Formula 1: Driver movement from 2018 season to 2019 season

After the 2018 Formula 1 season finale, the driver lineups for many of the sport’s 10 teams are set to look at lot different. Here is a rundown of the driver movement from the 2018 season to the 2019 season.

This year’s Formula 1 “Silly Season” was one of the craziest in recent years. As a result, several drivers are set to be on the move between the 2018 season and the 2019 season.

Before the 2018 season wraps up, let’s take a look at what is set to change as far as driver lineups are concerned from the 2018 season to the 2019 season.

Of the 10 Formula 1 teams, only two are set to keep the exact same driver lineups next season that they had this season. Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas are both set to return to Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport in 2019 while Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean are both set to return to Haas.

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However, the rest of the driver lineup is set to really be shaken up.

Sebastian Vettel is set to return to Scuderia Ferrari next season, but his teammate is set to be Charles Leclerc, who currently drives for Alfa Romeo Sauber, as opposed to Kimi Raikkonen, who is set to leave Ferrari to drive for Sauber.

However, Raikkonen is not technically replacing Leclerc at Sauber. Because of Sauber’s title sponsorship deal with Alfa Romeo, Ferrari have the right to select one of the Swiss team’s two drivers.

Leclerc was Ferrari’s selection for this season while Raikkonen is Sauber’s selection for next season, so Raikkonen is really set to replace Marcus Ericsson, who is set to replace the injured Robert Wickens at the Schmidt Peterson Motorsports IndyCar team next season. Antonio Giovinazzi is set to replace Leclerc at Sauber in 2019.

Max Verstappen is set to return to Aston Martin Red Bull Racing next season, but his teammate is set to be Pierre Gasly, who currently drives for Scuderia Toro Rosso, as opposed to Daniel Ricciardo, who is set to leave Red Bull Racing to drive for Renault Sport as the replacement for Carlos Sainz Jr., Sainz Jr. is set to drive for McLaren as the replacement for Fernando Alonso, who is set to retire from Formula 1 after this season.

Meanwhile, Daniil Kvyat is set to replace Gasly at Toro Rosso. The team’s second driver for next season has not yet been confirmed, but it is unlikely that Brendon Hartley will return to the team. Alexander Albon and Dan Ticktum are the two primary candidates to replace him.

Ricciardo’s teammate at Renault for 2019 is set to be Nico Hulkenberg, who currently drives for the team. Sainz Jr.’s teammate at McLaren is set to be Lando Norris, who is set to replace Stoffel Vandoorne. Vandoorne is set to drive for HWA Racelab in Formula E in the 2018-2019 season.

Sergio Perez is set to return to Racing Point Force India next season, and it is likely that Lance Stroll, who currently drives for Williams Martini Racing, will replace the team’s other driver, Esteban Ocon. George Russell, meanwhile, is set to replace Stroll at Williams. Robert Kubica is set to place Williams’ other current driver, Sergey Sirotkin.

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The 2019 Formula 1 season is scheduled to get underway on Sunday, March 17, 2019. The race that is scheduled to open up the season is the Australian Grand Prix, which is set to be broadcast live from Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit in Melbourne, Australia. Be sure not to miss this race or any of the other 20 races on next year’s schedule.

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