Sixteen drivers are now officially confirmed for the 2027 Formula 1 grid, yet the six seats still up for grabs keep the intrigue very much alive. The biggest deal of the driver market belongs to four-time world champion Max Verstappen, who has extended his contract with Red Bull until 2030. The Dutch star had explored a move to McLaren but ultimately concluded that nothing better awaited him elsewhere. Alongside him at the Austrian team will be 21-year-old Frenchman Isack Hadjar, while McLaren have kept faith with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Stability is the theme at the other front-running teams too: Mercedes have retained Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, and Ferrari will continue with the pairing of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
With the leading teams settled, the biggest question mark hangs over 45-year-old Fernando Alonso. The two-time world champion wants to stay at Aston Martin, yet he is also giving serious thought to calling time on his career. While the Spanish veteran mulls his decision, young Rafael Camara has emerged as the frontrunner for the vacant seat at the US-owned Haas team, according to Italian sources.
