Giovinazzi favourite for Sauber seat in 2019

Reports in Italy claim that Giovinazzi is set to be announced as the Sauber's second seat alongside veteran Kimi Raikkonen in the team, the Swiss team simply waiting on confirmation that Giovinazzi will replace Ferrari bound Charles Leclerc.

Since finishing second in the 2016 GP2 Series Championship, Giovinazzi has been on the sidelines of Formula 1 as Sauber and Ferrari reserve driver. He made two grand prix starts for Sauber in place of injured Pascal Wehrlein last year.

Earlier this month, Sauber scored a coup when they managed to secure the services of Kimi Raikkonen for the next two years after Ferrari decided to promote young Leclerc to replace the Finn.

Should Giovinazzi get the nod from his minders and get the Sauber seat next year, the team's current driver Marcus Ericsson will be out of a job.

Ferrari have a deal with Sauber whereby they have first option for one seat with the Hinwill outfit and with Leclerc heading to Maranello, it is now up to the Reds to decide who they place in the team.

In Sochi on Friday morning, Giovinazzi will not be the only guest driver on duty as Artem Markelov will be in a Renault cockpit, Lando Norris in action for McLaren and Nicholas Latifi set for a Force India run.