Formula 1: 2019 Silly Season driver lineup prediction
By Asher Fair
Sahara Force India, Mercedes
Current Williams Martini Racing driver Lance Stroll has been linked with a potential move to Sahara Force India in the 2019 Formula 1 season, and that move would make sense. Force India currently sit in sixth place in the constructor standings while Williams sit in 10th (last), so the move would benefit Stroll, and both teams need drivers who can provide them with a large sum of money.
Seeing as how Stroll’s father Lawrence Stroll was and is a huge reason why he drove for Williams last season and this season, there is no reason to believe that enough money will not be put on the table by the Strolls to get Lance a better ride next year with Force India.
Mercedes junior driver George Russell is certainly ready to take the next step in his racing career and compete in Formula 1, and Mercedes certainly want to make that happen. The 20-year-old Briton currently test drives for Sahara Force India, and he test drove for Force India and Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport last season.
While there will not likely be a seat open at Mercedes for Russell in the 2019 season, especially since he has never driven in a Formula 1 race before, there could be one if not two seats open at Force India, one of the two non-factory Mercedes teams that use Mercedes engines. If Russell gets his first career Formula 1 ride next season, there are several teams for which he could potentially driver. Force India is by far the most likely one.