Daniel Ricciardo is set to join McLaren as the replacement for the Ferrari-bound Carlos Sainz Jr. in 2021. Who will replace him at Renault?
It seemed almost inevitable in September when Renault managing director Cyril Abiteboul discussed the future of the team beyond the 2020 Formula 1 season, and now it is official: Daniel Ricciardo will not be back with the organization in 2021.
It started in mid-May when four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel announced that he and Ferrari could not come to terms on a new deal for the 2021 season and that the 2020 season would be their sixth and final season together.
Ricciardo became the rumored replacement candidate for Vettel before McLaren’s Carlos Sainz Jr. entered the picture.
While it ended up being Sainz, a former Renault driver himself and ironically the driver who Ricciardo replaced, confirmed as the replacement for Vettel, Ricciardo did not end up staying put.
For the second time in three seasons, Ricciardo is set to replace Sainz, this time by making the move to McLaren.
Renault already have Esteban Ocon under contract through the 2021 season. But with Ricciardo set to leave the organization after just two years, who will be his replacement?
Here are five possibilities.