RUMOUR: Russell and Giovinazzi set for seats in 2019

Mercedes reserve driver George Russell and Ferrari-backed Antonio Giovinazzi could be the two newest faces on the grid in 2019 as both are rumoured to be close to securing a drive for next season.

Russell has been linked with Force India in the past however reports from Brazil's Globo suggest that the Brit will in fact make the jump from F2 to F1 with Williams. Russell currently leads the F2 championship from McLaren junior driver Lando Norris by 22 points with just two rounds remaining.

Giovinazzi's future looks a littel more straightforward in comparison. The deal which saw Kimi Raikkonen re-sign with the team he debuted in F1 with back in 2001 is not linked with Ferrari and was done as a seperate deal meaning that the second Sauber seat could be of interest to the Scuderia.

Giovinazzi has driven for the team before and with Charles Leclerc moving up to replace Raikkonen next season, another Ferrari junior could fill the seat vacated by the Monegasque driver.

"I think you will see about the future of Giovinazzi in the next few weeks," Ferrari boss Maurizio Arrivabene hinted to media in Singapore.

The deal would mean Marcus Ericsson would be the one to make way whilst there is still a cloud over the future of the Williams team, with several drivers seemingly linked with the vacated seat of Lance Stroll who appears to be on the move to Racing Point Force India next year.