Formula 1's silly season is an annual affair, one that often disappoints with the various rumoured moves failing to happen, yet 2018's silly season has already delivered two big shocks with several more set to become a reality.
Daniel Ricciardo announced a shock decision to leave Red Bull for Renault earlier this month and just this week Fernando Alonso announced his retirement from F1 – although hinted he could return at some point.
That's left two big openings and Motorsport Week understands McLaren will confirm Carlos Sainz as Alonso's replacement, possibly later this week, whilst Pierre Gasly will take up Ricciardo's Red Bull seat.
McLaren were made aware of Alonso's decision several weeks ago and the team opened discussions with Ricciardo and Sainz. However with the former's switch to Renault, ousting Sainz, McLaren have now turned their attention's to the young Spaniard.
Gasly meanwhile is Red Bull's only viable candidate for the vacant seat alongside Max Verstappen, which begs the question as to who will fill the void at Toro Rosso given Red Bull's lack of young drivers eligible of racing in F1.
That could very well hinge on McLaren's second seat. Although Stoffel Vandoorne has been under immense pressure to lift his performances this season, it's believed he will be retained as a benchmark for Sainz, meaning youngster and Formula 2 star Lando Norris could well move to Toro Rosso in exchange for the early termination of chief designer James Key's contract.
It's well documented that STR attempted to poach Norris to replace Hartley, but McLaren blocked the move. However McLaren now need a favour from Red Bull and Toro Rosso if they're to have a stable design team in place for 2019. Norris could well be used as a bargaining chip for Key.
There are a number of other switches on the cards, although only one seems certain. Lance Stroll will make the jump to Force India after his father led a buyout of the team. That could well see Robert Kubica installed at Williams, although it seems more likely that Esteban Ocon will make the move given his links to Mercedes and Williams' desire to have closer links to the reigning champions.
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