Mercedes, Red Bull, Alfa Romeo… who will drive where in 2022?

While F1 As the summer break approaches, the teams are considering the 90° turn that the premier category of motorsport will take from 2022. New regulations, new car and… new drivers? While some already have contracts for next season, others are still in the dark. A quick tour of the paddock with the latest transfer information. 

Mercedes : Bottas vs Russell for the second seat

The enigma surrounding the Mercedes line-up is being resolved little by little. Big piece on the chessboard, Lewis Hamilton signed for two additional seasons with the German team. But what about the identity of his teammate? If the most serious rumors send George Russell at Mercedes, could Valtteri Bottas' renewed form allow him to save his head? Hamilton's true lieutenant in the fight for the title, Bottas accepts his role as number 2 as he has since 2017. He showed it again at Silverstone on July 18, by offering Hamilton the aspiration in qualifying, and by agreeing to stand aside without flinching in the race the next day. A seduction strategy to stay at Mercedes next year? The end of the series is planned for the summer break, said Toto wolff in Great Britain. 

Red-Bull: who to support Max Verstappen ?

The contract of Sergio Perez ends at the end of the 2021 season. The Mexican seems to be the favorite to succeed himself. When Helmut Marko was asked about this during the British Grand Prix, he clarified that “negotiations would go quickly with Sergio”. Despite everything, among the candidates for a seat at Red Bull, we logically find Pierre Gasly. The Norman who excels at Alpha Tauri since his return to the Italian team, has been a logical candidate for the starting position at Red Bull. But it seems that the door is (again) closed to him next season. The opportunity for him to look elsewhere? “Yes there is interest from other teams, confesses Pierre Gasly. I try to do my best and give my best for AlphaTauri. We will discuss the future with Red Bull and with Helmut Marko. At the moment I have no idea what their intentions are, whether to keep me at AlphaTauri, place me at Red Bull or let me go to another team.". But to go where?

Ferrari : a convincing line-up

Carlos Sainz et Charles Leclerc are the delight of the Scuderia this year. © Photo Xavi Bonilla / DPPI

This is one of the nice surprises of this 2021 season. The collaboration between Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz is going wonderfully at Ferrari. The two Scuderia drivers pull themselves up and deliver fairly similar performances on the track, so much so that Carlos Sainz seems to be much more than a foil. Two pole positions and two podiums, here is Ferrari's record before arriving in Hungary. A serenity among the drivers which could help the legendary Italian team reach a milestone from 2022 and the arrival of the new regulations. Both men are still under contract for 2022. 

McLaren : Daniel Ricciardo must find colors

Surprising third in the drivers' championship ahead of a Red Bull and a Mercedes, Lando Norris signed a multi-season contract with the McLaren team last May. Daniel Ricciardo, for his part, also has a contract for several years. But the Australian driver's performances are well below the expectations of the Woking team. Could he lose his seat in 2022? “He is disappointed but so are we! says McLaren F1 boss Andreas Seidl after the Austrian Grand Prix. We really thought that its integration would go faster…. in any case in the car. That said, I remain convinced that everything will fall into place quickly for him., reassured the Woking boss. 

BREAKING: @LandoNorris signs a new multi-year contract with @McLarenF1

The announcement cements McLaren's driver line-up of Norris and Daniel Ricciardo for 2022 and beyond#F1 pic.twitter.com/20S08OQeZU

- Formula 1 (@ F1) May 19, 2021

AlphaTauri: the Pierre Gasly enigma 

The driver duo at AlphaTauri will depend on what is decided on the Red Bull side, mainly with regard to Pierre Gasly. If the Norman were to leave the Italian team, three names would be circulating to replace him: Jüri Vips, Liam Lawson and Jehan Daruvala, three drivers currently in Formula 2 and who are part of the Red Bull Junior Academy. 
Daniil Kvyat, who was recalled by Toro Rosso in 2019, has closed the door to another return. “I don’t think Marko will call me, admitted Kvyat, on the “F1 Nation” podcast after Baku. And anyway, this time, pride would prevent me from signing for them. Already the last time, it was borderline but not here… And I am very happy with my job at Alpine » For its part, Yuki tsunoda should, in all likelihood, stay with AlphaTauri, except in the event of a catastrophic second part of the season. 

sometimes luck doesn't fall your way? from fighting for P8 to getting a puncture and finishing outside of the points @PierreGASLY and the team's quote?

