Paul Jeffrey
Premium
With Sebastian Vettel confirmed as out at seasons end, who can the Scuderia bring in to replace one of the most successful drivers on the current grid?
Like him or loath him, Sebastian Vettel has enjoyed an incredibly successful career in Formula One since making his full World Championship debut in 2008. Having secured wins for Toro Rosso, Red Bull and Ferrari, including no less than four Formula One World Drivers Championships, the German has little left to prove in the sport he's called home for over a decade.
A dip in form during the 2019 season has somewhat tarnished his reputation, and failing to take home another title in the red of Ferrari will no doubt hurt, but at 32-years-old, Vettel still has much to give the world of Formula One should he decide to continue beyond the current year.
With the second red seat alongside Charles Leclerc now up for grabs, and plenty of talented drivers surely interested in filling it for 2021, who could be the best shout for success at a team so desperate to pick up the some serious silverware for the first time since 2007?
Lewis Hamilton
At 35, Lewis Hamilton is showing no signs of slowing down as he nears the sunset years of his career in Formula One. Having dominated the recent hybrid era of Grand Prix racing with his Mercedes team, Hamilton is likely to be right at the top of any teams wish list should he be available.
Out of contract at the end of the season, would the pull of racing for the famous brand be enough to lure him away from a team that can seemingly do no wrong? If so, can he tempt Mercedes F1 mastermind Toto Wolff to join him and begin another revolution within the ranks of Ferrari?
Daniel Ricciardo
Let us be honest, the move to Renault must be hurting Daniel Ricciardo. At 30 years of age, the ever happy Australian needs to find a competitive ride sooner rather than later, or risk massively under delivering on the raw talent and speed we all know he is capable of delivering.
Often seemingly very happy to be associated with Ferrari rumours, Ricciardo would doubtlessly jump at the chance to drive for the team in 2021, but would Ferrari be willing to pay his large salary, and potential upset the team harmony putting an established name alongside their current favoured son, Charles Leclerc?
Carlos Sainz Jr.
The move to McLaren has reignited Carlos Sainz career in Grand Prix racing. Easily the 'best of the rest' in 2019, Sainz has been putting in eye catching performances on a consistent basis for the Woking outfit. Recovering from a couple of years in the doldrums first at Toro Rosso then Renault, let us not forget that when partnered with Max Verstappen in the early stages of their Formula One careers, Sainz made a very good case for himself with the Red Bull junior team, and can rightfully feel a little disappointed having missed out on promotion to the main team.
Likely to be one of the cheapest options available to Ferrari, and potentially a calming influence within the team, don't bet against the likeable Spaniard surprising a few people when the announcement is made about who replaces Vettel in 2021.
Antonio Giovinazzi
Currently enduring a rather torrid time at Alfa Romeo learning the Formula One ropes, Giovinazzi is a Ferrari young driver, but has done little during his time to suggest he warrants a place within the main squad. Having not shown particularly impressively against an ageing Kimi Raikkonen last year, and having been broadly out performed by Marcus Ericsson when the team ran under the Sauber banner, it will be a tall order indeed for Giovinazzi to prove himself by the time a contract negociation could possibly take place.
Sergio Perez
A bit of an outlier here, Perez was once associated with the Ferrari Young Driver programme before burning those bridges and making his ill fated move to a McLaren team in turmoil. Having since recoved his career in impressive style, Perez has time and again proven himself as a strong and safe pair of hands.
The Mexican driver could well make a very solid backup to Leclerc in the championship battle, and would likely be willing to accept a supporting role should a team like Ferrari come calling.
Fernando Alonso
Having been out of the sport since the close of the 2018 season, Alonso refuses to confirm he has completely given up on Formula One racing, stating numerous times in the media that the upcoming (and now delayed) regulation changes may spark back up his interest in the sport.
Widely acknowledged as one of the best drivers of his generation, at 38 Alonso is very much in the final years of a viable career in Formula One, and having been out of the cockpit for what will be two years, may well have seen his time pass for a return to the front of the grid.
Who do you think is most likely to fill the seat left by Vettel next season? Let us know in the poll and comments section below!
