Formula 1: 5 replacement candidates for Sebastian Vettel in 2021
By Asher Fair
Antonio Giovinazzi
After the Ferrari-backed Charles Leclerc was promoted from Alfa Romeo Sauber (now Alfa Romeo Racing) as the replacement for Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari, Raikkonen was named his replacement.
But it was technically Antonio Giovinazzi who ended up being his replacement. Ferrari have the right to select one of Alfa Romeo Racing’s two drivers, and they selected Giovinazzi; Raikkonen was simply the replacement for now-IndyCar driver Marcus Ericsson.
Giovinazzi struggled early on in his rookie season for the Swiss team, but he closed out the season arguably better than Raikkonen and is truly beginning to come into his own.
Above all, Ferrari have faith in him. Even before his recent career-high finish of fifth place in the Brazilian Grand Prix, they backed him to return to Alfa Romeo Racing alongside Raikkonen in the 2020 season, and he is slated to do so.
The one big argument against the 25-year-old Italian is the fact that he isn’t quite ready to drive for Ferrari yet, and that argument is easily supported.
But another season driving for Alfa Romeo should at least put him in position to be a solid number two counterpart for Charles Leclerc, which could and probably should be exactly what Ferrari are looking for to avoid drama moving forward.