Paul Jeffrey
Premium
With Ricciardo off to Renault, Red Bull have something of a dilemma heading into 2019... but who is ready to step into one of the most sought after seats on the F1 grid?
It's been a while since Red Bull needed to look for a new driver heading into the off season in Formula One, so long in fact that the steady stream of youngsters vying for a drive at sister team Toro Rosso seems to have run out...
With the all seeing eye of Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz and the team management over in Milton Keynes set to have their hands full in the coming weeks and months as they look for a suitable replacement for the outbound Daniel Ricciardo, the Australian seven time Grand Prix winner leaving a sizeable hole to fill in the Red Bull driving strength following his recently announced move over to Renault for 2019, it remains to be seen who looks most likely to fill the new vacancy at the former World Championship winning outfit next season.
So do the team opt for one of the current Toro Rosso "junior" drivers, a youngster from their pool of junior formula driving talent, or an experienced hand capable of stepping in and performing right from the green light in Melbourne? Let's have a look at the obvious choices -
Toro Rosso - Pierre Gasly
Still a relatively young man at only 22 years of age, Gasly is currently in his first full season of Formula One racing for the junior Red Bull team, and as such remains something on an unknown quantity in Formula One terms. Sometimes fast and occasionally invisible despite what looks to be a very decent car from Toro Rosso, Gasly could well be a bit of a gamble for Red Bull, despite what looks to be an obvious quality just waiting to be polished with experience.
Toro Rosso - Brendon Hartley
With an impeccable record away from Formula One capped by no less than two World Championships and Le Mans victory in sportscar racing, Hartley has frankly failed to deliver in what is in effect his second chance at Formula One with the Red Bull family. Likeable away from the circuit, Hartley has spent much of 2018 looking like a haunted man in the Formula One paddocks of the world, and it will take a monumental effort for the Kiwi to retain his seat at Toro Rosso next year, never mind moving up to the sister team.
Formula Three - Dan Ticktum
A bit of a dark horse within the Red Bull driver program, Ticktum has spent much of his career so far away from any serious limelight, however the 19-year-old Englishman is doing much to change that image in 2018 thanks to a stellar series of performances in the highly competitive Formula Three championship, snatching some impressive race victories as he looks to add another trophy to his Macau Grand Prix win of 2017.
Formula E - Jean-Eric Vergne
Very much an outside bet, Vergne remains well regarded in the Red Bull family despite a surprising exit from Formula One at the hands of the company when he left Toro Rosso at the end of 2014. With Brendon Hartley proving that it's never too late to make a comeback, Vergne remains an outside bet thanks to both his undoubted pace, experienced picked up with his current Ferrari test driver role and of course the success achieved in Formula E, where the 28-year-old Frenchman recently secured his first drivers championship this year.
With such relatively slim pickings from the Red Bull family available to call upon next season, it is not entirely out of the question that the team could look outside of the driver development fold for another experienced hand from elsewhere on the grid. Should Red Bull take this route one immediately has to look at such talent as Fernando Alonso over at McLaren, the former double World Champion looking increasingly disappointed at life in Woking, and with the Spaniard keen to try for Indy 500 success again, and Red Bull having Honda power next year (a key manufacturer in the IndyCar series), the idea of an Alonso / Red Bull arrangement isn't as far fetched as it might seem.. although quite how the now 37-year-old would feel about being reunited with a "GP2 engine" remains to be seen....
For more from the world of Grand Prix racing, don't forget to check out the Formula One forum here at RaceDepartment and get involved in the conversation.
Like what you see here at RaceDepartment? Don't forget to like, subscribe and follow us on social media!
Who do you think would be a good fit at Red Bull next season? Young gun, former F1 racer or experienced charger? Let us know in the comments section below!
Last edited:
