Coronavirus on the paddock: These are the possible replacements for the F1 drivers

Can the coronavirus strike?

The plan is ready and everything is now being prepared to race and stay safely in Austria, but of course there is a risk lurking. If a driver is infected with the coronavirus, he will not be able to race and Formula 1 will continue. That's why we take a lap around the possible replacements at the different teams.

For example, Mercedes has recently appointed Stoffel Vandoorne as its new test driver. The Belgian drove for McLaren in Formula 1 before and is active in Formula E himself. Besides Vandoorne, Esteban Gutierrez also has a chance to replace the men at Mercedes, should they become infected with the coronavirus.

Hoping for goodwill

McLaren and Racing Point have a close relationship with Mercedes in terms of reserve drivers and can call on Vandoorne and Gutierrez in case of an emergency. In addition, McLaren still has a close relationship with the always hot Fernando Alonso and Racing Point could still call on former driver Nico Hulkenberg.

Red Bull Racing and AlphaTauri will have to work together in this area, as reserve driver Sergio Setta Camera is in Japan for the Super Formula and would most likely not be allowed to enter the country to jump in during a race. For Sebastien Buemi this means all the more chance of a temporary return to Formula 1.

Ferrari steals from F1 team

Ferrari has appointed more surprisingly wise Antonio Giovinazzi as reserve driver, leaving Alfa Romeo with a hole if there are problems at Ferrari. However, Alfa Romeo has its own replacements ready with Williams driver of 2019, Robert Kubica, and former Sauber driver Marcus Ericsson.

Renault is the only team that does not have a real replacement driver. Hulkenberg and Sergey Sirotkin seem logical options as possible replacements, but should Daniel Ricciardo or Estebam Ocon actually fail, there is no driver who can already be 100 percent sure to fill in for one of the two. For example, the young talents from the training course do not yet have a super license to qualify.

Haas is doing better, with Louis Deletraz and Pietro Fittipaldi as possible replacements. Both have already tested for the team in the past. Williams also has a new reserve rider, with Jack Aitken making the switch this year from the Renault program where he didn't see any point in it anymore.

See the complete overview here:

Mercedes:

- Stoffel Vandoorne

- Esteban Gutierrez

Red Bull Racing:

- Sebastian Buemi

Ferrari:

- Antonio Giovinazzi

McLaren:

- The Mercedes drivers

- Fernando Alonso?

Renault:

- Nico Hulkenberg?

- Sergey Sirotkin?

AlphaTauri:

- Sergio Sette Camera

- The Red Bull drivers

Racing Point:

- The Mercedes drivers

- Nico Hulkenberg?

Alfa Romeo:

- Robert Kubica

- Marcus Ericsson

Haas:

- Pietro Fittipaldi

- Louis Deletraz

Williams:

- Jack Aitken