'It’s as close to certain that he will be an Alfa Romeo driver next season'

Alfa Romeo has plenty of choice when it comes to the 2021 driver lineup. According to Formula 1 journalist Lawrence Barretto, the team is in no hurry to make its decision and the final line-up will not be known until around Christmas.

Currently Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi are driving for Alfa Romeo, but the future of both drivers is by no means certain. However, Raikkonen seems to be hinting more and more at a longer stay at Alfa Romeo, something Fred Vasseur will also be happy with. "It’s as close to certain as you can get that the Finn, who will be 42 next year, will be an Alfa Romeo driver next season," says Barretto on F1.com.

Second driver

The only thing that is almost certain about the second driver is that it will be a driver with the support of Ferrari. Giovinazzi seems to have to give up his seat in front of one of the up-and-coming Ferrari juniors. It will be between F2 championship leader Mick Schumacher, Callum Ilott (second in the standings) and F2 rookie Robert Shwartzman, who is currently fifth in Formula 2. All three drivers have taken an interest in Vasseur.

"My sources say Schumacher is the favourite to get the second seat, however, Alfa Romeo and Ferrari are keeping their options open with two race still to go in the F2 championship," said Barretto. "Shwartzman is set for a test in FP1 in Abu Dhabi, with Alfa Romeo expected to run him. It may be we won't get a final decision, then, until just before Christmas at the earliest."