The F1 drivers out of contract at the end of 2024 season
Only half the grid of F1 drivers have confirmed seats for next year; the rest have contracts expiring at the end of the season, and face intense competition for prime seats, including vacancies at Red Bull and Mercedes: here is every driver out of contract at the end of 2024
Alonso has signed for next season, but Perez and Sainz have yet to secure a seat
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Half of this year’s F1 drivers still have contracts that expire at the end of 2024, despite a flurry of recent deals that include Lewis Hamilton joining Ferrari next season; Nico Hülkenberg moving from Haas to Sauber; and Fernando Alonso remaining at Aston Martin.
In contrast to last year, when there were no end-of-season driver changes for the first time in history, most of this year’s grid were looking for a new contract at the start of 2024, and the action began early, with contract extensions for Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris, before Hamilton announced his blockbuster move.
There’s even more at stake than usual, as drivers and teams look ahead to a rule shake-up in 2026 when new power units and chassis regulations are introduced. It’s likely to see a reshuffle in F1’s performance order, which could suddenly see a midfield team fighting for the title. Making the right move now could be a world championship-winning decision for one driver — if they manage to pick the right team.
At the moment, the 2024 driver market remains full of uncertainty. Who’s staying or going? Who could trigger the big moves? And who could be packing their bags to leave F1?
Here are all of the F1 drivers still needing to secure their futures this season.
All drivers out of contract for 2025
| Driver | Team | Start of current contract | End of current contract |
| Sergio Perez | Red Bull | 2022 | 2024 |
| Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | 2022 | 2024 |
| Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 2023 | 2024 |
| Esteban Ocon | Alpine | 2021 | 2024 |
| Logan Sargeant | Williams | 2023 | 2024 |
| Daniel Ricciardo | Visa Cash App RB | 2023 | 2024 |
| Yuki Tsunoda | Visa Cash App RB | 2023 | 2024 |
| Valtteri Bottas | Sauber | 2022 | 2024 |
| Zhou Guanyu | Sauber | 2023 | 2024 |
| Kevin Magnussen | Haas | 2023 | 2024 |
Sergio Perez
Red Bull
Arguably the most scrutinised man in F1 last season, Sergio Perez had a torrid 2023, bringing repeated questions over his immediate Red Bull future and criticism from team consultant Helmut Marko.
He is contracted for the full season and a repeat of last year, where Perez often trailed his team-mate by an embarrassingly large margin, could prompt a summer switch. That would give Red Bull the chance to assess a replacement before committing to a contract for 2025.
But after finishing on the podium in three out of the first four races of the season, the Mexican’s chances of securing another extension with Red Bull for 2025 and possibly beyond are looking stronger.
“I believe it will be a matter of time,” he told Sky Sports F1 after the Japanese Grand Prix in early April. “Obviously the driver market is moving and the next few weeks are going to be a lot of movement for sure, so I expect within a month to really know what I’m doing next year.”
Should his consistent performances continue, Perez could be considered the safe option for Red Bull, as its performance advantage over the rest of the grid continues to be substantial. But if he begins to unravel, few would turn down a place in F1’s current top team, with Carlos Sainz, Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo in with a chance of Perez’s spot.
Carlos Sainz
Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton’s blockbuster move to Ferrari in 2025 and a contract extension for Charles Leclerc leaves Carlos Sainz without a seat next year.
Taking Hamilton’s old Mercedes seat in a straight swap would likely be appealing to the two-time grand prix winner, but Sainz can’t bank on it, given the raft of options open to Mercedes — including younger, older, and more accomplished competitors. Similarly, if Perez continues to be a consistent contender at Red Bull, that door could soon close too.
That leaves Sauber as perhaps the prime option. Audi will buy into the team in 2026, bringing its might to the Hinwil operation, and has already been linked with Sainz. It also helps that his father, Carlos Sainz Sr, also drives for the team, most recently winning this year’s Dakar rally.
It looks to be a landing spot with promise, if Audi’s backing can help produce a competitive car for 2026’s new set of regulations. Sainz Jr could position himself to become the experienced team leader for Audi’s inaugural season. Would he be prepared to endure a spell at the back of the grid in 2025 ahead of Audi’s involvement?
Pierre Gasly
Alpine
Underwhelming would be the word to describe Alpine as of late, with new arrival Pierre Gasly flying under the radar in 2023. Gasly’s contract with the Enstone team runs till the end of the new season, with a reported option for 2025.
