F1: Charles Leclerc set to replace Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari

Ferrari to announce Leclerc?

Ferrari is gearing up to name Charles Leclerc as Sebastian Vettel’s teammate for 2019, according to commentators on social media.

Sky Sports reports that Ferrari are meeting today and “details could be finalised” for Sauber driver Leclerc, 20, to replace Kimi Raikkonen next season.

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BeIn Sports correspondent Tancredi Palmeri tweeted that “Leclerc is the new Ferrari driver. Kimi Raikkonen is gone.”

And Sky Sports F1 pundit Martin Brundle said last weekend that he was “more and more convinced that Charles Leclerc is going to Ferrari”.

Meanwhile, Autoweek says that Raikkonen is expected to announce his retirement from F1.

Toro Rosso draw up ‘longlist’

With Pierre Gasly stepping up to join Red Bull next season, and Brendon Hartley’s future looking uncertain, there could be two potential seats on offer at Toro Rosso.

F1i.com reports that Toro Rosso are “considering ten drivers for 2019”. Confirming that claim, Red Bull motorsports consultant Dr Helmut Marko told Speedweek: “There is no shortlist, it’s more like a longlist. There are ten names on it.”

Hartley is said to be one of the people on the list, while Daniil Kvyat could make a shock return to F1 a year after being dropped by Red Bull.