After Daniel Ricciardo's shock move to Renault during the summer break, the whole 2019 F1 grid got shaken up. Ricciardo has opted to join Nico Hulkenberg at Renault leaving Carlos Sainz without his Renault seat, but he will move to McLaren partnering 18 year old Lando Norris at the end of this season. Resulting in Stoffel Vandoorne being pushed out, he hasn't yet commented on this decision. Alonso also announced his retirement from Formula One and is looking more likely to try for the triple crown, of which he already has two.
During the summer break Force India, with the help of Lawrence Stroll, managed to get out of administration but with the result of a name change to Racing Point Force India and starting their constructors points from zero, ultimately pushing them from 6th to 10th place. This most likely means Lance Stroll will move from Williams to Racing Point Force India. However it is unknown whether he will move during this current F1 season or will wait for the 2019 season to begin. As a result of this, Ocon is the most likely casualty and is more likely to lose his seat. Sergio Perez however, after putting the team in administration has a better chance of retaining his drive for the 2019 season.
With Ocon now being a floater, he has limited seats available to him however, he is a young Mercedes driver and therefore has contacts in high places, non other than Toto Wolff. Ocon's options are the following, taking Romain Grosjean's seat at Haas, swapping with Lance at Williams or even going to Sauber. But there is major competition for these seats, drivers such as Vandoorne, Ericsson and Grosjean have already been eyeing up these drives.
There has also been talk of Daniil Kvyat coming back on the F1 scene to replace Gasly at Toro Rosso. It's looking more and more likely that the New Zealander, Brendon Hartley, will be pushed out at the end of this season if there is nobody else to train the new comers from the Redbull junior programme.
Ferrari have been keeping very tight-lipped about the seat available next to Sebastian Vettel. It is still unsure whether Charles Leclerc will replace Kimi Raikkonen next season or whether Leclerc will stay on for one more season at Sauber alongside Marcus Ericsson, who is hoping to renew his own contract. However Charles could also take Romain Grosjean's seat at Haas due to Ferrari's input around the grid.
Haas is looking more desirable than ever after such a shift on the grid. Kevin Magnussen has been rumoured to be staying in his seat for next season. With Grosjean's fate still in the balance, the sharks are already circling.
Williams hasn't yet confirmed any 2019 drivers however, Sergey Sirotkin is looking like a very likely candidate. But who will partner the Russian next year?
One thing that is for certain is that Hamilton and Bottas will stay as a duo at Mercedes for the next season.
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