2019 Driver Speculation

[Chrill]

Kimi implies he wouldn't mind remaining for yet another season. And let's be honest, his form so far in 2018 suggests he is closer to Vettel than he has been since his return to Ferrari.

https://www.grandprix247.com/2018/05/07/raikkonen-every-year-i-am-out-same-story-for-15-years/

[Penfold]

If he keeps up his current level why on earth would they want to replace him.  Give 'It is I' a couple of years at Sauber rather than rushing him into the limelight.

[Chrill]

Could Pascal Wehrlein be on the way back? Could he be on the way back this season? Could he be poached from Mercedes by none other than Red Bull? Could he replace Brendon Hartley? It's supposedly a paddock rumour.

https://www.grandprix247.com/2018/05/13/inside-line-is-hartley-already-on-his-way-out/

[Penfold]

That is a tasty little rumour.  I guess we'd better all rush to pick Hartley lest we miss the opportunity....

[Chrill]

Bott boy is not interested in another one-year deal, he wants to secure two years minimum. Also not talking with anyone other than Mercy Merc right now.

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/bottas-wants-at-least-two-year-mercedes-deal-1038568/

[Chrill]

Now this I have to post. DUTCH media is speculating that Brendon Hartley's F1 career will grind to a halt after Monaco. Come the next race in Canada, Red Bull is eyeing the talented Swede Felix Rosenqvist.

https://www.f1today.net/nl/nieuws/f1/238656/brendon-hartley-rijdt-in-monaco-laatste-f1-race-felix-rosenqvist-mogelijk-vervanger

Don't speak Dutch? Well, Google translate it then. This post was shared by Felix's dad in a Facebook group that I frequent. He said no more than that, though.


Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport:
3. Daniel Ricciardo (link)
31. Esteban Ocon (link)
44. Lewis Hamilton (link)
77. Valtteri Bottas (link)

Scuderia Ferrari:
5. Sebastian Vettel (link)
3. Daniel Ricciardo (link)
7. Kimi Raikkonen (link)

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

Sahara Force India F1 Team:
?.
?.

Williams Martini Racing:
?. Robert Kubica (link)
?.

Renault Sport Formula One Team:
55. Carlos Sainz (link)
?.

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

Haas F1 Team:
20. Kevin Magnussen (link)
?.

McLaren F1 Team:
77. Valtteri Bottas (link)
?. Lando Norris (link)
?. Nyck de Vries (link)

Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team:
?.
?.

[Penfold]

About time we had a fast Swede in F1....

[Chrill]

Ericsson is faster than Grosjean. And Hartley. And Stroll. And Sirotkin. And maybe Vandoorne. Maybe not, perhaps Alonso is just THAT good.

But yeah, you're not wrong.

[Penfold]

No (but he doesn't crash all the time). Yes. Yes. Yes. Don't know.

[Chrill]

http://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/20987/motogp-champion-marc-mrquez-to-get-formula-1-test-with-red-bull

And an English speaking source also speculating about Axl Rose-nqvist.

[Matt]

Personally this increases my dislike of Red Bull and everything about their company and system. They gave Kvyat like 10 chances and now Hartley will be gone after half a season?

But I like Rosenqvist and want him to get a chance. This could also be related to the fact that RBR knows Ricciardo is going to leave and do not believe that Gasly or Hartley are good enough to be replacements.

So you might as well start the hype train now. Rosenqvist to RBR 2019.

[Chrill]

So you might as well start the hype train now. Rosenqvist to RBR 2019.

I mean, that has to go alongside Penfold's comment in my signature.

EDIT: Could you uhm extend the number of letters permitted in signatures? Mine is basically already full.

[Chrill]

Could Wehrlein be Hartley's replacement too?
http://www.apexoff.com/2018/05/16/pascal-wehrlein-potentially-replacing-brendon-hartley-toro-rosso/

[Penfold]

All fancy speculation but clearly neither Rosenqvist nor Wehrlein will be able to take Hartley's place this year: Williams chap Paddy Lowe explicitly told us that Sergei Sirotkin was the best driver available for 2018.

[Chrill]

Williams chap Paddy Lowe explicitly told us that Sergei Sirotkin was the best driver available for 2018.

Yes, but the best driver available for 2018 is no longer available courtesy of being chosen by Paddy.