Formula 1: Early 2021 driver lineup prediction

Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton – While not confirmed, Lewis Hamilton has been tipped to return for what would be a ninth consecutive season with Mercedes next year. The door on a move to Ferrari was shut this offseason, and it doesn’t look like it will be opening up until at least 2023.

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Valtteri Bottas – Why fix what isn’t broken? Valtteri Bottas certainly isn’t Lewis Hamilton, but he is more than capable of running at the front and serving as a worthy teammate to the six-time world champion.

Mercedes have won six constructor and driver championships in a row, and Bottas has played a huge role in that consistent dominance. Recent comments from both himself and the team suggest that he will be back for a fifth consecutive season in 2021.

Ferrari

Charles Leclerc – Ferrari are one of the teams with completely confirmed driver lineups for next year, and they opened up the offseason by giving Charles Leclerc a massive and well-deserved contract extension through the 2024 season.

Carlos Sainz Jr. – Carlos Sainz Jr.’s 2020 season is slated to be his second and final season with McLaren. When Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel announced that they were cutting ties after 2020 back in May, it was Sainz who got the call to ditch his papaya orange and blue for Scuderia red. His initial Ferrari deal runs through 2022.

Following an offseason of over seven months, the 2020 Formula 1 season got underway with the Austrian Grand Prix last Sunday, July 5 at the Red Bull Ring, and it is set to continue today at the same track with the Styrian Grand Prix. This race is set to be broadcast live on ESPN beginning at 9:10 a.m. ET.