2024 F1 driver line-ups: latest news and rumours for next season

The season of speculation and rumour is upon us. F1’s driver line-ups for 2024 are currently laced with “if, buts and maybes”, as underperforming rookies and expiring contracts offer opportunities for F1 prospects to break through.

Last year brought a tug-of-war between McLaren and Alpine for Oscar Piastri’s services and this year, with potential free seats at Haas, Williams AlphaTauri and Alfa Romeo, there is a chance for more silly season mixups.

Add to that Lewis Hamilton: the seven-time world champion is currently in the final year of his Mercedes contract. Even after a recent boost in performance, failure to bring the fight to Red Bull will continue to fuel whispers of retirement or replacement. At least until he signs an extension, which appears to be the most likely scenario.

There are plenty of hopefuls looking to join the F1 grid, including Red Bull junior Liam Lawson and last year’s F2 championship winner Felipe Drugovich, who is reserve driver for Aston Martin this season. Daniel Ricciardo is also angling for a return — likely hoping for a top seat to unexpectedly open up, which wouldn’t be unheard of.

The rumours are starting to swirl, and the agents are beginning to swarm. Here’s what we know about the 2024 grid for now.

 

Confirmed 2024 F1 driver and team line-ups

Click on any team for more details or scroll down for full commentary

Team	Drivers
Alfa Romeo	Valtteri Bottas (contracted until 2024) TBC
AlphaTauri	TBC TBC
Alpine	Esteban Ocon (2024) Pierre Gasly (multi-year deal)
Aston Martin	Fernando Alonso (multi-year deal) TBC
Ferrari	Charles Leclerc (2024) Carlos Sainz Jr (2024)
Haas	Kevin Magnussen (multi-year deal) TBC
McLaren	Lando Norris (2025) Oscar Piastri (multi-year deal)
Mercedes	George Russell (multi-year deal) TBC
Red Bull	Max Verstappen (2028) Sergio Perez (2024)
Williams	Alex Albon (multi-year deal) TBC

 

Alfa Romeo 2024 F1 driver line-up

Valtteri Bottas	TBC

• Valtteri Bottas is midway through a three year deal
• Zhou Guanyu is in the last year of his 2023 extension
• Team name changed to Sauber – Audi may look to make significant changes before 2026 entry

A disappointing start to the 2023 campaign has demoted Alfa Romeo to the back of the pack, despite hopes that the team would become a midfield contender in what may be their final F1 season.

In 2024, the team will revert to Sauber, before becoming an Audi works team in 2026 – bringing uncertainty to its driver strategy.

Valtteri Bottas has been the team’s undisputed leader since joining the Italian side in 2021, and is currently midway through a three-year deal that will keep him with the team until the end of the 2024 season. The Finn’s performance has been mediocre so far this season, but Alfa may need to retain his experience in order to progress further up the running order.

Zhou Guanyu’s position is much less certain, signing a one year extension in 2022 with the possibility of renewal depending on his performance in 2023. Even without the necessary tools to climb further up the order, Zhou has shown signs of progress in 2023 but will have to continue to outperform his car and perhaps his team-mate if he has any chance of remaining on the grid.

If not, Sauber and Audi could go in a different direction. With F1 experience and a winning pedigree, Mick Schumacher could be a fitting replacement. He is currently keeping his skills sharp as an F1 reserve driver for Mercedes and McLaren. A German racing for a German team would be a marketing dream for Audi’s grand F1 entrance. However, there’s also a known quantity in F2 drive Theo Pourchaire — a Sauber junior driver for several years and currently team reserve.

 

AlphaTauri 2024 F1 driver line-up

TBC	TBC

• Yuki Tsunoda and Nyck de Vries on one-year deals.
• Underperforming in 2023
• Many possible replacements

Red Bull teams currently occupy the very front and the very back of the F1 grid: Yuki Tsunoda and Nyck de Vries have drawn the short straw with AlphaTauri.

Both drivers are currently under pressure with one-year contracts and have struggled to cope with an AT04 that is apparently very difficult to drive. In the famously ruthless Red Bull system, this could prompt bosses to try out different options.

Tsunoda joined the team in 2021, but despite impressing early on, his inexperience and unpredictability has left him under threat – potentially by another Red Bull junior. Although his performances have generally improved – picking up points in Australia and Azerbaijan – the same cannot be said for De Vries.

The Dutchman entered the F1 paddock with huge promise after a standout performance racing for Williams at the 2022 Italian Grand Prix. But after unflattering performances in Australia, Azerbaijan and Canada, his time in F1 could be very short lived.

Liam Lawson is a ready made replacement, as part of the Red Bull Academy. Winning on his debut in every category he has raced, including a recent triumph in the Japanese Super Formula, Lawson has certainly showed his potential as an F1 prospect and would be a promising addition to AlphaTauri’s current line-up whilst protecting its future.

