The 2026 rule changes threw Formula 1 into a new era of challenges and uncertainty, but the real moments of unpredictability are still to come.
Most drivers secured short-term deals to survive the regulation shift, leaving the grid wide open for the following year. With only a handful of drivers locked into long-term contracts almost every seat on the grid is up for grabs.
Here is our early look at what the future holds for the current Formula 1 lineup.
McLaren
Lando Norris - 'multi-year deal' beyond 2026
Prior to the start of the 2024 F1 season Norris agreed to an "extended multi-year contract beyond 2025." While no other specifics were given, we know that deal lasts beyond this year. He told F1's Beyond The Grid podcast in July: "My contract still goes for a good amount of years, so I know I'm not leaving any time soon." There may be break clauses, but Norris doesn't seem in a rush. "That's my goal, to be with McLaren forever," he added.
Oscar Piastri - 'multi-year deal' beyond 2026
Ahead of the first race of the 2025 F1 season Piastri also signed a multi-year contract extension. His previous deal already ran until the end of 2026, and his latest agreement is likely to keep him at McLaren until at least the end of 2028 -- though speculation continues to rumble on about his long-term future.
Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton - 2027
While an exact end date of Hamilton's contract -- signed after completing one of the biggest driver moves in F1 history -- was never officially communicated, Hamilton admitted earlier this year that he still had a contract in place for 2027. That means he got at least a three-year deal at Ferrari, something he had also been seeking at Mercedes.
Amid retirement rumours, Hamilton has also crushed speculation and assured fans that he wasn't going anywhere just yet.
He said: "There's a lot of people that are trying to retire me, and that's not even in my thoughts. I'm already thinking of what will be next, and planning for, like, the next five years. But I still plan to be here for some time."
Charles Leclerc - 2028
Leclerc, who first joined Ferrari in 2019, signed another multi-year extension ahead of the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix.
The team did not publicly reveal an exact expiry date, but the new agreement is understood to take Leclerc to 2028 and potentially beyond, giving Ferrari long-term security over one side of its driver lineup.
Red Bull
Max Verstappen - 2028
Red Bull confirmed in 2022 that four-time world champion Verstappen would remain with the team until the end of 2028 in one of the longest deals on the F1 grid.
There are believed to be performance-related clauses in his contract which could allow Verstappen to leave early, and speculation over his future has continued into 2026, but as things stand he is contracted to Red Bull for 2027.
Isack Hadjar - TBC
Isack Hadjar was promoted from Racing Bulls to partner Verstappen for the 2026 season after an impressive rookie campaign. His deal is currently only confirmed for 2026, technically leaving the second Red Bull seat open heading into next season -- although you'd imagine Hadjar will be safe.
Mercedes
George Russell - beyond 2026
Russell agreed a new deal with Mercedes ahead of the 2026 season following lengthy negotiations with team principal Toto Wolff.
Although the agreement was initially confirmed as taking him through at least 2026, Russell has since described it as a multi-year deal and said he will fulfill the performance clauses in his contract to stay at Mercedes next year.
Kimi Antonelli - TBC
Mercedes' Antonelli has only been given one-year contracts since his debut, but given his form this season there's no way he'll be leaving the Silver Arrows. Right?
No official announcements have been made yet, but Antonelli could be celebrating both a maiden title and a bumper new deal this year.
Aston Martin
Fernando Alonso - TBC
Alonso's current Aston Martin deal runs until the end of the 2026 season, and he said a decision on his future will come later in the year. At 45 years old, the decision is likely to be between continuing with an underperforming Aston Martin team, or calling time on his F1 career once and for all.
Lance Stroll - TBC
Stroll signed a contract extension in 2024 which kept him with Aston Martin for 2025 "and beyond," but no specific end date was announced. Part of that ambiguity, of course, is because he's the son of team owner Lawrence Stroll.
He remains with the team for 2026, although his position for 2027 has not formally been confirmed.
Alpine
Pierre Gasly - 2028
Gasly is one of the drivers whose future is already settled -- the Frenchman signed a new multi-year agreement with Alpine in 2025 which keeps him locked in at the team until at least the end of the 2028 season.
Franco Colapinto - TBC
Colapinto retained his Alpine seat alongside Gasly for 2026 after taking over from Jack Doohan during the previous season.
His place beyond the end of this year has not yet been confirmed, leaving Alpine's second seat available for 2027 as things currently stand.
Haas
Esteban Ocon - TBC
Ocon joined Haas ahead of the 2025 season on a multi-year agreement after leaving Alpine which will run through to the end of the 2026 season. It is unclear whether his current deal guarantees him a place on the 2027 grid.
Oliver Bearman - TBC
Bearman also joined Haas on a multi-year deal when he became a full-time F1 driver in 2025. Like Ocon, the exact duration of Bearman's contract has not been made public, leaving his 2027 status uncertain for now.
However, sources with good knowledge of the team's thinking have told ESPN that Bearman is almost certain to stay with the team in 2027 unless a Ferrari seat opens up, then the Englishman remains effectively loaned to Haas.
Racing Bulls
Liam Lawson - TBC
Lawson remained with Racing Bulls for 2026 after rebuilding his season following a short-lived promotion to Red Bull the previous year.
His seat is only confirmed for the current season, meaning the New Zealander will again have to prove his case if he is to stay within the Red Bull set-up in 2027.
Arvid Lindblad - TBC
Lindblad became the latest Red Bull junior to make the jump to Formula 1 when he was handed a Racing Bulls seat for 2026.
The rookie is currently only confirmed for this season and the team have played down speculation over their driver lineup for 2027. You'd be shocked to see him go anywhere, though.
Williams
Carlos Sainz - TBC
Sainz originally joined Williams on a deal covering the 2025 and 2026 seasons, with "options to extend" his stay beyond that.
Sainz has spoken about wanting to make the Williams project work, but has also acknowledged that his longer-term future will depend on the team's progress, meaning his 2027 seat remains TBC.
Alex Albon - 2027
Albon signed a new one-year contract with Williams during the summer break, tying him down for the 2027 season. The short-term deal is interesting, given Albon's last contract -- signed in 2024 -- was for multiple years. Keeping those options open?
Audi
Nico Hulkenberg - TBC
Hulkenberg joined Sauber ahead of its transformation into the Audi team on a multi-year contract in 2025.
There are believed to be options in his deal which could allow him to remain with Audi beyond 2026, but an exact end date has not been announced.
Gabriel Bortoleto - TBC
Bortoleto joined Hulkenberg at Sauber before the team's transition to Audi and also signed a multi-year deal.
The Brazilian is contracted through at least the end of 2026, but his place for 2027 has not yet been officially confirmed.
Cadillac
Sergio Perez - 2027
Perez returned to the Formula 1 grid with Cadillac for the team's debut season in 2026 after spending a year away from racing.
The Mexican joined on a multi-year agreement understood to be on similar terms to teammate Valtteri Bottas, putting him in line to remain with Cadillac for 2027.
Valtteri Bottas - 2027
Bottas also returned to a full-time race seat with Cadillac after spending 2025 as Mercedes' reserve driver.
The Finn signed a multi-year deal which runs until at least the end of 2027, giving the new team one of the few already settled driver pairings heading into next season.