Albon completes 2019 grid
British-Thai driver Alexander Albon replaces Brendon Hartley with Toro Rosso
The grid for the 2019 Formula One season is now complete after Toro Rosso announced F2 title-challenger Alexander Albon would partner Daniil Kvyat for the new season.
The only real vacant seat on the grid for 2019 is now filled with the Brit, racing under a Thai flag, taking over from Brendon Hartley. Albon was the only driver able to battle George Russell for the F2 heading into Abu Dhabi. The challenge was dealt a major blow with a stall on the grid of race one, and a good weekend for Lando Norris saw Albon slip to third, however, 2018 was still a hugely impressive season for the 22 year-old finishing the season with eight podiums and four wins to his name in an intensely close battle.
Much like his new team-mate and the man he is replacing, Albon is no stranger to the Red Bull program, spending one season in the program in 2012. The relationship has been patched up it seems and Toro Rosso have got themselves a young star who has flown under the radar of many.
In the biggest shock F1 has ever seen, Lance Stroll was officially announced as a RacingPoint Force India race driver for 2019, meaning the grid for the 2019 Formula One Season is, officially, as follows...
The 2019 F1 Grid:
Mercedes-AMG Petronas, Britain
Mercedes-AMG Petronas, Finland
Scuderia Ferrari, Germany
Scuderia Ferrari, Monaco
Aston Martin Red Bull Racing Honda, France
Aston Martin Red Bull Racing Honda, Netherlands
Renault Sport F1, Australia
Renault Sport F1, Germany
Haas F1 Team, France
Haas F1 Team, Denmark
McLaren, Britain
McLaren, Spain
Racing Point Force India, Mexico
Racing Point Force India, Canada
Alfa Romeo Sauber, Finland
Alfa Romeo Sauber, Italy
Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda, Russia
Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda, Thailand
Williams Racing, Britain
Williams Racing, Poland
20 drivers, 15 nationalities, 12 line-up changes, four new faces, two returning drivers. 2019 sure could be an unbelievable year...