Ricciardo: F1 grid to turn into musical chairs in 2021

Daniel Ricciardo has joked that there could be so many driver changes to team line-ups in 2021 that the grid will resemble a game of musical chairs, with everyone exchanging positions.

After the end of the 2020 season, high-profile drivers such as Lewis Hamilton, and Sebastian Vettel, as well as Ricciardo himself, will be free to switch teams should they wish after the expiration of their current contracts.

It comes ahead of the 2021 season which will represent a major format shift in the sport, with a budget cap one of the many rules set to be introduced.

Ricciardo is expecting quite the shake-up, and refused to commit to any team for the start of next season.

"I haven't committed any more than the end of next year," he told the Sunday Times in Australia.

"I haven't and that's not anything personal, it's just we haven't had any discussion about beyond 2020 yet. It's still early days.

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"I would love for 2020 to work out and I stay, that's the easiest and happiest scenario, I wish for that. As far as 2021 goes and that musical chairs, so to speak, I think F1 could get a real shakeup."

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner is not expecting a raft of changes, however, and expects the major players to remain with their current teams “when the music stops”.

"All the top guys are out of contract at the end of next year," Horner said via RaceFans.

"[Verstappen’s] very happy in this team. We love having him within the team, he fits very well here. It’s down to us to give him a competitive car next year.

"But I think ultimately when the music stops, I wouldn’t be at all surprised for everybody to end up remaining in the same seats."

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