Formula 1: 6 drivers who could sign with Toro Rosso for 2019
By Asher Fair
George Russell
Mercedes junior driver George Russell currently drives for ART Grand Prix in Formula 2, and he leads the Formula 2 driver standings. He is the only driver who Lando Norris trails in the standings.
The 20-year-old Briton is another driver who Toro Rosso could consider signing for next year. There are no seats open at the factory Mercedes team, as Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas have both signed contracts that extend through at least the 2019 season.
With the two open seats at Racing Point Force India, one of the other two Mercedes-powered teams in the sport, likely to be filled for 2019 in the near future with current Force India driver Sergio Perez and current Williams driver Lance Stroll, Williams are likely the only Mercedes-powered team for which Russell could drive next season.
Seeing as how Williams have been the slowest team on the grid by far through the first 14 races this year, Mercedes would be better off loaning Russell to Toro Rosso than letting him sign with Williams.
Like with case discussed on the previous slide of this article involving Norris, Red Bull Racing’s driver lineup is set to consist of 22-year-old Pierre Gasly and 20-year-old Max Verstappen for 2019, so it isn’t like they would sign Russell away from Mercedes to join Toro Rosso, as they likely won’t be looking to replace either one of their young drivers for several years.
Russell would be a great addition to Toro Rosso for what would likely end up being one or two seasons, as he is one of the most talented drivers currently not competing in Formula 1, and him driving for the team would benefit Mercedes in that he would gain valuable experience behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car before potentially replacing Hamilton or Bottas at the factory team. It would be a win-win.