Formula 1: Who still doesn’t have a contract for 2022?

Following the announcement of Lewis Hamilton’s new Mercedes deal, there are still quite a few drivers without contracts for the 2022 Formula 1 season.

Ahead of the 2021 Formula 1 season, Lewis Hamilton was the 20th and final driver confirmed to the grid when he signed a one-year deal with Mercedes. He did so just a month before the season began.

Now the seven-time world champion and the Brackley-based team have agreed to terms on a two-year extension that will keep the sport’s all-time most successful partnership intact through the 2023 season.

Needless to say, at this point in the season, Hamilton isn’t the 20th and final driver confirmed on the grid for next year this time around.

In fact, he is only the 12th, as eight active drivers are currently only under contract through the end of the 23-race 2021 season.

Here’s a list of the 12 drivers whose deals don’t expire until at least the end of the 2022 season.

• Carlos Sainz Jr., Ferrari (2022)
• Fernando Alonso, Alpine (2022)
• Lance Stroll, Aston Martin (2022+)
• Mick Schumacher, Haas (2022+)
• Nikita Mazepin, Haas (2022+)
• Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes (2023)
• Max Verstappen, Red Bull (2023)
• Lando Norris, McLaren (2023)
• Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren (2023)
• Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin (2023+)
• Charles Leclerc, Ferrari (2024)
• Esteban Ocon, Alpine (2024)

Note that one of these deals isn’t necessarily tied to a specific team. Ferrari control Schumacher’s destination with him being a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, so he could move into an Alfa Romeo seat for 2022 if things align. If not, however, he would return to Haas.

As for the eight active drivers who do not have deals in place to return to Formula 1 next year, here’s a list.

• Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes
• Sergio Perez, Red Bull
• Pierre Gasly, AlphaTauri
• Yuki Tsunoda, AlphaTauri
• Kimi Raikkonen, Alfa Romeo
• Antonio Giovinazzi, Alfa Romeo
• George Russell, Williams
• Nicholas Latifi, Williams

It is expected that the second Mercedes seat will come down to either Bottas or Russell, with the loser ending up at Williams next year if he so chooses. Bottas has also been rumored to join Alfa Romeo if Russell replaces him at Mercedes.

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Perez is expected to re-sign with Red Bull after a strong start to his first season with the team, though there are also rumors that Red Bull could try to snatch Russell away if he doesn’t get a promotion to Mercedes.

Gasly is considered one of the hottest free agents on the market and has been in contact with rival teams about potentially leaving the Red Bull-affiliated AlphaTauri, but options are limited for him in 2022. Williams is seen as one of very few possibilities. Either way, expect Tsunoda to stick around for a second year with the team.

Alfa Romeo could easily stick with the same lineup yet again, despite the fact that they are always rumored to make a change or two. Raikkonen doesn’t appear to be ready to retire despite piling on what is already an all-time record start total, and Giovinazzi has adapted a lot better than many like to give him credit for during his two-plus seasons with the team. Or, perhaps 2022 will be the year that change is finally made, possibly with the addition of Bottas.

Provided Latifi continues to supply sufficient financial backing, he could return to Williams in 2022 as well. If not, however, there have been a number of drivers rumored to take his seat, including those who are not currently competing in the sport such as former Formula 1 drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Daniil Kvyat.

The 11th race on the 2021 Formula 1 schedule is the Hungarian Grand Prix, which is scheduled to take place on Sunday, August 1. ESPN is set to broadcast this race live from the Hungaroring beginning at 9:00 a.m. ET.