Which drivers are going where?

While multiple Formula 1 driver deals have been confirmed for 2022, a number of race seats still need to be officially filled. Here’s how next year’s grid is shaping up.

Mercedes

Mercedes is, arguably, the team with the most attention on its driver line-up. Rumours of Mercedes young driver George Russell getting the call up have surrounded it for years, though so far Valtteri Bottas has managed to bat them away with single-year contracts. Russell’s outstanding performance as replacement for Hamilton in the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix gained him further praise and tipped him as a future Mercedes driver. With Russell continuing to improve and Bottas continuing to be outpaced by team-mate Lewis Hamilton, could 2022 be Russell’s year?

Confirmed 2022 drivers:

Red Bull

Red Bull are in a similar position to Mercedes: stuck with the unenviable task of finding a team-mate to match a mercurial talent. While Verstappen is tied to the team for at least two more seasons, the infamous second seat at Red Bull is more open. Current driver Sergio Perez looks to be the safest bet as the stream of Red Bull junior drivers dries up, however his current contract runs out at the end of the season.

Confirmed 2022 drivers:

• Driver 1: Max Verstappen – Verstappen’s current Red Bull contract, agreed in January 2020, runs into the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
• Driver 2: Sergio Perez – The Mexican was signed on a one-year deal for the 2021 season, however after an impressive start partnering Verstappen, his contract was extended for 2022 ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix.

McLaren

McLaren already has drivers in both of its seats, with both Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo likely staying until at least 2023. This consistency in its driver line-up could help it continue the improvements the team has been making over the recent years.

Confirmed 2022 drivers:

Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren MCL35M, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL35M

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

Aston Martin

Aston Martin has also confirmed its driver line-up with both Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll heading up the Silverstone-based team.

Confirmed 2022 drivers:

• Driver 1: Sebastian Vettel – the former world champion’s contract with Aston Martin runs into next season, and there is talk of an extension.
• Driver 2: Lance Stroll – Stroll’s place at Aston Martin, owned by his father Lawrence, is secure for the foreseeable future.

Alpine

Alpine has both its seats accounted until the end of 2022, while the French team has tied Esteban Ocon until the end of the 2024 season. The hiring of Fernando Alonso was in part related to the new regulations, which were pushed back from 2021 to 2022 following the pandemic.

Confirmed 2022 drivers:

Fernando Alonso, Alpine F1, celebrates with Esteban Ocon, Alpine F1, 1st position, in Parc Ferme

Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images

Ferrari

Ferrari also has a full complement of drivers heading into the 2022 season, despite its burgeoning young driver programme including current F1 drivers Antonio Giovinazzi and Mick Schumacher.

Confirmed 2022 drivers:

AlphaTauri

AlphaTauri is one of the four teams who has no confirmed drivers for the 2022 season, though it has a range of options in both F1 and F2. It’s very likely that the current line-up of Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda will retain their seats, but with nothing confirmed (and Red Bull notoriously bold with its driver choices), it’s still wide open.

Confirmed 2022 drivers:

• Driver 1: Pierre Gasly – The young Frenchman is on a long-term Red Bull contract until the end of 2023 and, following some impressive results in 2021, he’s retained his AlphaTauri seat for at least one more year.
• Driver 2: Yuki Tsunoda – Tsunoda is confirmed to be keeping his seat at AlphaTauri for 2022 despite a turbulent year thus far, giving him more chance to improve and show his true pace.

Yuki Tsunoda, AlphaTauri AT02

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

Alfa Romeo

Alfa Romeo has a tough choice on its hands, and the team might be the only one to enter 2022 with two new drivers. Kimi Raikkonen has confirmed he will retire from F1 at the end of 2021, opening the door for Valtteri Bottas to replace him. Antonio Giovinazzi’s current contract expires at the end of 2021, and rumours around his place at the team have been flying.

Confirmed 2022 drivers:

Potential drivers

• Antonio Giovinazzi: Crucially the latest Alfa Romeo sponsorship deal does not guarantee a seat for a Ferrari academy driver, and that weakens the position of Giovinazzi. The Italian has had three years with the team and has done a solid job of late, but his place remains under threat.
• Guanyu Zhou: After the confirmation of Valtteri Bottas for 2022, Zhou has risen to prominence on Alfa Romeo’s list thanks to his impressive performances in F2 and his healthy sponsorship backing.
• Callum Ilott: Reserve driver Ilott has impressed the team with FP1 outings but the Alfa deal has weakened his position, and there’s little commercial imperative to run him.
• Robert Shwartzman: Like Ilott, Shwartzman’s chances have not been helped by the new Alfa deal, but his Ferrari academy connections are still of use. He currently lies third in the F2 championship.
• Mick Schumacher: Although widely expected to stay at Haas for a second season, Schumacher could yet move sideways into Alfa should Ferrari opt to push for such a move.

Callum Ilott, Alfa Romeo Racing

Photo by: Alfa Romeo

Haas

Haas currently have both of their seats open, though it’s hard to imagine that either Mick Schumacher or Nikita Mazepin will be vacating their respective seats this year. The two rookies have been learning the ropes so far in 2021, and the sponsorship attached to both of them will likely help them continue in 2022.

Confirmed 2022 drivers:

• Driver 1: Nikita Mazepin – Mazepin signed a multi-year deal for the 2021 season and beyond.
• Driver 2: Not yet confirmed

Potential drivers

• Mick Schumacher: The German is expected to stay on after conducting a season of learning with Haas, but no announcement has been made. A sideways move to Alfa Romeo remains an outside possibility.

Williams

Along with Mercedes, the drivers at Williams for 2022 are hotly anticipated. With George Russell being promoted up to Mercedes, the team has called on current Red Bull F1 reserve driver Alex Albon for 2022, while also retaining Nicholas Latifi for a third season. Following the 2020 sale of the William team to Dorilton Capital the firm have had a new influx of cash, reducing the need for pay drivers.

Confirmed 2022 drivers:

Nicholas Latifi, Williams FW43B , George Russell, Williams FW43B

Photo by: Jerry Andre / Motorsport Images