Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Motorsport, Formula 1, Oscar Piastri, Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris, Red Bull Racing, Ferrari, McLaren
Ben McCrum
Topics: Motorsport, Formula 1, Oscar Piastri, Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris, Red Bull Racing, Ferrari, McLaren
With a host of driver changes expected to take place between now and next year, this is how I think the 2027 Formula One grid will look like.
After what has felt like a huge break, we are now less than two months away from the return of Formula One as the 2026 season kicks off with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
With a brand new set of regulations set to be introduced and an 11th team joining the grid, it's widely expected that this year will see the biggest change in the sport in some time.
That being said, the 2026 season hasn't seen a lot of change in terms of driver lineups, with most of the big names waiting to see how each of the top teams react to the new regulations before deciding on their futures.
Advert
But once the dust settles and the best teams have been established, I expect that there will be a lot of moves ahead of the 2027 season, and this is why.
It likely comes as no surprise that I don't expect Oscar Piastri to stick around at McLaren for the 2027 season.
Advert
Throughout 2025 one of the biggest narratives in the sport was how McLaren treated the Australian driver compared to teammate Lando Norris, with many arguing that the team favoured their British star.
Whether or not you believe that to be true, I think it's clear that Piastri wasn't happy with several decisions throughout the year, and should he be offered the chance to move and lead another major team from 2027, I think he would jump at it.
The Australian penned a a new long-term contract with McLaren in March last year, keeping him with the team until at least 2028, but I don't see this being much of an issue should he want to leave.
Norris will of course remain at McLaren for the foreseeable future having just won his first Drivers' Championship tittle with the Woking-based team, while reigning Formula 2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli will take Piastri's spot after joining as McLaren's 2026 reserve driver.
If Piastri is to leave McLaren, I think Ferrari will be his next team as I expect the Italian team to undergo a complete driver overhaul in 2027.
Advert
Ferrari are currently rumoured to be the favourites to sign Piastri next year, with the Australian believed to be high on Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur's ideal list of replacements if they lose either Charles Leclerc or Lewis Hamilton.
Unfortunately for Ferrari, the early suggestions ahead of the 2026 season suggest they may not be quite ready to challenge for the championship, which leads me to believe that Leclerc will finally leave in pursuit of his maiden Drivers' Championship.
Likewise if Hamilton has yet another dismal season with Ferrari, I think it's likely that he will retire at the end of 2026, with young talent Oliver Bearman taking his place after his promising start with Haas last year.
Admittedly, Max Verstappen's future is the prediction that I feel the least confident on, but when a driver is so clearly the best in the world, it's likely that he will ensure that he's driving the best car in the world.
Advert
And if rumours are to be believed, Mercedes will be the fastest team once the new regulations are introduced, suggesting that Verstappen could make the move should Red Bull not provide a title-challenging car.
The four-time world champion confirmed last year that he held talks with the Mercedes leadership over a potential move, with team principal Toto Wolff said to be a huge fan of the Dutchman.
Add to this the fact that Verstappen's Red Bull contract reportedly has a release clause that is believed to become easier to trigger over time, and a move to Mercedes is very much on the cards should he want it to be.
Alongside him will of course be Mercedes youngster Andrea Kimi Antonelli who certainly won't be leaving the team anytime soon.
If George Russell is displaced at Mercedes by Verstappen I can't really see anywhere else for him to go other than Red Bull.
Advert
A straight swap might not be the ideal scenario for the British driver, but with Helmut Marko now out of the picture, I can see him being more open to the move, particularly if his alternatives aren't as promising.
Meanwhile Hadjar, who I predicted to be the rookie of the season in 2025, will break the recent curse at Red Bull that sees their second driver constantly swap out and maintain his seat for 2027 and beyond.
Under the leadership of F1 legend Adrian Newey, Aston Martin could become a real force to be reckoned both on track and in the driver market.
It's long been rumoured that Verstappen will be their top target should he become available, but if he moves to Mercedes or decides to stick with Red Bull then Leclerc would still be a huge signing for Aston Martin.
Of course, if someone is going to come into the Aston Martin team, I expect it to be replacing a retired Fernando Alonso rather than the ever-present Lance Stroll.
Williams team principal James Vowles has created one of the best driver pairings in the sport with Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon, and I see no reason why he would change that anytime soon.
And with Williams shifting their focus to 2026 by ending their development on last year's car in early 2025, becoming the first team to do so, it's almost certain that they will have a strong car, giving both of their drivers an incentive to stay with the British team.
With Bearman almost certainly off to Ferrari sometime in the near future, I can see Haas returning to their old ways of choosing two experienced drivers for the 2027 season.
Unless Bottas is truly dreadful with Cadillac this season, I can see no better option for Haas than the Finnish driver should they look to bring in another veteran to partner Esteban Ocon.
Pierre Gasly didn't have an amazing season with Alpine but in fairness, Alpine were dreadful in 2025 so I think he deserves to be cut some slack.
That being said, I'd be surprised if the French team sticks with Franco Colapinto in 2027 as the Argentine driver already seems to be on the ropes heading into 2026.
If Colapinto is to be replaced, there are plenty of rookie options available to Alpine, but I can see Yuki Tsunoda returning to the grid and taking the second seat.
Liam Lawson had a turbulent start to the 2025 season after being suddenly demoted from Red Bull to Racing Bulls after just two races, but I think he's now found stability with the Red Bull junior team.
Likewise I imagine 2026 rookie Arvid Lindblad will impress in his debut season and keep his seat in 2027.
Formula One veteran Nico Hulkenberg is surely reaching the end of his time in the sport, but I expect him to stick it out for one more season with Audi.
Meanwhile I think that Gabriel Bortoleto, who will likely be targeted several teams in the near future, will stick with Audi to continue to learn from Hulkenberg ahead of a big move in the future.
Finally the new team on the block will surely keep at least one of their 2026 drivers in their second season, and I think it'll be Sergio Perez.
Should Bottas leave the team ahead of the 2027 season then 2026 reserve driver Colton Herta is the most likely candidate to replace him.