Formula 1: Way-too-early 2019 lineup projection

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 25: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (33) Aston Martin Red Bull Racing RB14 TAG Heuer leads Nico Hulkenberg of Germany driving the (27) Renault Sport Formula One Team RS18 on track during the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park on March 25, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 25: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (33) Aston Martin Red Bull Racing RB14 TAG Heuer leads Nico Hulkenberg of Germany driving the (27) Renault Sport Formula One Team RS18 on track during the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park on March 25, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
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SHANGHAI, CHINA – APRIL 15: Sebastian Vettel of Germany driving the (5) Scuderia Ferrari SF71H (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
SHANGHAI, CHINA – APRIL 15: Sebastian Vettel of Germany driving the (5) Scuderia Ferrari SF71H (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)

Scuderia Ferrari

Daniel Ricciardo will likely leave Red Bull Racing at the end of the 2018 season, and his two most likely landing spots are Ferrari and Mercedes. Given the fact that Ferrari seem to have at least caught if not passed Mercedes from a speed standpoint and an overall competition standpoint, expect to see Ricciardo driving for the Maranello-based team in the 2019 season and beyond, thus preventing other potential replacement candidates of Kimi Raikkonen, who hasn’t yet confirmed his retirement at the end of the 2018 season, such as Sergio Perez and Charles Leclerc from doing so.

Sebastian Vettel is the only other driver aside of Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen who already has a contract through the 2019 season. Vettel, like Verstappen, has a contract that extends through the conclusion of the 2020 season which he signed toward the end of the 2017 season. The only difference between the two drivers’ situations is the fact that Verstappen drives for Red Bull Racing while Vettel drives for Ferrari.