F1 2024 silly season will be epic as 15 stars out of contract and moves brewing
The 2023 Formula 1 season provided little by way of excitement as far as the driver market was concerned.
Most were tied down to multi-year deals, while those who weren't were generally given an extra year to prove their worth with teams unwilling to make major changes. In fact, there is only one single difference to the 20 that will drive in Bahrain next month compared to the start of last season.
That change happened at AlphaTauri, mid-way through the campaign. Nyck de Vries just wasn't performing and so, after a successful test for Daniel Ricciardo at Silverstone, the popular Aussie was parachuted in and will line-up again for the team this year.
There are a few on the grid whose places are safe beyond the next 12 months, and two teams who can put their feet up when it comes to sorting their driver line-ups for 2025. Other than that, there is set to be chaos with 15 drivers out of contract in December - a situation which looks likely to lead to wholesale changes up and down the grid.
Mirror Sport takes a look at the driver situation at all 10 teams, starting with the defending champions...
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Red Bull - Max Verstappen (2028) and Sergio Perez (2024)
Even if he didn't already have five more years to run on his mega-money contract, triple-champion Verstappen would have nothing to worry about. Perez, on the other hand, is fighting for his future with the team. If the Mexican cannot prove himself worthy of the second seat at Red Bull, then Christian Horner has already made it clear he will have plenty of options. Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda will be gunning for promotion from the sister team, while the likes of Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz have been linked with a switch to the champions.
Mercedes - Lewis Hamilton (2025) and George Russell (2025)
Lewis Hamilton and George Russell form a formidable all-British line-up at Mercedes (Getty Images)Mercedes are one of just two teams which have nothing at all to worry about in terms of their driver line-ups beyond this season. Both Hamilton and Russell signed new two-year extensions last term which keep them with the Silver Arrows up to the end of 2025. Russell is the future of the team and you would imagine Mercedes will look to keep him around for even longer. The same most likely applies to seven-time world champion Hamilton, though whether or not this is his final F1 deal will depend on his drive to continue.
Ferrari - Charles Leclerc (2024) and Carlos Sainz (2024)
Ferrari, on the other hand, have plenty of work to do. Reports from Italy suggest Leclerc has already been offered a new long-term deal and it would be no surprise to see that announced before the start of the new season. Sainz is also set to get a deal, though the understanding is that Ferrari don't want to give him a contract that is quite as long in order to keep one of their seats relatively free. Alex Albon is among the drivers they admire, thanks to his performances for Williams, and the British-Thai racer is one of those free to leave at the end of this year...
McLaren - Lando Norris (2025) and Oscar Piastri (2026)
McLaren have two of the brightest young talents in F1 tied down to long-term deals (Getty Images)McLaren, like Mercedes, can be more relaxed about the future of their driver line-up. After a stellar rookie season, they acted swiftly to tie down Piastri until the end of 2026 and silence the first whispers about the top teams taking notice in the Aussie. Norris is next on the to-do list, with Red Bull constantly sniffing around the Brit. CEO Zak Brown is adamant that there is no price any team could offer that would convince him to consider allowing a buy-out of his contract. And, if they can continue their good progress, there is no reason why they can't convince Norris to sign a new, longer deal again.
Aston Martin - Fernando Alonso (2024) and Lance Stroll (?)
Right now, it feels more likely that Alonso will sign a new deal to continue his F1 career rather than hang up his racing overalls. But the Spaniard has already admitted he will see how his body feels this season before making a decision on that front. Perhaps the 42-year-old has been feeling the strain more than his results have been letting on? As for Stroll, it used to be a-given that he would be around the following year seeing as his dad owns the team. But surely, unless the Canadian can finally find some consistently strong form, even ambitious billionaire Lawrence may realise he has to cut his own son for someone who can score on a more regular basis.
Alpine - Esteban Ocon (2024) and Pierre Gasly (2024)
Gasly and Ocon got along a lot better than expected in their first season together at Alpine (Getty Images)We were promised a civil war at Alpine as childhood friends-turned-enemies Ocon and Gasly were paired together... but in the end they were both very well behaved. If they continue to put the team above themselves then Alpine would no doubt like to renew both their contracts. That said, both are excellent drivers who will want to drive for a team that can finish higher than sixth in the championship. Can Alpine do that in their current state? There's no reason why a team further up the grid won't come calling for at least one of them later this year, which could force the Enstone outfit into a search for a replacement.
Williams - Alexander Albon (2024) and Logan Sargeant (2024)
Which leads us nicely onto Albon, who has impressed everyone with his results for Williams and will no doubt be the subject of a lot of interest this year. Red Bull have played down the idea of a return to his old seat but Ferrari are definitely keen - though their plans for the British-Thai racer are probably more geared towards 2026. But, if Alpine or Aston Martin were to need a new driver for next year, it would be no surprise to see them making a move for Albon. As for Sargeant, he may have been given a second season in F1 but he won't get a third unless he can score more points. Williams have a few Formula 2 racers in their driver academy who would love to step up and replace the American if he cannot live up to what the team needs from him.
AlphaTauri - Daniel Ricciardo (2024) and Yuki Tsunoda (2024)
Ricciardo and Tsunoda will have a lot of fun this year, but will they do enough to keep their F1 careers alive? (Getty Images)Having raced just seven time last year, Ricciardo did not get the chance to prove he can still get the job done at this level. This year will be the true test of that, while it also feels like a career-defining season for Tsunoda, in his fourth F1 campaign. Both are in the peculiar position of auditioning for a potential promotion to Red Bull if Sergio Perez is axed, while also still fighting for the seats they have now. Liam Lawson is ready and waiting to get his first full-time seat after his impressive cameo last year, while there may be others in the Red Bull driver academy who could make Ricciardo and Tsunoda sweat. It feels unlikely this will still be the driver line-up in 12 months' time.
Sauber - Valtteri Bottas (2024) and Zhou Guanyu (2024)
Bottas may be dabbling in competitive cycling and flogging calendars with his naked backside on them, but he remains a tough racer - just one who has had rubbish cars in the last two seasons. That sad reality has also prevented Zhou from really showing what he can do so far in his short F1 career. The fact the big transition to Audi will be for the 2026 season may mean an extra year for both of them beyond their current deals irrespective of what happens this year, even if just to maintain the status quo. But both will have to show more than they have if they have ambitions of racing for teams closer to the front of the grid. And if they cannot, maybe reserve driver Theo Pourchaire, the new Formula 2 champion, will be given a chance in one of their places.
Haas - Kevin Magnussen (2024) and Nico Hulkenberg (2024)
Haas' problems last year were caused by their car which was, er, rubbish. Regardless, Hulkenberg caught the eye on many occasions, particularly in qualifying, while Magnussen struggled to get anything out of his machine. Those results mean the Dane is probably in more danger than his older team-mate of being replaced if he cannot rediscover his best form. Everyone at Haas really likes Ferrari junior Oliver Bearman after his FP1 sessions with the team last year. That includes the new team principal Ayao Komatsu, who heaped praise upon the 18-year-old. If Bearman can have a strong sophomore season in F2, Haas may make a change which would see another Brit join the F1 grid.
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