5 F1 Rumours: New favourite for Toro Rosso seat

Kvyat to replace Hartley at Toro Rosso?
Kvyat to replace Hartley at Toro Rosso?

Welcome to Sportskeeda's latest round-up of rumours hovering around the Formula One garages.

The championship battle between Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel may have wrapped up and finished a lot earlier than expected.

But one thing that'll keep us F1 fans entertained is the gossip.

2018 has been one hell of a rollercoaster so far especially when it has come to future seats for 2019.

Daniel Ricciardo surprised everyone when announcing to his fans that he would be joining Renault next year, followed by Kimi Raikkonen's plans to rejoin Sauber next season seeing Charles Leclerc take over his place at Ferrari.

Just when we are all recovering from those announcements, there are still empty seats to be filled.

Here are your 5 latest F1 rumours...


#5 Bottas facing mental setback

No race wins so far in 2018 for Bottas
No race wins so far in 2018 for Bottas

This season has been a tough one for Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas as the Fin has suffered so many setbacks with his teammate Lewis Hamilton taking all the glory.

Just over a week ago at the Russian Grand Prix, Bottas was ordered by the team to let Hamilton pass while leading the race.

A very similar scenario to Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso back in 2010 when the Brazilian was told on the team radio, "Fernando is faster than you!".

It is no question that Bottas is the team's second driver to Hamilton and with that being the case, Mercedes' Team Principal Toto Wolff has told Autosport that his colleague is having a mental setback.

This is believed to be an automatic reaction to Bottas' current role in the team.

#4 Hamilton wants more battles with Vettel

Hamilton and Vettel currently have four world championships each
Hamilton and Vettel currently have four world championships each

Lewis Hamilton is close to embarking on a fifth world championship after overcoming his rival Sebastian Vettel.

It would take a miracle for Vettel to turn around the current gap of 67 points with only four races left on the calendar.

With Hamilton coming out on top once again, this will mean the Briton has beaten the German to two world championships ever since Nico Rosberg retired from the sport in 2016.

But Hamilton wants more battles with the Ferrari driver according to Motorsport.com.

#3 "Vettel had the wrong approach in 2018" - Briatore

Vettel has not won the driver's title since 2013 at Red Bull
Vettel has not won the driver's title since 2013 at Red Bull

After Sunday's race at the Japanese Grand Prix where Vettel could only finish in 6th place while Hamilton took home another win.

Since then Vettel has had nowhere to hide especially from the press.

Hamilton defended his rival by addressing to the media that Vettel should be given more respect for his efforts.

Former Renault boss Flavio Briatore told Wheels24 that Vettel picked the wrong approach for this year's championship duel.

That's two years on the trot now that Vettel has failed to beat Hamilton first for the driver's title.

#2 Vietnam GP to be half race track, half street circuit

Azerbaijan Grand Prix is one of 5 current street circuits on the calendar
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
is one
of 5 current street circuits on the calendar

It is a normal procedure in the modern era of Formula One.

Street circuits seem to be very favourable for the race organisers as there are currently 5 out of the 21 races.

And there are ongoing talks of two more street races added to the calendar - the Miami Grand Prix and the Vietnam Grand Prix.

The recently released planned calendar for next year does not show Miami and Vietnam but both could debut in 2020.

Especially Vietnam as the circuit is expected to be part street and part race track according to Alanis King from Jalopnik.

#1 Kvyat is favourite for Toro Rosso seat

Kvyat has raced for both Toro Rosso and Red Bull
Kvyat has raced for both Toro Rosso and Red Bull

Daniil Kvyat has certainly had a rollercoaster of a career so far in Formula One.

From our eyes first witnessing him race for Toro Rosso in 2014 to being rewarded with a promotion up to Red Bull after Vettel's departure.

And then it all crumbled down for the Russian when making the switch back to Toro Rosso to make room for Max Verstappen who would go onto win his debut race at Red Bull in Barcelona.

It was Kvyat's ultimate nightmare.

It was around this time last year that the Russian was booted out of the Toro Rosso team to make way for Pierre Gasly who would team up with Brendon Hartley.

But with the New Zealander struggling to perform 12 months on, Dr Helmut Marko is considering Kvyat to rejoin Red Bull's sister team.

What's your reaction to the possibility of Kvyat rejoining Toro Rosso? Comment below...


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Edited by Nishant Jayaram