F1, Sebastian Vettel’s retirement opens the market

Four drivers vying for Aston Martin seat

With Sebastian Vettel announcing his retirement at the end of the year, the driver market for the 2023 Formula 1 grid can now get underway in full effect.

If there will be no changes for Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes next season, now the vacated seat at Aston Martin may upset several mid-table teams. As Motorsport reports, there are in fact four drivers vying to replace Vettel: Fernando Alonso, Nyck De Vries, Mick Schumacher and Nico Hulkenberg.

Alonso could be the first suspect since the renewal with Alpine is late in coming and he has no intention of quitting. De Vries would be a choice dictated more by Mercedes than anything else with the young Dutchman who could also end up at Williams, but much will depend on where the talented Australian Oscar Piastri goes to race.

Then there is Schumacher, who would not mind an adventure with a team more important than Haas. Finally Hulkenberg, who replaced in the first two races this year Vettel, who tested positive for Covid, and who is liked by team owner Lawrence Stroll.

Aston Martin’s decision on who to pair with Lance Stroll will thus have a knock-on influence on the market choices of Alpine, Williams, Haas, and possibly McLaren. Indeed, the possible exit at the end of the year of Daniel Ricciardo from the British team should not be ruled out.