- Scuderia AlphaTauri (@ AlphaTauriF1) July 18, 2021

Aston Martin : no big surprise

Barring a cataclysm, Aston Martin will find the same two drivers in 2022. Sebastian Vettel has a contract for several years in the team and it is difficult to see Lawrence Stroll, the owner of the stable, indicates the exit to his son Lance. The drivers themselves would have to decide to stop or look elsewhere for there to be a change in the duo. Finally, the biggest change at Aston Martin should concern the livery which the managers want to be even greener than what it is currently.

Alfa Romeo : big change coming?

Will we see Raïkkönen and Giovinazzi in 2022 at Alfa Romeo? © Photo Xavi Bonilla / DPPI

If the new agreement between Sauber and Alfa Romeo ensures stability for the Hinwil (Switzerland) team, the line-up could be completely revised. Alfa would indeed be ready to part ways with its two drivers, as Frédéric Vasseur did not exclude on the sidelines of the British GP: “It's good to have some continuity in the team because you can always make comparisons with the previous season. Let's wait and see. Mercedes must make its choice then Red Bull etc. We will make our choice when the time is right. We could keep the same drivers or we could change them, everything is open.”

Several names are mentioned as potential replacements for Kimi Raïkkönen and Antonio Giovinazzi, who have been making common cause since 2019. A first contact has even been established between Alfa and Valtteri Bottas. If the Finn were not confirmed at Mercedes, he could succeed his compatriot next year, Vasseur holding him in high esteem. If he were to part ways with Bottas, Toto Wolff, the main team of Brackley (United Kingdom) has always said that he wanted to offer the best possible exit ticket to a driver he managed at the start of his career. And we know the connections between the Austrian and Vasseur. As for the second Alfa seat, the ball would be in Giovinazzi's court, who must confirm his good qualifying skills in the race. If the Italian stays, it would not necessarily be to please Ferrari, given that the Italian brand no longer really has a say over one of the two Hinwill holders.

A young driver could also arrive in Giovinazzi's place. Among the names mentioned, we find Callum Ilott, who took part in two free practice sessions on Friday morning at the wheel of the Alfa Romeo, and Robert Shwartzman, currently third in the Formula 2 standings. Mick Schumacher from Haas however seems unlikely. One last candidate could pull the chestnuts out of the fire, but that will depend on the second half of the Formula 2 season. It is the Frenchman Theo Pourchaire. Covered by Vasseur at ART Grand Prix, the 17-year-old young man is a little behind in the Drivers' standings but that did not prevent him from making a strong impression for his debut in the official F1 antechamber with a pole position and a prestigious success in Monaco. If Pourchaire confirms his good intentions during the last 4 rounds of 2021, who knows if Vasseur will not be tempted to start the native of Grasse (Alpes-Maritimes)?

Williams : Preparing for the post-Russell era?

At Williams, alone Nicholas latifi is guaranteed to have a steering wheel for next season. In the event of George Russell's departure, we will have to find a teammate for the Canadian. Jost Capito spoke about the subject on the sidelines of the British Grand Prix for F1.com “We are not ruling out any drivers that may be available next year at this time. Nico Hulkenberg so is, but we have a long list. We are looking for the best drivers available who want to drive and work for Williams. He is definitely not the one who aspires to the world title next year because in our opinion he would be on the wrong team. » A difficult choice for the Grove stable in order to best prepare for the post-George Russell era.

Alpine : Everything on Alonso ?

The future is clearer at Alpine. Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon have a contract over several seasons. The Spanish driver seems to be returning to his former level, as evidenced in particular by his sprint race at Silverstone.
For his part, Ocon signed a three-year deal with the French team. After a few difficult races, he bounced back in Great Britain with a ninth position but this remains far from the expectations of the team.enstone.
In the academy, Guanyu-Zhou is the driver closest to a starting seat even if the doors are closed at the moment. However, he drove in FP1 in Austria at the wheel of theAlpine. Also what aboutOscar piastri, current leader of Formula 2? 

Haas: We take the same ones and start again

If many rumors send Mick Schumacher to Alfa Romeo, the German driver nevertheless has a contract for several seasons at Haas. Could this prevent him from leaving Gunther Steiner's team? On the other side of the garage, Nikita mazepin surely secured his seat for several seasons thanks to the financial contribution of his father. Even if the two teammates don't get along at all, we risk finding them at Haas in 2022.

Find the driver table as of July 26, 2021: