2020 Driver Speculation

[Chrill]

And with that in mind, I will play a little game called "I'm bored, so let's make up a fantasy grid for 2020". Rules are:

* At least 3 rookies
* No team may keep their 2019 lineup

Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport:
33. Max Verstappen
44. Lewis Hamilton

Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow:
16. Charles Leclerc
77. Valtteri Bottas

Aston Martin Red Bull Racing:
14. Fernando Alonso
26. Daniil Kvyat

Alfa Romeo Racing:
7. Kimi Räikkönen
?. Mick Schumacher

McLaren F1 Team:
4. Lando Norris
27. Nico Hülkenberg

Rich Energy Haas F1 Team:
8. Romain Grosjean
11. Sergio Pérez

Renault F1 Team:
3. Daniel Ricciardo
31. Esteban Ocon

Red Bull Toro Rosso Honda:
?. Patricio O'Ward
23. Alexander Albon

SportPesa Racing Point F1 Team:
10. Pierre Gasly
18. Lance Stroll

ROKiT Williams Racing:
63. George Russell
?. Nicolas Latifi



Retiring from F1?
5. Sebastian Vettel
20. Kevin Magnussen
55. Carlos Sainz (unless maybe Racing Point want him?)
88. Robert Kubica
99. Antonio Giovinazzi

[Penfold]

I'll have a go tomorrow.

[Chrill]

It's all irrelevant since Red Bull needed a win. And got one. Good on Verstappen.

[Chrill]

Alright. Let's get cracking with the old rumour mill. This article gives a lot of speculation, I like it:
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/silly-season-2020-alonso-ocon/4488438/

Ocon -> Renault
Ocon -> Haas
Ocon -> Racing Point
Perez -> Haas
Latifi -> Racing Point
Kvyat -> Red Bull
Vettel -> Red Bull (I love this one)
Alonso -> Ferrari

I'll just list all of these in that lovely rumours page.

[Chrill]

So, it looks like this:

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

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

Aston Martin Red Bull Racing:
33. Max Verstappen (link)
5. Sebastian Vettel (link)
10. Pierre Gasly
26. Daniil Kvyat (link)

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
11. Sergio Perez (link)
31. Esteban Ocon (link)

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

Red Bull Toro Rosso Honda:
23. Alexander Albon
26. Daniil Kvyat
?. Patricio O'Ward (link)

SportPesa Racing Point F1 Team:
11. Sergio Perez
18. Lance Stroll
31. Esteban Ocon (link)
?. Nicolas Latifi (link)

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

[Chrill]

Horner actually flirts a bit with Vettel:
https://www.grandprix247.com/2019/07/05/horner-we-have-a-special-relationship-with-sebastian/

[Penfold]

Seb to Red Bull must be the craziest one up there.  I mean, he's already being out-driven by someone eleven years his junior, would he really fancy switching teams and risk repeating the experience with Verstappen?

I'm sure Lando must be on a multi-year contract - or at least McLaren will have the option to extend his tenure - so I can't see him going elsewhere in 2020.

[Penfold]

Confirmtion that Lando stays with McLaren for 2020: https://www.racefans.net/2019/07/09/norris-and-sainz-to-remain-at-mclaren-in-2020/

[Chrill]

So that's an intact McLaren lineup for next season. That's an early thing to announce.

[Matt]

Stability at McLaren... Something feels wrong.

[Penfold]

... and looking good to come (a distant) 4th in the standings, which will be their best placing since the Hamilton/Button days.

[Chrill]

Stability at McLaren... Something feels wrong.

I assume the factory will detonate during the summer break.

[Chrill]

Lando's confirmation added to table. And table sorted by current constructor's position. And "Rich Energy" removed from the Haas name.

As always:
Bold = Confirmed
Italics = Connected/Rumoured

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

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

Aston Martin Red Bull Racing:
33. Max Verstappen (link)
5. Sebastian Vettel (link)
10. Pierre Gasly
26. Daniil Kvyat (link)

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

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

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

SportPesa Racing Point F1 Team:
11. Sergio Perez
18. Lance Stroll
31. Esteban Ocon (link)
?. Nicolas Latifi (link)

Red Bull Toro Rosso Honda:
23. Alexander Albon
26. Daniil Kvyat
?. Patricio O'Ward (link)

Haas F1 Team:
20. Kevin Magnussen (link)
8. Romain Grosjean
11. Sergio Perez (link)
31. Esteban Ocon (link)

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

[Chrill]

The Hulk seems to find it "quite likely" Renault will retain him:
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/hulkenberg-quite-likely-renault-2020/4500545/

[Penfold]

I concur with the Hulk's assertion.