Clarity regarding each driver\u2019s contract situation is difficult to achieve, given that modern-day teams like to announce their drivers on \u201cmulti-year\u201d deals, festooned with performance clauses and options that offer both driver and team certain levers to pull. Disappointed with a driver? Subsection 41.3.2 states that if they fail to score more than 20 points or forget to bring a traybake into the office on the HR director\u2019s birthday, they can be cut loose and replaced with someone more competitive, or more in tune with workplace-based anniversaries. It\u2019s a bit of a quagmire of legalese at the best of times.<\/p>\n
You might argue that the silly season has already started. Since Max\u00a0Verstappen<\/a>\u2019s view of F1 continues to vacillate depending on the whims of team politics, there\u2019s a non-zero chance that he might walk at the end of 2026. Red Bull is said to have its eye on peeling Oscar Piastri<\/a> out of the McLaren<\/a> line-up should Verstappen depart, although the Australian denies that any talks have taken place.\u00a0<\/p>\n It\u2019s said that contracts are only ever worth the paper they\u2019re written on, assuming that the stapled-together leaves of A4 are also worth whatever pay-off clause is included in the smallprint. Pierre Gasly<\/a> is known to be tied to Alpine<\/a> until the end of 2028, Lewis Hamilton<\/a> recently stated that he\u2019s in contract for next year at Ferrari<\/a>, and Charles Leclerc<\/a> has just signed a new extension to his deal<\/a>. Verstappen\u2019s deal lasts to the end of 2028, albeit with break clauses, and Piastri and Lando Norris<\/a> have the multi-year levers tied into their McLaren deals.\u00a0<\/p>\n It\u2019s fair game everywhere else, even at 2026 runaway pacesetter Mercedes. Toto Wolff likes to keep his drivers on their toes with one-year deals, although it would be wholly surprising if either George Russell<\/a> or Kimi Antonelli<\/a> were to go elsewhere\u2026 particularly since Mercedes manages their affairs. Negotiating with yourself does tend to make life a little bit easier, after all.\u00a0<\/p>\n Alonso says he will decide his future this summer. Can Aston Martin make the progress needed for him to stay?<\/p>\n Photo by: Sam Bloxham \/ LAT Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n Carlos\u00a0Sainz<\/a> is understood to be on a 2+2 deal with Williams<\/a>, and the Grove squad will be keen to move as much heaven-and-earth to keep him as it did to land him in the first place. Will Audi<\/a> and Haas persist with continuity, and take their driver pairings into a third season? Has Franco Colapinto<\/a>\u2019s recent form convinced Alpine to pursue a second full season with the talkative Argentinian?\u00a0<\/p>\n And then there\u2019s the elephant in the room: Fernando Alonso<\/a>\u2019s contract with Aston Martin. The two-time champion says that he will decide his future in the summer, although he has made noises about wanting to only quit F1 when he \u2018feels slow\u2019, believing that he is still at his best.<\/p>\n The birth of his first child might change that, and he might decide in the moment that he has less patience for propping up the order. It likely depends on Aston Martin demonstrating tangible progress.<\/p>\n The current drivers might look at their contracts, look at Aston Martin, and think, \u201cYou know what, I\u2019m all right\u201d<\/p>\n Were\u00a0Alonso to leave, who would replace him? The current drivers might look at their contracts, look at Aston Martin, and think, \u201cYou know what, I\u2019m all right\u201d, but those who fell the wrong side of the previous contract cycles might relish the opportunity to at least drive an F1 car. Wonder whether a Mr Y Tsunoda has registered his potential interest\u2026<\/p>\n It could look outside of F1, of course. Reserve driver Jak Crawford is already on the books, and development product Mari Boya is racing in F2 \u2013 although it\u2019s been a bit of a difficult start to the year for the son of a supermarket owner. But perhaps the lure of Adrian Newey and a bit of cash could persuade one of the current regulars to consider the move.<\/p>\n At the moment, silly season looks to be at the behest of Verstappen\u2019s decisions \u2013 or at least, the decisions of those opposed to changing the power unit bias for 2027. Were he to leave, it would blow the driver market wide open; who would McLaren get if Piastri did indeed switch teams? There are surely some surprises to be had.<\/p>\n This article is one of many in the monthly Autosport magazine. For more premium content, take a look at the July 2026 issue and subscribe today<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Could Piastri have his head turned by an offer from Red Bull?<\/p>\n Photo by: Kym Illman \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n We want to hear from you!<\/p>\n Let us know what you would like to see from us in the future.<\/p>\n![\"Alonso](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780715352_267_fernando-alonso-aston-martin-r.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Could](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781789173_837_oscar-piastri-mclaren.jpg\")
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