The Formula 1 driver market has now become a "waiting game," according to Alex Albon. Despite links to several teams, Albon has reaffirmed his commitment to Williams for the mid-term.
"It seems like it's a waiting game now and everyone is just postponing their decision," he stated at Imola. "But I've signed my contract and am focused on the future."
Carlos Sainz, set to leave Ferrari, finds himself in a tense position as he contemplates a potential one-year deal with Mercedes against a more profitable, long-term contract with Audi-owned Sauber.
"The situation is that there is no progress," Sainz reported to journalists at Imola. "Everything is pretty much at a standstill."
"I am waiting for all the options to be put on the table and then I'll make the decision that suits me best."
Sainz emphasized that neither Audi has set a deadline for him, nor is he imposing deadlines on any interested teams.
"F1 doesn't work like that," he asserted. "You can't give every team a deadline."
"What I can tell you is that I'm talking to everyone, as I've always said, and from talking to everyone it doesn't seem like the situation is clearing up."
Valtteri Bottas, likely to have to exit Audi-owned Sauber, shared his own apprehensions, indicating uncertainty about his presence in F1 by 2025.
"More than that," Bottas chuckled when questioned if his chance of staying in F1 was 77%, matching his racing number.
"I would say 99," he added. "When you are free in the market, you always look around, and it's been in several directions for a long time."
"Negotiations are still ongoing and I don't think anything will happen anytime soon. I certainly don't want to wait as long as the August break, but I'm not panicking yet."
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff is reportedly content to wait until as late as October to see how the scenario at Red Bull unfolds, potentially to acquire Max Verstappen.
"If it was my job, my role, I'd take Kimi Antonelli," said outgoing Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton at Imola. "But Carlos Sainz is also a great driver."
Wolff is not only managing young Antonelli but also the discontented Alpine driver Esteban Ocon. "It seems to me that I am still a Mercedes junior," Ocon mentioned at Imola. "That has not changed since 2015."
"We communicate a lot and later we will decide what is best for my future. I would consider not only a long-term contract, but also a shorter one," Ocon disclosed.
Meanwhile, Ferrari-tied rookie Oliver Bearman is seen as the likely successor to Audi-bound Nico Hulkenberg at Haas, with Kevin Magnussen's future at the small Ferrari-powered team also in doubt.
"Of course I see this as my chance," Bearman expressed at Imola. "But just because a spot is available doesn't mean I'll get it."
Williams boss James Vowles, echoing the sentiment of much of the paddock, is waiting for more clarity before deciding on retaining Logan Sargeant for 2025.
"I'm currently considering three options for 2025 and 2026," he acknowledged at Imola. "Logan has the necessary skills, but he needs to implement them."
"But this doesn't prevent us from negotiating with other candidates, which is what we are doing."
