Formula 1: Will Pascal Wehrlein drive for Alfa Romeo Racing in 2020?

Pascal Wehrlein is in search of a ride for the 2020 Formula 1 season after spending two seasons away from the sport. Is Alfa Romeo Racing an option?

If there was an official list of drivers who drove for multiple seasons in Formula 1 and scored 100% of their teams’ points all-time, it would be short; it would include the name Pascal Wehrlein.

After driving for Manor Racing MRT in the 2016 season and Sauber in the 2017 season, Wehrlein was replaced at the latter ahead of the 2018 season by Charles Leclerc.

It is hard to argue with Ferrari’s decision to place Leclerc with Sauber for the 2018 season over Wehrlein considering he was promoted to Ferrari after just one season driving for the Swiss team.

That said, it left Wehrlein, who clearly demonstrated his talent and potential in two seasons of Formula 1 competition, without a ride that he hasn’t been able to get back.

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The 24-year-old German spent the 2018 season competing for Mercedes in Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) before joining Formula E ahead of the 2018-2019 season and driving for Mahindra Racing.

But a return to Formula 1 is clearly on his mind.

Wehrlein reportedly approached Haas about replacing Romain Grosjean, who is not under contract beyond the 2019 season, ahead of the 2020 season, but he was rejected by team principal Guenther Steiner. Steiner confirmed that the team’s decision regarding who to pair with Kevin Magnussen is between Grosjean and Renault’s Nico Hulkenberg, with the latter set to be replaced by Esteban Ocon next year.

Haas later confirmed that Magnussen and Grosjean will drive for the team next year.

However, Alfa Romeo Racing, formerly Sauber, may have a seat open that could make them consider bringing back Wehrlein.

Kimi Raikkonen signed a two-year contract with Alfa Romeo Racing ahead of the 2019 season, and he intends to fulfill that contract. But Antonio Giovinazzi has not had much success in his rookie season, scoring only five points on two top 10 finishes compared to Raikkonen’s 31 points on eight top 10 finishes.

Alfa Romeo Racing still have ties to Ferrari, and these ties are what led to them signing Giovinazzi in the first place after the 25-year-old Italian spent two seasons as a Ferrari test driver.

Now Wehrlein is a Ferrari test driver.

Him spending two seasons away from Formula 1 certainly doesn’t help his case of getting back in the sport; that’s why Haas refused to sign him to begin with. But he clearly has aspirations to return, and that coupled with Giovinazzi’s struggles could be a perfect combination for him.

Additionally, if Alfa Romeo Racing do cut Giovinazzi after one season, there is no other clear replacement candidate for him. Ferrari junior and Formula 2 driver Mick Schumacher had been rumored as one, but he needs to substantially improve in his rookie Formula 2 season in order to have enough points on his superlicense to make the jump to Formula 1 for the 2020 season.

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Will Pascal Wehrlein drive for Alfa Romeo Racing in the 2020 Formula 1 season as the replacement for Antonio Giovinazzi, or will Giovinazzi return for what would be his second season driving for the team? If neither, what will the team’s driver lineup look like next year?

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