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The 2 F1 Drivers Battling For 'Final Seat on 2027 Grid' Revealed Ahead of US GP
Rula Rouhana via Reuters

Oct 19, 2026, 11:48 AM GMT+1

Nasir is a sports journalist and has previously worked for SPORTbible from 2016 to 2026. 

He helped grow, develop and expand SPORTbible's coverage of combat sports and worked closely with the UFC, the PFL and Matchroom Boxing. 

He has also contributed to AddictedMMA and CagePotato.

Nasir specialises in combat sports and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the fight game, including Conor McGregor, Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Tom Aspinall, while covering events in Las Vegas, New York, Dubai and Saudi Arabia, to name but a few. 

He has also covered a wide range of other sports during his time as a journalist, including football and cricket. 

Nasir graduated from Bath Spa University with a degree in Media Communications. 

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A report has revealed the two Formula 1 drivers who are battling for the 'final seat' on the 2027 grid.

Six races remain in the 2026 F1 season as Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli leads the way in the drivers' standings ahead of teammate George Russell and Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton.

Naturally, given Antonelli and Russell's stellar performances on the track, Mercedes are top of the constructors' standings ahead of Ferrari and McLaren.

There are plenty of points to play for, with Grands Prix in Austin, Mexico City, Sao Paulo, Las Vegas, Lusail and Abu Dhabi, which will host the final race of the season, still to come.

But there's also a battle off the track as two F1 drivers are involved in a duel to determine the 'final seat' on the 2027 paddock.

Esteban Ocon's Haas Departure Leaves F1 Driver 'Trembling for His Place'

Esteban Ocon
Edgar Su via Reuters

Esteban Ocon will leave Haas at the end of the current season, with Ferrari junior and Formula 2 leader Rafael Camara taking his place to team up with Ollie Bearman. Brazil's Camara has penned a multi-year agreement and will make his F1 debut next year.

But Ocon, who won the Hungarian Grand Prix in 2021, is hoping to stay on the grid for next season and there is one seat that could become available.

In a report published by Swiss outlet Blick, Valtteri Bottas is 'trembling for his place' at Cadillac due to Ocon's and his availability.

It was previously reported that Cadillac, who made their official debut as a full constructor this season, no longer want to continue with their current pairing of Bottas and Sergio Perez for 2027.

Bottas, 37, and Perez, 36, are yet to score a point in 2026 and both drivers have struggled to stay on the lead lap for most of the campaign.

Sergio Perez Is a 'Guaranteed Starter' for 2027 F1 Season

Valtteri Bottas at Cadillac

But a fresh report from Blick claims Perez is a 'guaranteed starter' for the 2027 F1 season. The Mexican has been the fastest of the two Cadillac drivers.

As for Bottas, he's fighting to retain his seat, with Ocon hoping for an opportunity with F1's newest team.

Team principal Marcin Budkowski is an admirer of the 30-year-old, with the pair previously working under the same set-up at Alpine. That gives the Frenchman a chance of landing a seat, but the Finn is still under contract with Cadillac after signing a multi-year deal.

If Ocon fails to replace Bottas at Cadillac, then a role as a reserve driver could be an avenue he explores to stay in the sport for next year, having previously been a reserve driver for Mercedes in 2019.

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