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25
AUG
2021

F1 2022 - Who Goes Where?

As we move into the F1 summer break, speculation grows as to who will be driving for which team next season. I’ve put together a list of who goes where, based on rumours, facts & a few of my own opinions.

Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton’s fresh two-year contract keeps the seven time world champion at Mercedes until the end of 2023 at the very earliest. His teammate for 2022 & beyond is yet to be announced, but currently everything points to Valtteri Bottas moving on and making way for George Russell’s inevitable promotion to the number 2 seat.

Hamilton – Confirmed
Russell – Probable

Red Bull

Max Verstappen’s current contract at Red Bull runs until 2023, so his presence in the team is guarranteed next season. For me Sergio Perez has done more than enough this season to earn himself an extension to the one year deal he signed late last year. It will be very surprising if the current line up isn’t retained for 2022, but Red Bull have a history of being trigger happy with their drivers and Pierre Gasly is still under contract until 2023, albeit currently being placed at sister team Alpha Tauri.

Verstappen – Confirmed
Perez – Probable

McLaren

With both Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo tied into multi year contracts, the Woking based team will stay ‘as is’ for 2022.

Norris – Confirmed
Riccardo – Confirmed

Ferrari

Last year Charles Leclerc signed the longest contract in the history of the Scuderia, which means he’s not going anywhere for a long while yet. Carlos Sainz has one year left to run on his two-year deal so will remain Leclerc’s teammate for at least another year.

Leclerc – Confirmed
Sainz – Confirmed

Alpine

Fernando Alonso returned to F1 this season with Alpine on a two-year deal, meaning the two-time champion will be in F1 at least until he is 41. The team rewarded F1’s newest race winner, Esteban Ocon with a new three-year contract in June after his strong start to the season.

Alonso – Confirmed
Ocon – Confirmed

Aston Martin

Sebastian Vettel will start year two of his three-year Aston Martin deal next season and with Lance Stroll pretty much guaranteed a seat no matter what, it looks like not much will change. If things don’t quite work out though, Aston have the very highly rated and experienced Nico Hulkenberg on the books as reserve driver waiting to pounce.

Vettel – Confirmed
Stroll – Confirmed

Alpha Tauri

Pierre Gasly is still under contract to Red Bull for another two years, so he is at least guaranteed a seat at Alpha Tauri next season. The identity of Gasly’s teammate is much less obvious. Current number two Yuki Tsunoda is in the running to retain his seat, but with drivers such as Callum Illot and even the return of Alex Albon possible options, this is one that we may have to wait a while for.

Gasly – Probable
Tsunoda – Possible
Illot/Albon – Maybe

Alfa Romeo

With both Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi only contracted for 2021, the seats at Alfa Romeo are wide open. With Kimi turning 42 later this year, could it be time for the iceman to call it a day? Giovinazzi has done a solid job over the last few years and if Raikkonen does retire, keeping the consistency of one of their current drivers may be a wise move. As for his teammate, Valtteri Bottas has been linked to the seat. But for me the more obvious choice would be for Ferrari to ‘promote’ Mick Schumacher from Haas. The Ferrari academy driver has had a strong start to the season and moving him to the stronger Alfa team would really progress his development.

Raikkonen – Possible
Giovinazzi – Probable
Schumacher – Possible
Bottas – Unlikely

Williams

Williams have had a much stronger 2021 than recent seasons, but losing George Russell to Mercedes will be a huge loss. They will need to replace him with a very strong driver and rumour has it that their shortlist includes returns to the team for Valtteri Bottas and Nico Hulkenberg. Either of these drivers would be a great signing for Williams and go some way to filling that Russell sized hole. I would expect Nicholas Latifi to retain his seat after some strong showings.

Latifi – Probable
Bottas – Possible
Hulkenberg – Possible

Haas

For Haas, as with this season, I think there will be a strong financial reason for who is in their cars. I feel Nikita Mazepin with the backing of his father will stay. If Mick Schumacher doesn’t move to Alfa Romeo, then I think he will most definitely fill the other seat. If Schumacher does move on then the identity of Mazepin’s teammate is anyone’s guess.