5 F1 drivers at risk of losing their seats in 2024 including six-time winner and ‘impeccable’ 29-year-old

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The 2024 Formula 1 season hasn’t even started and yet nearly every driver on the grid will be wondering if their seat is at risk going forward.

The likes of Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton won’t be panicking, while Fernando Alonso doesn’t look like he’s going to be slowing down any time soon.

With Ferrari keen to offer Charles Leclerc a long-term deal, another top seat on the grid looks tied up for some time.

With the next major rule change being introduced in 2026, every team will want the strongest pairing possible heading into that season.

That means the end of 2024 is likely to be a big turning point in the make-up of the grid.

Here we look at five drivers who are going to need to step up and perform to make sure next year isn’t their last on the grid with their current teams.

Sergio Perez – 33 – Red Bull

The most obvious answer to which driver is most at risk of losing his seat in 2024 is almost certainly Sergio Perez.

Journalist Will Buxton at the end of last season even suggested that there are no guarantees that he’ll see out the year if his performances aren’t up to scratch.

Competing with Max Verstappen is an incredibly difficult job and even though Perez delivered Red Bull their first-ever one-two finish in the Drivers’ Championship, he was still well off the pace of his teammate.

Christian Horner has already told the Mexican what he needs to improve over the winter and that will likely be the focus of his off-season preparations.

There are other drivers who would love his spot in the team and he has to prove he’s still the best option to support the sensational Dutchman going forward.

Carlos Sainz – 29 – Ferrari

While Ferrari look keen to continue their partnership with Charles Leclerc, his teammate Carlos Sainz could be in trouble.

The Spaniard wants to sign a new deal with Frederic Vasseur’s team, but they’re already considering other options.

Leclerc outqualified him last season, but he was the only driver outside of Red Bull to take the chequered flag in 2023.

It looks like the ‘impeccable’ driver will have other options on the table if he was to leave Ferrari at the end of next year.

But it would almost certainly be a downgrade on his current car unless Christian Horner considers him as a replacement for Perez.

Kevin Magnussen – 31 – Haas

It’s safe to say 2023 went as badly as it possibly could for Haas as they finished bottom of the Constructors’ Championship.

After being paired with Mick Schumacher in 2022, Kevin Magnussen faced a much tougher challenge against Nico Hulkenberg last year.

The German came out on top in both the qualifying and race day head-to-head contests and the team had to fight to keep him this year.

Haas need to find a response this year and both Magnussen and Hulkenberg will know they need to up their game to avoid being at risk of losing their seats at the end of 2024 with one driver pushing for a place in the team.

Ferrari are very keen for young driver Ollie Bearman to be on the grid in 2025 and are eyeing a seat at Haas for the Brit.

It means both Hulkenberg and Magnussen could be at risk but based on last season’s performances, it’s the Dane that would likely be on his way out.

Logan Sargeant – 22 – Williams

Unsurprisingly, the last driver to have their seat confirmed for 2024 will likely still be at risk of losing their place on the grid in 12 months.

Logan Sargeant finished the race in Abu Dhabi not knowing if it might be the last time he drove a Formula 1 car.

However, a positive conversation with James Vowles after signing a new deal should give him confidence that Williams back him long-term.

The trouble is, he’s up against Alex Albon who is setting seriously high standards at Williams right now

There are so many young drivers struggling to break into Formula 1 at the moment.

If Sargeant can’t improve enough over the next 12 months, then Williams might have their pick of the youngsters available to replace him.

Zhou Guanyu – 24 – Sauber

Zhou Guanyu has only scored 12 points in his first two seasons in Formula 1 and with Sauber’s switch to Audi on the horizon, he will be well aware he needs to improve his performances.

The Alfa Romeo wasn’t an easy car to drive last year and his teammate Valtteri Bottas is vastly more experienced.

However, there are already several drivers being linked with a move to Audi in the future.

They will want two top drivers going forward as they plan to be the newest works team on the grid.

It means that Zhou could be the driver at risk in 2024 if he’s outperformed by Bottas once again.