One of the most entertaining things to do as an F1 fan is to predict the driver lineup for the following seasons.
We already have a 2026 prediction, and now it’s time to look even further ahead and try to predict the 2027 silly season lineup!
We update our predictions at regular intervals, although not after every race.
Last updated: 9 March 2025
McLaren
Lando Norris – Oscar Piastri
This is the best long-term lineup in F1. McLaren shouldn’t change it unless the two drivers can’t get along under the pressure of competing for titles. The car is currently strong, so it should also be in the interest of both Norris and Piastri to stay.
Ferrari
Charles Leclerc – Pierre Gasly
Hamilton will likely retire after two seasons in red. Especially if Leclerc beats him. The Monégasque will obviously stay long-term, but who will his teammate be?
Three options seem likely: A return to Sainz, a promotion of Bearman, or bringing in a solid number two driver. Sainz may not be that impressive next to Albon at Williams, which could hurt his reputation. Bearman is too inconsistent. So the best option for Ferrari is to get Gasly, who projects to be strong for Alpine in 2025 and 2026, and Leclerc could lobby to bring him in as they are personal friends.
Mercedes
Max Verstappen – Andrea Kimi Antonelli
Toto Wolff desperately wants Verstappen. If Red Bull disappoints in 2026, as expected, Wolff will put a massive offer on the table for Max. The 4-time champion could also move to Aston Martin, but he doesn’t want a reputation of only being able to win with Adrian Newey and Honda, so he’ll have to choose a different option to prove himself.
With this lineup, Mercedes will be ultra-competitive for the rest of the 2020s.
Red Bull
Isack Hadjar – Arvid Lindblad
With Verstappen leaving and Tsunoda not being up to the task of leading the team, Red Bull could do a full reset. The problem is that the team is no longer that attractive to drive for.
The best driver available, George Russell, would likely prefer Aston Martin. That leaves Carlos Sainz, who can be signed without issues now that Verstappen is gone.
At least they still have their junior drivers. Hadjar has looked really good so far in his rookie season, while Lindblad is an esteemed talent. They may have a rough time at Red Bull at first, but the team could truly build for the future with this lineup.
Aston Martin
George Russell – Lance Stroll
Fernando Alonso will turn 46 during the 2027 season. The Spaniard seems to bank on Newey creating a great 2026 car for a final title attempt. If Alonso wins in 2026, he will quit, and if he comes short, the team will likely replace him anyway.
With all the investments and ambitions of the team, Aston Martin will always need a star driver. Verstappen is the top priority, but he will sign for Mercedes, as he doesn’t want to tie his reputation completely with Newey and Honda.
Russell is an excellent alternate option. He’s an established, ultra-fast driver. And he fits into the brand of Aston Martin.
As for Lance Stroll, no comment.
Williams
Alex Albon – Carlos Sainz
Albon and Sainz are sadly stuck at Williams as there are no better prospects for them, except maybe an opening at Ferrari or Red Bull. But those teams could prefer other drivers.
Alpine
Sergio Pérez – Rafael Câmara
Flavio Briatore is looking for the next big star. Alpine also needs an experienced driver to bring the team forward. Pérez could already be signed for 2026. Câmara, who is performing very well in F3 at the moment, is the top rookie prospect entering 2027.
Haas
Esteban Ocon – Oliver Bearman
Ocon is a perfect fit for Haas; he’s a very strong midfield driver. Oliver Bearman looks decent and has a long leash. If one of the two drivers disappoint or fall out of favour with the team, the replacement could be the young Ferrari talent Tuukka Taponen.
Racing Bulls
Nikola Tsolov – Tim Tramnitz
With Hadjar and Lindblad both likely to be promoted, Racing Bulls will have to bring in two brand new drivers. It’s really anybody’s guess, but Tsolov and Tramnitz are both RB Juniors who are doing reasonably well in F3. Alternatively, Red Bull could bring in another young driver who is not currently affiliated with their programs (think Freddie Slater or Ugo Ugochukwu).
Audi
Nico Hülkenberg – Gabriel Bortoleto
Hülkenberg will essentially become the Audi ambassador and help the team develop in its early years. This could be his final season, and Audi would then look to bring in a young talent in 2028. Bortoleto looks decent and probably won’t get replaced. If his development does stall, Audi could bring in Yuki Tsunoda or some rookie in his place.
Cadillac
Valtteri Bottas – Alex Dunne
A tough one to predict obviously. We have Cadillac selecting Bottas and Dunne for the 2026 season, and if they do so, they likely keep both for another year as stability is important.
Out of F1
Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton, Yuki Tsunoda
(This 2027 prediction builds on our 2026 silly season article.)