Formula 1: Ferrari back Antonio Giovinazzi to return to Alfa Romeo Racing in 2020

Ferrari have backed rookie Antonio Giovinazzi to return to Alfa Romeo Racing for a second year in the 2020 Formula 1 season.

Antonio Giovinazzi has not had a super impressive rookie season in Formula 1 driving for Alfa Romeo Racing, as he has recorded just two top 10 finishes and scored only three points in the first 14 races of the 21-race 2019 season.

Meanwhile, veteran teammate Kimi Raikkonen has recorded eight top 10 finishes and scored 31 points. He sits in an 11th place tie in the driver standings while Giovinazzi sits in 18th ahead of only the two ROKiT Williams Racing teammates.

As a result of the 25-year-old Italian’s struggles, there had been speculation that he would be replaced ahead of the 2020 season.

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After Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport re-signed Valtteri Bottas for the 2020 season instead of promoting reserve and test driver Esteban Ocon. Ocon signed a two-year contract to drive for Renault as the replacement for Nico Hulkenberg.

Hulkenberg was rumored to replace Romain Grosjean at Haas for the 2020 season, but after Haas confirmed that the 33-year-old Frenchman is set to return to the team next year, the 32-year-old German was rumored as a possible replacement candidate for Giovinazzi.

However, Ferrari have backed Giovinazzi to return to Alfa Romeo Racing next year, and this backing should not be taken lightly given the Swiss team’s ties to the Italian team.

Here is what Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto had to say about Giovinazzi’s future with Alfa Romeo Racing, according to Motorsport.

"“There was a mistake in Belgium which undoubtedly penalized him, but he was in the points, and then confirmed himself in the top 10 also at Monza. Antonio is growing, but he also needs to be supported as he deserves. At the moment I don’t think he’s as calm as he should be, so I think it’s right to make him feel the confidence of Ferrari, as he’s one of our drivers.“Now Antonio has important races ahead of him in which he can confirm his growth. It’s not a test, but it’s an opportunity to prove what he’s already shown in his last races.“This season he has not yet had the opportunity to show his full potential, but there are several aspects to take into account. The first, and I think the most important, is the one related to the two years of inactivity on the race track.“We have seen how Antonio’s performance in qualifying has progressively improved, coming very close to Kimi’s performance, while in the race he still pays something, especially wheel-to-wheel. I think it’s due to the lack of confidence that can be linked to the two years of forced absence, but what really matters is the positive trend.”"

Ferrari have the right to choose one of Alfa Romeo Racing’s two drivers, and Giovinazzi was their selection this season after their selection last season, Charles Leclerc, was promoted to the factory team ahead of 2019.

With no clear-cut favorites to replace Giovinazzi within the Ferrari organization if Alfa Romeo Racing decide to go in another direction, Ferrari’s backing of the rookie could very well result in his second season alongside Raikkonen in 2020.

It is well worth noting that Hulkenberg is not associated with Ferrari at this point.

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Will Antonio Giovinazzi be back for what would be his second year driving for Alfa Romeo Racing in the 2020 Formula 1 season, or will the team opt to replace him? If so, who will Ferrari approve as his replacement? Where will Nico Hulkenberg ultimately end up?

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