Verstappen's decision sparks new developments in the F1 driver market

With a new deal keeping Verstappen at Red Bull Racing through 2030, it is becoming increasingly clear how the rest of the 2026 F1 silly season will play out. With all the seats at the top teams filled and no movement among the frontrunners, it is also difficult for drivers lower down the grid to make the jump.

If Verstappen had made a move, a seat would have opened up that other drivers could have competed for. It is therefore no surprise that Alexander Albon and Carlos Sainz extended their contracts this week. That is not because Williams is performing so brilliantly, but simply because the other options are not there.

Albon and Sainz had not only been keeping an eye on Verstappen, but also on Fernando Alonso. Neither seems to believe that the two-time world champion will retire, otherwise their new deals with Williams would be difficult to understand. Especially financially, there are greater opportunities at Aston Martin than at the Grove-based outfit.

However, Aston Martin's leading driver still hasn't made a decision. Asked whether Alonso had already given the team any clarity, Mike Krack gave a clear "no."

Alonso said he would make his decision during the summer break, but that still hasn't happened. At Aston Martin, they are convinced they can keep Alonso, meaning the door remains closed to other drivers. That explains Sainz and Albon's decisions.

Still, Alonso puts his team in a peculiar position, especially given the role he says he wants to play. Since signing his latest contract, Alonso has said he wants to stay at Aston Martin for years to come, in whatever role. From that perspective, he should also understand why Aston Martin wants clarity from their star driver sooner rather than later. The longer Alonso waits, the fewer options Aston Martin will have if he decides to retire.

Alonso himself, however, was relaxed at Zandvoort. According to the Spaniard, there is no rush. It could still take weeks or even months, he said. He still plans to sit down with Lawrence Stroll and Adrian Newey, but he does not need convincing. It all comes down to whether he still has the motivation to remain active in F1.

One person who is not bothered by this is Esteban Ocon. Asked about his future, the Frenchman mainly emphasized how well he has been performing this year. He explained that the team's poor results are not down to the drivers but rather the team itself, and that Haas knows this too. The fact that the team is testing talented drivers does not scare Ocon.

He later added: “Ayao has been vocal about it, the drivers are not the problem at the moment. So it would be surprising if those testing are for next year.” It is understandable that Ocon says that, but it seems far from the truth. The chances of Ocon staying at Haas in 2027 appear negligible.

There is also little clarity about Franco Colapinto's future. On Thursday, the Argentine opted for a "hide-and-seek" approach. When asked whether he had already had a conversation about 2027 and whether the team had given him any indication of when he would hear something, Colapinto replied that he felt he was performing well this season, but did not actually answer the question.

And so, there are still a few positions left to fill for next year, but the 2026 silly season is starting to approach its conclusion. Most seats, especially the important ones, have already been taken. The most intriguing one might still be Alonso's, but he seems content to wait until there are no other options left and he has to stay on at Aston Martin.