On Thursday, AlphaTauri confirmed Yuki Tsunoda’s renewal through 2023, securing a young star who has grown steadily within the team structure. A day later, Williams announced that Nicholas Latifi will depart at season’s end, a move that opens up seat opportunities across the midfield for the upcoming year. With those two market moves, five midfield slots are suddenly in play, prompting teams still finalizing their rosters to weigh a range of viable options. The following overview examines the likely candidates and the strategic logic behind each potential destination for the 2024 season.
Alpine is navigating a dramatic reshuffle. The contract status of Esteban Ocon remains secure for the near term, while Fernando Alonso is slated to depart for Aston Martin. Oscar Piastri, the confirmed backup, appears bound for McLaren in some scenarios, creating a window for a new or reshuffled lineup at Enstone. The squad conducted a driver evaluation at the Hungaroring circuit, seeking options who could complement or eventually replace the current pairing. Among the names under consideration, Pierre Gasly is a standout option, potentially arriving on loan from Red Bull. Alpine is also weighing Antonio Giovinazzi, Nyck De Vries, and Jack Doohan as possible alternatives, each bringing distinct strengths and experience to the table. The decision will likely hinge on the ability to maintain competitive performance while preserving development paths that align with the team’s long term goals.
AlphaTauri has Tsunoda locked in for 2023, but the question remains whether Gasly will stay with the squad or seek a move to Alpine. The team will need to decide how to balance continuity with fresh genetic inputs for the driver lineup. Helmut Marko has been overseeing a dynamic set of conversations, including a collaboration with Nyck De Vries after the FIA took different stances on potential routes into Formula 1. The broader strategy appears to be exploring a blend of young talent and proven race craft, aiming to maintain a strong sliding scale of performance as the sport advances into a new era and regulations evolve.
Alfa Romeo has a multi year deal in place with Valtteri Bottas, while Guanyu Zhou faces a contract ending at season’s close. If Zhou cannot consistently outperform, the team may be inclined to explore alternatives from the F2 pipeline or positions at similar levels. The consideration set includes options that would push for immediate on track impact while keeping a long term developmental lane open for the organization, recognizing that the competition across midfield remains tight and unpredictable as the season unfolds.
Williams, having finalized Latifi’s exit, is turning attention to a potential reserve role for Nyck De Vries and evaluating other pathways to bolster the lineup. De Vries had already drawn attention during his early performances, including a notable sprint that tested Latifi in qualifying and highlighted where the team needed to improve. The team formerly aligned with Alex Albon, who faced emergency surgery during the Italian Grand Prix, a setback that underscored the fragility of every racing weekend and the need for depth. If De Vries does not secure a permanent seat, Logan Sargeant stands as a credible Plan B, given his performance trajectory in the feeder categories and his visibility from the Formula E and F2 pipelines.
Haas is navigating a tougher sell as Mick Schumacher continues to face challenges in reestablishing consistency at the Formula 1 level. The seat currently occupied by Kevin Magnussen remains highly valuable, and the team must assess options that could deliver the necessary balance of speed and reliability. In this mix, names such as Daniel Ricciardo, Nico Hülkenberg, and Antonio Giovinazzi surface as possible partners to Magnussen, bringing a blend of experience and speed that could help Haas stabilize midpack performance while the organization pursues a broader road map for future seasons. The overall market movement reflects a period of experimentation, with teams weighing short term gains against long term capability and potential development pathways for emerging talents.