With F1's driver market being quite stagnant for the 2016 F1 there are still some seats that are in question. Many believed that after Ferrari retained Kimi Raikkonen for 2016 that the driver market was more of a formality. However this year's "Silly Season" is being defined by the teams more specifically the engine manufacturers.
The teams with confirmed pairings for 2016 are:-
Mercedes:- Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg
Ferrari:- Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen
Williams:- Valterri Bottas and Felipe Massa
Sauber:- Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr
Toro Rosso:- Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz
Red Bull Racing:- Daniel Ricciardo and Daniil Kvyat
The teams with confirmed pairings for 2016 are:-
Mercedes:- Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg
Ferrari:- Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen
Williams:- Valterri Bottas and Felipe Massa
Sauber:- Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr
Toro Rosso:- Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz
Red Bull Racing:- Daniel Ricciardo and Daniil Kvyat
However with the remaining 5 teams the Market gets interesting. Lotus are reportedly days away from being taken over by Renault to become a works team for the first time since 2010. This would therefore confirm the split from Red Bull and Toro Rosso as they would only supply themselves. Red Bull will therefore try and secure a Ferrari engine to power them in 2016 despite rumours of a VW takeover.
With Lotus to become the French national team Romain Grosjean would be the favourite to be the number one driver in the team. But with Lotus resigning Pastor Maldonado for 2016 throws a curveball into the court as the Venezuelan was under immense pressure to lose his seat. Therefore to avoid a complete new line up Lotus have retained Pastor, meaning that Grosjean will leave Enstone. The favourites for the seat at Lotus is Frenchman Jean Eric Vergne and Mexican Sergio Perez. It is most likely that Vergne will get the drive.
With Lotus to become the French national team Romain Grosjean would be the favourite to be the number one driver in the team. But with Lotus resigning Pastor Maldonado for 2016 throws a curveball into the court as the Venezuelan was under immense pressure to lose his seat. Therefore to avoid a complete new line up Lotus have retained Pastor, meaning that Grosjean will leave Enstone. The favourites for the seat at Lotus is Frenchman Jean Eric Vergne and Mexican Sergio Perez. It is most likely that Vergne will get the drive.
Jenson Button is looking more likely than ever to retire from the sport after a disappointing season with the underpowered McLaren Honda. If the 2009 World Champion does retire it provides a seat for either Kevin Magnussen or Stoffel Vandoorne. If Sergio Perez goes to Lotus/Renault then most likely Magnussen with the extra experience will get the drive alongside Fernando Alonso and Vandoorne could end up in the vacant Force India seat alongside Nico Hulkenberg or it could be vice versa depending on which McLaren see as the better prospect. This would complete both Lotus, McLaren and Force India's line ups.
With Grosjean without a seat it is obvious that he will go to Haas in an attempt to get the 2017 Ferrari drive. The Frenchman's interviews and body language at the Singapore GP indicate that the move to the new US based outfit is where Grosjean will head. If Perez gets the Renault drive then it will most likely be Vergne who gets the second Haas drive although Esterban Gutierrez is tipped to get the drive.
After a great outing in Singapore Alexander Rossi has put his hat back in play for the Haas drive but will most likely miss out. With Lotus using Renault power in 2016 there is a spare Mercedes engine which Manor will attempt to gain. If they do Mercedes will place their reserve driver Pascal Wehrlein in the Manor leaving Rossi and Stevens to battle it out for the remaining seat, although another driver with a bigger budget could take that seat too.
With Grosjean without a seat it is obvious that he will go to Haas in an attempt to get the 2017 Ferrari drive. The Frenchman's interviews and body language at the Singapore GP indicate that the move to the new US based outfit is where Grosjean will head. If Perez gets the Renault drive then it will most likely be Vergne who gets the second Haas drive although Esterban Gutierrez is tipped to get the drive.
After a great outing in Singapore Alexander Rossi has put his hat back in play for the Haas drive but will most likely miss out. With Lotus using Renault power in 2016 there is a spare Mercedes engine which Manor will attempt to gain. If they do Mercedes will place their reserve driver Pascal Wehrlein in the Manor leaving Rossi and Stevens to battle it out for the remaining seat, although another driver with a bigger budget could take that seat too.