F1 2021

At the mid point and end of each season you'll have opportunities to renegotiate with your teammate or hire a new one, however getting a level 15 driver isn't going to be quick. Not only do they cost around 12-15 million, they'll also have individual demands such as a spec 2 or 3 facility, which take time to acquire. I got mine halfway through the third season, although I was playing normally rather than rushing for achievements, so this should be possible in the 2nd if you plan ahead.

They key thing to remember is that the end of season negotiations happen before you receive that hefty main sponsor bonus. So you're going to need enough money before the final race of the season, otherwise you'll have to hire someone on a lower level and wait until the mid point of the next season to try again. Alternatively you could build your teammate's acclaim to level 15 then resign them, which saves a bit of cash on a buy out clause, but even with bonuses they don't build levels very quickly.