2027 driver market: what is confirmed and what is rumour

Every autumn, while the championship's final races are being run, the so-called "silly season" begins: the driver market for the following season. Expiring contracts, exit clauses, academy youngsters knocking at the door and new teams looking for names. It is also the territory where most rumours circulate, and where it is easiest to confuse what someone "claims to know" with what has actually been signed.

At Formuradar we apply a simple rule: we only include what reputable outlets publish, label it as confirmed, rumour or open and date it. This story is from 20 October 2026 with data from mid-month and expires within days: check the date again before quoting it.

What is confirmed: Red Bull, Aston Martin and Alpine

The biggest piece of the puzzle is Max Verstappen. GPFans reported that he signed a new deal with Red Bull and, according to information gathered by RacingNews365, his contract would run until 2030. With that move, the count of open seats published by GPFans fell to twelve. Red Bull also confirmed Isack Hadjar's continuity for 2027.

At Aston Martin, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll will stay, according to Grande Prêmio, and at Alpine Franco Colapinto will continue. These are five drivers whose seats do not appear to be in dispute, although it is worth remembering that "confirmed" means a reliable outlet has published it, not necessarily that there is a team announcement for each case.

What remains open: Mercedes, Racing Bulls and Haas

In mid-October, RacingNews365's count spoke of five seats not yet officially confirmed, at three teams: Mercedes, Racing Bulls and Haas. The key is Haas: World of Speed notes that the whole market depends on that seat, the one Esteban Ocon is expected to leave, and that two contracts —those of Verstappen and Sainz— could reopen everything.

At Mercedes, the press considers it likely that Russell and Antonelli will stay, but the team has not officially announced the pairing. At Racing Bulls, the continuity of Lawson and Lindblad is expected. These are rumours from reputable outlets, not announcements, and that is how we mark them in the list.

How to tell a rumour from news

A useful trick is to look at the verb. "Signed", "announced" or "confirmed" indicate a fact; "is expected", "could" or "according to sources" indicate an expectation. Counts of open seats differ between outlets precisely because some treat "expected" drivers as settled and others only the announced ones: depending on the moment, outlets have spoken of twelve open seats, ten, seven, six and, in mid-October, five.