Everyone knows Sebastian Vettel’s future at Ferrari is highly uncertain. The four times world champion has also apparently lost his status of being the number one driver in the team, to Charles Leclerc. Mattia Binotto, the team boss has suggested that the German driver has 5 races to prove himself in 2020.
As of now, Lewis Hamilton amongst many other drivers are being talked about getting the second seat at arguably the best F1 team in the history of the sport. Plenty of changes are expected in the cars for 2021 and with all the uncertainty, Ferrari is most likely to go into 2021 with two seasoned drivers. Plenty of money is also riding in the betting market on who will be that other driver. Let’s take a look at some of the potential replacements, should Ferrari choose to eventually replace the German.
Lewis Hamilton
Going by the F1 betting odds offered at reputed off-line and online bookmakers, Lewis Hamilton is a huge favourite to win the 2020 F1 Title. The reigning world champion is the most likely choice to make a move to Ferrari. His future at Mercedes F1 is still unclear right now as the team is not too happy with the 2021 regulations.
Hamilton is a highly experienced F1 driver with a very strong winning mentality. Having multiple championships and more than 250 races under his belt, it goes without saying that Ferrari will be going all out to get him. It could also be the case that he brings Toto Wolff along with him, as the latter’s contract with Mercedes F1 team ends in 2020. His management ability and excellent equation with Hamilton could prove to be highly valuable for Ferrari, as the Italian outfit is often seen facing difficulties making strategic calls during the races.
Daniel Ricciardo
Ricciardo’s joining Ferrari seems like a match made in heaven. His aggressive racing style and Italian heritage will make him an instant hit amongst the Ferrari fans. What more, going by the rumours, Ricciardo almost joined Ferrari in 2019, eventually losing out to Charles Leclerc. He couldn’t get a seat at either Mercedes or Ferrari, and had to finally join Renault after leaving Red Bull.
The Australian driver has clearly expressed his desire and interest in driving for Ferrari someday. Bringing him into the team would mean that Ferrari will get a proven winner who will approach every race with extra passion and aggressiveness. Furthermore, he knows Leclerc quite well and their equation is quite unlike the dynamic that exists between Leclerc and Vettel today.
Sergio Perez
Counted amongst the most successful drivers in the midfield, Sergio Pérez is a product of Ferrari Driver Academy. After a forgettable year at McLaren, Pérez has performed consistently for Racing Point F1 (erstwhile Force India), bringing home podium finishes on 5 occasions.
He is a much evolved F1 driver today, far from his reckless early years. Having said that, he continues his aggressiveness, but with a decade of experience under his belt, he knows how to approach every race. Bringing Perez to Ferrari would mean getting an aggressive and seasoned driver on-board, who is well-known for punching above his weight. No one knows if he’d be able to handle the Ferrari pressure, but he might prove to be a much cheaper and better bet compared to other drivers on the circuit.
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