Formula 1 summer break is the prime time for major announcements that shape up the grid for the following season, and the contract negotiations are in full swing. The talks between the F1 drivers and the teams can be highly stressful and both parties like to get it out of the way to focus on the bigger picture, that is, winning titles together.

One of the major clauses of an F1 deal is the contract length that the constructor is willing to offer to a driver. While some teams offer a single-year contract to work with the driver based on their performance, other constructors prefer tying down talent to multi-year deals to invest in them and build a team with championship glory as the long-term goal.

Diving into the current scenario, the most recent announcement involves the Williams driver, Alex Albon. He signed a multi-year deal to stay in F1 for 2023 and beyond. On the other side of the garage, Nicholas Latifi’s future is hazy and his contract runs out by the end of the 2022 season.

Sharing an unclear future like the Canadian is the Haas driver, Mick Schumacher, and Alpha Tauri recruit, Yuki Tsunoda. Presently, both drivers do not have a seat and are fighting for their spot on the 2023 grid.

However, things are different for their teammates, as Kevin Magnussen is on a multi-year deal, while Pierre Gasly recently extended a 1-year contract with Italians.

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Come the end of the season, the sole Chinese driver, Guanyu Zhou, is out of contract. However, his teammate, Valtteri Bottas, is assured of a drive for 2023 as he is on a multi-year deal with Alfa Romeo.

F1 drivers on a long-term contract

It is not an easy task to land a long-term contract in F1, and one needs to have exceptional pace and talent to force the team in investing all its eggs in one basket. Such is the case for the Red Bull protégé, Max Verstappen, who won the 2021 F1 title and earned himself a contract until the end of 2028.

The driver who played a perfect wingman role for him last year, Sergio Perez, earned a two-year extension after his win at the 2022 Monaco GP. It keeps him with Red Bull until the end of 2024, just like the Ferrari duo. Both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz put pen to paper, which obligates them to wear a red race suit for the following two years.

The driver on the longest contract after Verstappen is the Brit, Lando Norris, with a contract until the end of 2025. His teammate has a deal till 2023.

Lewis Hamilton committed his future to Mercedes until the end of 2023; George Russell signed a multi-year contract to stay with the German constructor for the foreseeable future.

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Concluding with the most recent headlines, Fernando Alonso is on a multi-year deal with Aston Martin. His future teammate, Lance Stroll, is safe with a seat until the end of 2023 and on a rolling basis contract.

Last but not the least, Alpine has its French driver, Esteban Ocon, locked in until the end of 2024. Ocon doesn’t have a teammate as Australian talent Oscar Piastri dismissed Alpine’s announcement that he would drive for them in 2023. Which driver do you think is the most at risk? Let us know.

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