Sebastian Vettel to retire?

My predictions:
Mercedes – Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas
I think this prediction is a fairly straightforward prediction. I have no doubt that Lewis Hamilton will stay with Mercedes for the 2020 season, since he has a contract and is winning races all the time, and is poised to win his 6th world championship this year. Valterri Bottas is a different story, as there have been links with Esteban Ocon, and even moves for Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo. However, Bottas has had a good season and hasn’t been too far off Lewis’ pace, so I think they don’t need to change it. It is also worth considering how sour the relationship between former teammates Hamilton and Rosberg turned, and I think this partnership is definitely the best option for both team and drivers, as with some other drivers (like Verstappen and Ricciardo previously mentioned) they would be fighting for the number 1 driver spot, whereas this partnership has an almost clear cut Number 1 and 2 driver.

Ferrari – Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc:
This one is simple, despite the rumours of Sebastian Vettel retiring. Both drivers supposedly have contracts (Leclerc is rumoured to have a contract to 2022), and team principal Mattia Binotto hinted that Ferrari were not looking to change their lineup when speaking to Sky Sports prior to the Austrian Grand Prix. Unless Vettel does decide to retire, I believe that this will stay the same, especially because Binotto ruled out a move for Verstappen and Ricciardo seems to have signed for Renault for the long-term plan.

Red Bull – Max Verstappen and Pierre Gasly:
This one is tough, as Gasly has significantly underperformed this season and Verstappen is being linked elsewhere. I think Max will stay, because he has a contract and Austria proved that Red Bull can be competitive. The second spot is harder to predict, as Gasly has not lived up to Red Bull’s expectations. Although they have been harsh in the past, I think that they will keep Gasly as Silverstone showed a glimpse of what he is capable of, but he does need to keep that form going otherwise Red Bull will look at their junior team, Toro Rosso. Daniil Kvyat has looked a much better driver since his return to the sport, and has only made 1 major mistake (hitting Norris at the Chinese Grand Prix). In my opinion, Kvyat has been dropped one too many times for Helmut Marko and Red Bull to consider him, however based off results it would not be a surprise to see him back at the senior team and Marko has given him and his teammate a second chance. Alexander Albon also has a chance, since he has had a good debut season in Formula One, but I think it’ll be too early to promote him.

McLaren – Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris:
This is easy, as both drivers were confirmed for next season before the British Grand Prix weekend.

Renault – Daniel Ricciardo and Nico Hulkenberg:
I don’t see this changing. There have been links with former test driver Esteban Ocon, but in my view both Ricciardo and Hulkenberg will stay. Hulkenberg seems comfortable at Renault, and I don’t think he will consider a move (unless a few quiet rumours of him to Red Bull are actually quite true). As I previously mentioned, I firmly believe Ricciardo is at Renault until at least after the scheduled 2021 rule change.

Alfa Romeo – Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi:
This one is again quite simple. Kimi has another year on his Alfa Romeo contract, and he seemed to suggest that he wants to see that out in the German Grand Prix drivers’ press conference. Giovinazzi was at risk, but even though he only has 1 point to his name, he has been quite consistent and has even outqualified Raikkonen 4 times, reaching Q3 twice, so it is unecessary to change it in my view.

Racing Point – Lance Stroll and Sergio Perez:
Again, I don’t see a change happening here. Stroll’s seat is pretty much confirmed since his dad owns the team, and Sergio Perez brings in money and sponsorship (and for F1’s sake, large crowds at the Mexican Grand Prix). I think the team has underperformed this season, considering they have only had 1 best of the rest finish this year despite being the only team in recent years (as Force India) to get on the podium outside the top 3 teams, but I think this is a stable line up for Racing Point so I don’t think it will change.

Toro Rosso – Alexander Albon and Daniil Kvyat:
This lineup very much depends on Pierre Gasly’s second half of the season at Red Bull. If Red Bull remain loyal to Gasly, then this lineup will not change. Either driver could be promoted if they decide to demote Gasly back to Toro Rosso but I think they will be kinder than they were to Kvyat, since Gasly has not been the liability that Kvyat was in the senior team (although his results are worse than Kvyat’s were). There would be a chance for Patricio O’Ward and Juri Vips to impress during their seasons in IndyCar and Super Formula (for O’Ward) and Formula 3 (for Vips), but I doubt that they are ready and that if Gasly was to be demoted, he would have a seat at Toro Rosso and not be out of F1 altogether. I believe that this lineup will not change due to the loyalty I expect Red Bull to give Gasly.

Haas – Kevin Magnussen and Esteban Ocon:
I’m one of those people that actually likes Romain Grosjean, however I cannot see him on the grid in 2020. He has lost his consistency and I don’t think Guenther Steiner actually trusts him to drive the car (especially after spinning in the pit lane in Silverstone). Kevin Magnussen is clearly preferred by Guenther, and he has said that he feels more comfortable at Haas than he had done at both Renault and McLaren. I believe that Esteban Ocon may partner him. Ocon has been out of racing since losing his Force India seat to Lance Stroll last year – and he needs to start looking elsewhere to save his racing career in Formula 1. I can’t see him getting the Mercedes seat in the near future, so he might have to look outside Mercedes-powered teams to find his path back into F1, and I think he would be a good match for Haas if they are able to find the speed that they had last season.

Williams – George Russell and Nicholas Latifi:
As nice as it is to see Robert Kubica back in Formula 1, I don’t think his results are good enough to keep him in the sport (Russell could beat him in the qualifying head to head at this weekend’s German Grand Prix). Russell’s seat should be safe, considering the Mercedes backing he has, as well as dominating his teammate all season – he is just going to have to wait and see if Williams can improve or if a seat becomes available at Mercedes in the near future. I think Kubica should be and will be replaced by Nicholas Latifi, who has taken part in free practice sessions for the team and has been going well in Formula 2 this year. He would also bring money and sponsorship to Williams, which they are in dire need of, and I think he would have the potential to challenge Russell within the team.

These are my predictions, what are yours? Do you agree, or do you think there will be a big driver shake up next season?