P1racenews AI automatic summary:
F1 2026: Which driver contracts expire this year?
The 2026 F1 season will mark the beginning of a new era with 22 drivers navigating the fresh set of regulations, potentially signaling the end of the road for some in the sport. Among the changes, the cars will be smaller to accommodate the new American team Cadillac with two additional drivers.
Returning F1 veterans Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez will make a comeback with Cadillac, but uncertainty looms over their future in the sport. With seven teams, including Cadillac, yet to confirm their driver lineup for 2027, the upcoming silly season could lead to major shake-ups on the grid.
As a result, the driver market for 2027 is expected to be robust, with numerous seats up for grabs and potential for unpredictable changes in team lineups. Only a handful of teams, such as Red Bull, Alpine, Ferrari, and McLaren, have some stability in their driver pairings for the next season, while others face uncertainties.
The contracts of established drivers like Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, Fernando Alonso, and others are set to expire soon, adding to the intrigue surrounding the potential driver switches and team reshuffles in the F1 landscape. The 2026 season is poised to be a pivotal year of auditions and negotiations ahead of the anticipated shake-ups in the driver market for 2027.
