Hey guys, we got another F1 column this week, and I’m going to give my predictions on the drivers on the grid next year, and what teams they will be on.

There are some guaranteed drivers, so I’ll get those out of the way real quick.

Max Verstappen: Red Bull- There are rumors about him leaving for Mercedes, but I doubt anything will come to fruition, especially before the beginning of next year.

Lando Norris & Oscar Piastri: McLaren- They are both locked into contracts for the time being.

Fernando Alonso: Aston Martin- The Spaniard has agreed to a contract to essentially finish out his career with the team, along with provisions after he retires.

George Russell: Mercedes- The Brit will look to take over as the main driver after Lewis departs for Ferrari next year, depending on who Mercedes signs.

Lewis Hamilton: Ferrari- The seven-time world champion will be taking his talents to the team in red next year in a bombshell move.

Charles Leclerc: Ferrari- He will be looking to be able to beat the dominance of Red Bull with his new teammate

Nico Hulkenberg: Stake- He is probably making this move to get in on the ground floor when Audi takes over in 2026.

Now, on to the fun part, the unknown. I’ll go by team to set up the grid.

Red Bull:

Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez-

As much as I’d like to see Carlos in this seat, I think Checo pairs so well with Max that the team will bring him back. All Perez has to do is get a solid P2 and not challenge Max that much, and he does that to a T. Of course, the minute this goes up, he’ll probably announce retirement or something, but right now, this is the most logical move.

Ferrari:

Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc-

We all know these two are going to have the seats, so I won’t say much. However, with the amount of talent this pair collectively has, I wouldn’t be surprised if they actually challenged Red Bull next year. As always stay scoutin’.