A Formula 1 driver from the 2024 season has been quietly testing rally cars, potentially signaling a major shift in the driver market. This intriguing news was shared by F1 analyst Peter Windsor, who revealed that the unidentified driver has delivered impressive performances in these secretive tests, on his recent YouTube livestream.
Throughout motorsport history, many F1 drivers have transitioned to rallying after their F1 careers. A prominent example is Kimi Raikkonen, who left Ferrari in 2010 to compete in the World Rally Championship. During his two-year WRC tenure, Raikkonen achieved a best finish of fifth place at the 2010 Rally Turkey before returning to Formula 1 with Lotus-Renault in 2012.
As the driver market heats up with new contracts being signed for the upcoming season, several seats in Formula 1 are still up for grabs. These include the Alpine seat next to Pierre Gasly, the Sauber/Audi seat beside Nico Hulkenberg, the VCARB seat alongside Yuki Tsunoda, and the coveted Mercedes seat with George Russell.
There is speculation that a current driver, whose future in Formula 1 remains uncertain, might be on the verge of a dramatic career shift. The recent activity in the driver market, especially following Lewis Hamilton’s early 2025 move to Ferrari, has added to the intrigue.
On his recent YouTube livestream, Peter Windsor disclosed that an active F1 driver has been involved in secret rally tests, performing notably well. Windsor stated, “I know of one Formula 1 driver who has been testing rally cars recently – though not Max Verstappen – and has done so under complete secrecy. I won’t reveal their identity, but they were impressive.”
Although Verstappen’s interest in rallying is known, Windsor’s comments suggest the focus might be on Sauber/Stake driver Valtteri Bottas, who has a well-documented passion for rallying. Bottas competed in the Arctic Lapland Rally in January 2019, driving a Ford Fiesta WRC—the same car used by eight-time WRC champion Sebastien Ogier in 2017/18. Bottas demonstrated his rallying prowess by securing a stage win and finishing fifth overall, sparking speculation that he could be the driver testing rally cars in secret.
Adding weight to this theory is Bottas’s current lack of a confirmed F1 seat for 2025. Reports indicate that Sauber may not renew his contract as the team prepares for a complete Audi takeover in 2026. Bottas, aware of these changes, might be exploring other motorsport opportunities for his future.