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Reviewing our 2020 grid predictions! How did we do?

28 November 2019 at 10:38
Last update 28 November 2019 at 11:33

Right, with the 2020 grid confirmed, it's probably worth having a look back a few months at our predictions for the 2020 grid, and there's some that look very strange now! You can read those predictions, and the reasons behind them right here!

Mercedes prediction: Lewis Hamilton and Esteban Ocon 

So, not a great start. This one could have gone either way, but we thought Mercedes would want to get Ocon into the team as soon as possible, which is why we gave the Frenchman the nod. But Mercedes though otherwise and went with Bottas, which has implications on the rest of our predictions...

Ferrari prediction: Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc

Bit of an obvious one, but our first correct full team! They were always set to end up together in 2020, with Vettel's experience mixed with Leclerc's youth and talent. Well done us, even though it was pretty obvious!

Red Bull prediction: Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas

This looks a bit weird now, right? Back then, Alex Albon had just replaced Pierre Gasly at Red Bull and the jury was very much out, so we felt they might take a punt on Bottas after he was replaced by Ocon. Obviously that never happened, so... Unlucky us?

McLaren prediction: Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris

We'll take the points, even though they were already confirmed! Sainz and Norris have been a great team this year and we're excited to see what they can do in 2020!

Renault prediction: Daniel Ricciardo and Pierre Gasly

What were we thinking? This one is pretty strange, but if Bottas was going to take the Red Bull seat, maybe Gasly would end his Red Bull relationship and make the move to Renault? Ok, not our best prediction!

Toro Rosso prediction: Alex Albon and Daniil Kvyat

Close, but no cigar! Kvyat is right but Albon has impressed so much, he's been taken on by Red Bull! Gasly will be the second driver at Alpha Tauri, as it will be renamed in 2020.

Racing Point prediction: Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll

This one was pretty straightforward! Why wouldn't Racing Point want to keep Perez and Stroll? The Mexican has shown his talent this season once again and Stroll was never going anywhere, especially with some of his performances this season.

Alfa Romeo prediction: Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi

We're on a roll! Raikkonen was already under contract, but it was a tough choice to put Giovinazzi in for another season. Fortunately for us, and him, Frederic Vasseur saw it the same way and the Italian will be on the grid in 2020!

Haas prediction: Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg

I think we can be forgiven for this one, almost everybody expected Romain Grosjean to get the boot after another frustrating season, but Haas have been loyal to the Frenchman and will keep him on for another year with Magnussen.

Williams prediction: George Russell and Nicholas Latifi

Another full house! Robert Kubica's future was in doubt ever since the start of the season as he was outperformed by Russell, and Latifi seemed the obvious choice. The F2 star has been testing for Williams all season and was the last piece in the 2020 grid jigsaw!

So, 19 of the drivers we predicted the be on the grid are on the grid, but only 15 in the right team. 15/20 then, try again next year?