Source: Red Bull Content Pool

Rumors

Battle for 2nd Toro Rosso seat reportedly between Albon & Wehrlein

Battle for 2nd Toro Rosso seat reportedly between Albon & Wehrlein

09-10-2018 17:49
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Nicolás Quarles van Ufford

After Toro Rosso have confirmed their first driver for 2019 in Daniil Kvyat, the battle for the second seat at the team is reportedly between Pascal Wehrlein and Alexander Albon, with current driver Brendon Hartley being out of favour at the team.

Pierre Gasly, the other current driver, is bound for Red Bull after the season ends to replace the departing Daniel Ricciardo. Hartley, despite impressively beating Gasly in qualifying in Japan, is not deemed as good enough to get another year in the Honda-powered car.

Autobild reports that Wehrlein is one of the names to replace him.

Now though, it seems like Albon, a British driver with Thai roots, seems to be the favourite for the seat. Albon's been brilliant in the Formula 2 of late and also battled Ferrari-bound Charles Leclerc for the GP3 title back in 2016 (Albon is on Leclerc's left on the GP3 podium in the picture above).

Wehrlein, of course, has F1-experience already as the former Mercedes-junior drove for Sauber up until last season, when he got cut off the team to make room for that same Leclerc. Now that he's not in the Mercedes programme anymore, the German seems to be an interesting prospect for Toro Rosso.