F1 News
Which drivers are confirmed for 2022?
Cameron Smith
With Esteban Ocon's contract extension at Alpine confirmed, there are now 10 drivers, exactly half of the grid, who have a confirmed seat for the 2022 season. It's only June, but teams appear keen to sort our their driver line-ups early, especially with multi-year contracts now a trend in the sport. Ocon has joined Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris in signing a long-term deal, and it appears as though one-year deals are somewhat a thing of the past, in particular for the most talented, young drivers in the sport. But, along with the aforementioned four drivers, who else has a confirmed seat for next year?
Max Verstappen - Red Bull Racing
Sebastian Vettel - Aston Martin
Lance Stroll - Aston Martin
Fernando Alonso - Alpine
Esteban Ocon - Alpine
Nikita Mazepin - Haas
Who still doesn't have a seat?
The biggest question mark for 2022 is who Mercedes are going to choose as their pair of drivers. Lewis Hamilton will surely be renewed if he wants to stay at the team, but the major dilemma for Toto Wolff is whether to choose George Russell or Valtteri Bottas to partner him.
Bottas has failed to challenge Hamilton as his teammate, and this year, he is struggling to get the most out of his W12. Down in P6 in the Drivers' Championship, he may be on the way out, in favour of Russell who is Mercedes' golden boy of the future.
AlphaTauri also have a decision to make with neither driver currently contracted for 2022. They will want Pierre Gasly to stay, and although Yuki Tsunoda has had a few poor results, he's shown enough ability to prove he's good enough for this level. The only question mark they'll have is whether to bring back Alex Albon, who was dropped by Red Bull in favour of Sergio Perez.
Speaking of Perez, he will most likely remain at Red Bull in 2022 having just picked up his first win for the team at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Haas will need to decide whether Mick Schumacher is good enough, and with his Ferrari links, contract talks have been delayed, whilst Alfa Romeo have two slots to fill. Robert Schwartzman and Callum Ilott will be fighting for a place at either team, probably Alfa Romeo.
Nicholas Latifi is also without a contract for next year.