A difficult relationship with his teammate and compatriot Esteban Ocon saw some frosty moments between the pair last year, and Pierre’s eight-figure salary may not be enough to keep him from looking elsewhere if Alpine remain in the doldrums of mediocrity in 2024. However, he may have his work cut out convincing other teams of his potential, given his low-key year.
Esteban Ocon
Alpine
Ocon is similarly out of contract at the end of 2024 and has been equally frustrated with the lack of progress from Alpine. The team was leapfrogged by Aston Martin and McLaren, and faced an improved AlphaTauri in 2023. If anything, this year has been worse, with the team’s brand new car rooted around the back of the grid.
Esteban’s ambition remains clear, and if 2024 does not produce the progress he is looking for, he could very well be a driver on the hunt for a new seat for 2025, assuming — as with Gasly — that he can show his worth.
Logan Sargeant
Williams
Having scraped through 2023 to stay on the grid for 2024, the young American will be wary of the threat to his seat. Sargeant is out of contract at the end of the season and with Williams looking to build upon its improved 2023 campaign, it will be demanding a higher level of performance in his second year.
If that isn’t forthcoming, Williams’ Zak O’Sullivan is now in Formula 2 presenting a possible replacement, as well as 2022 F2 champion Felipe Drugovich who is still searching for a full-time F1 drive. Mercedes young driver Kimi Antonelli has also been linked with the seat.
Daniel Ricciardo
Visa Cash App RB
Ricciardo’s return to AlphaTauri halfway through 2023 would not been on everyone’s bingo card. It didn’t take long for him to prove that he belongs on the F1 grid though, and he earned a contract extension to see him until the end of 2024.
The clear target for Ricciardo was the second Red Bull seat of Sergio Perez, but his early form in 2024 for the now-renamed RB team has dealt a blow to those chances — particularly given Perez’s upturn in performance.
He was outqualified by team-mate Yuki Tsunoda for the first four races of the year and looked to be slower on race pace too. However, a fresh chassis for the Chinese Grand Prix reversed that pattern, and he’ll be hoping that it unlocks the pace that was previously envied by teams up and down the grid.
Yuki Tsunoda
Visa Cash App RB
RB is another team with both drivers out of contract at the end of 2024. Tsunoda has so far survived the majority of his F1 career on one-year contract extensions, precariously fluctuating in and out of Helmut Marko’s good books.
Now in his fourth season with the junior Red Bull team, Tsunoda will be hoping to earn another year of F1 racing in 2025 and could even be considered for a seat next to Max Verstappen.
In the first four races of the season, the Japanese driver has scored 100% of the team’s points and forced his midfield RB into Q3 twice. Should his impressive performances continue, Red Bull may not be the only big team bidding for Yuki’s services in 2025.
Zhou Guanyu
Sauber
Having become a reliable choice for Alfa Romeo (now Stake F1), Zhou signed a one-season extension for the rebranded outfit last year. Zhou and teammate Valtteri Bottas have become a solid pairing despite the disappointing car they were delivered last season, but his long-term place in F1 looks under serious threat.
Looming over the team is Audi’s imminent takeover from 2026 onwards. Nico Hülkenberg has already been signed for next year and beyond, leaving one seat at the team available. Even that may be closed off, as with Carlos Sainz thought to be pondering an offer to join te team.
Valtteri Bottas
Sauber
Everyone’s favourite calendar model has his eyes set on an Audi drive as his contract approaches expiration at the end of 2024. Sauber has underwhelmed in its previous Alfa Romeo form over the last few years, but Bottas has proven himself as an experienced and well-liked figurehead within the team.
That may not be enough, however, with Nico Hülkenberg already signed for next year and Carlos Sainz understood to be in the frame too. F1 veteran Bottas will be well aware of the shifting sands as the team approaches the Audi takeover, and will no doubt be looking elsewhere as well as making his case within the team — assuming he’s keen to continue.
Kevin Magnussen
Haas
Having secured Haas’s first-ever pole position in 2022, Magnussen faced a difficult 2023 with a car that didn’t suit him, costing him valuable places in qualifying.
He still secured a one-year extension to see him through 2024, but much is different ahead of 2025. Former team principal Guenther Steiner is out, and owner Gene Haas is looking to make the team bolder and more ambitious. While Nico Hülkenberg’s confirmed move to Sauber next year eases the pressure slightly on Magnussen, his seat is far from certain.
Ferrari Academy driver Oliver Bearman has been strongly linked with the team, following on from his impressive stand-in stint for Carlos Sainz in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix earlier this year, and Haas may decide to pair him with the experienced Magnussen. But, as the focus shifts towards 2026, the team may decide that it’s future rests in the hands of somebody else.