Horner thinks Hamilton signing deal will "kick off" 2019 driver market

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner thinks that as soon as Lewis Hamilton pens his new Mercedes deal, the whole 2019 drivers market will kick off because of the ripple-effect Hamilton's new deal will have.

A lot of drivers are waiting on what other drivers will do for next season. A lot depends on Kimi Raikkonen staying at Ferrari or leaving, for example. If he leaves, Kevin Magnussen, Charles Leclerc or Daniel Ricciardo might take his place. One of those drivers leaving their teams leaves another empty seat to be filled, and so on.

The same goes for Lewis Hamilton, according to Horner. Once the four-time champion finally signs his extension, there should be a cascade of other drivers deciding where to take their talents to next.

“All of these things are interlinked in some way, shape or form,” he said at the executives' press conference.

He certainly is. He's been on form again lately, dominating the entire weekend in France, and coming out on top in both of the free practice sessions on Friday in Austria as well.