lap lunge to win at his home round of the season. That attitude could serve him well for the foreseeable, and perhaps land him a drive with a big name. The Ferrari link for Cadillac’s opening seasons in the series could be something to watch here.
TS: Colton Herta & Tuukka Taponen
AJ: Colton Herta & Leonardo Fornaroli
📸 Image credits: Formula Regional, McLaren, Ferrari, Visa Cash App RB, Formula 1, Formula 3, IndyCar, F1 Academy, PREMA Racing, Pierre Gasly.
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