News Summary
- Red Bull has confirmed Isack Hadjar alongside Max Verstappen for the 2027 F1 season.
- Twelve of the 22 seats are officially filled, with Mercedes and Audi expected to retain their current drivers.
- The genuine uncertainties centre on Esteban Ocon’s Haas seat, both Racing Bulls places and Fernando Alonso’s future.
Red Bull’s decision to retain Isack Hadjar has removed one of the largest remaining questions from the 2027 Formula 1 driver market.
The Frenchman will continue alongside Max Verstappen, whose new contract runs through 2030. Hadjar’s extension currently covers the 2027 season and rewards a strong first campaign with the senior team before a wrist injury forced him to miss three races.
The announcement was made in Baku, where GRANDE PRÊMIO is covering the Azerbaijan GP on site. Hadjar has also been cleared to return this weekend, replacing Liam Lawson after the New Zealander’s temporary three-race spell at Red Bull.
With Hadjar secured, 12 of the 22 places are officially occupied. The published number is slightly misleading, however: several nominally vacant seats are already expected to remain with their current drivers.
Confirmed and expected 2027 F1 grid
| Team | Driver 1 | Driver 2 | Current status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes | George Russell | Andrea Kimi Antonelli | Russell deal agreed; Antonelli expected to stay |
| Ferrari | Lewis Hamilton | Charles Leclerc | Both contracted |
| McLaren Mercedes | Lando Norris | Oscar Piastri | Both contracted |
| Red Bull Ford | Max Verstappen | Isack Hadjar | Both confirmed |
| Racing Bulls RBPT Ford | Liam Lawson | Arvid Lindblad | Both seats unconfirmed |
| Alpine Mercedes | Pierre Gasly | Franco Colapinto | Both confirmed |
| Aston Martin Honda | Lance Stroll | Fernando Alonso | Stroll expected; Alonso undecided |
| Audi | Nico Hülkenberg | Gabriel Bortoleto | Both expected to stay |
| Haas Ferrari | Oliver Bearman | TBC | Bearman expected; second seat open |
| Williams Mercedes | Carlos Sainz | Alexander Albon | Both confirmed |
| Cadillac Ferrari | Valtteri Bottas | Sergio Pérez | Both confirmed |
Red Bull’s new agreement means Hadjar and Verstappen will remain teammates in 2027. The Frenchman’s confirmation also ends any possibility of Lawson reclaiming the senior seat permanently next season.
Mercedes line-up settled despite missing announcement
Mercedes has yet to issue a conventional joint announcement, but Toto Wolff has confirmed that Russell’s renewal was agreed before Red Bull publicly secured Verstappen.
“It happened a long time ago. We just didn’t put out an official statement,” Wolff said when discussing Russell’s 2027 Mercedes agreement.
Antonelli’s position is even more secure. The 20-year-old leads the championship by 81 points after winning 8 of the opening 14 races, and there is no indication that Mercedes is considering a change.
Audi has not completed formal announcements either, but the expectation remains that Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg will continue. Both joined the project on multi-year arrangements, and the team has repeatedly indicated that stability is its preferred route.
Haas now has the most valuable open seat
The largest active question concerns Esteban Ocon. The Frenchman confirmed in Baku that he is a “free agent” for 2027, although discussions with Haas have not formally ended.
Oliver Bearman is expected to remain, leaving Ocon’s place as the most realistic opening for a driver currently outside Formula 1. Ferrari junior Rafael Câmara has emerged as the leading candidate, with Leonardo Fornaroli also connected to the team.
The situation became clearer when Ocon acknowledged that his Haas future remains unresolved. Without a surprise vacancy elsewhere, his options for remaining on the grid appear limited.
Racing Bulls must choose between continuity and Tsolov
Neither Racing Bulls seat has been formally assigned. Lawson and Lindblad remain the incumbent pairing, but Formula 2 title contender Nikola Tsolov is pushing for promotion through the Red Bull junior programme.
Lindblad is regarded as the safer retention candidate after making his F1 debut in 2026. Lawson strengthened his case while replacing the injured Hadjar, scoring points in two of his three appearances for Red Bull, but remains exposed if the organisation decides Tsolov needs an immediate place.
Racing Bulls therefore controls the only team with two genuinely unsettled seats.
Alonso remains the final major decision
Aston Martin’s situation depends on Fernando Alonso. Lance Stroll is expected to remain, while the two-time world champion must decide whether to continue beyond the end of his current agreement.
Alonso’s decision is significant because an unexpected retirement would create a rare opening at a manufacturer-backed team working with Honda and Adrian Newey. Until that happens, Aston Martin is not actively viewed as an available destination.
The official count leaves 10 seats without formal confirmation, but Mercedes, Audi, Stroll and Bearman are all expected to stay. In practical terms, the active market is concentrated around Haas, Racing Bulls and Alonso’s decision.
The 2027 F1 driver market now moves to the Racing Bulls selection and Haas’s choice alongside Bearman, with Ocon’s negotiations continuing during the Azerbaijan GP weekend.
F1 today: FAQ
What time is Singapore GP sprint qualifying today?
Sprint qualifying starts at 20:30 Singapore time on Friday, October 9, equivalent to 13:30 BST in the UK, 08:30 ET in the United States and Canada, and 18:00 IST in India. The session determines the starting grid for Saturday’s sprint.
Who was fastest in Singapore GP FP1?
George Russell topped FP1 with a 1:32.274, driving Mercedes’ older W17 aerodynamic specification. Charles Leclerc finished second, 0.198s behind, followed by Lando Norris in third. Kimi Antonelli was seventh with the upgraded Mercedes, while Gabriel Bortoleto finished 16th.
Why is George Russell using the old Mercedes at the Singapore GP?
Mercedes is comparing its previous W17 specification with the aerodynamic upgrade introduced at Sepang. Russell is using the older package, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli retains the new version. Russell led FP1, but differences in tyre compounds and run programmes mean the result alone does not establish which specification is faster.
How many drivers are confirmed for the 2027 F1 season?
Twelve drivers have been formally secured across Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren, Williams, Alpine and Cadillac. Several additional seats are effectively settled but await announcements.
