The 2014 grid will look very different when the cars line up on the grid next March for the season opener in Australia.
The driver market has dominated the headlines in the latter part of the 2013 season, but there are still some seats left to be filled and plenty of speculation surrounding them. Here is a quick blog outlining who is confirmed, who isn't and who is in contention for the vacant seats.
Red Bull Racing
Confirmed: The Milton Keynes-based outfit confirmed their 2014 line-up in early September. Four-time champion Sebastian Vettel will be partnered by Daniel Ricciardo. The Aussie has been racing for Toro Rosso for the last two seasons.
Mercedes AMG Petronas
Confirmed: The German manufacturer will retain their strong driver line-up of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.
Ferrari
Confirmed: Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen make up, in my view, the best driver line-up on next year's grid. The 'Iceman' announced his return to the team, who he won his only F1 title with in 2007, just after the Italian Grand Prix in mid-September.
Lotus
Confirmed: The confirmation that Pastor Maldonado will join Romain Grosjean at the Enstone-based outfit sparked debate amongst the F1 fans, but the Venezuelan brings vital sponsorship to the team as they battle to stay in the game.
McLaren
Sergio Perez announced his departure from the iconic team just before his 'home' race in Austn, Texas. McLaren announced shortly after that he will be replaced by rookie Kevin Magnussen. 2009 F1 champion Jenson Button will lead the team once again.
Force India
Confirmed: Nico Hulkenberg was overlooked for the seat at Lotus but will return to Force India less than a year after he left for Sauber. Sergio Perez was recently announced at the team after signing a "multi-year" deal.
Sauber
Confirmed: Sutil makes a direct switch with Hulkenberg, making it the first team move in his career. Esteban Gutierrez was announced shortly after, with Sergey Sirotkin being appointed as Sauber's test driver.
Toro Rosso
Confirmed: Jean-Eric Vergne and Daniil Kvyat were announced at the Italian team in late October. No surprise that the Frenchman was retained, but many expected Antonio Felix da Costa to make the step up. Kvyat won the GP3 title in 2013.
Williams
Confirmed: Felipe Massa was confirmed as Maldonado's at the Grove-based squad in mid-November and will partner Valtteri Bottas next season.
Marussia
Confirmed: Jules Bianchi has been retained by the team for 2014.
Candidates: Max Chilton is expected to stay at the team next season.
Caterham
Candidates: 2013 drivers Charles Pic and Giedo van der Garde could both stay on, but Heikki Kovalainen is eager to return to a race seat at the Leafield-based squad and Alexander Rossi is another possible option. Esteban Gutierrez was also recently spotted at their factory.
Six seats left, but who will fill them? Let's wait and see.
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| (c) Octane Photographic |
Red Bull Racing
Confirmed: The Milton Keynes-based outfit confirmed their 2014 line-up in early September. Four-time champion Sebastian Vettel will be partnered by Daniel Ricciardo. The Aussie has been racing for Toro Rosso for the last two seasons.
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| (c) Octane Photographic |
Mercedes AMG Petronas
Confirmed: The German manufacturer will retain their strong driver line-up of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.
Ferrari
Confirmed: Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen make up, in my view, the best driver line-up on next year's grid. The 'Iceman' announced his return to the team, who he won his only F1 title with in 2007, just after the Italian Grand Prix in mid-September.
Lotus
Confirmed: The confirmation that Pastor Maldonado will join Romain Grosjean at the Enstone-based outfit sparked debate amongst the F1 fans, but the Venezuelan brings vital sponsorship to the team as they battle to stay in the game.
McLaren
Sergio Perez announced his departure from the iconic team just before his 'home' race in Austn, Texas. McLaren announced shortly after that he will be replaced by rookie Kevin Magnussen. 2009 F1 champion Jenson Button will lead the team once again.
Force India
Confirmed: Nico Hulkenberg was overlooked for the seat at Lotus but will return to Force India less than a year after he left for Sauber. Sergio Perez was recently announced at the team after signing a "multi-year" deal.
Sauber
Confirmed: Sutil makes a direct switch with Hulkenberg, making it the first team move in his career. Esteban Gutierrez was announced shortly after, with Sergey Sirotkin being appointed as Sauber's test driver.
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| (c) Octane Photographic |
Confirmed: Jean-Eric Vergne and Daniil Kvyat were announced at the Italian team in late October. No surprise that the Frenchman was retained, but many expected Antonio Felix da Costa to make the step up. Kvyat won the GP3 title in 2013.
Williams
Confirmed: Felipe Massa was confirmed as Maldonado's at the Grove-based squad in mid-November and will partner Valtteri Bottas next season.
Marussia
Confirmed: Jules Bianchi has been retained by the team for 2014.
Candidates: Max Chilton is expected to stay at the team next season.
Caterham
Candidates: 2013 drivers Charles Pic and Giedo van der Garde could both stay on, but Heikki Kovalainen is eager to return to a race seat at the Leafield-based squad and Alexander Rossi is another possible option. Esteban Gutierrez was also recently spotted at their factory.
Six seats left, but who will fill them? Let's wait and see.
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