The 2024 season will be the first in the history of Formula 1 to start with the same drivers who finished 2023. At the end of 2024, however, their F1 contracts will be expiring for as many as thirteen of them. Let's see, therefore, everyone's situation and what to expect from a market perspective.
F1 contracts expiring in 2024: Perez at risk
Let's start with Red Bull. The reigning world champion Max Verstappen he has a contract with the Milton Keynes team until 2028, while the situation for the partner Sergio Perez it's quite different. After a decidedly subdued season, but still ending with the "title" of vice world champion, the Mexican will have a huge sword of Damocles hanging over his head next season.
The Mexican is among the F1 contracts expiring in 2024 and, with another year like 2023, it is likely that Red Bull will decide to look around. The most talked about substitute is Daniel Ricciardo, who would team up with Verstappen again after the three-year period 2016-2018.
Contracts expiring in 2024: the situation at Ferrari
Moving down the constructors' ranking, we find Mercedes and Ferrari. The situations of the two teams that competed for second place in 2023 are diametrically opposed. On the one hand, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell they are certain to continue with the team until the end of 2025. On the other, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz their contract will expire at the end 2024.
We have covered the matter in more detail in another article, but in summary both Cavallino drivers should remain. Leclerc is expected to sign a new five-year contract, which would keep him in the Red until 2029, while for Carlos Sainz we expect a renewal for one or two years.
What will Alonso do?
Let's move on, then, to McLaren and Aston Martin. In the papaya box, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri they have a contract until 2025 and 2026 respectively. At Aston Martin, however, Fernando Alonso will go into deadline at the end of next year, having signed a two-year contract at the end of 2022. What to expect from the Asturian?
In the wake of the excellent results obtained in 2023 (fourth place in the standings with 8 podiums), the driver and the team want to extend their partnership to at least another year, until the end of 2025. As for Lance Stroll, nothing is known of his contract, but the Canadian It's not expected to go away anytime soon.
Contracts expiring in 2024: Alpine and Williams
Both Alpine that Williams, sixth and seventh respectively in 2023, their contract will expire at the end of the year with both pilots. As for the transalpine team, there is no news about. Esteban Ocon's contract stopped being talked about in 2021, when he signed a renewal until 2024. Pierre Gasly, after a solid first season with the former Renault team, wants to do even better in 2024, but we don't know nothing about his future.
The situation is different in Williams. Since arriving in 2022, Alex Albon has done nothing but get better and in 2025 could choose to move in a team higher in the standings. His possible renewal with the Woking team will depend on the performance of the new car. Logan's future Sergeant, instead, will depend only on himself. The American driver earned confirmation on the track for a second year, but he will have to improve if he wants to stay further.
The point on Sauber and Haas
Sauber and Haas will also have both drivers' contracts expire at the end of the season. Valtteri Bottas, in the former Alfa Romeo team since 2022, has declared several times that he wants to start negotiations for a renewal in the first part of 2024 which has the objective of be an integral part of the new Audi team starting in 2026. Guanyu Zhou, however, has recently signed a contract extension until the end of 2024, but nothing is known of its future.
At Haas, the return of Nico Hulkenberg He also impressed other teams on the grid, including Sauber. The German, however, was not satisfied with the poor performance of the US team and would have been interested in move to Sauber for 2024, but Haas promptly activated one clause in his contract which will bind him to the team also next season.
In any case, the Sauber goal is only moved and the chances of Hulkenberg remaining at Haas beyond 2024 are slim. Guenther Steiner's team will try to confirm Kevin Magnussen, now a veteran of the team, and promote a young person from the Ferrari Driver Academy, one above all Oliver Bearman.
Contracts expiring in 2024: complicated situation at AlphaTauri
Finally, AlphaTauri. Although the Faenza team ended 2023 one step away from seventh place, we left it until last as it is the team with the most particular situation. After having witnessed the alternation of four drivers in 2023, 2024 will start again with the final pair Tsunoda-Ricciardo.
The Japanese driver and his Australian teammate signed a annual contract renewal last September, but the situation at AlphaTauri does not appear to be any calmer than that experienced last season.
Helmut Marko, with another of his typical statements, warned that Liam Lawson, confirmed as pilot of reserve, May get back on the grid for a few races already in 2024, before aiming for a starting seat in 2025. As for the full-time drivers, if there is no news for Tsunoda from a market perspective, Ricciardo seems to be Red Bull's first option if Perez continues his momentum no.
