F1 Driver Market: Ricciardo's Renault Move Raises Questions About Sainz, Alonso Futures

Renault became the second team on the Formula 1 grid to confirm their driver lineup for the 2019 season, after Mercedes, when they announced the shock signing of Daniel Ricciardo from Red Bull Racing on Friday.

The Australian driver will partner German Nico Hulkenburg at the French works team — thus ending speculation on his future, which has been a topic of discussion since the start of the season.

Ricciardo’s move to Renault has had a massive effect on the drivers’ market with a number of drivers now uncertain of their futures. The Australian was initially expected to stay at Red Bull Racing, but his shock move has affected a number of drivers — the first one being Carlos Sainz.

The Spaniard was on loan from Red Bull to the Renault team for the 2018 season, but the arrival of Ricciardo has left him without a drive for 2019. It is unclear if the Austrian team see him as a capable replacement for Ricciardo.

Recent reports have linked him with a move to McLaren to either replace Fernando Alonso or partner the double world champion, who is also Sainz’s idol. If he partners the former Ferrari driver, it will mean the end of the road with McLaren for Stoffel Vandoorne, who has failed to impress in 2018.

Esteban Ocon is the second driver left to be affected by Ricciardo’s shock move to Renault. The French manufacturer was in talks with the Force India driver as an option for the 2019 season, but it looks like he will now remain with his current employer that is if Force India can come out unscathed after going into administration recently.

Now the question remains, who will take Ricciardo’s place at Red Bull? Christian Horner was keen to hold on to the Australian, but they were unable to convince him to extend his deal despite holding positive talks in recent weeks.

Toro Rosso driver Pierre Gasly is the most likely candidate to take the vacant seat alongside Max Verstappen having impressed for the sister team this season. But after the shock of Ricciardo’s move, one will not be surprised if the replacement comes in the form of another driver.

Alonso’s name is being linked with a potential move to Red Bull with the Spaniard in the final months of his deal with McLaren. The 2005 and 2006 F1 Drivers’ champion has stated numerous times that he wants to drive a race winning car and could be making a play, but it remains to be seen if the Austrian team will want to pair a dominant driver like Alonso with Verstappen, who is their de facto number one at the moment.