PADDOCK INSIDER: Antonelli, Alonso or the wildcard of Verstappen – Inside the battle to be Russell’s Mercedes team mate

Driver managers whose clients have a contract expiring at the end of this year were really earning their money in Bahrain over the last couple of weeks, as they worked the paddock chatting to team bosses and trying to sell-in the virtues of their respective racers – and those talks will continue apace in Saudi Arabia this week.

Thirteen seats across eight teams are currently vacant for 2025 – though that’s really 12 as Lance Stroll will almost certainly keep his seat at his father’s team Aston Martin – and that means there are huge opportunities for teams and drivers alike.