Formula 1: All completed driver transfers ahead of 2023 F1 season

Sebastian Vettel's retirement midway through last season, started a silly season of drivers' music chairs in F1.

Fair to say, this Formula 1 (F1) silly season was by far one of the most dramatic and iconic ones in history. From drivers with experience of 0 races to a driver with 355 races, everyone created ripples in the market.

While an Indycar driver failed to make it past the regulations, another American youngster made it to F1. Making it music to Liberty Media's ears. Here's the all the moves that materialized:

Fernando Alonso to Aston Martin

In the biggest and most shocking move in the F1 silly season, Fernando Alonso moved to Aston Martin to replace the retiring Sebastian Vettel. Vettel had announced his retirement earlier in July and soon enough, Aston Martin announced the shock move of Fernando Alonso.

The 41-year-old Spaniard adds to the prestigious list of Lance Stroll's Formula 1 teammates that includes Vettel and Felipe Massa as well.

Pierre Gasly to Alpine

To fill the seat alongside Esteban Ocon, Otmar shuffled over 15 options. From which, Pierre Gasly turned out to be his best choice. For the first time since 1994, Formula 1 (F1) will have an all-French squad.

Gasly and Ocon have raced against each other at junior levels and were very fond friends of each other. Until the Bridgestone Cup, 2009, when the duo went a bit dirty for the final podium position. They have shared a distant relationship since then but they are professionals, an incident from over 14 years ago shouldn't hurt the team's ambitions.

Nico Hulkenberg to Haas

There was a long debate on whether Mick Schumacher will get to retain his Haas seat or not. After long scrutiny, the side decided to replace the 23-year-old with the experience of Nico Hulkenberg.

Hulkenberg has been one of the best midfield drivers of the 2010s. He has continuously racked up points and has the pleasure of outscoring Carlos Sainz Jr. (currently Ferrari) and Sergio Perez (currently Red Bull) in the same machinery.

Haas' team principal has always emphasised that he prefers working with experienced drivers than youngsters. "The thing with having an experienced man is you don't have to teach him everything," said Guenther Steiner in the Beyond the Grid podcast.

Oscar Piastri to McLaren

Winning a rookie title in every Formula series he entered in, Oscar Piastri was certainly the hottest young prospect outside F1. Driving just a couch last season, the Australian secured a McLaren seat alongside Lando Norris.

However, the "Piastri-gate" was chaos of its own. It's very rare that a team announces a new signing without the total yes from the player's side. That happened in Piastri's case and he lashed at Alpine for that. Thus, this iconic tweet:

https://twitter.com/OscarPiastri/status/1554527452231262210?t=6XWNm9SImJxUntywYFUllg&s=19

Nyck de Vries to Alpha Tauri

A lot of names were in the running for the few opening slots but among the front-runners wasn't Nyck de Vries. Alex Albon was ruled out of the Italian Grand Prix with appendicitis. De Vries, being a Williams reserve too, stepped up to make his Formula 1 (F1) debut. After a valiant display in qualifying, the Dutch took Williams home with a 2-point finish. Since then, Alpha Tauri showed solidified interest in him to replace Gasly.

The 27-year-old Dutchman is a former Formula E (2021) and Formula 2 (2019) champion. He will finally make his full-time debut in Formula 1.

Logan Sargeant to Williams

Williams junior and Formula 2's Rookie of the Year winner Logan Sargeant was quickly called up for the Williams F1 team when they decided to not continue with Nicholas Latifi. It was the only wise decision they could've made considering all the other factors that surround wan American racing full-time in F1. Alexander Rossi in 2015 was the last American to race in Formula 1.