Formula 1: Possible free agents after the 2020 season

With new rules and regulations slated to take effect ahead of the 2021 Formula 1 season, there could be quite a lot of movement among drivers, and there are several key free agents-to-be.

The long-awaited new rules and regulations that are set to be implemented ahead of the 2021 Formula 1 season were announced at the end of October after they were unanimously approved by FIA WMSC.

These rules and regulations are split up into three categories: sporting regulations, technical regulations and financial regulations.

The goal of these new rules and regulations is to make the field more competitive from top to bottom and to create better racing that involves more overtaking.

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Well over half of the grid are set to be free agents ahead of the 2021 season, and coupled with these new rules and regulations, this could set up the most interesting driver market the sport has seen in quite some time.

There is a new budget cap of $175 million that is set to be introduced ahead of the 2021 season, and that budget cap does not include driver salaries, meaning that there could end up being massive bidding wars for some of the top drivers.

As of now, 18 of the 20 drivers on the 2019 grid are set to return in the 2020 season, with all 18 slated to return to the teams for which they currently drive. But the grid could be shaken up to a great extent after next season ends.

Here is a list of the drivers for whom the 2020 season is a contract year.

Mercedes

• Lewis Hamilton – Hamilton signed a two-year contract extension in July of 2018.
• Valtteri Bottas – Bottas had the one-year option his one-year contract extension, which he signed in July of 2018, picked up by Mercedes in August.

Ferrari

• Sebastian Vettel – Vettel signed a three-year contract extension in August of 2017.

Red Bull Racing

• Max Verstappen – Verstappen signed a three-year contract extension in October of 2017 and was confirmed by the team for the 2020 season back in August.
• Alexander Albon – Albon is under contract with the Red Bull organization for the 2020 season. He will likely remain with Red Bull Racing, although Toro Rosso is still an option.

McLaren

• Carlos Sainz Jr. – Sainz signed a two-year contract in August of 2018 and was confirmed by the team for the 2020 season back in July.

Renault

• Daniel Ricciardo – Ricciardo signed a two-year contract in August of 2018.

Racing Point

• Lance Stroll – Stroll signed a one-year contract extension in August.

Toro Rosso

• Daniil Kvyat – Kvyat is under contract with the Red Bull organization for the 2020 season. He will likely remain with Toro Rosso, although Red Bull Racing is still an option.
• Pierre Gasly – Gasly is in the exact same situation as Kvyat.

Alfa Romeo Racing

• Kimi Raikkonen – Raikkonen signed a two-year contract with Alfa Romeo Racing in September of 2018.
• Antonio Giovinazzi – Giovinazzi signed a one-year contract extension with Alfa Romeo Racing earlier this month.

Haas

• Kevin Magnussen – Magnussen signed a two-year contract extension in September of 2018 and was confirmed by the team for the 2020 season back in September.
• Romain Grosjean – Grosjean signed a one-year contract extension in September.

Williams

• Driver not yet confirmed for 2020; Nicholas Latifi speculated

Here is a much shorter list of the drivers who are already under contract for the 2021 season.

Under contract for 2021

Ferrari

• Charles Leclerc – Leclerc’s initial contract, which he signed in September of 2018, reportedly runs through at least the 2022 season.

McLaren

• Lando Norris – Norris signed a contract extension in July and is under contract through the 2022 season.

Renault

• Esteban Ocon – Ocon signed a two-year contract in August.

Racing Point

• Sergio Perez – Perez signed a three-year contract extension in August.

Williams

• George Russell – Russell’s initial contract, which he signed in October of 2018, runs through the 2021 season, although there is a belief that the Mercedes junior driver could still be signed by Mercedes for the 2021 season should Hamilton or Bottas depart from the team.

Which drivers will be with which teams in the 2021 Formula 1 season? There are certainly a lot of variables to consider, especially considering the new rules and regulations that are set to be implemented ahead of that time, and there is certainly a lot of room for driver movement across the grid because of it.