Will the Formula 1 driver market see silly season “chaos” in the coming weeks, as teams battle with each other to secure the optimum line-up for 2025 and beyond?

That’s certainly the view of Esteban Ocon after Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari for next season caught most of the paddock by surprise and left a prime seat open at Mercedes.

The question now is how soon things will start to move at other teams, and how quickly the remaining pieces fall into place thereafter.

Thus far, only seven of the 20 seats are filled beyond this season, with McLaren and Ferrari having secured two drivers not just for 2025 but also into the era of the new regulations that begins the following year.

The only other drivers officially signed up are Max Verstappen at Red Bull until 2028 and George Russell at Mercedes until 2025. However, for obvious reasons, Lance Stroll is set to stay with Aston Martin for the foreseeable future, even if his status has not been made public.

Mercedes, Red Bull and McLaren have secured the services of Russell, Verstappen and Norris for the future

Photo by: Sam Bloxham 

That still leaves 13 vacancies for 2025, and the potential for much to happen. But when will the merry-go-round spring into action?