2019 Season

Driver changes

The most significant driver move sees Daniel Ricciardo leave Red Bull Racing after five years, joining Renault to replace Carlos Sainz Jr. Pierre Gasly is promoted from Toro Rosso to fill Ricciardo’s Red Bull seat. Toro Rosso, meanwhile, signs Daniil Kvyat — returning to the team after last racing there in 2017 — alongside Formula 2 driver Alexander Albon, who replaces Brendon Hartley. Albon becomes only the second Thai driver to race in Formula One, after Prince Bira.

Carlos Sainz Jr. moves to McLaren, replacing Fernando Alonso, who has retired from Formula One. His partner is Lando Norris, the 2017 European Formula 3 champion and 2018 Formula 2 runner-up, who replaces Stoffel Vandoorne. Vandoorne moves to Formula E with the Mercedes-affiliated HWA Racelab and also joins Mercedes as a reserve driver.

Ferrari make a headline switch: Charles Leclerc arrives to partner Sebastian Vettel, replacing seven-time champion Kimi Räikkönen. Räikkönen returns to Sauber — where he began his career in 2001 — now rebranded as Alfa Romeo Racing, alongside Antonio Giovinazzi, who made two race starts for the team as an injury replacement in 2017.

At Racing Point, Lance Stroll joins from Williams, replacing Esteban Ocon. Ocon moves to Mercedes as a reserve driver. His Williams seat is filled by George Russell, the reigning Formula 2 champion and a Mercedes junior, with Robert Kubica returning alongside him after an eight-year absence. Kubica’s comeback follows the 2011 rallying accident that left him with a partially severed right hand; his last F1 race start was the 2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Sergey Sirotkin departs Williams after his backer withdrew sponsorship.

Team changes

Red Bull Racing ends its twelve-year partnership with Renault, switching to Honda power. This means both Red Bull and sister team Toro Rosso — which joined Honda in 2018 — run Honda engines. It is the first time Honda has powered more than one team since 2008, when it also supplied the customer Super Aguri outfit. Neither Red Bull team carries Honda’s official factory team designation.

Racing Point completes its transition to a fully independent constructor, having raced under the Racing Point Force India name since August 2018 when a consortium led by Lawrence Stroll acquired the assets of Sahara Force India.

Sauber is renamed Alfa Romeo Racing, extending the sponsorship arrangement that began in 2018, while continuing to operate from Hinwil under a Swiss racing licence.

Haas signs energy drink brand Rich Energy as title sponsor for 2019.

Calendar

The 2019 season runs twenty-one Grands Prix, unchanged from 2018. The Chinese Grand Prix is the 1000th World Championship race in Formula One history.

Regulation changes

Teams have agreed to a set of aerodynamic changes designed to reduce dirty air and improve overtaking. The front wing is widened by 200 mm, raised 20 mm, and moved 25 mm further forward; its endplates are reshaped and winglets above the main plane are banned. The rear wing is widened by 100 mm and raised 70 mm, with the DRS opening enlarged by 20 mm to make the system more effective. Bargeboards are reduced and rear wing endplate development is curtailed to create space for sponsor logos.

The maximum fuel allowance is increased from 105 kg to 110 kg, reducing the need for drivers to manage fuel consumption during races. Drivers who weigh below 80 kg must carry ballast placed around the seat, eliminating the weight advantage previously held by lighter drivers and discouraging unhealthy weight-loss regimes.

The bonus point for fastest lap is reintroduced, making 2019 the first season to award it since 1959. The point is only given if the driver setting the fastest lap finishes in the top ten.

Pirelli simplifies tyre naming at the request of the FIA. The three compounds allocated per race are referred to only as soft (red), medium (yellow), and hard (white), regardless of the underlying compound. The specific compounds are identified by number — C1 (hardest) through C5 (softest) — and the multicolour sidewall markings used in previous years are discontinued.

A new FIA helmet standard is introduced, subjecting all certified helmets to more thorough crash tests for improved energy absorption and penetration resistance.