As Formula 1 approaches the revolutionary 2026 season with new technical regulations, teams are securing their driver lineups with long-term contracts that could define the sport's next era. The grid features a mix of established champions and rising stars locked into multi-year deals, though performance clauses add uncertainty to several high-profile arrangements.
McLaren has secured one of the most stable driver pairings on the grid. Reigning world champion Lando Norris committed to a multi-year extension shortly before the 2024 season, keeping him with the team through at least 2027. Teammate Oscar Piastri signed his own extension ahead of the 2025 campaign that will keep him at McLaren until the end of 2028.
Barring an inter-team fallout or significant drop in performance, it's hard to see Norris or Piastri moving teams next year.
Mercedes has also invested in continuity, with George Russell secured through at least 2027 despite the team initially announcing only a 2026 deal. The Silver Arrows confirmed Kimi Antonelli would remain for 2026 alongside Russell, with the Italian prospect viewed as a long-term investment despite challenges in his rookie season.
Red Bull's Max Verstappen remains under contract through 2028 after signing his long-term deal back in March 2022. However, the Dutch driver's future isn't entirely straightforward due to performance clauses in his contract that could allow him to leave under certain conditions.
Verstappen has consistently stated he wants to be able to compete for wins, so if Red Bull cannot provide him that, and he does not enjoy the new 2026 cars, there will inevitably be question marks surrounding his future.
The situation was highlighted during the 2024 season amid allegations against team principal Christian Horner, though those were later dismissed. Verstappen will be partnered by Isack Hadjar in 2026, who becomes the seventh driver in eight years to attempt pairing with the dominant Dutch driver following his impressive rookie campaign at Racing Bulls.
Hadjar's future will be largely dictated around how close he is to Verstappen, regardless of how strong the RB22 is.
Ferrari boasts the longest commitment on the grid with Charles Leclerc, who signed a deal in January 2024 that extends through 2029. The Monegasque driver stated on social media that he would be with Ferrari for "several seasons to come," though his contract also contains performance clauses similar to Verstappen's arrangement.
The Scuderia's other seat belongs to Lewis Hamilton, whose shock February 2024 announcement to join Ferrari for 2025 represented one of the biggest transfers in F1 history. While Ferrari announced the move as a multi-year deal, the specific length wasn't disclosed beyond 2026.
The 41-year-old said in November 2025 that he had a "pretty long contract" and he was "a little bit far away" to begin negotiations over a new deal.
As teams prepare for the sweeping technical changes coming in 2026, these long-term contracts provide stability but also contain flexibility through performance clauses. The effectiveness of each team's adaptation to the new regulations will likely determine whether these deals see their full terms or trigger early exits for the sport's biggest stars.
Source: skysports.com