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Formula 1: What we still don’t know about the 2020 driver lineup

By Asher Fair

MONZA, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 08: Charles Leclerc of Monaco driving the (16) Scuderia Ferrari SF90 leads the field at the start during the F1 Grand Prix of Italy at Autodromo di Monza on September 08, 2019 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
MONZA, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 08: Charles Leclerc of Monaco driving the (16) Scuderia Ferrari SF90 leads the field at the start during the F1 Grand Prix of Italy at Autodromo di Monza on September 08, 2019 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images) /
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Much of the 2020 Formula 1 grid has already been confirmed, but five of the 20 seats are still open. What do we still not know about next year’s driver lineup?

Over the last several months, many of the seats that were previously open for the 2020 Formula 1 season have been filled. As a result, 15 of the 20 seats have confirmed drivers for next year.

The 15 confirmed drivers on next year’s grid represent nine of the sports 10 teams. Six of these nine teams have completely confirmed their driver lineups while three of them have confirmed only one driver.

As a result, there are still three teams that need to confirm one more driver for next year, and there is one team that need to confirm both of their drivers.

So what do we still not know about the 2020 Formula 1 driver lineup?

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The three teams that still need to confirm only one of their two drivers for next year are Aston Martin Red Bull Racing, Alfa Romeo Racing and ROKiT Williams Racing. Scuderia Toro Rosso are the one team that need to confirm both of their drivers for next year.

Currently driving for Red Bull Racing alongside Max Verstappen, who has been confirmed for next season, is Alexander Albon. Albon, a rookie, replaced Pierre Gasly 12 races into the 21-race 2019 season after spending the first 12 races driving for Toro Rosso, effectively the Red Bull Racing junior team. The second seat at Red Bull Racing will likely come down to between Albon and Gasly, although Daniil Kvyat, who currently drives for Toro Rosso alongside Gasly, has also been mentioned as a candidate.

As for Alfa Romeo Racing, Antonio Giovinazzi currently drives for the team alongside Kimi Raikkonen, who has been confirmed for next season. Ferrari have backed Giovinazzi to return to the team, and they have an influence on the decision given their ties to Alfa Romeo Racing. That said, Nico Hulkenberg has been rumored as a potential replacement candidate. Hulkenberg is set to be replaced by Esteban Ocon at Renault.

Robert Kubica currently drives for Williams alongside George Russell, who has been confirmed for next season. Kubica has already stated that he will not return to the team next year. Williams reserve and test driver Nicholas Latifi has been rumored as a replacement candidate, and Hulkenberg’s name has been tossed around as well.

As stated above, Gasly and Kvyat currently drive for Toro Rosso. Both are in contention to return to the team next year, and Kvyat seems like a lock to do so.

If the team opt to replace one or both of their drivers, they could do so with Super Formula driver Naoki Yamamoto, as the team’s engine manufacturer, Honda, want a Japanese driver in Formula 1. Formula 2 driver Nobuharu Matsushita had appeared to be in the mix, but he cannot secure enough points on his superlicense in the 2019 Formula 2 season to do so.

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With five open seats remaining on the 20-car 2020 Formula 1 grid, who will the four teams without confirmed driver lineups for next year confirm as their drivers to complete next year’s grid alongside the 15 drivers who have already been confirmed?

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