Astonishment, dismay, the constant buzz of rumors; the driver’s market only adds to the spectacle in F1. All the big teams have caused a stir on the grid, but Alfa Romeo may also have an interesting “silly season” this time around. Kimi Raikkonen brings experience and weight to the team while Antonio Giovinazzi brings improvement for the future.

However, both drivers’ contracts terminate at the end of this season. Team principal Fred Vasseur says he wants to keep his options open. “We’ll do the choice when it will be the right time to do it. We could keep the same lineup or we could change, but everything is open”  

He shares his thoughts on the empty seats next season: “You can say that it’s always good to have a kind of continuity into the team, because at least you have a reference and you can compare with the feeling of the previous year and blah, blah. But let’s see.”

This means Alfa Romeo could replace both drivers next season. “There is no option. No contract. It means that it’s an open discussion.” Both the drivers have had average performances in Silverstone so far. Kimi qualified 17th and Gio, 14th on Friday’s session at the circuit.

While Gio shows promise, Raikkonen’s age and plunging performance may put him out of the seat, and the sport next season.

Fred Vasseur’s decision for Alfa Romeo

The Italian team signed a deal with Ferrari. Nonetheless, Vasseur holds the final decision of the drivers. He says, “I think it’s also quite comfortable for the team to have everything open. It’s good for Antonio and good for Kimi. I don’t have the feeling that to be under pressure is fundamentally bad. I think that we need the pressure to perform and I don’t want it to be an easy world.”

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Kimi Raikkonen may have reached the end of the road this season. The world champion’s career is slowing down in a fast-paced sport. His Alfa Romeo has been out-performed by the sister car multiple times this season. Giovinazzi, on the other hand, has been climbing up the ranks. “Antonio is on the list for sure…He is part of the family. He is improving… and he will be at the top of the list for next year.”

This isn’t enough for the Frenchman. “Now I want to see more improvement and more results into the race. Everybody’s under pressure. I am under pressure, the engineers are under pressure, the drivers they have to be under pressure. It’s a world of pressure.”

Vasseur doesn’t seem to be in too much of a hurry to decide. A wise man, he wants to wait and see how the rest of the market fairs out. “We will see how the market is evolving… Mercedes has to take a decision and then Red Bull has to take a decision. Then, like a domino, at one stage, we will have some opportunities on the table and we’ll take a decision at this stage.”

As Alfa Romeo lies low, the anticipation only rises. Will the treasured veteran pull through another season? Does Gio move up or fall back? Is there a rookie involved? It is all but a waiting game.

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