Every F1 driver's contract expiration year heading into the 2026 season

Going into the 2025 F1 season, the grid saw a multitude of changes, which were triggered by Lewis Hamilton's move from Mercedes to Ferrari. In what was regarded as a silly season, multiple veterans like Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez were put on the sidelines for rookies.

Oliver Bearman, Kimi Antonelli, Isack Hadjar, Gabriel Bortoleto, and Jack Doohan were the rookies who featured on the grid. However, going into the 2026 season, Red Bull and its sister team were the only ones who made changes, replacing Yuki Tsunoda, bringing Red Bull junior team driver Arvid Lindblad on board, and shuffling the drivers between the two teams.

Cadillac F1 will also join the grid in 2026 and announce Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas as its driver lineup. Let's have a look at the contract expiration year of every F1 driver heading into 2026.

McLaren

Lando Norris signed an extension with McLaren in January 2024, which was detailed as a long-term contract extension. While the Papaya team did not exclusively reveal the expiration date, speculation suggests the contract runs until the end of the 2027 season.

FIA Awards 2025 - Source: Getty

Oscar Piastri signed a contract extension with McLaren earlier this year, which was detailed as a multi-year contract. Speculation suggests the Australian to continue with the F1 team until the end of the 2028 season

Mercedes

Both George Russell and Kimi Antonelli's Mercedes contracts were set to expire at the end of the 2025 season, with their contract renewals being a huge topic of discussion in the community. Amid this, Toto Wolff was reported to be in talks with Max Verstappen.

However, Mercedes came out in October and confirmed that George Russell and Kimi Antonelli will continue with the team in 2026. Both Mercedes drivers were reportedly given a one-year extension, with Russell reportedly having a performance-based clause that will allow him to extend the contract by another year.

Red Bull Racing

Max Verstappen signed a long-term contract extension with Red Bull Racing in 2022, which will reportedly see him drive for the team until the end of the 2028 season. However, multiple reports suggested exit clauses in the contract. At least, the Dutchman will drive for the Milton Keynes-based team until the end of 2026.

Isack Hadjar was promoted to Red Bull Racing and replaced Yuki Tsunoda going into 2026. The exact duration of Hadjar's contract isn't confirmed, and we've seen Red Bull swapping and sacking drivers midway through the season. However, the French-Algerian driver has a contract until the end of the 2026 season at the very least.

Ferrari

Charles Leclerc signed a contract extension with Ferrari in January 2024, around the same time when rumors of Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari move were circling the paddock. It was reported as a long-term contract, speculated to see the Monegasque at the Scuderia until the end of the 2029 season.

F1 Grand Prix of Brazil - Practice & Sprint Qualifying - Source: Getty

Lewis Hamilton signed a “multi-year” deal with Ferrari as he joined ahead of the 2025 season. It was speculated to be a two-year contract, but German publication BILD recently came out and suggested that it was a three-year contract with the option to extend for another year (3+1). This would see the Briton drive for the Scuderia until the end of the 2027 season (2028 if Hamilton extends).

Williams

Alex Albon's previous F1 contract with Williams was set to expire at the end of 2025. However, in 2024, the Thai driver signed a multi-year contract extension, which is speculated to see him drive for the Grove-based team until the end of 2027.

Carlos Sainz joined Williams ahead of the 2025 season on a multi-year deal. This Spaniard would race for the team at least until the end of the 2026 season.

Racing Bulls

Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad will form the Racing Bulls lineup for 2026. The Kiwi will continue at the sister team after getting demoted from Red Bull just a couple of races into the season. Arvid Lindblad was promoted from the F2 series to F1 for the 2026 season.

Given Red Bull's terms with the drivers, both Lawson and Lindblad are speculated to have contracts only until the end of the 2026 season.

Aston Martin

Lance Stroll possibly has an infinite contract with the team, given that his father owns the team. However, on paper, the Canadian reportedly has a contract with the team until the end of the 2026 season.

F1 Grand Prix of Belgium - Practice & Sprint Qualifying - Source: Getty

Fernando Alonso signed a multi-year contract extension in April 2024, which will see him at the team until the end of the 2026 season.

Haas

Esteban Ocon joined Haas in 2025 after leaving Alpine and signed a multi-year contract, which will see him drive for the American team until at least the end of the 2026 season.

Oliver Bearman joined the team and F1 grid in 2025 and reportedly has a two-year contract with the option to extend (2+1), which will see him at the team until the end of 2026 (2027 if he extends)

Sauber (Audi F1 from 2026)

Sauber will transition to Audi starting with the 2026 season. Both Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg formed a brand new lineup for Sauber going into the 2025 season and had signed multi-year contracts with the team. This suggests that the Brazilian and German have a contract until at least the end of the 2026 season

Alpine

Pierre Gasly signed a contract extension in 2025, which reportedly will keep him at the Enstone-based team until the end of the 2028 season. Franco Colapinto, who was on a rolling contract after replacing Jack Doohan, secured a contract extension that will see him at the French team till the end of the 2026 season.

Cadillac F1

Cadillac F1 announced Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas as the driver lineup for its debut season in F1. Both reportedly signed a multi-year deal, which will see them drive with the team until the end of the 2027 season.

Edited by Pranay Bhagi