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Formula 1: 2020 driver lineup is as set as it’s going to be in 2019

By Asher Fair

AUSTIN, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 03: Valtteri Bottas driving the (77) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team Mercedes W10 leads the field into turn one at the start during the F1 Grand Prix of USA at Circuit of The Americas on November 03, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 03: Valtteri Bottas driving the (77) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team Mercedes W10 leads the field into turn one at the start during the F1 Grand Prix of USA at Circuit of The Americas on November 03, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) /
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The driver lineup for the 2020 Formula 1 season is as set as it is going to be before the 2019 season comes to an end in a few weeks.

Aston Martin Red Bull Racing confirmed that rookie Alexander Albon is set to return to the team alongside the previously confirmed Max Verstappen for a second year in the 2020 Formula 1 season.

This confirmation led to Scuderia Toro Rosso (Scuderia Alpha Tauri from 2020), effectively the Red Bull Racing junior team, to confirm that Pierre Gasly and Daniil Kvyat are both set to return to the team next year.

As a result, there is just one open seat remaining on next year’s 20-car grid, and that lone seat is a seat at ROKiT Williams Racing. Robert Kubica currently drives for the team, but he has confirmed that he won’t be back next year.

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Nicholas Latifi has been tipped to replace Kubica, but Williams have confirmed that they will not be making any official announcement about who will partner George Russell next year until after the 2019 season ends in Abu Dhabi in a few weeks.

So the 2020 driver lineup is as set as it’s going to be in the 2019 season, and regardless of what ends up happening, 18 of the sport’s current drivers are set to stay put while two drivers who are currently not competing in the sport are set to replace the other two.

In addition to the situations at Red Bull Racing, Alpha Tauri and Williams, Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas are set to return to Mercedes, Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc are set to return to Ferrari, Carlos Sainz Jr. and Lando Norris are set to return to McLaren, Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll are set to return to Racing Point, Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi are set to return to Alfa Romeo Racing and Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean are set to return to Haas.

Daniel Ricciardo is set to return to Renault, but he is set to be joined by Esteban Ocon, who is set to replace Nico Hulkenberg. Hulkenberg has already ruled out signing with Williams as the replacement for Kubica next year, solidifying the idea that two drivers who are currently not competing in the sport are set to compete in it next year.

This is the case just one season after 12 of the 20 drivers either switched teams or were replaced by other drivers. Just eight drivers on the grid in the 2018 season stayed put for the 2019 season. Six of the other 12 switched teams while the other six were replaced by six drivers who did not compete in 2018.

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The remaining two races on the 2019 Formula 1 schedule are the Brazilian Grand Prix at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace on Sunday, November 17 and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit on Sunday, December 1. After that, the entire driver lineup for the 2020 season will likely be solidified in the near future. Regardless, 18 of this year’s 20 drivers are set to stay put while the other two are set to be replaced by two others who are not currently competing in the sport.

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