F1 2027 Grid: Who's Locked In and Who's Out of Contract

With the 2027 season on the horizon, the Formula 1 driver market is poised for a major shake-up. Several contracts expire at the end of 2026, while some teams have already secured their line-ups for the long term. Here is the full picture of the 2027 grid based on confirmed deals so far.

McLaren boasts one of the most solid foundations. Lando Norris, the reigning world champion, and Oscar Piastri are both tied to long-term contracts that will keep them at Woking at least until the end of 2027 and 2028 respectively. Similarly, at Mercedes, George Russell and Kimi Antonelli have signed extensions for 2026. While the exact duration remains undisclosed, team principal Toto Wolff has confirmed Russell will stay for 2027, and Antonelli is expected to receive a bumper new deal if he clinches his maiden title this year.

Red Bull, however, is the center of attention. Max Verstappen is officially under contract until 2028, but his deal includes options that could allow an early exit under certain conditions. His future will dominate headlines in the coming months and will be pivotal to the driver market's direction. Meanwhile, Isack Hadjar, promoted for 2026, has impressed alongside Verstappen, and if he maintains his form, he will be retained for at least 2027. At Ferrari, Charles Leclerc signed a "multi-year" extension in June 2026, quelling rumors of an early departure if the Scuderia fails to deliver a title-winning car. Lewis Hamilton, who joined in 2025, has also confirmed his contract covers 2027.

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Williams is the quickest to secure its future. Alex Albon signed a one-year extension for 2027, while Carlos Sainz penned a "multi-year" deal, ensuring both stay. At Racing Bulls, Liam Lawson and rookie Arvid Lindblad are only signed through 2026. Lindblad is expected to remain, but Lawson's seat is less secure, especially with Red Bull junior Nikola Tsolov leading the F2 championship. At Aston Martin, Fernando Alonso, now 45, is weighing his future, while Lance Stroll effectively has a rolling contract with his father's team.

Haas and Audi also face uncertainty. Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman's contracts expire at the end of 2026, with Bearman likely to continue his loan from Ferrari, while Ocon is under pressure to retain his seat. At Audi, Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto are expected to stay, though their deals for 2027 are not yet confirmed. Alpine has secured Pierre Gasly until 2028, and Franco Colapinto is on track for a third season. Meanwhile, Cadillac, F1's newest team, has locked in Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez on multi-year contracts covering 2027.

With so many contracts expiring and several drivers uncertain, the 2027 grid could undergo a significant overhaul. Verstappen's move will be the catalyst, followed by Alonso's decision, which could trigger a domino effect across the field. Teams are now in a wait-and-see mode, ready to pounce once the market opens.