Pierre Gasly in transfer talks with Williams F1 for 2025?[F1-Gate.com]

Pierre Gasly has opened transfer talks with Williams ahead of the 2025 F1 season, Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft has suggested. New developments surrounding the F1 driver market appear every day. Nico Hulkenberg is close to signing a three-year contract with Sauber in 2025, as reported in German media.

Audi want to sign Carlos Sainz, but are willing to wait until mid-May. Gasly, whose contract expires at the end of 2024, has been mentioned as a potential driver to replace Sainz. Gasly, winner of the 2020 Italian Grand Prix, has now been linked with Williams as a possible replacement for Logan Sargent. Appearing on the latest episode of the Sky F1 podcast, Croft predicted what the F1 driver market will look like in 2025. “I think Nico Hulkenberg will go to Sauber,” he said. “He will join Carlos Sainz at Audi, Mercedes will use Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Red Bull will keep Sergio Perez. Logically it makes sense too. “Where will Zhou go? He might go to Alpine. He was an academy driver at Renault. Either Ocon or Gasly or both will leave Alpine.” “Gathly goes to Williams.” There are certainly talks with Williams to run alongside Alex Albon, which frees up space, but Jack Doohan, who is well used to the team, is waiting on the side. No, it would be Kevin Magnussen and Ollie Bearman.” Zhou is not part of Ferrari, so Ferrari will want to bring in their own young drivers.The conclusion is that they can do it with two more seats on the grid. But that’s the whole Andretti thing.”Given Croft’s valuation of the driver market, Zhou will likely miss out on driving next year. “I don’t think he’ll keep a driver in the sport just because that driver’s popularity guarantees packed grands prix,” he explains. “I think Zhou deserves to be on the grid. He’s a much better driver than he showed at Sauber.” That scene, that feeling, in the back of my mind I was thinking, “I hope this isn’t the last time, but it might be the last.” That’s what I thought. I don’t know where he will line up on the grid.”