Formula 1: Dear Ferrari, just confirm Charles Leclerc already

Charles Leclerc driving for Ferrari as Kimi Raikkonen’s replacement in the 2019 Formula 1 season has become one of the worst-kept secrets in Formula 1 history.

Six of the six seats at the three top-tier Formula 1 teams, Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport, Scuderia Ferrari and Aston Martin Red Bull Racing, are filled for the 2019 season. Apparently we are supposed to believe that only five of them have been filled.

Four-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas both signed contracts in July to continue driving for Mercedes for at least another season. Four-time Formula 1 champion Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen signed contracts last year to continue driving for Ferrari and Red Bull Racing, respectively, through at least the 2020 season.

The only “confirmed” change as far as driver situations for the sport’s top three teams is the fact that Pierre Gasly signed a contract last month to replace Daniel Ricciardo, who is set to replace Carlos Sainz Jr. at Renault Sport, at Red Bull Racing.

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However, one of the worst-kept secrets in Formula 1 in recent memory is the fact (the “unconfirmed” fact) that Alfa Romeo Sauber rookie Charles Leclerc is set to replace 2007 Formula 1 champion Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari in the 2019 season.

This is a move that has been speculated since this past December, and rumors that it would happen began to really ramp up in June when it was revealed that Ferrari were ready to replace the 38-year-old Finn with the 20-year-old Monegasque and then that the 2016 GP3 Series and 2017 Formula 2 champion had agreed to a contract with the Italian team.

But after the sudden death of former Ferrari CEO Sergio Marchionne, who wanted Leclerc to drive for Ferrari as Raikkonen’s replacement beginning next year, these rumors swung the other way, as it was revealed that Raikkonen would likely sign a two-year contract to continue driving for the team through at least the 2020 season. This rumor, however, was never confirmed.

Once again, these rumors became rumors that Leclerc would replace Raikkonen at Ferrari next year. These rumors picked up over the weekend of Ferrari’s home race, the Italian Grand Prix.

Several news outlets reported that the Scuderia decided to honor the wishes of the late Marchionne by signing Leclerc as opposed to re-signing Raikkonen, which is what new CEO Louis Camilleri wanted to do. In fact, it was also reported that an announcement about the team’s decision would come this week, likely on Thursday.

But while no official announcement has been made despite the fact Thursday has come and gone, it seems as though it might as well have been, as dozens of additional news outlets have reported that Leclerc will indeed become Vettel’s teammate next year. Some sources have even reported that a deal, a two-year deal, has already been signed.

In other words, if Raikkonen ends up being re-signed by Ferrari, this whole situation will have become one of the greatest “fake news” scandals in not only Formula 1 history but history in general. However, this is not likely whatsoever, so Ferrari might as well just make the announcement that Leclerc will be replacing the 20-time Grand Prix winner next year.

When will Ferrari confirm that it will be Charles Leclerc driving as Sebastian Vettel’s teammate as opposed to Kimi Raikkonen in the 2019 Formula 1 season? Hopefully they don’t wait too much longer or 100% of the sport’s fanbase might figure it out — not that they haven’t already.