What Could Trigger Driver-Market Drama After New Verstappen, Norris Deals?
Summary
Verstappen and Norris extensions lock F1's elite seats, but frustration at Mercedes/McLaren, Hamilton's future, Red Bull's struggles, and Aston Martin's rise could still trigger driver-market drama.
Max Verstappen and Lando Norris have signed extensions, locking down F1's most coveted seats. Verstappen is tied to Red Bull until 2030, while Norris made his McLaren future official on Saturday. But the driver market could still deliver drama.
Why it matters:
The deals remove the two biggest names from immediate speculation, but raise the stakes around them.
The details:
- Russell and Piastri under pressure: Norris has adapted to the 2026 cars much faster than Piastri, while Russell has been outperformed by Kimi Antonelli. If either is consistently beaten, a switch could become tempting.
- Hamilton's uncertain timeline: The 41-year-old has an option to drive for Ferrari until the end of 2028, but few expect him to continue beyond that. A seat could open for 2029, with Oliver Bearman a candidate.
- Red Bull's performance question: Verstappen's extension runs to 2030, but exit clauses were not confirmed. Red Bull lag Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren, and Verstappen won't accept that for long. Mercedes and McLaren have already held talks.
- Aston Martin as a wildcard: Aston Martin have underdelivered, and Honda's power unit remains troublesome. If Honda gets up to speed, Adrian Newey's chassis could make them a contender.
What's next:
The next phase of driver-market movement is already taking shape — the grid could look very different by 2028.
Original Article :https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/13578230/f1-why-there-could-still-be-dra...