The championship is in its hot stage, and not just for the arrival of summer. The places on the grid are few and the pilots market for the World Cup 2023 starts to move also considering that out there are many young talents pushing to enter the Olympus of the highest category. Of the riders currently on the grid, half already have a seat confirmed in 2023, the other half not yet. Even among those who already have the "insured place" there is uncertainty due to the possible clauses in the contracts, linked to the performance of the drivers.
Let's take a look at the situation pilot by pilot. The certainties and doubts and the possible new entry.
Who has already signed
Charles Leclerc: Ferrari, contract expiring in 2024
Season after season, it became clear how important he was in the future design of the stable, which saw in him a pure talent, to be cultivated but above all to lock down. In the 2019, at the end of the first season with the Red Leclerc signed a contract until 2024. But to make the marriage as long-lasting as possible, Ferrari would have to prove competitive and close at least at third place in the constructors' championship in 2022. At the moment things seem to be going well considering that Charles is fighting for the world championship even if, the strategic disaster at Monaco, could have reopened the discussion on the rider's permanence in the team that has seen him grow up to take him to a very high level.
Carlos Sainz: Ferrari, contract expiring in 2024
The situation is different Sainz, arrived in Maranello in 2021. The Spanish driver who has just joined Ferrari has been able to adapt with constant performances, even beating Leclerc in the "home" match at the end of the season. After the 4 podiums in 2021, in the opening of the 2022 season the two brought a wonderful brace and encouraging results. The renewal for Sainz it arrives on the eve of the Imola weekend. A two-year contract, expiring in 2024, like his teammate. From there, however, the Spaniard got into trouble, obtaining 2 retreats, the first since he ran with Ferrari, and disappointing results.

Max Verstappen: Red Bull, contract expires in 2028
There is little to say about Max. Champion in 2021 after a crazy season, he is the man, the rider, on whom the Red Bull long believed. He too grew up in that environment, right from the start. In March 2022, without even having played the first race of the season, he was offered a pharaonic contract: three years starting in 2024 with the option for another two seasons. 40 million per season, which will become 50 million if the option counts. This move quickly takes him off the market.
Sergio Perez: Red Bull, contract expires in 2024
If initially we still had some doubts about the renewal for Perez, the last two races, Barcelona and Monaco have definitively closed the discussion. After victory in Monaco, Perez was the last rider to sign a contract. The Mexican is currently third in the championship, 6 points behind Charles Leclerc and wants point to the title.

Lewis Hamilton: Mercedes, contract expires in 2023
Lewis last year he was one of the last to sign. In July 2021 the team announced the renewal for another two years. However the rumors about the permanence of the 7 times world champion have never stopped, especially after the bitter defeat at the end of last season in Abu Dhabi, where the world championship, which went to Max Verstappen, was decided. The social silence, the arrival of Russell, many things made the fans who feared a sudden retirement doubt. Although this season is even more difficult for Lewis, thanks to the new regulation that has reshuffled the cards, and the powers on the track, it will be difficult to see him leave at the end of the year.
George Russell: Mercedes, contract expiring 2023+
The English driver, who has just arrived in Mercedes after his apprenticeship in Williams he is having an extraordinary season. He has never finished outside the Top 5 and is often, if not always, ahead of his teammate who is instead struggling with a less competitive single-seater than the ones he is used to managing. The Brackley-based team welcomed Russell last year on a multi-year contract to replace Valtteri Bottas, who has landed at Alfa Romeo. At the moment there is no information on the expiration date but it is still a long-term contract.

Lando Norris: McLaren, contract expiring 2025
The young English driver who blossomed in McLaren is out of the market as he has renewed his contract until 2025. The relationship between Lando and the English team began in 2017 when Lando was only 17 years old. "In two/three years we will have all the cards to fight to win" said Lando after renewing. Now he is the leader of the team, who hope one day to be able to bring him to fight for the world championship.
Daniel Ricciardo: McLaren, contract expiring in 2023
Daniel's situation is very delicate. He has a contract that would allow him to stay in 2023 as well but the Australian rider's performances since the start of the season have been truly disappointing and this could put him back on the market. Daniel rarely gets close to his teammate's performance, although the team has done everything to try and adapt the car to both of them's driving styles. The trust between the driver and the team begins to fail so as to induce even the McLaren CEO, Zak Brown, doubt Daniel's permanence.