A less obvious option is Daniel Ricciardo. The eight time grand prix winner would add an element of experience to the team that was lost with the departure of Pierre Gasly. Red Bull team boss Christian Horner has stated that the Aussie “is beginning to find his mojo again” after two tough years with McLaren, but the driver himself has indicated that he’s looking for a top-level drive. Could AlphaTauri play an unlikely part in a heroic comeback story?

 

Alpine 2024 F1 driver line-up

Esteban Ocon	Pierre Gasly

• Esteban Ocon contracted until 2025
• Pierre Gasly contracted on multi-year deal
• Alpine’s future secured

After the sudden departure of Fernando Alonso and its failure to retain Oscar Piastri, Alpine has invested heavily in its future, pairing Esteban Ocon with fellow countryman Pierre Gasly, to complete F1’s full French driver/team line-up.

Both drivers are on long term deals and are proven talents, sharing two race victories between them alongside a host of impressive performances.

In 2023, the team has failed to match the performance it found in 2022 (so far), and is currently fifth in the constructors’ standings. But a standout drive from Gasly in Bahrain and a podium visit for Ocon in Monaco suggests the team is on the right track, albeit overshadowed by the rise of Aston Martin and a resurgent Mercedes.

Aston Martin 2024 F1 driver line-up

Fernando Alonso	TBC

• Fernando Alonso signed on for a multi-year deal
• Lance Stroll not confirmed but strong favourite to stay on in 2024

Aston Martin’s sudden ascension from the midfield to the podium – in the space of one off-season – has taken fans and rivals by surprise. The addition of Fernando Alonso has only spurred the team on further.

Through the first nine races of the season, the Spaniard has captured six podium finishes, with the AMR23 is a close battle for the second quickest car on the grid alongside Mercedes. The two-time world champion signed a multi-year deal with the team midway through the 2022 season, after Alpine failed to deliver a car reliable enough to challenge at the very front of the grid.

Whilst the second Aston Martin seat is not currently confirmed, it’s probably safe to say that Lance Stroll will keep his spot on the grid in 2024. With his father Lawrence Stroll at the helm, it’s hard to imagine the Canadian’s position within the team would be challenged for the foreseeable future, especially if he continues to perform confidently alongside such an intimidating team-mate.

In the unlikely scenario that Stroll is replaced, former F2 champion and current Aston Martin reserve driver Felipe Drugovich would be an intriguing successor. The Brazilian dominated the 2022 F2 season, winning the title with one race to spare, and impressed during his first FP1 outing at the 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – despite finishing at the bottom of the standings.

 

Ferrari 2024 F1 driver line-up

Charles Leclerc	Carlos Sainz

• Charles Leclerc enters final year of five year deal
• Carlos Sainz enters final year of contract extension
• Underperformance could force both drivers to rival teams

Ferrari has followed a disappointing title challenge in 2022 with an unwanted slow start in 2023 — only finishing on the podium once through the first nine races and currently sat fourth in the constructors’ standings.

Could it be the final straw for championship hopeful Charles Leclerc? Both he and Carlos Sainz will enter the final year of their respective deals at the start of the 2024 campaign, having endured scintillating highs and crushing lows in their time at Ferrari.

Leclerc joined the team in 2019 and later signed a five year deal – the longest term in red since Michael Schumacher — a reflection of his widely-recognised potential. He’s had the pace to win races but not the consistency to properly challenge for the championship. So it would be no surprise if Leclerc began to look elsewhere, and there are some signs that the Monegasque driver is beginning to grow tired of the Scuderia’s continuous mistakes. Interest from Red Bull and Mercedes has already begun to circulate…

Sainz may also be evaluating his options, but has seemed less unsettled than Leclerc. At 28-years-old, Sainz may be past the mid-point of his F1 career, but has proven to still possess the ability to race at the very front of the grid.

 

Haas 2024 F1 driver line-up

Kevin Magnussen	TBC

• Kevin Magnussen enters his second year of a multi-year deal in 2023
• Nico Hülkenberg currently in final year

A change of philosophy in 2023 saw Haas move away from youth and potential to age and experience – the returning Nico Hülkenberg chosen to replace Mick Schumacher and partner Kevin Magnussen.

So far, the gamble on experience has largely paid off, scoring points in Saudi Arabia, Australia and Miami whilst keeping both cars intact. Hülkenberg even briefly qualified second in Canada before a grid penalty demoted him to fifth.

At a combined age of 65 – one of the oldest line-ups on the grid – Magnussen and Hülkenberg are headed toward the end of their respective F1 careers. Magnussen has a contract for 2024 but Hülkenberg’s return was secured by a single-season contract.

If Hülkenberg continues to perform, a contract extension could be a formality. But with a spot at the front of the midfield still out of reach, it may decide that it’s time for a change if performance doesn’t progress, Haas reserve Pietro Fittipaldi will be hoping to get the nod for promotion, after being overlooked when Haas came to replace Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher.

