F1: 5 Drivers that could sign for Williams in 2019

With many of the teams now filling their driver slots for next season, this is the time of year when the last few deals are being done to confirm who will be racing where next year. With the news earlier in the week that Kimi Raikkonen and Charles Leclerc will be swapping seats between Ferrari and Sauber next season will that ramp up the pressure on the four remaining teams yet to announce a single driver?

The team we will be focusing on in this article is Williams. The British team have had a very disappointing season with them currently sitting at the bottom of the Constructors on seven points. With both their drivers unconfirmed for next year could there be any decisions made at Singapore this weekend?

They certainly left it late to make a decision last year for the final driver position with both Robert Kubica and current driver Sergey Sirotkin battling it out in Abu Dhabi for the seat with Sirotkin announced a week after the season was finished. For all the drivers on this list let’s hope Williams make the decision quicker this year.

In this list neither Lance Stroll or Sergey Sirotkin will feature, this is because I believe Stroll will be on his way to Force India and Sirotkin will either be resigned for one of the seats or moved to a development role within the team.

So with that in mind here are my picks for the top five drivers that could fill the seats for Williams next year:

#5 Marcus Ericsson

At number five is Sauber’s Marcus Ericsson. With Raikkonen confirmed at Sauber for next year I’m guessing they have made assurances to the Fin that they will be fighting higher up the field on a more consistent basis, if that is the case does Marcus Ericsson fit the bill for Sauber? He would, however, make a great option for Williams who are without a doubt in a rebuilding process.

He has scored points in four races this year, something Williams will be desperate for next year. He has obviously been overshadowed by the sudden rise of teammate Leclerc this season and will again be in the back seat if he decides to stay with Sauber to partner Raikkonen.

I think he needs a change and somewhere he can fight his teammate equally every race weekend and I think Williams would be the perfect fit.

#4 Romain Grosjean

This one could be seen as a bit of a long shot but with the Frenchman not confirmed at Haas for next season could he make the move to Williams?

He has been with the Haas team since they joined F1 in 2014, but with an average season this year, with him taking 9 races to score points, a change could be beneficial for both parties.

Grosjean currently sits fourteenth in the drivers’ standings on 27 points with teammate Kevin Magnussen in eighth on 49. Magnussen looks to have jumped Grosjean as the number one driver at Haas but ultimately will that be enough for Grosjean to make a move?

#3 Stoffel Vandoorne

At number three is Stoffel Vandoorne, the man being replaced next season by young Brit Lando Norris. Vandoorne looked to have a bright future at McLaren when he was announced to partner Fernando Alonso for the 2017 season but that light has faded quickly with him struggling compared to his teammate this year. He has yet to out-qualify Alonso with the score at 14-0 to the Spaniard. He has also only scored points in three races this year, with them being in the first four of the season.

He will be desperate to find a seat for 2019 and with no negotiations between teams, Williams would only have to agree terms with the driver for him to join for next year. The team would have to believe he could succeed next season for them to do the deal with confidence looking like a big issue for the Belgium driver this year.

He is definitely a strong contender for the seat next season in a year which could prove vital in terms of his career in F1.

#2 Robert Kubica

The fan favourite to secure a seat a Williams next year is a number two. There was huge disappointment last year when Kubica lost out to Sirotkin for the seat in 2018 but just a year on could Kubica be lining up to take a seat.

The Polish driver has not started a race in F1 since the 2010 Abu Dhabi GP because of a rally crash early in 2011 which left him with life-threatening injuries. He has however impressed in practice sessions throughout the year, at the Spanish GP he posted faster lap times than both Stroll and Sirotkin despite less time in the race car.

He is, of course, desperate to return to the sport as a full-time driver this year and admits that if he fails to get a seat for next season he may give up on the chances to drive in F1 again. Telling Autosport "I spent a lot of time and effort to have a chance and the priority would be to be on the starting grid in Australia. But if this doesn't happen I would consider some different championship or different role. As I said, now I'm focused on trying to get a chance."

Fans would love to see Kubica back in F1 full-time next year which once again gives Williams a huge decision to make.

#1 Esteban Ocon

At number one is Esteban Ocon. The Frenchman is looking less and less likely of a drive at Force India next year with Perez and Stroll looking the most possible of line ups and with other rumoured option McLaren already confirmed for 2019 could Williams be the one to keep Ocon in F1.

He has been another of the sparks of the 2018 season showcasing why he deserves a spot on the grid. He has scored points in eight out of fourteen races this year and qualified as high as third in Belgium.

The doubt over Ocon’s future has stemmed from Daniel Ricciardo making the surprising move to Renault, a seat that Ocon looked set to take and Lawrence Stroll buying a majority share in Force India, with him looking to have his son race for the team.

Other teams have looked at Ocon but with him part of the Mercedes academy they have found it difficult with Zak Brown at McLaren telling Sky Sports that it was "a tick in the wrong box" when looking to recruit a driver.

But with Williams having Mercedes engines supplied to them it could be a great option for them. He is, without doubt, the best driver yet to sign a contract with anyone for 2019 and Williams would be making a mistake to not be in talks with the driver.

Ocon may see it as a step-down but if he wants to be in that Mercedes seat in the near future sometime you have to take one step down before you can make two steps up.