Which drivers are out of contract in 2025?

La silly season of 2024 has been particularly aptly named. The transfer market for drivers of Formula 1 was agitated while a large half of the grid was at the end of its contract on December 31. If some extended, the movements were legion in the wake of the hyper-publicized departure of Lewis Hamilton Ferrari.

Ultimately, eight of the ten teams changed at least one of their drivers, and two renewed their entire duos. If McLaren et Aston Martin remained wise during the winter, Haas and Sauber have decided to start from scratch. Of the drivers on the grid at the start of the 2024 season, six have left (Pérez, Magnussen, Sergeant, Ricciardo, Bottas et Zhou), some of whom are currently in the season (Sargeant and Ricciardo), and six young guns have arrived to play their first full season in 2025: Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), Oliver Bearman (Haas), Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls), Jack Doohan (Alpine), Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) and Liam Lawson (Red Bull).

Mercedes and Red Bull will have contracts to renegotiate

After this year of great upheaval, most drivers now have multi-year contracts allowing them to calmly face the prospect of the new 2026 regulations, but some are still in uncertainty. This is particularly the case within the Red Bull fold, where short-term contracts are commonplace, unless your name is Max Verstappen (tied until 2028 to Red Bull). His new teammate Liam Lawson has a year to prove himself, or even less if he struggles to get into the swing of things. At Racing Bulls, Yuki tsunoda begins his fifth season with the team of Faenza – a record – which should be his last. Isack Hadjar has been recruited for the 2025 season and will have to quickly show that he deserves a new contract, or even a place at Red Bull.

his compatriot Pierre Gasly does not yet know who will be at his side in 2026 at Alpine. Jack Doohan, who arrived in the off-season, is already under immense pressure from Franco Colapinto, the new reserve driver of the A fléché. The Australian currently only has a contract for 2025, which could even – according to rumours – cover only a limited number of races.

Finally, Mercedes is going to have a crucial year as Kimi Antonelli and George Russell are both out of contract. The former is the new jewel of Toto wolff and his future is at Mercedes, but for the second, a doubt remains. Despite his very good 2024 season, George Russell could be sacrificed if his boss succeeds in fulfilling his dream of attracting Max Verstappen. On the other hand, apart from the four-time world champion, no other driver seems for the moment to be a threat to the Briton, who should sign an extension if the negotiations with the Dutchman of Red Bull do not progress.

F1
Which drivers are out of contract in 2025?

2025

Liam Lawson (Red Bull)
Jack Doohan (Alpine)
Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls)
Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)
George Russell (Mercedes)
Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)

2026

Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)*
Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)*
Lando Norris (McLaren)
Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber)
Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)
Lance stroll (Aston-Martin)
Fernando Alonso (Aston-Martin)
Esteban Ocon (Haas)*
Oliver Bearman (Haas)*
Carlos Sainz (Williams)
Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
Oscar piastri (McLaren)*

2027

Alex Albon (Williams)*

2028

Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

*Drivers with an asterisk have signed long-term contracts whose duration has not been confirmed. They run at least until the end of 2026.

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