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Formula 1 2020 driver lineup: Who lands where? Making sense of the rumors

By Asher Fair

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY - AUGUST 04: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (33) Aston Martin Red Bull Racing RB15 leads the field into turn two at the start during the F1 Grand Prix of Hungary at Hungaroring on August 04, 2019 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY - AUGUST 04: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (33) Aston Martin Red Bull Racing RB15 leads the field into turn two at the start during the F1 Grand Prix of Hungary at Hungaroring on August 04, 2019 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images) /
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HOCKENHEIM, GERMANY – JULY 26: Daniel Ricciardo of Australia driving the (3) Renault Sport Formula One Team RS19 leads Daniil Kvyat driving the (26) Scuderia Toro Rosso STR14 Honda (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
HOCKENHEIM, GERMANY – JULY 26: Daniel Ricciardo of Australia driving the (3) Renault Sport Formula One Team RS19 leads Daniil Kvyat driving the (26) Scuderia Toro Rosso STR14 Honda (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) /

Toro Rosso

Scuderia Toro Rosso, Honda. DANIIL KVYAT. #26. . No. 26

SPECULATION: Daniil Kvyat has taken full advantage of the second chance that he was given by the Red Bull Racing organization this season in his return to Toro Rosso after he was cut by Red Bull Racing before the 2016 season ended and then cut by Toro Rosso before the 2017 season ended. It was Alexander Albon, not Kvyat, who got the nod to replace the underperforming Pierre Gasly at Red Bull Racing for at least the remainder of the 2019 season, but that doesn’t undervalue what Kvyat has been able to accomplish back behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car.

No. TBD. Scuderia Toro Rosso, Honda. NAOKI YAMAMOTO. #TBD.

SPECULATION: Toro Rosso second-year Japanese engine manufacturer Honda are eager to place the first Japanese driver in Formula 1 since Kamui Kobayashi drove for Caterham in the 2014 season, and they would like to have that driver driving a Honda-powered car for the first time since Takuma Sato drove for Super Aguri in the 2008 season. Super Formula points leader Naoki Yamamoto is the odds-on favorite to get the nod if Toro Rosso take this route.

Renault

. No. 3. Renault, Renault. DANIEL RICCIARDO. #3

CONFIRMED: Daniel Ricciardo signed a two-year contract with Renault in August of 2018 after making the shocking decision to leave Red Bull Racing. His contract is believed to have an out clause, but there are no available seats elsewhere that would allow him to trigger such a clause.

ESTEBAN OCON. #31. . No. 31. Renault, Renault

SPECULATION: Esteban Ocon is currently Mercedes’ reserve and test driver, and he previously served in that role for Renault. Mercedes team principal and CEO Toto Wolff wants Ocon back in Formula 1 after he was left off this year’s lineup, but it seems as though he is not quite ready for him at Mercedes. After Renault managing director Cyril Abiteboul backed out of the handshake agreement that he had with Wolff last year and signed Daniel Ricciardo over Ocon, Wolff has urged Abiteboul to “restore his gentleman image”. That appears as though it will happen, as the 22-year-old Frenchman has been tipped to drive for the French marque.

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