Several Formula 1 drivers have changed teams from the 2018 season to the 2019 season. Here is where these drivers are set to drive in 2019.
Several Formula 1 drivers, eight to be exact, are set to drive for the same teams for which they drove in the 2018 season in the 2019 season. This means that 12 of the 20 drivers who are set to compete full-time this season are set to drive for teams for which they did not drive last season.
Of these 12 drivers, six competed in Formula 1 last season and therefore have switched teams from last season while six did not and therefore have not technically “switched teams” from the 2018 season to the 2019 season.
Here is a quick rundown of these 12 drivers, in alphabetical order.
Alexander Albon
Alexander Albon is set to drive for Scuderia Toro Rosso as the replacement for Brendon Hartley. He has never previously competed in Formula 1.
Pierre Gasly
Pierre Gasly is set to drive for Aston Martin Red Bull Racing as the replacement for Daniel Ricciardo after driving for Toro Rosso in the 2018 season. He is set to be replaced by Daniil Kvyat.
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Antonio Giovinazzi
Antonio Giovinazzi is set to drive for Alfa Romeo Racing (formerly Alfa Romeo Sauber) as the replacement for Charles Leclerc*. He has never previously competed full-time in Formula 1.
Robert Kubica
Robert Kubica is set to drive for Williams Martini Racing as the replacement for Sergey Sirotkin. He has not competed in Formula 1 since the 2010 season.
Daniil Kvyat
Daniil Kvyat is set to drive for Toro Rosso as the replacement for Pierre Gasly. He has not competed in Formula 1 since the 2017 season.
Charles Leclerc
Charles Leclerc is set to drive for Scuderia Ferrari as the replacement for Kimi Raikkonen after driving for Sauber in the 2018 season. He is set to be replaced by Antonio Giovinazzi*.
Lando Norris
Lando Norris is set to drive for McLaren as the replacement for Stoffel Vandoorne. He has never previously competed in Formula 1.
Kimi Raikkonen
Kimi Raikkonen is set to drive for Alfa Romeo Racing as the replacement for Marcus Ericsson* after driving for Ferrari in the 2018 season. He is set to be replaced by Charles Leclerc.
Daniel Ricciardo
Daniel Ricciardo is set to drive for Renault as the replacement for Carlos Sainz Jr. after driving for Red Bull Racing in the 2018 season. He is set to be replaced by Pierre Gasly.
George Russell
George Russell is set to drive for Williams as the replacement for Lance Stroll. He has never previously competed in Formula 1.
Carlos Sainz Jr.
Carlos Sainz Jr. is set to drive for McLaren as the replacement for Fernando Alonso after driving for Renault in the 2018 season. He is set to be replaced by Daniel Ricciardo.
Lance Stroll
Lance Stroll is set to drive for Racing Point as the replacement for Esteban Ocon after driving for Williams in the 2018 season. He is set to be replaced by George Russell.
*=Antonio Giovinazzi is considered Charles Leclerc’s replacement due to the fact that he was Ferrari’s selection to drive for Alfa Romeo Racing. Per the Swiss team’s title sponsorship deal with Alfa Romeo, Ferrari get to select one of their two drivers. Therefore, Kimi Raikkonen is considered Marcus Ericsson’s replacement.
On a side note…
There are six drivers who competed in the 2018 Formula 1 season but are not set to return to the sport for the 2019 season. These drivers are McLaren’s Fernando Alonso, Sauber’s Marcus Ericsson, Toro Rosso’s Brendon Hartley, Racing Point’s Esteban Ocon, Williams’ Sergey Sirotkin and McLaren’s Stoffel Vandoorne.
The eight drivers who are set to stay put from the 2018 season to the 2019 season are Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport teammates Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton, Haas teammates Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen, Renault’s Nico Hulkenberg, Racing Point’s Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen and Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel.
The Australian Grand Prix is scheduled to get the 2019 Formula 1 season underway on Sunday, March 17, so be sure not to miss it. This race, which is the first of 21 races on this year’s schedule, is set to take place at Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit in Melbourne, Australia.