In the run-up to the start of pre-season testing Motorsport Week brings you left-field reflections and stories of teams, drivers and reserves that will be part of the Formula 1 paddock in 2019.
George Russell, Lando Norris and Alexander Albon are all busy preparing for their respective Grand Prix debuts at the Australian Grand Prix in March, when they will realise a dream of joining the Formula 1 grid.
Russell clinched last year’s Formula 2 title while Norris edged Albon to take the runner-up spot. It means that the top three from Formula 1’s feeder series have made the grade straight away. It is a rarity. Since GP2 took over from International Formula 3000 in 2005 it has happened only once – when the top three from the 2009 championship all received berths on the expanded 2010 Formula 1 grid.
Champion Nico Hulkenberg joined Williams, runner-up Vitaly Petrov linked up with Renault while third-placed Lucas di Grassi raced for the nascent Virgin operation.
Only Hulkenberg remains active in Formula 1 but Petrov became the first Russian to take a podium in the championship a year later and di Grassi has established himself as a Formula E front-runner, taking the 2016/17 title, having also adopted an eloquent and thoughtful stance on politics and the environment.
Considering how rare it is for Formula 1 to feature such a turnover of drivers year-on-year it may be some time before the leading trio in Formula 2 again all make the step up at the same time.
