2019 Driver Speculation

[Chrill]

Some updated links (Ericsson at Sauber, Ocon at Renault) and some new ones (Vandoorne to Sauber) plus reshuffled into current constructor's order.

Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport:
44. Lewis Hamilton (link)
77. Valtteri Bottas (link)

Scuderia Ferrari:
5. Sebastian Vettel (link)
3. Daniel Ricciardo (link)
7. Kimi Raikkonen (link)
14. Fernando Alonso (link)
16. Charlec Leclerc (link)

Aston Martin Red Bull Racing Honda:
33. Max Verstappen (link)
3. Daniel Ricciardo (link)
55. Carlos Sainz (link)

Renault Sport Formula One Team:
2. Stoffel Vandoorne (link)
3. Daniel Ricciardo (link)
31. Esteban Ocon (link)
55. Carlos Sainz (link)

Haas F1 Team:
20. Kevin Magnussen (link)
?. Pietro Fittipaldi (link)
?. Robert Kubica (link)

Sahara Force India F1 Team:
18. Lance Stroll (link)
31. Esteban Ocon (link)
?. Nicholas Latifi (link)

McLaren F1 Team:
3. Daniel Ricciardo (link)
7. Kimi Raikkonen (link)
14. Fernando Alonso (link)
?. Lando Norris (link)
?. Nyck de Vries (link)

Red Bull Toro Rosso Honda:
94. Pascal Wehrlein (link)
?. Dan Ticktum (link)
?. Felix Rosenqvist (link) ^(Dutch)
?. Robert Kubica (link)

Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team:
2. Stoffel Vandoorne (link)
7. Kimi Raikkonen (link)
9. Marcus Ericsson (link)
16. Charles Leclerc (link)
?. Antonio Giovinazzi (link)

Williams Martini Racing:
18. Lance Stroll (link)
35. Sergey Sirotkin (link)
?. Robert Kubica (link)

[Chrill]

Oliver Rowland thinks he is behind both Russell and Norris in the queue for a 2019 race seat, but is doing what he can to prove his worth at Williams F1.

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/rowland-young-talent-makes-f1-shot-difficult/3152053/

[Penfold]

Quite the crop of young British talent pushing at the F1 doors.

[Penfold]

Wow, Dan the Pie Man moving to Renault from next year: https://www.racefans.net/2018/08/03/daniel-ricciardo-quit-red-bull-f1-team-renault-2019-season/

I'm now going to speculate wildly about Alonso taking his place:

With this news I am 100% certain that Fernando will get a deal with Red Bull for 2019 - unless Gasly gets it.

[Chrill]

I did not see that coming.

Yes, it's Gasly or Alonso. Or possibly Sainz but most likely not. I can definitely see Alonso at Red Bull now.

More speculation, as Fittipaldi is once again linked to Haas. Remember, I already have him on that there list!
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/fittipaldi-haas-test-steiner/3153149/

[Penfold]

Yes, it is unexpected to say the least.  Alonso at RB would be fabulous but Gasly seems more likely - happy to be wrong!

Anywhere for Grosjean to go if Fittipaldi nabs his seat?  How about Sauber?

[Chrill]

Sauber is looking real crowded, since the following are tipped to go there:
Raikkonen, Giovinazzi, Ericsson, Sainz, Vandoorne, Perez. There is no room for Grosjean, even if Kaltenborg would be at the helm still.

[Penfold]

I'm not sure Ericsson will survive (at Sauber), but then it seems more like 'It is I' will stay put (and also Kimi at Ferrari) so that's still only one seat to squeeze a handful of guys into.  A tight squeeze.

[Chrill]

I think Ericsson will be out, unless he very steadily starts driving like he did in Germany and qualifies like he did in Hungary. If he matches Leclerc, he deserves to stay. If he's as far behind as he has been, he deserves to go.

Nonetheless, Renault have now officially confirmed Ricciardo and the Hulk as their 2019 driver pairing. Since Renault's own website is messing with me, I'll give you this source from Sky instead:
http://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/11459194/ricciardo-quits-red-bull-for-renault

[Chrill]

And thus, a new list:

Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport:
44. Lewis Hamilton (link)
77. Valtteri Bottas (link)

Scuderia Ferrari:
5. Sebastian Vettel (link)
7. Kimi Raikkonen (link)
14. Fernando Alonso (link)
16. Charlec Leclerc (link)

Aston Martin Red Bull Racing Honda:
33. Max Verstappen (link)
55. Carlos Sainz (link)

Renault Sport Formula One Team:
3. Daniel Ricciardo (link)
27. Nico Hulkenberg (link)

Haas F1 Team:
20. Kevin Magnussen (link)
?. Pietro Fittipaldi (link)
?. Robert Kubica (link)

Sahara Force India F1 Team:
18. Lance Stroll (link)
31. Esteban Ocon (link)
?. Nicholas Latifi (link)

McLaren F1 Team:
7. Kimi Raikkonen (link)
14. Fernando Alonso (link)
?. Lando Norris (link)
?. Nyck de Vries (link)

Red Bull Toro Rosso Honda:
94. Pascal Wehrlein (link)
?. Dan Ticktum (link)
?. Felix Rosenqvist (link) ^(Dutch)
?. Robert Kubica (link)

Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team:
2. Stoffel Vandoorne (link)
7. Kimi Raikkonen (link)
9. Marcus Ericsson (link)
16. Charles Leclerc (link)
?. Antonio Giovinazzi (link)

Williams Martini Racing:
18. Lance Stroll (link)
35. Sergey Sirotkin (link)
?. Oliver Rowland (link)
?. Robert Kubica (link)

[Matt]

Fittipaldi has not done anything other than have a famous last name... He won the last season of the World Series V8 3.5 series against no one. Rene Binder had four wins that season and was often 1+ seconds behind the next car in IndyCar this season. There is nothing on his resume suggesting he should be in F1. Or even IndyCar for that matter.

Ricciardo to Renault opens up silly season. And now Hulk can be compared to a proven winner.

[Penfold]

I'm surprised Rossi's name doesn't get bandied about more often in connection with a drive at Haas, the guy's not doing half bad in IndyCar this year....

[Chrill]

Well, he seems to prefer running at the front of the Indy grid over the F1 midfield.

[Matt]

Yeah. I could be wrong, but I think it would take more than Haas to get Rossi back to F1, and that call isn't coming.

[Chrill]

Red Bull confirms Alonso!
As in, they confirm he is not an option:
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/red-bull-alonso-move-not-healthy-horner-gasly-sainz/3156035/