2020 Driver Speculation

[Chrill]

https://www.essentiallysports.com/mercedes-keeping-a-close-eye-on-max-verstappen/

I mean, this should be enough to warrant a table linking Max to Mercedes.

[Penfold]

... but perhaps one for your 2021 thread?  Sounds like Max is bound to Red Bull next year unless that performance clause kicks in.

[Chrill]

I'll create that topic too, don't you worry.

[Penfold]

Never a doubt in my mind....

[Chrill]

Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport:
44. Lewis Hamilton (link)
31. Esteban Ocon (link)
33. Max Verstappen (link)
77. Valtteri Bottas

Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow:
5. Sebastian Vettel (link)
16. Charles Leclerc

Aston Martin Red Bull Racing:
33. Max Verstappen (link)
10. Pierre Gasly

Alfa Romeo Racing:
7. Kimi Räikkönen (link)
99. Antonio Giovinazzi
?. Mick Schumacher (link)

McLaren F1 Team:
55. Carlos Sainz (link)
4. Lando Norris

Rich Energy Haas F1 Team:
20. Kevin Magnussen (link)
8. Romain Grosjean

Renault F1 Team:
3. Daniel Ricciardo (link)
27. Nico Hülkenberg

Red Bull Toro Rosso Honda:
23. Alexander Albon
26. Daniil Kvyat

SportPesa Racing Point F1 Team:
11. Sergio Perez
18. Lance Stroll

ROKiT Williams Racing:
63. George Russell (link)
88. Robert Kubica

There we go.

[Penfold]

Better late than never...

[Chrill]

https://www.racefans.net/2019/04/17/vettel-says-hes-not-thinking-of-retirement-yet/

Vettel says he's not thinking of retirement yet. Which means he is. 2020, I still think he could be at Ferrari. 2021? No.

[Chrill]

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/wolff-laughed-verstappen-calls-mercedes/4372244/

Toto Wolff implies that he will keep Bottas and Hamilton for 2020, saying:
"After 2020 we will first discuss with Valtteri and Lewis, and once that decision is taken, we'll turn to the paddock. But hopefully the line-up stays forever."

[Penfold]

Bottas is now performing at the level required for a Mercedes no. 2.  Good on him.

[Chrill]

He very much is. 1-2-2 is a very solid start to the season.

[Matt]

Significantly aided by having no particular competition from Ferrari.

[Chrill]

O'Ward to Toro Rosso? Well, sure:
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/oward-red-bull-junior-2020/4385138/

[Chrill]

Some proper speculation, with little to no reliable sources:

https://www.gpfans.com/en/articles/40229/vettel-considering-f1-retirement-this-year/

Vettel to retire? If he does, names connected to that 2nd Ferrari seat (alongside Leclerc) include Sergio Perez, K-Mag, RoGro, and Bottman

[Matt]

Nothing I've ever seen from Saward has turned out to be true. Plus, I'm just as tired of this "Vettel is bad" narrative, or that he has needed team orders consistently to beat Leclerc. They're close. That's it. Leclerc is good.

I'd like to see Vettel go race somewhere other than F1 though. He has a good personality and I think he'd be a fan favorite in a series where everything isn't so sterile.

[Chrill]

https://www.gpfans.com/en/articles/41447/ferrari-mercedes-on-red-alert-as-verstappen-s-red-bull-clause-revealed/

If Red Bull does not win a race by Hungary, Verstappen is supposedly free to discuss with other teams. Now, Bottas has been strong at Mercedes but he is not Verstappen in terms of PR. Could we see a Hamilton-Verstappen for 2020, or even a Verstappen in red?