Formula 1: 3 drivers who could be the next F1 rookies

Are these three drivers the next rookies to come into Formula 1? The pinnacle of motorsport has talented young drivers ready for the biggest stage.

As the 2022 Formula 1 season approaches the summer break, the rumblings about what next year’s lineup could look like are beginning to heat up.

Several drivers entered the season on the final year of their contracts, including the likes of Sergio Perez, Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso. However, Perez and Red Bull announced a contract extension after winning in Monaco, and Vettel and Alonso are likely to stay with their teams.

As of now, the only truly vulnerable driver is Williams’ Nicholas Latifi, whose poor performance this season will likely result in an exit from Formula 1. There are a slew of talented drivers who could see action in the future, but three names have been floated more than others.

So who could we see as the next faces of Formula 1? These three drivers are hoping to secure their seats in the most prestigious class of racing.

Possible Formula 1 rookies: No. 1 – Oscar Piastri

While Latifi has a fervent social media fan base that would rival the likes of some of the greatest athletes in sporting history, the Williams driver is likely on his way out of Formula 1 once his contract expires at the conclusion of the 2022 season. He is the only active driver who has yet to score a single point this season and has been regularly outperformed by teammate Alex Albon.

Alpine reserve driver Oscar Piastri has been tabbed as a potential successor to Latifi’s seat. He was even rumored to be in the mix for a vacant McLaren seat if Daniel Ricciardo didn’t return next season.

Piastri has enjoyed a highly successful racing career to date, having won the Formula 3 championship in 2020 and the Formula 2 championship in 2021. An official seat in Formula 1 would be the next step in his steady ascension through the ranks.

Despite his history, however, Piastri’s spot at Williams is far from settled. American Formula 2 driver Logan Sargeant’s back-to-back wins at Silverstone and Spielberg have catapulted him into conversation for a seat, even catching the eye of Williams team boss Jost Capito.

Nonetheless, Piastri is widely regarded as someone who is simply too good to not have a seat somewhere in Formula 1. Where he ends up is the only uncertainty at this stage.