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Formula 1: Confirmed driver changes for the 2019 season

By Asher Fair

HOCKENHEIM, GERMANY - JULY 22: Daniel Ricciardo of Australia driving the (3) Aston Martin Red Bull Racing RB14 TAG Heuer leads Pierre Gasly of France and Scuderia Toro Rosso driving the (10) Scuderia Toro Rosso STR13 Honda on track during the Formula One Grand Prix of Germany at Hockenheimring on July 22, 2018 in Hockenheim, Germany. (Photo by Charles Coates/Getty Images)
HOCKENHEIM, GERMANY - JULY 22: Daniel Ricciardo of Australia driving the (3) Aston Martin Red Bull Racing RB14 TAG Heuer leads Pierre Gasly of France and Scuderia Toro Rosso driving the (10) Scuderia Toro Rosso STR13 Honda on track during the Formula One Grand Prix of Germany at Hockenheimring on July 22, 2018 in Hockenheim, Germany. (Photo by Charles Coates/Getty Images) /
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The Formula 1 grid is set for the 2019 season, and a total of 12 driver changes have taken place throughout the lineup. Here are those changes.

Of the 20 drivers who competed in Formula 1 this past season, 14 are set to return to compete in the sport once again in the 2019 season. Of these 14 drivers, eight are set to driver for the teams for which they drove in the 2018 season once again in the 2019 season.

This means that with the driver lineup being set for the 2019 season, which is not scheduled to get underway until Sunday, March 17, 2019 with the Australian Grand Prix at Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit in Melbourne, Australia, a total of 12 drivers changes have taken place for next year.

Here is a list of the 12 drivers who are set to drive full-time for teams in the 2019 season for which they did not drive in the 2018 season.

NOTE: This list is in alphabetical order.

Alexander Albon

  • Team in 2018: Did not compete in Formula 1
  • Team in 2019: Scuderia Toro Rosso
  • Replacing: Brendon Hartley

Pierre Gasly

Antonio Giovinazzi

  • Team in 2018: Did not compete in Formula 1
  • Team in 2019: Alfa Romeo Sauber
  • Replacing: Charles Leclerc*

Robert Kubica

  • Team in 2018: Did not compete in Formula
  • Team in 2019: Williams Racing
  • Replacing: Sergey Sirotkin

Daniil Kvyat

  • Team in 2018: Did not compete in Formula 1
  • Team in 2019: Toro Rosso
  • Replacing: Pierre Gasly

Charles Leclerc

  • Team in 2018: Sauber
  • Team in 2019: Scuderia Ferrari
  • Replacing: Kimi Raikkonen
  • Being replaced by: Antonio Giovinazzi*

Lando Norris

  • Team in 2018: Did not compete in Formula 1
  • Team in 2019: McLaren
  • Replacing: Stoffel Vandoorne

Kimi Raikkonen

  • Team in 2018: Ferrari
  • Team in 2019: Sauber
  • Replacing: Marcus Ericsson*
  • Being replaced by: Charles Leclerc

Daniel Ricciardo

  • Team in 2018: Red Bull Racing
  • Team in 2019: Renault
  • Replacing: Carlos Sainz Jr.
  • Being replaced by: Pierre Gasly

George Russell

  • Team in 2018: Did not compete in Formula 1
  • Team in 2019: Williams
  • Replacing: Lance Stroll

Carlos Sainz Jr.

  • Team in 2018: Renault
  • Team in 2019: McLaren
  • Replacing: Fernando Alonso
  • Being replaced by: Daniel Ricciardo

Lance Stroll

  • Team in 2018: Williams
  • Team in 2019: Racing Point
  • Replacing: Esteban Ocon
  • Being replaced by: George Russell

Here is a list of the six drivers who are set to be replaced by other drivers for the 2019 season but did not land rides for next year.

NOTE: This list is in alphabetical order.

Fernando Alonso

  • Team in 2018: McLaren
  • Replaced by: Carlos Sainz Jr.
  • Future racing plans: 2018-2019 World Endurance Championship with Toyota Gazoo Racing and 2019 Indianapolis 500 with McLaren

Marcus Ericsson

Brendon Hartley

  • Team in 2018: Toro Rosso
  • Replaced by: Alexander Albon
  • Future racing plans: Unknown

Esteban Ocon

Sergey Sirotkin

  • Team in 2018: Williams
  • Replaced by: Robert Kubica
  • Future racing plans: Unknown

Stoffel Vandoorne

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*=While Kimi Raikkonen was announced as Charles Leclerc’s replacement at Sauber on the same day that Leclerc was announced as Raikkonen’s replacement at Ferrari, Raikkonen is technically Marcus Ericsson’s replacement at Sauber while Antonio Giovinazzi is technically Leclerc’s replacement at Sauber.

This is the case because of the fact that Ferrari have the right to select one of Sauber’s two drivers per Sauber’s title sponsorship deal with Alfa Romeo. Just as Leclerc was Ferrari’s driver selection for Sauber in the 2018 season, Giovinazzi is Ferrari’s driver selection for Sauber in the 2019 season.

Top 10 Formula 1 drivers of all-time. dark. Next

Which drivers will have the most success driving for different teams in the 2019 Formula 1 season? Where will they all end up in the driver standings? The 21-race season is scheduled to get underway in just under three months in Melbourne, Australia with the Australian Grand Prix at Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit. Be sure to tune in to this race as well as each of the other 20 races on next year’s schedule.

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