2022 Formula 1 Driver Market Confirmed: Which drivers are going where?

While multiple Formula 1 driver deals have been confirmed for 2022, only a handful of race seats still need to be officially filled. Here’s how next year’s grid is shaping up.

Mercedes

Mercedes, arguably, has been the team with the most attention on its driver line-up. Rumours of Mercedes young driver George Russell getting the call up have surrounded it for years, though so far Valtteri Bottas has managed to bat them away with single-year contracts. Russell’s outstanding performance as replacement for Hamilton in the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix gained him further praise and tipped him as a future Mercedes driver.

Confirmed 2022 drivers:

Driver 1: Lewis Hamilton – Hamilton is confirmed to be staying with Mercedes for at least two more years, having extended his contract for 2022 and 2023.
Driver 2: George Russell - After much rumour, Russell has been announced as the second driver at Mercedes for 2022 and beyond, having signed a "long-term deal". The 23-year-old will make it two Brits for Mercedes, and is replacing the outgoing Valtteri Bottas.

George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 and Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes-AMG F1

Photo by: Steve Etherington / Motorsport Images

Red Bull

Red Bull are in a similar position to Mercedes: stuck with the unenviable task of finding a team-mate to match a mercurial talent. While Verstappen is tied to the team for at least two more seasons, the infamous second seat at Red Bull had been more open, but the team as opted to stick with current driver Sergio Perez.

Confirmed 2022 drivers:

Driver 1: Max Verstappen – Verstappen’s current Red Bull contract, agreed in January 2020, runs into the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
Driver 2: Sergio Perez - The Mexican was signed on a one-year deal for the 2021 season, however after an impressive start partnering Verstappen, his contract was extended for 2022 ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix.

McLaren

McLaren already has drivers in both of its seats, with both Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo likely staying until at least 2023. This consistency in its driver line-up could help it continue the improvements the team has been making over the recent years.

Confirmed 2022 drivers:

Driver 1: Lando Norris – In May Norris signed a “multi-year” contract extension that takes him beyond next season.
Driver 2: Daniel Ricciardo – The Australian hasn’t had an easy first year with McLaren, but his initial deal continues until the end of the 2023 season.

Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren MCL35M, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL35M

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

Aston Martin

Aston Martin has also confirmed its driver line-up with both Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll heading up the Silverstone-based team.

Confirmed 2022 drivers:

Driver 1: Sebastian Vettel – The former world champion’s contract with Aston Martin runs into next season, and there is talk of an extension.
Driver 2: Lance Stroll – Stroll’s place at Aston Martin, owned by his father Lawrence, is secure for the foreseeable future.

Alpine

Alpine has retained both drivers for 2022. Esteban Ocon has secured a new contract which runs until the end of the 2024 season, while Fernando Alonso has agreed to the second year option on his current deal.

Confirmed 2022 drivers:

Driver 1: Fernando Alonso – The Spaniard’s original deal, announced in July 2020, had options, and the option to retain him for 2022 has been used. He will drive for Alpine for 2022.
Driver 2: Esteban Ocon – In June Alpine announced that Ocon will stay with the team until at least 2024.

Fernando Alonso, Alpine F1, celebrates with Esteban Ocon, Alpine F1, 1st position, in Parc Ferme

Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images

Ferrari

Ferrari also has a full complement of drivers heading into the 2022 season, despite its burgeoning young driver programme including current F1 drivers Antonio Giovinazzi and Mick Schumacher.

Confirmed 2022 drivers:

Driver 1: Charles Leclerc – In December 2019 Ferrari confirmed that Leclerc will remain a Maranello driver until 2024.
Driver 2: Carlos Sainz Jr – The Spaniard will be in the second year of his current two-year Ferrari deal in 2022.

AlphaTauri

AlphaTauri's current line-up of Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda will retain their seats for 2022 despite a wide range of options within the Red Bull junior programme.

Confirmed 2022 drivers:

Driver 1: Pierre Gasly - The young Frenchman is on a long-term Red Bull contract until the end of 2023 and, following some impressive results in 2021, he's retained his AlphaTauri seat for at least one more year.
Driver 2: Yuki Tsunoda - Tsunoda is confirmed to be keeping his seat at AlphaTauri for 2022 despite a turbulent year thus far, giving him more chance to improve and show his true pace.

Yuki Tsunoda, AlphaTauri AT02

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

Alfa Romeo

Alfa Romeo has a tough choice on its hands, and the team might be the only one to enter 2022 with two new drivers. Kimi Raikkonen has confirmed he will retire from F1 at the end of 2021, opening the door for Valtteri Bottas to replace him. Antonio Giovinazzi's current contract expires at the end of 2021, and rumours around his place at the team have been flying.

Confirmed 2022 drivers:

Driver 1: Valtteri Bottas - With Mercedes deciding not to give Bottas another year at Mercedes, the Finnish driver will replace the outgoing Kimi Raikkonen at Alfa Romeo. The seat on the other side of the garage has yet to be decided.
Driver 2: Guanyu Zhou - The second-place driver from the 2021 Formula 2 season will replace the outgoing Antonio Giovinazzi at Alfa Romeo, becoming the first Chinese driver to compete in Formula 1.

Haas

Haas will stick with an unchanged line-up for next year with Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin. The two rookies have been learning the ropes so far in 2021, and the sponsorship attached to both of them helps them continue in 2022.

Confirmed 2022 drivers:

Driver 1: Nikita Mazepin - Mazepin signed a multi-year deal for the 2021 season and beyond.
Driver 2: Mick Schumacher - The German will stay for a second season with Haas after finalising his contract.

Williams

Along with Mercedes, the drivers at Williams for 2022 are hotly anticipated. With George Russell being promoted up to Mercedes, the team has called on current Red Bull F1 reserve driver Alex Albon for 2022, while also retaining Nicholas Latifi for a third season. Following the 2020 sale of the William team to Dorilton Capital the firm have had a new influx of cash, reducing the need for pay drivers.

Confirmed 2022 drivers:

Driver 1: Nicholas Latifi - Latifi retained his seat at Williams for 2022, which will be his third year with the team.
Driver 2: Alex Albon - Albon will replace the outgoing Russell following a year in the DTM, in which he scored a win after just eight races. Red Bull had hoped to get the Anglo-Thai driver a seat after his unceremonious dropping from Formula 1 and he will retain a link to Red Bull, despite Mercedes (Williams' engine supplier) saying that they would work with Albon if Red Bull released him from his contract.