Esteban Ocon: Alpine, contract expiring 2024
The brilliant start to the season in 2021 ensured him a three-year renewal, until 2024. The first victory for the French driver would also come that same year, in Hungary. The team believes in him right from the start, helping him from his first steps like junior driver for Lotus and later as reserve driver for Renault during the 2016 Formula 1 season. He currently has 30 points in the standings to teammate Fernando Alonso's 10.

Pierre Gasly: AlphaTauri, contract expiring 2023
On paper, Pierre has a contract with AlphaTauri until 2023. However, a return to the first team, with Perez's renewal, seems to be decidedly out of the question. An alternative for Pierre would seem to be joining McLaren instead of Ricciardo, but still it's all in discussion.

Valtteri Bottas: Alfa Romeo, contract expiring 2025
Alfa Romeo has secured Valtteri Bottas on a multi-year contract. At the moment the Finn who arrived from Mercedes is not disappointing expectations and seems to have found his dimension. With 40 points conquered in the first 7 races, Valtteri is an excellent point of reference for the team and his new teammate: the Chinese rookie Guanyu Zhou, free from 2022 in the driver market.

Kevin Magnussen: Haas, contract ends 2023+
Multi-year contract also for Kevin Magnussen, who arrived at the last minute to remedy the political drama linked to the dismissal of Nikita Mazepin and the Russian sponsor brought in by the pilot's father. Backed by a more competitive car than last year's Kevin has already scored some great points.

The unknowns of the market
The following names are missing from the market instead:
- Fernando AlonsoAlpine, contract expiry 2022
- Yuki Tsunoda: AlphaTauri, contract expiry 2022
- Sebastian VettelAston Martin, contract expiry 2022
- Lance StrollAston Martin, contract expiry unknown
- Nicholas Latifi: Williams, contract expiry 2022
- Alexander AlbonWilliams, contract expiry 2022
- Guanyu Zhou: Alfa Romeo, contract expiry 2022
- Mick SchumacherHaas, contract expiry 2022
In home Aston Martin although the presence of Lance Stroll is "ensured" by the presence of his father in the team's property, there are doubts about the permanence of sebastian vettel, not very motivated, especially due to the lack of competitiveness of the single-seater. Vettel could therefore leave the Circus at the end of the season.
THEAlpine might say hello instead Fernando Alonso. He too, a veteran of this sport, is without a contract in 2023 and there are those who would like to see him right in Aston Martin instead of Vettel. Although Fernando has confirmed his interest in wanting to race again in 2023, Alpine doesn't seem so inclined to give the Spanish driver another chance, seeing a young talent like Oscar Piastri. However, the answer may not come before September, as anticipated by Alpine CEO, Laurent Rossi.
La Williams ha both drivers out of contract in 2023. Nicholas Latifs it's disappointing, and it wouldn't be surprising to see it out to make way for Nyck de Vries of the nursery Mercedes. On the other hand there is Alexander albon, who, although he is having a fairly decent season, is still a privately owned driver Red Bull.
In home Alpha Tauri the renewal of tsunoda, in his second year here, it would seem a sure thing given the quite satisfactory results in this first phase of the season. If Pierre were to leave, he could return to Red Bull Alexander albon, also expiring with the Williams.
THEAlfa Romeo instead he must decide whether to confirm the rookie Guanyu-Zhou. The Chinese rider's performance so far hasn't been brilliant, and he's putting pressure on Theo Pourchaire who is doing very well in F2 and who is part of the Sauber Academy. However, it is still Zhou's first season and it is difficult to think that he will be placed on the bench yet.
Last knot to unravel, but not least, is the one related to the contract Mick Schumacher, expiring with Haas at the end of the season. The performance of the German driver is a wake-up call that the team cannot ignore in the decision. The fact that Mick has an important surname and is supported by Ferrari buys time for the driver who has not yet had the opportunity to bring out his potential. Furthermore, Haas has no young talent to draw on and should turn to other teams. The next races will be fundamental, in which the driver will absolutely have to try to score his first points in Formula 1.