Lewis Hamilton replaced as Max Verstappen quits Red Bull: Future F1 grid predicted

This year's Formula 1 driver market has been a little slow, but that's because the real excitement is set to come next year. Teams have, for the most part, opted for stability heading into a new set of regulations which threatens to upset the balance of power on the grid.

But next year, with more than half the grid out of contract and everyone fully aware of what the competitive order is, will surely be different. There will be some drivers disappointed with where their teams are at who could look elsewhere, and some massive names whose future needs to be decided.

For example, will the 2026 season be Lewis Hamilton's last in F1? It will depend, really on whether or not he and Ferrari are in a title fight. Otherwise, aged 41, it's hard to imagine the Brit continuing to solider on for the sake of it without the prospect of an eighth title motivating him.

And what will Max Verstappen do? Red Bull are making their own engines for the first time and the expectation is that they will struggle to compete at the front, at least initially. Could he be more tempted by an offer from Mercedes in that case?

To try and answer those questions and many more, we took out the Mirror Sport crystal ball and here's what we saw when peering into what the grid will look like at the start of the 2027 season:

Gasly has signed a new contract keeping him with Alpine until 2028, proving the faith he has in the team currently bottom of the standings to recover with Mercedes engines next year. All the intrigue is around their second seat and it is hard to see Franco Colapinto suddenly finding the pace he needs to save his F1 career. We can see the Argentine being replaced by reserve driver Aron next year and, with those new engines and a quicker car, the Estonian finds himself in the right place at the right time to establish himself on the grid.

We can see Adrian Newey having a significant impact, but not enough to push Aston Martin into title contention straight away. Fernando Alonso accepts that his time has run out and transitions into an ambassadorial role and, although Lawrence Stroll attempts ambitious bids to sign first Verstappen and then George Russell, he fails on both fronts and, eventually, accepts millions from Honda to give Yuki Tsunoda a route back onto the F1 grid after a year on the sidelines. Unless Stroll Snr sells the team, then his son Lance will surely still be racing for them.

Whether or not they can keeps hold of impressive youngster Bortoleto may depend on how well the transition from Sauber to Audi in 2026 goes. The Brazilian will surely be the subject of interest but, given the progress already made under team boss Jonathan Wheatley, we can see Audi being competitive enough to keep both their drivers interested for at least a second year of the new regulations.

Favourites to finish last of the 11 teams in their debut F1 campaign, it's highly unlikely that Bottas and Perez will be scoring many points. But their job will be largely to help establish the team and develop the car into a more competitive place for 2027 and, unless one of them gets bored of driving around at the back, it's hard to see either being replaced. Maybe that changes if IndyCar race-winner Colton Herta has a stellar year in Formula 2 and gives Cadillac their dream option of fielding an American driver who already has a big reputation in the US.

Here's the first big decision and, having failed to challenge for glory in 2026, we can see Hamilton bidding farewell to F1 and focusing on building his film and fashion empire. To replace him, after a couple of years learning his craft at customer team Haas, Bearman is called up to partner Charles Leclerc who has a contract until 2029 and looks poised to spend his entire career racing for the Scuderia.

To compensate Haas for taking Bearman, we can see Ferrari offering their academy driver Rafael Camara. The teenager has just won the Formula 3 title and a strong showing in his debut F2 season is expected of the next talent off the Brazilian production line. Ocon could be on the shortlist of a few other teams but ends up sticking with Haas to lead them alongside another rookie team-mate.

Having walked the 2025 title, McLaren are well-placed to do so again next year armed with Mercedes engines that are the favourites to be quickest on the grid. Both Norris and Piastri have long-term contracts so, unless there ends up being a falling-out between them as the continue to fight each other for individual glory, there will be no reason for either to move on.

With Verstappen's exit clause kicking in again next summer, and Red Bull not in contention, we can see the Dutchman being ready to start afresh. Toto Wolff has been chasing the four-time champion for years and sees off competition from Aston Martin and Ferrari to finally get his man. It's then a straight choice between Antonelli and Russell to partner him, but the Italian's potential gives him the edge after finding his feet in F1, making Russell the most sought-after free agent on the market.

Lindblad is the next talent off the Red Bull production line who will be given his chance to impress in F1. Hadjar is likely to get a promotion to the main Red Bull team in 2026 but, after a tough year next to Verstappen amid all the speculation over the Dutchman's future, and his eventual departure, he drops back down to the junior squad as Laurent Mekies manages to land two very experienced operators, at the expense of Liam Lawson's place on the grid.

Saddled with the task of replacing his departed star man in Verstappen, Mekies turns to whichever Mercedes driver is axed to make way for the Dutchman which we think would be Russell. Having been impressed with how he has performed since returning to the F1 grid with Williams, Red Bull also show interest in Albon who signs now that Verstappen is out of the way and two very good friends form the team's most balanced driver pairing in a decade.

We can imagine James Vowles being left to scramble a bit, having been banking on Albon sticking with the project given the impressive progress made at Williams. Now challenging for podiums and the odd race win, they still have a proven leader in Sainz and turn to Irish youngster Alex Dunne who knows that he needs to leave the McLaren academy if he is to step up to F1, given Norris and Piastri are comfortable there.