Formula 1: Which drivers will drive for which teams in 2019?

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BUDAPEST, HUNGARY – JULY 28: Brendon Hartley of New Zealand driving the (28) Scuderia Toro Rosso STR13 Honda (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) /

Scuderia Toro Rosso, Honda

. No. 28. Scuderia Toro Rosso, Honda. DAN TICKTUM. #28

Toro Rosso, the Red Bull Racing junior team, tried to sign Dan Ticktum to replace struggling rookie Brendon Hartley this season, but due to FIA Super Licence rules, the 19-year-old Briton was not even permitted to test for the team until after the Hungarian Grand Prix.

With one seat open at Toro Rosso for next season already and the other being currently occupied by Hartley, it is hard to imagine the current Formula 3 driver standings leader, who drives for Motopark, not driving for the team in 2019.

Scuderia Toro Rosso, Honda. LANDO NORRIS. #47. . No. 47

Toro Rosso also tried to sign McLaren reserve driver Lando Norris to replace the struggling Brendon Hartley this season, but McLaren blocked this deal from taking place since it meant that the 18-year-old Briton would have had to leave the Woking-based team.

However, McLaren later admitted that they are willing to loan Norris, who currently sits in second place in the Formula 2 driver standings driving for Carlin, to another team as long as he does not sign a long-term contract with another team that would cause him to leave McLaren.

Seeing as how Red Bull Racing will likely not have an open seat for several seasons, Toro Rosso really wouldn’t benefit from signing Norris long-term anyway. A short-term deal with the Faenza-based team would allow him to develop into a more experienced driver, something McLaren should take advantage of by loaning him. Expect him to drive for Toro Rosso in 2019.

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