With more than half of the drivers’ contracts ending by December, the transfer market is a real time bomb. Here is the full update on the contractual situation of each team
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The apparent stability of the 2026 grid was just the calm before the storm. While the faces have remained almost identical at the start of this season – with the notable exception of Cadillac’s arrival and the return of some veterans – the backstage of F1 is about to ignite.
And for good reason: more than half of the current drivers’ contracts expire by December.
Who is locked in? Who risks being shown the door? Who threatens to quit everything? An overview of a transfer market that promises to be explosive.
Ferrari and McLaren: The long-term safes
At the Reds and the Papayas, they sleep soundly. Charles Leclerc currently holds the longest contract in the paddock. Officially extended today, Leclerc is tied to Scuderia “for the coming seasons”, an agreement that would actually extend beyond 2030. Alongside him, Lewis Hamilton has confirmed he will drive the Ferrari at least until the end of 2027.
On the Woking side, youth is in power and well protected. Lando Norris is tied to McLaren until 2027, while Oscar Piastri has secured his seat at least until the end of the 2028 season.
Red Bull and Mercedes: The shadow of Max Verstappen
This is where the saga gets juicy. Theoretically, Max Verstappen is contracted with Red Bull until 2028. However, the four-time world champion is banging his fist on the table: he recently threatened to leave F1 as early as 2027 if the planned technical regulation changes were blocked.
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To make matters worse, Mercedes is keeping a very close eye on the Dutchman. At the Silver Arrows, while George Russell is contracted until 2027, the terms of his contract would leave an exit door for 2027. As for the young Kimi Antonelli, his contract is only guaranteed for 2026. A giant game of musical chairs could start between Brackley and Milton Keynes, which will inevitably impact the young Isack Hadjar, who is performing well but signed only for the year 2026 at Red Bull.
Rumors of clashes and hot topics: Alpine, Haas, and Aston Martin
At Alpine, Pierre Gasly is safe until 2028. However, the future of his teammate Franco Colapinto (who was brilliant in Miami and Canada) hangs on the words of Flavio Briatore. The Alpine advisor admits: he wants to “keep his options open” in case the top driver market stirs.
The atmosphere is much more electric at Haas, where Ollie Bearman and Esteban Ocon are reaching the end of their contracts. The boss, Ayao Komatsu, had to firmly deny rumors of internal tensions and whispers announcing a premature split with the Norman driver even before the end of the season.
Finally, at Aston Martin, the honeymoon with Honda is experiencing a difficult start to the collaboration. Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll are, for now, not guaranteed anything for 2027.
| Team | Driver & Contract End | Driver & Contract End |
|---|---|---|
| Ferrari | Charles Leclerc (2030+) | Lewis Hamilton (2027) |
| McLaren | Oscar Piastri (2028) | Lando Norris (2027) |
| Red Bull | Max Verstappen (2028) | Isack Hadjar (2026) |
| Mercedes | George Russell (2027) | Kimi Antonelli (2026) |
| Alpine | Pierre Gasly (2028) | Franco Colapinto (2026) |
| Cadillac | Sergio Pérez (2027) | Valtteri Bottas (2027) |
| Audi | Nico Hülkenberg (Multi-year) | Gabriel Bortoleto (Multi-year) |
| Williams | Alex Albon (2026+) | Carlos Sainz (2026) |
| Aston Martin | Fernando Alonso (2026) | Lance Stroll (2026) |
| Racing Bulls | Liam Lawson (2026) | Arvid Lindblad (2026) |
| Haas | Ollie Bearman (2026) | Esteban Ocon (2026) |
With the notable exception of the two top teams Ferrari and McLaren, the F1 managements are about to experience intense negotiations.
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The transfer market has yet to reveal all its truths.