 

McLaren 2024 F1 driver line-up

Lando Norris	Oscar Piastri

• McLaren and Daniel Ricciardo agree to terminate their deal at the end of the year
• Lando Norris signed new extension up to 2025
• Oscar Piastri signed multi-year deal
• Driver line-up unwavering despite frustrations with performance

McLaren will seemingly be taking a break from silly season madness after its chaotic yet successful attempt to prise Oscar Piastri away from Alpine in 2022 – pairing the Aussie with Lando Norris on long-term deals.

McLaren’s driver line-up is likely to remain the same until 2025, showcasing its investment in the future through two premier F1 talents.

Norris signed a five year contract extension with McLaren in 2022, keeping him in papaya until at least 2025. Although frustrations with the team’s lack of performance in 2023 have caused transfer rumours to fly, Norris has continued to remain loyal to McLaren’s long term goal in returning to the front of the grid.

The multi-year deal of Piastri only supports this initiative and leaves little to offer for the likes of Alex Palou, Colton Herta or Mick Schumacher (McLaren’s F1 reserve driver for 2023).

The effects of a staff reshuffle and some key new hires – part of Andrea Stella’s plan to return the team back to the front – are already beginning to yield positive results, with both cars qualifying inside the top ten in Monaco and Canada. Continued progress will perhaps seal both drivers’ long-term F1 futures but failure to deliver a race-winning car will give each a simple excuse to move elsewhere.

 

Mercedes 2024 F1 driver line-up

George Russell	TBC

• George Russell on multi-year deal
• Lewis Hamilton without an F1 contract for 2024
• Mercedes aiming to bounce back after underwhelming title defence in 2022

Lewis Hamilton may be 38 years-old, but after finding new performance in his Mercedes – which many appoint to the abandonment of its ‘zero sidepod’ design – the Briton has assured supporters he’s around for the long haul, with a new deal apparently imminent.

After a gut-wrenching title defeat in 2021, Hamilton was unable to respond the following year after encountering numerous problems with Mercedes W13. A lack of performance and excessive porpoising meant Mercedes was unable to challenge at the front of the field until the later end of the 2022 season – the team’s only victory captured by new addition George Russell.

This year began in similar fashion, but after a recent upgrade package, Mercedes are now in a consistent battle for second alongside Aston Martin and a struggling Sergio Perez. While this may be enough to keep Hamilton interested for now, failure to produce a race-winning car could force Hamilton into retirement, perhaps giving Mick Schumacher a second chance behind the wheel of an F1 car.

 

Red Bull 2024 F1 driver line-up

Max Verstappen	Sergio Perez

• Max Verstappen signed a five-year extension in 2022
• Sergio Perez was given a two-year extension following the 2022 Monaco GP
• Impressive young talent could threaten Perez’ long-term position

Red Bull‘s continued dominance after a title triumph in 2022 has continued to impress. Its only weakness, perhaps coming from within.

Having signed the grid’s most lucrative contract in 2022 – keeping him with Red Bull until 2028 – Max Verstappen is set to remain at the front of the field for the foreseeable future but choosing who to sit beside him could provide the biggest challenge.

Sergio Perez is currently set to remain with the team until the end of the 2024 season, but recent poor showings in Monaco, Spain and Canada could force Red Bull to look elsewhere is its grip on the constructors’ title starts to loosen – opening the door for Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris or even a Daniel Ricciardo return.

 

Williams 2024 F1 driver line-up

Alex Albon	TBC

• Alex Albon retained on a multi-year deal
• Logan Sargeant without a F1 contract for 2024

Making the small jump from the back of the grid to the back of the midfield is a rare sign of progress for Williams, who under new team principal James Vowles, will look to continue its progress further up the grid.

Alex Albon is clearly a major part of the team’s future, having committed to a multi-year deal in 2022. The Thai driver had impressive performances throughout last year and has continued to impress in 2023 despite a slow start to the season – collecting a single point in Bahrain and an impressive seventh place finish in Canada.

F1 rookie Logan Sargeant was impressive to start the year, but has shown signs of inexperience – critically breaching track limits in Saudi Arabia, ploughing into the back of Nyck de Vries in Melbourne and failing to find pace in Miami and Spain. Williams will be looking for signs of progress before renewing his deal.

Daniel Ricciardo, Liam Lawson, Mick Schumacher and Felipe Drugovich could all fill a void if the team are wanting additional F1 experience, but more interesting options could come from IndyCar.

Alex Palou, Colton Herta and Pato O’Ward have all revealed their interest in making the leap to F1, and if Williams want to tap in to F1’s growing US market, all three could prove to be valuable options. Of course, the lack of superlicence points for all three drivers could become a serious obstacle to overcome, but a high finish in the IndyCar series for Herta and O’Ward would give them enough points to qualify.