Driver Market: Who still has F1 seats for 2026?
16th October 2025Formula 1 will have an extended grid next season and those who are hunting for place in the sport still have a few chances left to secure their place – Here is who has a seat available.
Feature image credit: Mercedes F1
11 teams will form the 2026 grid for the first time since the 2016 season, following the approval of Cadillac’s place on the grid at the sport’s 11th team. As such, 22 seats will be occupied when racing officially gets underway at Melbourne, next season.
Cadillac have already sorted out their vacant seats with Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez returning to the sport after failing to obtain a seat this year.
Many drivers have been confirmed already, with some on multi-year deals. More recently, Mercedes have just confirmed George Russell and Kimi Antonelli will remain at the team next season, following their announcement on Wednesday.
However, three teams are yet to confirm their official driver line ups for 2026, with two teams partly filled already. So, who still has seats available?
Red Bull – Max Verstappen / TBC
Max Verstappen is already under contract with the Milton Keynes-based team, until at least 2028 despite earlier speculation on a potential move to Mercedes. However, the team are still waiting to confirm their second driver.
It is rumoured that Racing Bull’s Isack Hadjar is in prime position to be promoted into the senior squad after an impressive season, despite a rocky start.
Alpine – Pierre Gasly / TBC
Pierre Gasly, like Verstappen, is committed to Alpine on a multi-year deal with the French constructor but their second seat remains available, currently occupied by Franco Colapinto after Jack Doohan was removed from the seat six races into the season.
Racing Bulls – TBC / TBC
Racing Bulls remains as the only team who are yet to confirm a single driver for the upcoming season. It is suspected that Arvid Lindblad will step up into F1, but the seats could see Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda partnered up, if Red Bull opt to demote their academy – and current – driver.
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Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.
I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
Kamron Kent
Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
