Singapore GP | The Toro Rosso dilemma: from Buemi's presence in the paddock to the Kvyat option
Here are the latest news on the drivers' market. Stoffel Vandoorne might still be in contention for Ericsson's seat, as well as Giovinazzi, while Kvyat could be on the move for a 2019 stunner.
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The Singapore Grand Prix always stands for a crucial events in terms of drivers' market development, as dynamics and links keep evolving quickly. The most crucial and discussed point is certainly Esteban Ocon's disappointment, as his chances to stay in F1 narrowed down to Williams despite the support he receives from Mercedes. The Frenchman did not hide his disappointment during yesterday's media sessions, declaring that his hopes to keep an F1 drive are 'less and less'.
Stoffel Vandoorne joins his colleague on the parade of the embittered. The Belgian announced that his McLaren days are drawing to a close in favour of British Lando Norris, who will make his F1 debut at the age of 19, while his chances to progress in the category are now 'very slim'.
However, it is no secret that Vandoorne's manager Alessandro Alunni Bravi is one of the directors at Sauber, which pictures him still in the fight for Ericsson's seat after Leclerc's was suddenly occupied by Kimi Raikkonen as a result of last Tuesday's swap.
The Finn confirmed at the FIA Press Conference that his Sauber talks started in Monza and it later turned out that Marcus Ericsson's confirmation is not to be taken for granted. The Hinwil-based team displays an ample shortlist of drivers, including Antonio Giovinazzi, who became a pillar of the Ferrari in-house team for the hard work he does on the simulator. The Italian is still in contention, although his chances had significantly dropped over the summer as the Ferrari drivers' market had apparently stalled.
As for Toro Rosso, Sebastien Buemi's seat fitting a fortnight ago has triggered a vaste amount of different reactions. The Swiss driver has been spotted in the Singapore paddock yesterday, as he flew here for a meeting with Helmut Marko. However, the Red Bull manager confirmed there are some hurdles on Buemi's way due to his Toyota contract in the WEC and his Formula E drive. Hence, the Milton Keynes-based outfit needs to figure out a back-up plan to fill Pierre Gasly's shoes.
Brendon Hartley is looking to prove himself in order to obtain a highly-coveted deal extension at Faenza. Another driver who is parallelly working to get there would be Daniil Kvyat. The Russian was demoted twice by Marko, as his career ended prematurely before the Malaysian GP in 2017, where Gasly debuted. Kvyat was later hired by Ferrari for a developmental role, which he is still fullfilling, but the drivers' market sees him in a favourable position to make a shocking return to Toro Rosso next year. Sources claim the driver has apparently manifested his will to leave Maranello but, with Giovinazzi being in contention for an F1 drive as well, what Ferrari does not want is to lose two of its main reserve resources at once.
Stoffel Vandoorne joins his colleague on the parade of the embittered. The Belgian announced that his McLaren days are drawing to a close in favour of British Lando Norris, who will make his F1 debut at the age of 19, while his chances to progress in the category are now 'very slim'.
However, it is no secret that Vandoorne's manager Alessandro Alunni Bravi is one of the directors at Sauber, which pictures him still in the fight for Ericsson's seat after Leclerc's was suddenly occupied by Kimi Raikkonen as a result of last Tuesday's swap.
The Finn confirmed at the FIA Press Conference that his Sauber talks started in Monza and it later turned out that Marcus Ericsson's confirmation is not to be taken for granted. The Hinwil-based team displays an ample shortlist of drivers, including Antonio Giovinazzi, who became a pillar of the Ferrari in-house team for the hard work he does on the simulator. The Italian is still in contention, although his chances had significantly dropped over the summer as the Ferrari drivers' market had apparently stalled.
As for Toro Rosso, Sebastien Buemi's seat fitting a fortnight ago has triggered a vaste amount of different reactions. The Swiss driver has been spotted in the Singapore paddock yesterday, as he flew here for a meeting with Helmut Marko. However, the Red Bull manager confirmed there are some hurdles on Buemi's way due to his Toyota contract in the WEC and his Formula E drive. Hence, the Milton Keynes-based outfit needs to figure out a back-up plan to fill Pierre Gasly's shoes.
Brendon Hartley is looking to prove himself in order to obtain a highly-coveted deal extension at Faenza. Another driver who is parallelly working to get there would be Daniil Kvyat. The Russian was demoted twice by Marko, as his career ended prematurely before the Malaysian GP in 2017, where Gasly debuted. Kvyat was later hired by Ferrari for a developmental role, which he is still fullfilling, but the drivers' market sees him in a favourable position to make a shocking return to Toro Rosso next year. Sources claim the driver has apparently manifested his will to leave Maranello but, with Giovinazzi being in contention for an F1 drive as well, what Ferrari does not want is to lose two of its main reserve resources at once.