The latest signings of Alex Albon (Toro Rosso) and Lance Stroll (Force India) complete the Formula 1 2019 grid. The new season will be marked by the absence of Fernando Alonso after 17 seasons in the F1.

Stoffel Vandoorne (McLaren), Brendon Hartley (Toro Rosso), Marcus Ericsson (Sauber) and Sergei Sirotkin (Williams) have also left the sport at the end of the past season.

New in 2019, on the other hand, are Lando Norris (McLaren), George Russell (Williams), Alex Albon (Toro Rosso) and Antonio Giovinazzi (Sauber).

2019 will also see the comeback of Robert Kubica (Williams), who had to leave the F1 in 2011 after suffering a very serious rally accident.

Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso), who was fired by Red Bull in 2017 is also back next season. The most significant seat changes involve Kimi Raikkonen (Sauber), Daniel Ricciardo (Renault), Carlos Sainz (McLaren) and Charles Leclerc (Ferrari).

Here we will have a look at the 20 names and 10 Scuderias that will enter the quest for glory in Formula 1 2019 grid. It will be an exciting season, with the youngest line up of recent times. Let’s go…

Mercedes: In the hunt for its sixth consecutive title

Lewis Hamilton: #44

2019 Formula 1 grid starts with the last season´s best squad. The German team keeps its lineup from 2018 with the two drivers that have earned them both the Constructors and Drivers’ Championship for the fifth consecutive year in 2018.

Lewis Hamilton, the irrefutable leader of the team, will come out in search of his sixth crown which will take him a step closer to Michael Schumacher, with seven, the most of any F1 driver in history. The Briton wants to continue lengthening his list of extraordinary achievements.

Valtteri Bottas: #77

Meanwhile, This will be a decisive season for his teammate, the Fin Valtteri Bottas, and for his future in Mercedes. Despite his great work as a docile squire, his individual performance has been lacking in the past year.  Having a great car hasn’t been enough for him to get a single victory in 2018, against the 11 of the Briton. Worst of all, he has repeatedly failed to win any head to head with a rival. 

For another year, Mercedes starts as the favourite team, but Ferrari is slowly closing in on them.

Ferrari: A new driver change in a new bid for the title 

Sebastian Vettel: #5

Despite having a very competitive car, the German driver from Ferrari has let the title slip away for the second year in a row. Vettel just didn’t measure up to Hamilton who has always managed to come out on top. He will have to give it all he has next season if he doesn’t want to jeopardize his stay in Maranello.

Charles Leclerc: #16

Charles Leclerc joins Ferrari in 2019 against Sebastian Vettel’s wishes, who preferred the continuity of Kimi Raikkonen. Both teammates will form the most competitive pair of the F1 grid next season. There is a strong chance, however, of personal rivalries could arise generating some unwanted tension. 

This hypothetical ‘civil war’ could get in the way the Scuderia’s team dynamics. The young Monegasque driver has made it clear: He didn’t leave Hass to become anyone’s squire.

In any case, his main goal is to bring some glory back to the lacklustre Prancing Horse, whose latest individual victory dates back to 2007 with Kimi Raikkonen.

Red Bull: Relying on the Dutch diver

Pierre Gasly: #10

After the unexpected departure of Daniel Ricciardo to Renault after five years in Red Bull and two previous ones in Toro Rosso, the energy drink squad has signed Pierre Gasly as a replacement.

The Frenchman, who’s had a great 2018 in Faenza -With 25 points more than teammate Brendon Hartley-, will play a secondary role at the wheel of his blue car in 2019. The Dutch driver will cast a very long shadow over him.

‘Mad’ Max Verstappen: #33

Max Verstappen will once again roam the podium seats in 2019 … if the new Honda engine lets him, that is. In 2018, the Dutch driver got two victories and 11 podiums – the last five in a row – squeezing all the juice out of his machine.

He hopes to continue growing during the next season. He has demonstrated great maturity and driving skills, making up one of the most unbalanced teams of the grid in 2019.

Renault: A very promising pair

Daniel Ricciardo: #3

The French team incorporates Daniel Ricciardo, a fast, consistent and disciplined driver. The smiling Aussie wants to forget his last horrible year at Red Bull, where he suffered multiple mechanical issues.

At 29 years of age, the young driver from Perth is a key figure in the development of the French car. Ricciardo replaces Spaniard Carlos Sainz, who has been signed by McLaren. Sainz was one of the clear victims of Ricciardo’s signing. 

Nico Hulkenberg: #27

This is the third year at Renault for the German driver, who finished seventh in 2018, just after the drivers from Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull.

