Formula 1: 2020 driver lineup points to a new era

The complexion of the 2020 Formula 1 driver lineup points to a new era of the sport that is slated to begin as early as 2021.

Not much changed from the 2019 Formula 1 season to the 2020 season as far as the driver lineup is concerned.

After an offseason season that featured only eight of 20 drivers staying put, six switching teams and six leaving Formula 1 and being replaced, 18 drivers stayed put while only two left Formula 1 and were replaced following the 2019 campaign.

However, that continuity may be short-lived, and that points toward a new era in Formula 1 that could commence as early as 2021. Of the 20 drivers who are in the 2020 lineup, only five are under contract for beyond the 2020 season.

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Notably, only four of those five drivers are among the 18 who stayed put from 2019 to 2020.

Those four drivers are Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who signed a deal to remain with the team through the 2024 season, Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen, who signed a deal to remain with the team through the 2023 season, Racing Point’s Sergio Perez, who signed a deal to remain with the team through the 2022 season, Renault’s Esteban Ocon, whose initial deal with the team was a two-year deal through the 2021 season, and Williams’ George Russell, who the team have confirmed is under contract through the 2021 season.

McLaren’s Lando Norris also reportedly signed a multi-year contract extension in July, but he is still technically classified as only being under contract through the 2020 season because of the fact that specifics of the deal were not revealed.

It is worth noting that only one of these drivers is above the age of 30. But even that one driver, Perez, only turned 30 in January. He was 29 when he signed his three-year contract extension.

Meanwhile, six of the other drivers in the field are 30 years or older. Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas and Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo are both 30 while Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel is 32, Haas’ Romain Grosjean is 33, Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton is 35 and Alfa Romeo Racing’s Kimi Raikkonen is 40.

Bottas and Ricciardo may not be nearing retirement, but for how much longer will the others remain in Formula 1? It’s certainly hard to see any of them signing lengthy contracts to stick around.

Additionally, the 2021 season is slated to feature the introduction of Liberty Media’s new rules and regulations that are intended to make the field more competitive. Among these new rules and regulations is a $175 million budget cap, but notably on the exemptions list from this budget cap are driver salaries.

With 75% of the current field without confirmed contracts for beyond 2020, this could potentially set up mayhem as far as future deals are concerned. We could see bidding wars for top drivers while top teams try to figure out how to operate at a lower budget in general.

Additionally, where will the top drivers want to go? Will the power shift away from Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull Racing, where it has resided exclusively for the last seven seasons? Will there end up not being much change to the driver lineup right away, specifically among the top teams, with recent rumors suggesting that certain drivers will stay put?

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The 2020 Formula 1 driver lineup looks 90% like the 2019 lineup, but what will the 2021 lineup look like? Nearly half of the drivers not under contract for 2021 are veterans aged 30+. That coupled with the new rules and regulations for the 2021 season could set up one crazy Silly Season and result in the dawn of a new era of Formula 1 competition.

The 2020 season is scheduled to get underway in about a week and a half on Sunday, March 15 with the Australian Grand Prix at Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit in Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia.

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