Who will replace Vettel at Ferrari?
Who will replace Vettel at Ferrari?
So it has been officially confirmed that Sebastian Vettel is to leave Ferrari at the end of this season.
All eyes now will focus on not only where Vettel will end up - potentially even retiring - but more importantly, who will be his replacement.
Here, GPFans runs through the list of likely replacements.
This is it! The stars are now perfectly aligned for Hamilton to potentially conclude his own career with the Scuderia as there is a vacant seat with the team at the end of this year, and the six-time champion is out of contract with Mercedes. CEO Louis Camilleri and team principal Mattia Binotto have previously made clear their appreciation of Hamilton, although the 35-year-old Briton did state in an Instagram post last month - that he surprisingly soon deleted - that he was with his "dream team", and the "people who have cared from day one". Now there is a seat, though, will he change his tune?
When Ricciardo opted to leave Red Bull midway through 2018, his obviously preferred destination at that time was Ferrari. The Scuderia, however, chose to bring through rising star Charles Leclerc. The end result was Ricciardo joining Renault. The 30-year-old Australian, of Italian descent, only signed a two-year contract with the French manufacturer that expires at the end of the year, with no options for renewal on either side. Ricciardo is never going to get a better chance to fulfil his life-long dream.
Sainz has enjoyed a superb career to date, initially cutting his teeth at Toro Rosso, spending over two and a half seasons with the team but finding his way blocked to promotion by the Max Verstappen/Ricciardo partnership at the time. Late in the 2017 season, he was offered the chance to join Renault as a replacement for Jolyon Palmer, one which he grabbed with both hands, and signing on for the 2018 campaign, only to be pushed aside to make way for Ricciardo. He has since found a home with a McLaren team again on the rise, an organisation where he has been made to feel wanted and appreciated. It may be a tough call to leave, but should Ferrari come calling...
Given the calibre of the three aforementioned names, it would not be unkind to suggest that Giovinazzi is likely to be the last resort for Ferrari. He does have strong links with the Scuderia, however, as he was a member of its Driver Academy and was named as reserve driver for 2017. A spell with Haas as test driver that year followed prior to the 26-year-old being placed with Sauber in the same role in 2018 before promotion to a race seat for last season, in which he struggled early on before finally proving himself over the second half of the season. Not since 2009 has there been an Italian driving for Ferrari, but perhaps lacks the star quality
If Ferrari wants a safe pair of hands, someone unlikely to ruffle any feathers alongside star Leclerc, then Bottas is it. There is no doubt the Finn has talent, but alongside Hamilton, he has effectively spent the last three seasons in the Briton's shadow. With Bottas out of contract at the end of this season, you would assume he is standing in the last-chance saloon with Mercedes to prove he can topple Hamilton, and that the prospect of joining Ferrari would be an appealing one.
Max Verstappen
Unless there is some significant escape clause in Verstappen's latest contract, then the 22-year-old is obviously an outsider. While a move to Ferrari would naturally be appealing, Verstappen did sign an extension in January this year to remain with Red Bull until the end of 2023. And could Ferrari cope with two young guns in the same team in Leclerc and Verstappen? Potentially, but it would almost certainly cause more friction than the former has so far encountered with Vettel.
Could Alonso be enticed back to F1 by a return to Ferrari? The Spaniard departed somewhat acrimoniously in 2014 after five years with the team, finishing runner-up on three occasions. It has all changed behind the scenes and this could be the right time for a comeback, ending what would be a two-year hiatus from the sport. Alonso recently said that he "more or less" knew what he would be doing in 2021, with an announcement due "soon". This might just have changed those plans.
Before you go...
Could Vettel quit F1 for good?
Sebastian Vettel to leave Ferrari at the end of the season - official
Vettel's Ferrari career by numbers
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Incredible statistic puts Verstappen AHEAD of Hamilton record
- 4 minutes ago
Fierce rival calls Hamilton F1's GOAT in surprise admission
- 1 hour ago
Mercedes star tipped to replace struggling driver THIS season
- 2 hours ago
F1 legend issues DAMNING verdict on proposed rule change
- 3 hours ago
Red Bull chief admits interest in poaching TWO rival stars
- Today 09:57
Audi agree LONG-TERM F1 deal with star driver
- Today 09:13
Related news
F1 giants announce name change with IMMEDIATE effect
Ferrari announce HUGE F1 change to iconic red livery
F1 team 'set to announce MEGA signing' in major Red Bull challenge
Big name driver 'very angry internally' after controversial battle
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860