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Ollie Bearman's starring cameos for Ferrari and Haas were proof of how valuable a good reserve driver can be to a Formula 1 team.
So which drivers are ready and waiting on the sidelines for each F1 team in 2025?
Here's the full list of the reserve drivers we know so far for each team in 2024 championship order.
McLaren - Pato O'Ward
McLaren's IndyCar star Pato O'Ward will continue to serve as its F1 reserve driver, having taken part in multiple tests and practice sessions with the team since 2022.
His primary focus will be his IndyCar campaign from March to August but McLaren could also call upon engine supplier Mercedes's reserve driver pool including Valtteri Bottas should it need a stand-in for Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri.
Ferrari - Zhou Guanyu and Antonio Giovinazzi
Having lost his Sauber seat after three seasons, Zhou Guanyu will serve as one of Ferrari's reserve drivers alongside another former Sauber F1 driver Antonio Giovinazzi, who races for Ferrari in the World Endurance Championship.
While not officially a reserve driver, it's likely Ferrari could call Ollie Bearman up from Haas if it needed a sudden stand-in for Charles Leclerc or Lewis Hamilton.
Red Bull - Yuki Tsunoda
Red Bull snubbed Yuki Tsunoda for promotion to the senior team when it decided to ditch Sergio Perez for 2025, but the Japanese driver will serve as the team's reserve driver this year alongside driving for Racing Bulls for a fifth consecutive season.
Tsunoda enjoyed his maiden test with Red Bull post-season in Abu Dhabi last year.
Mercedes - Valtteri Bottas and Frederik Vesti
Mercedes wasted little time in reuniting with Bottas when it was clear he'd be left without a race seat for 2025.
He'll be the obvious choice to replace either George Russell or Kimi Antonelli if suddenly required but Mercedes also has Frederik Vesti as its reserve driver - second in Formula 2 in 2023 and popular with the team.
Should Bottas return he will have a five-place grid penalty to serve after he clattered Kevin Magnussen's Haas at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Aston Martin - Felipe Drugovich and Stoffel Vandoorne
The 2022 Formula 2 champion Felipe Drugovich has eagerly been awaiting his F1 chance on the sidelines at Aston Martin for the last four years.
He serves as Aston's reserve driver alongside ex-McLaren F1 driver Stoffel Vandoorne.
Alpine - Franco Colapinto, Paul Aron, Kush Maini and Ryo Hirakawa
Back in Enstone with the Team 👊 pic.twitter.com/YDT6TBNt5B
— BWT Alpine Formula One Team (@AlpineF1Team) January 27, 2025
No 2025 F1 reserve driver will have more attention on him than Alpine's new signing Franco Colapinto.
Williams's star late-2024 stand-in is waiting in the wings ready to return to racing if Alpine decides to dispense with Jack Doohan during his rookie F1 season, as has been rumoured since his surprise early debut in Abu Dhabi last year.
Colapinto isn't alone in waiting in Alpine's wings though, with Formula 2 race winners Paul Aron and Kush Maini and Toyota's sportscars champion Ryo Hirakawa also among its reserve driver pool.
Haas - TBC
Ferrari's Giovinazzi should be available to Haas if it needs a stand-in for Esteban Ocon or Bearman, as well as Toyota-contracted drivers like Hirakawa who drove for the team in the Abu Dhabi test.
Kevin Magnussen lost his Haas race seat but he'll still test with the team in 2025 alongside his return to sportscars with BMW. His F1 experience would make him an invaluable stand-in but he won't be the team's official reserve driver.
Racing Bulls - TBC
Red Bull's yet to confirm a reserve driver for its second team Racing Bulls but Ayumu Iwasa - who tested with the team in Abu Dhabi - would be an obvious option.
There's also 17-year-old Arvid Lindblad, who will make his Formula 2 debut in 2025 and appears to be Red Bull's next big hope outside of F1. He should reach the superlicence points threshold by winning the 2025 Formula Regional Oceania Championship (previously Toyota Racing Series) in New Zealand in February 2025.
Williams - TBC
Williams doesn't have a dedicated 2025 F1 reserve driver yet but could theoretically have access to engine supplier Mercedes' reserves if needed.
Sauber - TBC
Sauber doesn't have an official reserve driver yet either, having parted ways with previous third driver Theo Pourchaire at the end of 2024.
