With Alonso joining Aston Martin, what does the 2023 grid look like?

The Silly Season is at its peak! While the paddock still leaves Hungary to rest for 4 weeks, Aston Martin et Fernando Alonso took everyone by surprise this Monday morning by announcing their agreement to work together from 2023. This is how the Spaniard secured the seat left vacant by Sebastian Vettel, soon to retire, for the next campaign. The opportunity for us to give you an overview of the 2023 grid which is starting to be well stocked.

Red Bull, Mercedes, Ferrari, locked seats

Among the leading teams, the future of the drivers is already assured. On the side of Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton is contracted until 2023. George Russell, for his part, is playing his first season of a “long-term” contract with the Brackley structure.

Same story at Maranello where Charles Leclerc et Carlos Sainz are both linked to Scuderia Ferrari until 2024 just like Sergio Pérez at Red Bull after the extension of his lease last May, a few days after his victory at the Monaco Grand Prix. Max Verstappen He's not about to move either. The reigning world champion recently extended his contract until 2028. Only he has such a long commitment at present.

Red Bull is banking on continuity with Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez. ©DPPI/X. Bonilla

Aston Martin and McLaren, confirmed drivers, or almost

With the arrival of Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin has also completed its line-up for the 2023 season. For his first year with the Greens, the double world champion will support Lance stroll also confirmed, unsurprisingly, for the next campaign.

At McLaren, the project is built around Lando Norris. The darling of boss Zak Brown, the Englishman was recently offered a contract until 2025, on 2^e longest in the grid currently. Concerning Daniel Ricciardo, the Australian once again assured that he was linked to Woking until 2023 inclusive. However, his managers, not convinced by his performances, are considering replacing him even if as we speak he has his steering wheel assured for next season.

Alfa Romeo, AlphaTauri, Alpine and Haas in the same scenario

After very difficult years with Antonio Giovinazzi and Kimi Räikkönen, Alfa Romeo found a smile again in 2022 thanks to the duo Valtteri Bottas-Guanyu-Zhou. And in the future, the team based in Hinwil in Switzerland should continue to collaborate with the two men. The first city has a lease running until 2024. The second for its part is at the end of its contract next December but according to our information it should soon be extended.

At Alpha Tauri, only Pierre Gasly is guaranteed to pilot a car factories in Faenza next year. Under contract with Red Bull until 2023, Norman was recently confirmed for a new campaign with the sister team. However, the identity of his garage neighbor is not yet known. Alternating the good and the less good, Yuki tsunoda is not guaranteed to continue the adventure. He's going to have to raise his voice if he wants to string together a 3^e consecutive season in the elite.

Pierre Gasly will continue the adventure with AlphaTauri. ©DPPI/A. Vincent

As for Haas, everything suggests that only Kevin Magnussen is not going to leave the ship in 2023. Called back to the rescue as part of a “multi-year” contract after the departure of Nikita mazepin, the Dane does not have to worry about his future. Mick Schumacher on the other hand must be. The latest rumors state that the German will no longer play for the American team at the end of the campaign. With the road blocked on the side of Aston Martin while Sebastian Vettel had pushed his candidacy, the son of the Red Baron no longer has many solutions for the future...

On the side ofAlpine, Esteban Ocon will discover a new teammate in 2023 after the confirmation of the departure of Fernando Alonso. For the moment, various avenues are mentioned but the most credible seems to be that leading to the team's reserve driver, Oscar piastri. But the operation could prove more complicated than expected since according to our information he has a pre-contract signed with another team in the paddock. The Blues plan to make an announcement soon. To be continued.

Two places available at Williams

Last strength of the plateau, Williams has not yet confirmed anything regarding its line-up for the 2023 season. WhileAlexander albon has a good chance of being renewed, this is not the case for Nicholas latifi whose future seems to be taking shape outside the paddocks of F1. To replace him, the Grove team could notably call on the driver from its academy, Logan Sargeant, author of a great season of F2 with 2 Main Race victories (Great Britain and Austria) and two pole positions (England and France).

ALSO READ > Who to replace Alonso at Alpine ?