Formula 1: Lewis Hamilton contract solidifies 2021 grid

The 2021 Formula 1 driver lineup is set following the confirmation that Lewis Hamilton is set to return to Mercedes on a one-year deal.

Less than two months to go before the 2021 Formula 1 season is scheduled to get underway, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has signed a one-year contract with Mercedes to stick around with the Silver Arrows for a ninth season.

Formula 1 had not seen a driver confirmation for the 2021 season since mid-December, just days after the 2020 season ended, when Sergio Perez signed with Red Bull to become the 19th confirmed driver for the upcoming 23-race campaign.

As a result of his new deal, Hamilton is the 20th and final driver to be confirmed on the grid for the 2021 season, and the driver lineup is now set for all 10 teams.

Who does the 2021 lineup consist of, especially as it compares to the 2020 lineup?

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Only three teams have not changed their driver lineups for next season: Mercedes, Alfa Romeo and Williams. Six other teams, Red Bull, McLaren, Aston Martin (formerly Racing Point), Alpine (formerly Renault), Ferrari and AlphaTauri, have made one driver change, and one team, Haas, completed a full lineup overhaul.

In total, 12 drivers from the 2020 season are set to return to the same teams in 2020. Of the other eight drivers, four have switched teams, three are rookies, and one is set to come out of retirement.

Here’s a look at the upcoming season’s driver lineup.

NOTE: (R) means rookie.

Mercedes

• Lewis Hamilton (no change)
• Valtteri Bottas (no change)

Red Bull

• Max Verstappen (no change)
• Sergio Perez (from Racing Point)

McLaren

• Lando Norris (no change)
• Daniel Ricciardo (from Renault)

Aston Martin

• Lance Stroll (no change)
• Sebastian Vettel (from Ferrari)

Alpine

• Esteban Ocon (no change)
• Fernando Alonso (from retirement)

Ferrari

• Charles Leclerc (no change)
• Carlos Sainz Jr. (from McLaren)

AlphaTauri

• Pierre Gasly (no change)
• Yuki Tsunoda (R)

Alfa Romeo

• Kimi Raikkonen (no change)
• Antonio Giovinazzi (no change)

Haas

• Mick Schumacher (R)
• Nikita Mazepin (R)

Williams

• George Russell (no change)
• Nicholas Latifi (no change)

The 2021 Formula 1 season is scheduled to get underway on Sunday, March 28 at Bahrain International Circuit following an early-season coronavirus pandemic restriction-related schedule change. This race is set to be broadcast live on ESPN beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET.