Formula 1: The 5 seats still open in the 2023 driver lineup

Following AlphaTauri’s confirmation of Yuki Tsunoda for the 2023 Formula 1 season, there are five seats without confirmed drivers for next year.

AlphaTauri announced on Thursday morning that Yuki Tsunoda is set to continue driving for the team in the 2023 Formula 1 season, which is set to be his third season with the Faenza-based organization.

Tsunoda is the 16th driver to be confirmed in next year’s driver lineup, though only 15 of the 16 confirmed drivers have confirmed seats.

The only confirmed driver who doesn’t yet know his destination is Tsunoda’s current teammate, Pierre Gasly. Gasly had previously been confirmed by AlphaTauri for 2023, but he has recently emerged as a possible replacement for the Aston Martin-bound Fernando Alonso at Alpine.

AlphaTauri had been trying to land IndyCar driver Colton Herta via an FIA Super License exemption, but while that is likely out of the question at this stage, they have admitted that they may still be willing to let Gasly sign with the Enstone outfit should they be able to land a solid replacement.

Nyck de Vries, who impressed everybody with his point-scoring Formula 1 debut with Williams in Monza, has emerged as a possibility for the team for 2023, though he too is in contention for the Alpine seat.

There are three other seats without confirmed drivers for next year, with one at each of Alfa Romeo, Haas, and Williams.

Guanyu Zhou, Mick Schumacher, and Nicholas Latifi are the drivers facing uncertainty at these three teams, respectively.

Of the three, Zhou seems most likely to retain his ride, though Sauber Academy and Formula 2 driver Theo Pourchaire is reportedly in the mix to replace him.

While Schumacher could still return as well, Haas are reportedly considering several drivers to replace him, including but not limited to veterans Daniel Ricciardo, Antonio Giovinazzi, and Nico Hulkenberg.

As for Williams, they have long appeared likely to move on from Latifi, despite stating that he might still return, and confirmed today that they will indeed part ways with him at the end of the season.

Williams Driver Academy and Formula 2 driver Logan Sargeant is considered the frontrunner to replace him, though Schumacher and Ricciardo are also possibilities, as is de Vries if he doesn’t land at Alpine or AlphaTauri.