F1 | What changes in driver market after contract renewals of Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris. The driver market situation could mark a significant change or a major setback.

After Charles Leclerc’s renewal, Lando Norris has also committed to the team that allowed him to grow. Therefore, like Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, with the renewal, has secured his future with McLaren. The driver market situation could mark a significant change or a major setback.

With two of the best drivers of the new generation secured in their respective teams and with Max Verstappen’s long contract with Red Bull, there may not be many surprises in the coming years. Or at least it seems so. Yet…

Lando Norris speaks of having achieved a certain tranquility in knowing that McLaren continues to have confidence in him. Leclerc also knows perfectly well that Ferrari would bet on him even for the more distant future. But just staying within Ferrari, one can see that Carlos Sainz’s position could radically change after the renewal of his Monegasque teammate.

If Carlos Sainz chooses not to align with Maranello’s cause (in case of increased priority towards Leclerc), he would be the first “luxury free agent.” There is talk of a hypothetical move to Audi when he makes his F1 debut in 2026. But it remains to be seen if Sainz will leave at the end of 2024, or if a one-year renewal will come, or if he will choose to stay in Italy.

A different scenario applies to Mercedes. Both drivers are at the end of their contracts in 2025, so the lineup is guaranteed at least until the rule change. But here, too, it needs to be understood whether Lewis Hamilton will choose to retire or leave one of the most coveted seats in the world of motorsports. In that case, Mercedes could choose to focus on Kimi Antonelli or opt for a more experienced driver and concentrate on George Russell.

Red Bull, on the other hand, knows it can rely on Max Verstappen but realizes it might not have much choice with Sergio Perez. Without many mysteries, it has been clarified several times that in the absence of results, there will almost certainly be a farewell. But after Norris’s renewal, the choice will inevitably have to fall on one of the drivers already in the Red Bull orbit, with Daniel Ricciardo being the prominent candidate.

Without, of course, forgetting drivers like Gasly and Ocon, who, in the absence of results, may choose to leave Alpine. Not to mention the wildcard represented by Alexander Albon, likely already explored by Ferrari in the event of a separation from Carlos Sainz.

Certainly, the choices made by Leclerc and Norris could lead to significant upheavals in the driver market. “There is no crystal ball for 2026. Changing the regulations is always a big challenge, but it’s difficult to define now who could be competitive and which drivers might embrace other projects,” says Christian Horner. What is certain is that Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc have already sent their message for the future.

Source: f1ingenerale