Williams officially locked in its driver lineup for the 2027 Formula 1 season on Wednesday (August 19). One day after confirming a contract extension for Alexander Albon, the Grove-based team finalized a multi-year agreement with Carlos Sainz. With Williams completing its duo, 10 drivers hold confirmed 2027 seats across the 11-team grid, leaving 12 open seats officially up for grabs.
Prior to re-committing, Sainz explored options across the paddock, including interest in Audi. However, the German manufacturer favors retaining Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto, though official confirmation is pending.
Top-tier contenders are leaning toward stability. Championship leader Mercedes plans to maintain Andrea Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, while Red Bull centers its future around Max Verstappen alongside Isack Hadjar. Over at Aston Martin, Fernando Alonso’s decision to extend or retire remains the key domino before securing the secondary seat alongside Lance Stroll. Meanwhile, F2 championship leader Nikola Tsolov and Ferrari driver academy talent Rafael Câmara are pushing for open seats at Racing Bulls and Haas.
Carlos Sainz and Alexander Albon are fully locked in as Williams’ pairing through 2027 (Photo: Williams)
Provisional 2027 Formula 1 Driver Grid
| Team | Confirmed / Expected Driver 1 | Confirmed / Expected Driver 2 |
| McLaren | Lando Norris (Confirmed) | Oscar Piastri (Confirmed) |
| Ferrari | Charles Leclerc (Confirmed) | Lewis Hamilton (Confirmed) |
| Red Bull Racing | Max Verstappen (Confirmed) | TBD (Expected: Isack Hadjar) |
| Williams | Alexander Albon (Confirmed) | Carlos Sainz (Confirmed) |
| Alpine | Pierre Gasly (Confirmed) | TBD (Expected: Franco Colapinto) |
| Cadillac | Sergio Pérez (Confirmed) | Valtteri Bottas (Confirmed) |
| 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 (Expected: Fernando Alonso) |
| Racing Bulls | TBD (Expected: Arvid Lindblad) | TBD (Expected: Liam Lawson / Nikola Tsolov) |
| Haas | TBD (Expected: Oliver Bearman) | TBD (Expected: Esteban Ocon / Rafael Câmara) |
Formula 1 resumes track action 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 season?
There are 10 officially confirmed drivers: Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Alexander Albon, Carlos Sainz, Pierre Gasly, Sergio Pérez, and Valtteri Bottas.
Which teams have fully confirmed their 2027 driver lineups?
McLaren (Norris/Piastri), Ferrari (Leclerc/Hamilton), Williams (Albon/Sainz), and Cadillac (Pérez/Bottas) have both 2027 race seats fully locked in.
How many seats remain open for the 2027 grid?
There are 12 open seats across 7 teams, though several are expected to be filled by incumbent drivers extending their current contracts.
