Not all teams have dedicated reserve drivers. Let's assume that one driver from every single team is injured in the next race, all missing one single race weekend thereafter. How would that look? Which drivers would be drafted by each team?
For some teams, I can't see a clear pick and so I've written two or more drivers. Help me! Which are likelier?
Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport:
George Russell /
Nico Rosberg
Red Bull Racing:
Sébastien Buemi
Scuderia Ferrari:
Antonio Giovinazzi /
Charlec Leclerc
Force India F1 Team:
Alfonso Celis Jr
Williams Martini Racing:
Paul di Resta
McLaren Honda Formula 1 Team:
Jenson Button
Scuderia Toro Rosso:
Pierre Gasly
Haas F1 Team:
Esteban Gutierrez /
Charlec Leclerc
Renault Sport Formula One Team:
Sergey Sirotkin
Sauber F1 Team:
Felipe Nasr /
Nobuharu Matsushita
Others who could be drafted in by desperate teams:
Jean-Eric Vergne
Kamui Kobayashi
Sam Bird
Rio Haryanto
Pastor Maldonado
Alexander Rossi
Roberto Merhi
Let's say that any F1 experience would be a huge plus for a driver. So that pushes me towards Nico for Merc (assuming he makes himself available), Giovinazzi for Ferrari, Guti at Haas, and Nasr (Oates) for Sauber.
I don't think Rosberg would come back and I think Rossi is done with F1.
I agree on both accounts. Rossi wouldn't agree for a one-off, anyway. Perhaps if offered a full season. I could still see him at Haas but clearly they aren't interested.
Problem for Mercedes is that they completely lack a third option. George Russell is not at all prepared for a weekend in F1. Nico Rosberg would be hard pressed to come back. Who else can they draft, Gary Paffett? Felix Rosenqvist? Susie Wolff? No she's pregnant isn't she. Any Mercedes DTM driver, although di Resta is already testing for Williams. I could see Mercedes grabbing Maldonado, honestly :P