These the main contenders imo.
Kimi is the perfect team mate, ferrari really need to steal Some new strategists so that they actually support Kimi as much as Vettel, even if the overall bias is sensibly towards the four times world champ, driver paid five times the fee vettel. If they hire a new driver, unless Vettel is going somewhere, why buy in ricci or anyone else - the team can’t cope with that situation with Kimi being as docile as a new puppy, a driver with any ambition will blow the team apart! Better to bring in Charles, train him, manipulate him however you want as he’ll be grateful of the opportunity, and will likely be more happy to wait for his chance at a title tilt.
Kimi is doing fantastic this season. If he wants to stay I can't see a reason not keeping him on. Get the strategists to pull their finger out so he can actually be a mobile chicane where it matters (and be open with him about it). Holding up Elton/Bottas on ruined tires is not very effective at all. I love Danny Ric but I just can't see it working out with him and Vettel. I don't think there's much difference between the two, and Ricciardo is far too hungry to start playing 2nd fiddle. He won't sign for a single year, he's not stupid. Ferrari keeping Kimi on for another year, as they have the luxury with him for that (age, end of career type thing) keeps their options well and truly open to either get Leclerc in for 2020/21 or indeed exercise their option on Ricciardo, or a matured Verstappen.
I´d pick Ricciardo, but probably he´s too expensive. Keep Raikkonen at a reduced wage for another year and let´s see how this Leclerc does.
Even though I'm a big Ric fan, I've gone for Kimi as he is still doing really despite the unfair treatment he's getting. I was also very impressed by Leclerc over the weekend and I can see him in the Ferrari seat sooner rather than later. And in regards to the Lewis post earlier..... Please NO!
I'm a Ferrari fan first before any drivers, but if they ever picked up Lewis I'd never tell anyone I was until he was gone.
There's no question the answer should be Leclerc. Vettel will move on in another year or 2. Ferrari needs a future driver to nurture. If it isn't Leclerc then they should stay with Kimi one more year.
I wouldn't want to be making a decision quite yet but otherwise I agree absolutely. Leclerc did a stellar job in Baku and if he carries on like that it would be madness to let him go anywhere else. Jonathan
I don't think any driver of worth is going to play second fiddle to Vettel......even though he is a 4 x Champion. That's history, and the future is the next race. Until Ferrari change their obvious preference strategy, then nothing will change. Give Kimi equal back-up through this year and see who comes up with the points.........I'd bet on Kimi for sure. There again, Kimi might have had enough anyway by the end of the year. With a bit of cash in the bank......just take it easy.......do some sponsorship like all the racers from the past. Why stay on to mix it with the young guns..?
Kimi is best for Ferrari's second seat. IF in fact they would replace him for 2019 I wonder if Bottas would be the best fit, similar Finnish temperament and perhaps bring some Mercedes info with him. Rici would be fine if the previous two don't work out.
Keep Kimi. I think it’s too soon to pull the trigger on Leclerc, and I think it’s usually better to grab someone who may be able to advise new employers who shows promise among the technical side to snag them too. Everyone likes Kimi, he adds to the Ferrari mystique and he also know the score, he has no chance of winning a race if Seb is still running. Taking a gargantuan cheque to be humiliated every race day is a great gig, especially if no one else has you on the radar.
Kimi is resurgent this year and driving great. I'd like to see him end his career on a high note, but no matter how well he's driving he's close to the end. The Honey Badger is young, very very fast and hand down the best overtaker on the grid. They'd be foolish to let him go and end up at Merc where he and LCH could be an unstoppable Force. Ferrari need to embrace the concept of two top drivers at the top of their game and stop trying to pander to a single prima donna (no offence meant to Seb with that remark) with a solidly defined 2nd driver. They need to concentrate on not just scoring points, but stopping others scoring them. Kimi has stepped up this year, but for the last few there were too many times he was too far off the pace compared to Seb meaning that one or both of the Mercs were ahead of him, even if they were behind Seb.
I agree with you that Leclerc is the future. However, I don't see it happen that soon (at least not before the 2021 season). If you look at the age of Ferrari's recruits since 1990, it's clear that Ferrari has a preference for slightly "older" drivers. Their youngest recruit since 1990 was Gianni Morbidelli, who was nearly 24 years old when he "joined" the Scuderia for the 1991 Australian Grand Prix.
