Formula One will see some of its drivers playing the big game of musical chairs for next season. But others are staying right where they are.
The latest team to announce its driver lineup for 2017 is Scuderia Toro Rosso. The “other” Italian team (or the other Red Bull team) previously confirmed that it was keeping Carlos Sainz , Jr. in place for next season, and has now revealed that Daniil Kvyat is staying put as well.
Don’t mistake the status quo for given, though: Kvyat’s future was anything but assured until now. The young Russian driver debuted with STR in 2014, and was promoted to Red Bull Racing the following season. But despite an impressive second-place finish in Hungary last year and a third-place finish in China earlier this season, he was bumped back down to Toro Rosso shortly thereafter, and has struggled to find his form again.
Reports also indicate that, despite rumors that he’d switch to Renault, Valtteri Bottas will stay with Williams next season. Williams has yet to make the official announcement, but according to Autosport, the team’s driver lineup will consist of Bottas and newcomer Lance Stroll, the young Canadian soon to be crowned Formula 3 champion in Europe. Bottas’ current teammate Felipe Massa is retiring from the series after fourteen years on the grid.
Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull are confirmed to be keeping their drivers in place for next season as well. McLaren is bringing in Stoffel Vandoorne to take Jenson Button’s place alongside Fernando Alonso. Force India, Haas, and Renault each have one driver confirmed (Sergio Perez, Romain Grosjean, and Nico Hulkenberg) and another still to be named, while Manor and Sauber have yet to announce who will fill either of their seats next year.
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