Anthony Davidson has ‘gathered’ that two-point driver ‘has been promised’ 2025 seat

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The Formula 1 driver market moved a step closer to completion on Friday morning as Alpine announced the signing of Jack Doohan. Doohan will graduate from his reserve role to a full-time race seat alongside Pierre Gasly.

Alpine had announced in June that Esteban Ocon would leave the team at the end of the season by mutual consent. Ocon agreed a deal with Haas, while Gasly signed a new contract on the other side of the garage.

Naturally, Alpine wanted to sign Carlos Sainz, but they lost out to Williams. From that point, Doohan was always the clear favourite.

The Enstone outfit are the sixth team to confirm their 2025 line-up. McLaren, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Haas and Williams had already done so.

Mercedes will likely become the seventh when they formalise the hiring of Kimi Antonelli. Meanwhile, Valtteri Bottas could stay at Audi alongside new signing Nico Hulkenberg.

Most of the intrigue right now surrounds the two Red Bull teams. Sergio Perez and Daniel Ricciardo are both under pressure heading into the final 10 races.

Anthony Davidson says Red Bull will give Liam Lawson a 2025 seat

Speaking prior to the Dutch Grand Prix, Red Bull executive director Helmut Marko said Liam Lawson would get a seat for 2025. Lawson has carried out a reserve role this season after scoring just two points in a five-race stand-in stint last year.

Further to this, Sky Sports F1 pundit Anthony Davidson has heard that the team have privately ‘promised’ Lawson a drive. The only question now is whether he replaces Perez or Ricciardo.

Perez may not finish the season after a disastrous run of 28 points in eight race weekends. Ricciardo has been simultaneously eyeing a promotion to Red Bull and trying to fend off the threats to his RB drive.

Red Bull’s shareholders want to promote young talent again. The two drivers are in their mid-30s, and it looks increasingly unlikely that they’ll both be on the grid next season.

“Liam Lawson has been promised, from what we can gather so far, a seat for next year,” Davidson said during Sky’s FP1 coverage. “Whether it’s an RB or a full Red Bull car, we don’t know.”

The Liam Lawson contract clause that could force Christian Horner’s hand

Lawson can leave Red Bull in September if they haven’t given him a seat. The season resumes with a back-to-back in the Netherlands and Italy, after which the team could make a final decision.

Lawson’s camp feel loyalty to Red Bull, but if they backtrack on their apparent ‘promise’, that bond could be broken. And the New Zealander needs clarity quickly.

Audi have held talks with Lawson, and they represent his only real fallback option if a full-time Red Bull deal falls through. The timing of Marko’s comments won’t be a coincidence.

The 22-year-old could be one of four rookies on the 2025 grid. With Doohan and Oliver Bearman (Haas) confirmed and Antonelli to follow, they could make up a fifth of the F1 line-up.