Four teams are set to have driver lineups in the 2022 Formula 1 season that differ from those they ran throughout the 2021 campaign.
Only three of the 20 drivers who competed full-time throughout the 2021 Formula 1 season won’t be back for the 23-race 2022 campaign.
But two of the 17 drivers who are set to return to the sport are set to do so with different teams. With a total of five drivers on the move from 2021 to 2022, four teams are set to have different lineups, with one team set for a complete overhaul and the other three set to make just one change.
Here’s a look at the changes these four teams have made.
1. Williams
Williams are set to make one change to their driver lineup for the 2022 season, replacing George Russell with Alex Albon alongside Nicholas Latifi. Albon lost his ride with Red Bull to Sergio Perez after the 2020 season, but like former Force India/Racing Point driver Esteban Ocon did with Renault (now Alpine) in 2019, he is set to return after a one-year hiatus. But Russell isn’t leaving Formula 1.
2. Mercedes
Russell, who spent the first three seasons of his career with Williams, is set to join Mercedes, replacing Valtteri Bottas alongside Lewis Hamilton after Bottas and Hamilton spent five seasons together. But Bottas isn’t leaving the sport altogether.
3. Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo are the only team set to make multiple changes to their driver lineup for the 2022 season. Bottas is set to join the team as the replacement for fellow Finnish driver Kimi Raikkonen, who retired at the end of the 2021 season as the all-time most experienced driver.
Guanyu Zhou, one of the two drivers set to compete in 2022 after not doing so in 2021, is set to be the lone true rookie on the grid, replacing the Antonio Giovinazzi. After spending the first three seasons of his full-time career with Alfa Romeo, Giovinazzi is set to move to Formula E with Dragon/Penske Autosport.
4. Haas
This change came about late in the game following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Nikita Mazepin was cut by Haas when Uralkali was removed as their title sponsor, and he has since been replaced by Kevin Magnussen. Magnussen did not compete in 2021 after ironically being ousted by Haas following the 2020 season in favor of an all-rookie lineup featuring Mazepin and Mick Schumacher.
The 2022 Formula 1 season is scheduled to get underway this Sunday, March 20 with the Bahrain Grand Prix at Bahrain International Circuit, the track which also hosted preseason testing last week. Tune in to ESPN at 11:00 a.m. ET for the live broadcast, and don’t miss your chance to start your free trial of FuboTV!