Silly season has always been a part of Formula 1 fans' summertime talks and, even if this weird 2020 season has not even started yet, the driver market is hotter than ever.

Last week both Scuderia Ferrari and McLaren confirmed their driver line up for 2021, with Ferrari dropping four time world champion Sebastian Vettel to sign Carlos Sainz, while McLaren replaced the spaniard with currently Renault driver Daniel Ricciardo.

A lot has been said already on both moves, but now the question is: who is going to replace Ricciardo?

We can say the "easiest" answer is Sebastian Vettel or, as rumors suggest, former F1 driver Fernando Alonso. But it's not the easiest. 

Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso are both great and talented drivers, worth a winning car and a big salary. Right now Renault is able to deliver a winning car, as the RS19 failed to score a podium last season. 

Nico Hulkenberg is another driver linked, again, to the French team: the German has, indeed, driving with Reanult for the last three years, but was left with no seats for this season in favor of Esteban Ocon. 

So, who's next for Renault?

Reports from Germany now suggests that Renault is currently in talks with... Valtteri Bottas! 

Us: He’s probably thinking about other girls... @ValtteriBottas: ☕️ 🥰 pic.twitter.com/jhr7Fwdj7B

— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) May 21, 2020

The Finn's contract expires at the end of 2020, as well as Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff's. While Hamilton is more likely to stay at Mercedes to continue his winning streak, Bottas has to fight for his seat once again. 

Germany's Motorsport-Total reveals that Cyril Abiteboul, Renault Team Principal, is currently in talks with Didier Coton, Bottas' manager. 

Reality of fantasy? 

Truth is that, if Bottas really leaves Mercedes, one seat will be available for another driver, but who? 

The nostalgic are already dreaming about Vettel of Alonso in a Silver Arrow, but will Hamilton really agree to have such a strong driver in his team? Probably not.

Even if Wolff said that, after the news broke out, that Vettel's exit must've been taken "into consideration", to deny everything few days later. 

Rumors, once again, suggests that Toto Wolff would bring George Russell or Esteban Ocon in Mercedes, both under his management.

"We have to stay true to our line. Loyalty is something incredibly important, part of our values.

"We are loyal to our current drivers and do not want to negotiate at a time when the season has not even started." said the Austrian Team Principal. 

Who is going to replace Daniel Ricciardo in Renault, then? The Silly season has just started.