Normally Formula 1 teams are quite reluctant to share details about their drivers’ contracts. However, beyond the salary or the different clauses that may exist, there is almost always a fact that ends up transcending the public.
The expiration date of the contracts of the drivers of the highest category of motorsports is one of the key factors when moving through the market, better known as “Silly Season” , at which time each season the teams look for changes in their line-up or feel the need to find a new driver for the next course.
Unlike in other sports, in Formula 1 it is not usual to see drivers and teams commit to very long-term contracts, since in this world everything changes quite quickly and from one year to another the performance of a pilot can vary wildly.
When do 2022 F1 drivers’ contracts end?
The contracts of Hamilton and Russell, the Mercedes drivers in F1
The Mercedes team renewed its line-up for the 2022 season after many years. Lewis Hamilton continues to lead the team with a contract that will expire at the end of 2023, while his new partner is George Russell, whose contract end date is still unknown but is more than a year old. Both, unless the seven-time champion decided to retire, will be in the team next year.
The contracts of Sainz and Leclerc, the Ferrari drivers in F1
Ferrari repeats the line-up for the second consecutive season thanks to the great performance of its drivers in their first campaign as teammates. Both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz are armored in Maranello until 2024.
The contracts of Verstappen and Pérez, the Red Bull drivers in F1
After many years changing the line-up, the energy drink team repeats its driver duo in 2022 with Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez. The Dutchman renewed with Red Bull until 2028, securing the longest contract on the entire grid, and with record figures in terms of salary. The Mexican only had a contract until the end of this year, but after only a few races and after his triumph in Monaco, the team has renewed him not for one, but for two seasons. Therefore, until 2024 Pérez and Verstappen will be teammates at Red Bull.
The contracts of Ricciardo and Norris, the McLaren drivers in F1
Those from Woking have in their possession the second driver with a longer-term contract on the grid, since before the start of the season they reached a new agreement with Lando Norris that ensures their union until 2025. While Daniel Ricciardo has an extension contract with McLaren a little shorter, specifically until the end of 2023. However, the team’s CEO, Zak Brown , made it clear that the Australian’s contract has clauses that can cause it to be broken prematurely, and rumors about his future intensify while he does not get the results that he and his team want.
The contracts of Alonso and Ocon, the Alpine drivers in F1
The Alpine team has trusted in this 2022 in the same pair of pilots. Esteban Ocon has one of the longest contracts on the grid; until the end of 2024. In the other part of the garage, Fernando Alonso will reach the end of his agreement once F1 ends in 2022, although despite his 40 years he still seems to have a long way to go.
The team has in the bedroom the young Oscar Piastri , who after winning F2 in 2021, does not have a seat in F1. They will look for a steering wheel for him, either in another team on loan, or in Alpine itself if they do not reach an agreement with Alonso or if the Asturian driver wants to change projects. It will be one of the keys to the 2022 transfer market this summer.
The contracts of Gasly and Tsunoda, the AlphaTaurid drivers in F1
Red Bull’s older brother, known as AlphaTauri, does not usually marry long-term with its drivers, as among other things they function as a springboard team for those from Milton Keynes. For this reason, its current pilots do not have very extensive contracts; Pierre Gasly until 2023 and Yuki Tsunoda until 2022. Gasly hoped to be able to go up to Red Bull again, but the renewal of Pérez closes the door. His future in doubt.
The contracts of Vettel and Stroll, the drivers of Aston Martin in F1
After his arrival in Formula 1 in 2021, Aston Martin decided to continue in 2022 with the same pair of drivers formed by four-time champion Sebastian Vettel and the son of the team’s maximum owner, Lance Stroll. Interestingly, both will conclude their contracts at the end of this season.
Stroll’s future seems clear: he will continue as long as his father wants. Vettel’s, not so much. Aston Martin wants to renew him, and in fact they admit that they would be “fools” if they didn’t. But the four-time champion gives no clue as to whether he will prolong his time in F1 or if he will hang up his helmet, perhaps discouraged with a car unable to score regularly.
The contracts of Bottas and Zhou, the Alfa Romeo drivers in F1
Alfa Romeo’s situation is typical of a Formula 1 team. The Swiss team completely renewed its driver pair for 2022 and opted for the most repeated formula: bringing together an experienced driver and a rookie. On one side of the garage, Valtteri Bottas will not finish his contract until the end of 2024, while the young Chinese driver, Guanyu Zhou, will have to earn the renewal during 2022.
His economic contribution invites us to think that they will renew him.
The contracts of Kevin Magnussen and Mick Schumacher, the Haas drivers in F1
Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher made their Formula 1 debuts in 2021, but due to a very poor performance from Haas, they were unable to prove practically anything. Despite this, the American team decided to renew both drivers for one more season, until the end of 2022.
However, the conflict in Russia (after its invasion of Ukraine ) ended up causing a big change in the team, which altered its colours, its name and its line-up: Mazepin was fired from the team and his replacement was veteran Kevin Magnussen, who He returned to F1 after a year away.
The contracts of Albon and Latifi, the Williams drivers in F1
After two courses repeating the line-up, Williams had to say goodbye to Russell after announcing his signing for Mercedes, however, the Grove team was agile and reached an agreement with Alex Albon until the end of 2022, due in large part to the fact that he will still continue linked to Red Bull. His partner is Nicholas Latifi, who is in his third year in the structure and has a contract extension that will also end at the end of this campaign.
When do current Formula 1 drivers’ contracts expire?
| Pilot | Equipment | End of contract year |
 |
Mercedes | 2023 |
|
Mercedes | unknown |
 |
ferrari | 2024 |
 |
ferrari | 2024 |
 |
Red Bull | 2028 |
 |
Red Bull | 2024 |
 |
McLaren F1 | 2023 |
|
McLaren F1 | 2025 |
|
Alpine F1 | 2022 |
 |
Alpine F1 | 2024 |
|
AlphaTauri | 2023 |
 |
AlphaTauri | 2022 |
 |
Aston Martin | 2022 |
 |
Aston Martin | 2022 |
 |
Alfa Romeo | 2024 |
 |
Alfa Romeo | 2022 |
 |
Haas F1 | 2022 |
|
Haas F1 | 2022 |
 |
williams | 2022 |
|
Williams | 2022 |
