Lando Norris
McLaren
Mercedes
Red Bull
Ferrari
Williams
Racing Bulls
Aston Martin
Haas
Alpine
Ferrari’s driver line-up for 2026 is already confirmed, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton preparing for a second season together as teammates.
However, as rumours persist over both of their futures, Ferrari have already been linked with several drivers elsewhere in the paddock.
Oliver Bearman is seen as Ferrari’s successor to whichever of their current drivers leaves first.
Who is going to win the 2025 Formula 1 drivers’ championship?
Lewis Hamilton has endured a torrid first campaign with the Scuderia, and there are already suggestions that Charles Leclerc is getting fed up with his lack of success after seven seasons as a Ferrari driver.
One driver that Ferrari know very well already is Carlos Sainz, who has been one of the stars of the second half of 2025 with Williams.
Sainz hasn’t been dismissed as a potential option for Ferrari in the future, but it turns out that many of their rivals are also keeping a close eye on the Spaniard’s position in the driver market.
READ MORE: Williams star Carlos Sainz’s life outside F1 from full name, girlfriend and height
‘Top’ Formula 1 teams all monitoring Carlos Sainz ahead of the 2027 driver market
A report from the Spanish outlet Marca has shared more details about Sainz’s situation.
Sainz was a step behind new teammate Alex Albon at the beginning of the campaign, but since the summer break, he’s rediscovered his best form.
Williams will finish fifth in the constructors’ championship this season, and Sainz has secured two Grand Prix podiums and a Sprint Race top-three finish in the last seven race weekends.
Speaking to DAZN last season, Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur said: “Of course. We have already talked a couple of times about this.
“This is a very small world. There are only 10 teams and only six or seven top drivers. You never know what is going to happen in the future, but most of us – both Carlos on his side and us on our side – have to focus on our projects.
“We don’t know what will happen in 2027, 2028, 2029…”
Finish the sentence: In 2026, Carlos Sainz will finish ____ in the championship with Williams
Sainz’s Williams contract runs until the end of 2027, but like many of his rivals, it likely contains release clauses that both parties have access to.
It’s believed that if Williams don’t live up to expectations in 2026, then Sainz could look for a way out.
Marca suggest that it’s ‘almost certain’ that a ‘top team’ will try and hire the 31-year-old, as Mercedes have previously held an interest in Sainz.
He knows McLaren and Red Bull well from his previous spells in their organisations, and an all-Spanish line-up at Aston Martin would be fascinating for fans to see.
READ MORE: All to know about Williams Racing from team principal to Mercedes ties
Who could be the key players in the 2026 Formula 1 driver market?
Very few drivers have committed past 2026, with Alpine star Pierre Gasly the latest racer to sign a new deal beyond next season.
Max Verstappen is the most desirable driver currently on the grid, but has hinted that if he doesn’t enjoy the new regulations, he could quit Formula 1 altogether.
Make one BOLD prediction for the 2025 season finale in Abu Dhabi!
However, if he wants to add to his growing list of titles, then Mercedes would be desperate to sign Verstappen if Red Bull’s car isn’t up to scratch, and Aston Martin could try and pounce as well.
The likes of Leclerc, Oscar Piastri, and even George Russell or Kimi Antonelli, if Mercedes do try and hire Verstappen, could be available for 2027.
It will be interesting to see if Sainz adds his name to that list, and while his recent success is an obvious positive for James Vowles, it might be creating a bigger conundrum in the future.
Receive exclusive F1 news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