Want to learn more about F1 racing? Start up a thread in the F1 sub forum here at RaceDepartment, and get interacting with your fellow motorsport fans!
Like him or loath him, Sebastian Vettel has enjoyed an incredibly successful career in Formula One since making his full World Championship debut in 2008. Having secured wins for Toro Rosso, Red Bull and Ferrari, including no less than four Formula One World Drivers Championships, the German has little left to prove in the sport he's called home for over a decade.
A dip in form during the 2019 season has somewhat tarnished his reputation, and failing to take home another title in the red of Ferrari will no doubt hurt, but at 32-years-old, Vettel still has much to give the world of Formula One should he decide to continue beyond the current year.
With the second red seat alongside Charles Leclerc now up for grabs, and plenty of talented drivers surely interested in filling it for 2021, who could be the best shout for success at a team so desperate to pick up the some serious silverware for the first time since 2007?
Lewis Hamilton
At 35, Lewis Hamilton is showing no signs of slowing down as he nears the sunset years of his career in Formula One. Having dominated the recent hybrid era of Grand Prix racing with his Mercedes team, Hamilton is likely to be right at the top of any teams wish list should he be available.
Out of contract at the end of the season, would the pull of racing for the famous brand be enough to lure him away from a team that can seemingly do no wrong? If so, can he tempt Mercedes F1 mastermind Toto Wolff to join him and begin another revolution within the ranks of Ferrari?
Daniel Ricciardo
Let us be honest, the move to Renault must be hurting Daniel Ricciardo. At 30 years of age, the ever happy Australian needs to find a competitive ride sooner rather than later, or risk massively under delivering on the raw talent and speed we all know he is capable of delivering.
Often seemingly very happy to be associated with Ferrari rumours, Ricciardo would doubtlessly jump at the chance to drive for the team in 2021, but would Ferrari be willing to pay his large salary, and potential upset the team harmony putting an established name alongside their current favoured son, Charles Leclerc?
Carlos Sainz Jr.
The move to McLaren has reignited Carlos Sainz career in Grand Prix racing. Easily the 'best of the rest' in 2019, Sainz has been putting in eye catching performances on a consistent basis for the Woking outfit. Recovering from a couple of years in the doldrums first at Toro Rosso then Renault, let us not forget that when partnered with Max Verstappen in the early stages of their Formula One careers, Sainz made a very good case for himself with the Red Bull junior team, and can rightfully feel a little disappointed having missed out on promotion to the main team.
Likely to be one of the cheapest options available to Ferrari, and potentially a calming influence within the team, don't bet against the likeable Spaniard surprising a few people when the announcement is made about who replaces Vettel in 2021.
Antonio Giovinazzi
Currently enduring a rather torrid time at Alfa Romeo learning the Formula One ropes, Giovinazzi is a Ferrari young driver, but has done little during his time to suggest he warrants a place within the main squad. Having not shown particularly impressively against an ageing Kimi Raikkonen last year, and having been broadly out performed by Marcus Ericsson when the team ran under the Sauber banner, it will be a tall order indeed for Giovinazzi to prove himself by the time a contract negociation could possibly take place.
Sergio Perez
A bit of an outlier here, Perez was once associated with the Ferrari Young Driver programme before burning those bridges and making his ill fated move to a McLaren team in turmoil. Having since recoved his career in impressive style, Perez has time and again proven himself as a strong and safe pair of hands.
The Mexican driver could well make a very solid backup to Leclerc in the championship battle, and would likely be willing to accept a supporting role should a team like Ferrari come calling.
Fernando Alonso
Having been out of the sport since the close of the 2018 season, Alonso refuses to confirm he has completely given up on Formula One racing, stating numerous times in the media that the upcoming (and now delayed) regulation changes may spark back up his interest in the sport.
Widely acknowledged as one of the best drivers of his generation, at 38 Alonso is very much in the final years of a viable career in Formula One, and having been out of the cockpit for what will be two years, may well have seen his time pass for a return to the front of the grid.
Who do you think is most likely to fill the seat left by Vettel next season? Let us know in the poll and comments section below!
Want to learn more about F1 racing? Start up a thread in the F1 sub forum here at RaceDepartment, and get interacting with your fellow motorsport fans!
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