He has bags of talent and is consistent enough to gain the best of the rest title once again. That is likely to be the goal of the team in its 2019 Formula 1 campaign.

Haas: Same drivers ¿different results? 

Romain Grosjean: #8

Despite performing well below his cars’ potential in 2018, Romain Grosjean will defend again (incomprehensibly) the colours of the American team.

Last season he finished 19 points behind his teammate and left some very bad sensations. The 31-year-old French driver has to make some qualitative improvements in this, his fourth season with Haas.

Kevin Magnussen: #20

The Danish driver suffers from the same ailments as his teammate. Magnussen who has been out of points in 10 races in 2018, could and should get more out of his car.

It was the inconsistencies of both its drivers that prevented the team from getting the fourth position in the Constructors’ championship. They are sure to give it another try in 2019.

Racing Point: Experience and youth 

Checo Pérez: #11

The Mexican driver Sergio ‘Checo’ Perez will attempt to get back the leading position of the second category of F1 teams. The coveted seventh place was stolen by Nico Hulkenberg by just six points this past season.

The driver from Guadalajara, who will celebrate in 2019 his sixth year in the F1 with the old Force India, will not make it easy for his new teammate Lance Stroll.

Lance Stroll: #18

The buying of the Scuderia by his father Lawrence Stroll secured a seat for Lance with the Silverstone team. He has a lot to learn and improve if he wants to be a good match for his Mexican teammate.

The performance of his Williams car last season was extremely poor and he only managed six points in total and finished third before last. In any case, both teammates have had a podium position at some point in 2018 something that cannot be said of all the teams in the 2019 grid.

Williams: A promising duet

Robert Kubica: #?

The return of the Polish driver to F1 since his departure in 2011 after suffering a serious accident, is one of the most eagerly awaited developments next season. Kubica has finally made his dream come true, after undergoing numerous surgeries and intense physiotherapy.

He returns full of energy and with the financial backing of the state oil company revitalizing the empty coffers of Grove. The driver from Krakow is considered one of the best of his generation. Let’s hope he is given a car that is up to the job this season. 

George Russell: #?

George Russell brings new blood to Williams in Formula 1 2019 grid. The quality of his performance, the brilliant ‘PowerPoint‘ presentation before his new bosses and a little push from Mercedes, will allow him to make his F1 debut in 2019.

The 20-year-old Englishman arrives fresh from winning the F2 title. It remains to be seen how he manages to survive his debut inside the worst and most rapidly deteriorating Scuderia of 2018. 

Toro Rosso: Back home

The case of the team from Faenza is a peculiar one. They have been unable to find any better candidates for Formula 1 2019 grid. They definitely need to revise their young talents’ program.

The two ‘new’ drivers in their official line up have already been part of the team on previous occasions. A double second chance.

Daniil Kvyat: #26

The Russian driver is re-admitted into his sporting home, after being sacked at the end of 2017. Previously, he had been relegated from Red Bull to Toro Rosso for his alleged poor performance.

Alex Albon: #?

The British-Thai driver has finished in a well deserved third place at the Formula 2 Championship. In 2012, however, he almost abandoned car racing after being sacked by Red Bull. He cannot let this opportunity pass him by.

McLaren: New blood for a new comeback

Carlos Sainz: #55

Carlos Sainz is filling the gap left by his friend Fernando Alonso at the Woking team for 2019. The Madrid-born driver, free from Red Bull, at last, will spend two years in England as the Scuderia’s strong man. 

His perseverance, speed and quality of driving could play an essential part on the steady return of the British team to its rightful position. Sainz has landed an excellent opportunity after his time at Renault.

Lando Norris: ¿#?

The 19-year-old Englishman has enrolled in his country’s team preceded by a great reputation. Norris finished second in Formula 2, behind his compatriot Russell. A young promise under the shelter of his home team and with the backing of his own achievements in Formula 1 2019 grid.

Sauber: A world champ and a rookie 

Kimi Raikkonen: #7

The Finn and last Ferrari World Champion, has landed in Sauber after leaving Maranello. The grandfather of the Formula 1 2019 grid can bring his silent wisdom to a rising team.

It will be interesting to see how he develops now as the leading driver of a team once more. He surely can still give fans many glorious afternoons… if he is motivated.

Antonio Giovinazzi: #?

Ferrari’s reserve driver, with the Hinwil team’s engines, has earned himself a seat thanks to the support of Maranello. He is 24 years old and ready for transitioning from a young promise to a reality. Sauber’s discipline suits him perfectly to achieve this goal. The Italian will be part of 2019 Formula 1 2019 grid. Good luck!

Images: Twitter F1.