The unique situation of over half the grid being out of contract for 2025, including some of F1's leading drivers, has led to one of the most highly anticipated silly seasons in history.
The sheer number of seats up for grabs ahead of a crunch regulations change in 2026 was always going to lead to an early start to the merry-go-round, but Lewis Hamilton's shock decision to leave Mercedes for Ferrari next year has taken things up another notch, with drivers and teams having to start engaging in talks before a wheel had been turned in Bahrain testing.
