F1: 4 Possible Driver Transfers, Gasly or Sainz for Red Bull?

Friday saw the unexpected news of Daniel Ricciardo to depart from Red Bull Racing after 10 years with the energy drink outfit to go and join Renault.

Many Formula 1 fans are shocked by the announcement and some also think the move is a bad choice made by the Australian.

Ricciardo will have his first race for Renault at his home race, the Australian Grand Prix, in March next season.

In time we will find out if the move was worth it or not but in the mean time, we still have eight out of the ten teams that still have seats to fill for the 2019 championship.

So far Mercedes and Renault are the only ones to be very well organised ahead of next season with nine races remaining this year.

Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas agreed to sign contract extensions with the silver arrows while Renault announced Nico Hulkenberg will stay put to welcome his new team mate Ricciardo.

Still so much to be decided so let's take a look at four possible driver transfers...

#4 Leclerc to Ferrari?

Vettel has praised Leclerc's progress in the past

It's a saga that started after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in May when Charles Leclerc impressed in a very low competitive Sauber by finishing in 6th place.

Eight points was scored by the man from Monaco which will prove to be very vital for the constructors' championship as Sauber are currently avoiding rock bottom while Williams take up the painful spot.

Leclerc is young but he has shown elements of a future Grand Prix winner or better yet a one day to be F1 world champion.

Over a handful of points finishes so far this season has made his link to Ferrari even stronger with Kimi Raikkonen looking over his shoulder.

The 2007 world champion's contract with Ferrari will expire at the end of this season and there have been no signs yet of Raikkonen staying with the Italian giants for another year.

12 races into his Formula 1 career and Leclerc is already linked to join Ferrari, it might be too soon for the 20 year old but his future is looking very bright.

#3 Sainz to McLaren?

An all Spaniard line-up at McLaren

Carlos Sainz Jnr now has a lot to think about and cut short his summer break after Renault's announcement of the Spaniard leaving the French team at the end of the current season.

Sainz has nearly been with the team in yellow and black for a year after his final race at Toro Rosso at the Singapore Grand Prix when he finished outside the podium spots in 4th place.

McLaren's Fernando Alonso and Sainz are known to be very good friends off the track especially Alonso and Sainz's father, Carlos Sainz Snr.

It's a partnership many fans would welcome but Sainz would be taking a big risk joining a team that have failed to compete at the top for the past five years.

But McLaren might be his only option on the table if Red Bull Racing decide to go for someone else as Max Verstappen's new team mate.

Whatever car McLaren for 2019, one thing is for sure - they would have a very strong line-up.

#2 Sainz to Red Bull?

Will they be reunited?

If Carlos Sainz Jnr was to return to the Red Bull programme we would be seeing a class of 2015 reunion.

Both Sainz and Verstappen joined the F1 world at the start of the 2015 season at Toro Rosso while Daniil Kvyat had been promoted to race alongside Daniel Ricciardo at sister team Red Bull.

Sainz is currently on a loan deal at Renault so Red Bull still have the Spaniard in their books but that might not be for much longer.

McLaren looks to be a real possibility for Sainz as Red Bull look to have Verstappen as their number one priority for 2019.

Since Sainz has been in F1 in the same length wave as the Dutchman, it is highly unlikely he would settle for a number two drive at Red Bull.

Ricciardo leaving Red Bull is a clear sign what Christian Horner and Helmut Marko have planned for Verstappen.

Sainz may not want to get in the way of that.

#1 Gasly to Red Bull?

Would Gasly say yes to a number two drive?

Pierre Gasly has been one of the most breathtaking drivers of 2018 so far.

Three top 10 finishes including his 4th place finish at the Bahrain Grand Prix is showing what potential the young Frenchman has in F1.

It is agreeable that Gasly has been taking Toro Rosso to new heights while his team mate, Brendon Hartley, has looked to have been left behind.

Gasly looks to be the best option for Red Bull if they want to prioritize Verstappen as their number one man.

It hasn't even been a year since Gasly experienced his first race in F1 after replacing Sainz at Toro Rosso.

While Sainz would not agree on a number two role, it makes perfect sense if Gasly did go with Christian Horner and Helmut Marko's plans.

Gasly is still young but would for sure settle for possible podiums and time to time race wins if he were to join up Verstappen at Red Bull.

It's a no-brainer, Gasly is the favorite for Ricciardo's seat.

Which driver transfers do you think will happen? Comment yours below...

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