Key Takeaways (TL;DR):
- Official Confirmation: Alexander Albon became the ninth officially confirmed driver on the 2027 Formula 1 grid following his contract extension with Williams.
- Provisional Grid Status: Officially, 13 seats remain open for 2027, though high-profile teams including Mercedes, Audi, and Red Bull have signaled intentions to maintain their driver pairings.
- Key Open Seats: Unconfirmed seats officially center around secondary entries at Williams, Haas, Racing Bulls, Aston Martin, and Alpine, with Carlos Sainz’s future at Grove still pending.
Alexander Albon initiated the latest wave of Formula 1 driver market activity for 2027. On Tuesday, August 18, the Anglo-Thai driver secured a contract extension with Williams through the 2027 season. Having recently surpassed 100 starts for the Grove squad, Albon stands as the longest-tenured driver in the team’s history.
Officially, Albon’s announcement leaves 13 seats unconfirmed for 2027. However, multiple teams have indicated driver retention plans. Mercedes plans to continue with George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli, while Audi intends to keep Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg. Red Bull Team Principal Laurent Mekies also confirmed that Isack Hadjar is slated to remain alongside Max Verstappen.
Other drivers expected to retain their seats include Arvid Lindblad at Racing Bulls, Lance Stroll at Aston Martin, and Oliver Bearman at Haas. In practice, the primary unconfirmed seats remain the second drives at Williams, Haas, Racing Bulls, Aston Martin, and Alpine.
Albon’s teammate for 2027 remains unannounced. Carlos Sainz’s contract expires at the end of 2026, and while reports suggest interest in an extension, no formal agreement has been signed.
Provisional 2027 Formula 1 Driver Grid
| Team | Confirmed Driver 1 | Confirmed Driver 2 |
| McLaren | Lando Norris | Oscar Piastri |
| Ferrari | Charles Leclerc | Lewis Hamilton |
| Red Bull | Max Verstappen | TBD (Expected: Isack Hadjar) |
| Williams | Alexander Albon | TBD |
| Alpine | Pierre Gasly | TBD |
| Cadillac | Valtteri Bottas | Sergio Pérez |
| Mercedes | TBD (Expected: George Russell) | TBD (Expected: Andrea Kimi Antonelli) |
| Audi | TBD (Expected: Gabriel Bortoleto) | TBD (Expected: Nico Hülkenberg) |
| Aston Martin | TBD (Expected: Lance Stroll) | TBD |
| Racing Bulls | TBD (Expected: Arvid Lindblad) | TBD |
| Haas | TBD (Expected: Oliver Bearman) | TBD |
Formula 1 resumes August 21–23, 2026, at Circuit Zandvoort for the Dutch Grand Prix, marking Round 12 of the World Championship. GRANDE PRÊMIO is covering all activities live on-site in Zandvoort with reporter Leonid Kliuev.
2026 Dutch Grand Prix — Session Schedule (Local Time / CEST)
| Day | Session | Local Time (CEST) |
| Friday, August 21 | Free Practice 1 | 12:30 – 13:30 |
| Friday, August 21 | Sprint Qualifying | 16:30 – 17:14 |
| Saturday, August 22 | Sprint Race | 12:00 – 12:30 |
| Saturday, August 22 | Grand Prix Qualifying | 16:00 – 17:00 |
| Sunday, August 23 | Grand Prix (72 Laps) | 15:00 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How many drivers are officially confirmed for the 2027 F1 grid?
There are currently 9 officially confirmed drivers across McLaren, Ferrari, Red Bull, Williams, Alpine, and Cadillac.
Who is confirmed to drive for Cadillac in 2027?
Cadillac has confirmed both Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez under existing multi-year contracts.
Will Carlos Sainz remain with Williams in 2027?
Carlos Sainz’s current contract expires at the end of 2026. While extension talks are ongoing, Williams has not yet officially confirmed his seat for 2027.
