Inside Line: Making sense of the Ferrari moves

Rewinding the past few months, it became increasingly clear after the summer break that Charles Leclerc was high on the Ferrari priority list for next year, contrary to universal support to keep Kimi Raikkonen in the team.

But the 20-year-old and his minders are said to have a pre-agreement in place which guaranteed Leclerc a place on the grid, a deal inked with the late Sergio Marchionne when he was at the helm of Maranello.

During the Italian Grand Prix weekend, there was an interesting sub-plot as FIA president Jean Todt and son Nicolas Todt were seen in the Ferrari compound. Did the visit have anything to do with the recent developments? Only they know...

Until this supposed "Marchionne Deal" surfaced, expectations were that Charles would spend another year at Sauber, or perhaps Haas, with Kimi spending another season in red.

The first hint that Kimi was on his way out was when Ferrari chief Louis Camilleri blew a little too much smoke up the Finn's ass at Monza, a couple of weeks ago, and then delivered a failed swerve: “It’s a team decision. As Maurizio [Arrivabene] is our team principal, ultimately he’ll take the decision.”

No Sherlock Holmes required to piece this little puzzle out. When the boss has an underling - in this case, Maurizio - to deliver the news, you know it won't be good. Red flags!

So with Kimi out the door, it did not take long for the one-liner to pop on the Scuderia's website: "Scuderia Ferrari announces that in the next Formula 1 racing season, Charles Leclerc will drive for the Team alongside Sebastian Vettel."

A little before that Kimi went on Instagram: "Guess who’s back?! Next two years with @sauberf1team ahead! Feels extremely good to go back where it all began!"

Now that was the jaw dropper! Who would have thought?

Let's face it, in recent years (make that a decade!) the Iceman made it clear for all and sundry he was dreadfully unhappy with his sullen podium 'celebrations' clear evidence of a man wanting to be anywhere but in Formula 1.

But despite the long faces Kimi and still has it in him to toil around in midfield oblivion for another two years! Returning to Sauber after all these years, there is poetry in their somewhere.

It makes no sense unless, of course, you follow the money and discover that Kimi has engineered a deal that gives him a share in the Swiss team and hence a plaything for when he quits the sport at the age of 41...

Well, that's the word as Formula 1 media as pundits jet into Singapore with this story - make that stories - bursting on their mobile phones as they wait for their luggage impatiently.

Beyond Kimi's shocker is the other reality of what has just descended on all at Maranello, including their 'star' driver Sebastian Vettel, namely the changing of the guard may have just begun.

The new management, led by the young Agnelli heir John Elkann are sure to have weighed in despite the sentiments of

Tifosi who want Kimi to remain and even petitioned the Scuderia, but clearly to no avail.

The powers that be - Elkann to Camilleri to Arrivabene - have been contractually obliged or decided that they will bank on youth and in Leclerc, they have signed up one of the youngest drivers in the team's history - only the late Ricardo Rodriguez was younger when he drove for the team at the age of 19 back in 1961.

Ferrari have made a statement: Charles is the future and he is expected to take the fight to Seb.

Thus, an intriguing duel lies ahead as the four times F1 world champion takes on the team's future star who will be only too eager to do what race drivers have to do first: beat your teammate!

How Ferrari manage the pair will be a riveting sideshow as it may trigger the changing of the guard in Formula 1. Seb needs to win to retain his status and huge salary, while Charlie boy will be looking to become the stallion in the stable with his eye on the piles of money that Ferrari are known to throw at their drivers.

Today the balance of power shifted dramatically away from Seb at Ferrari, perhaps not at the behest of Camilleri and Arrivabene but rather that of the late boss Sergio who, as written previously, may have pulled strings from his grave to give Charles his dream.

Winners are of course Charles as well as Kimi and Sauber. Losers without doubt Seb and only time will tell if Ferrari have made the right call, while other potential losers are the team's current driver Marcus Ericsson or their Ferrari backed reserve Antonio Giovinazzi.

As it stands, the Reds have little to lose: Seb needs to be pushed and Charles could well be the kid to do it, but if he 'Does-A-Vandoorne' they can swap him back with Kimi, at Sauber he is still part of the famiglia. If he succeeds then they have backed the right horse and that in turn will have countless imaginable repercussions.

Of course, right now it's not worth delving into the myriads of scenarios this pairing will have at Maranello but, for some reason, I am wishing away this season to see how things pan out with this wacky but salubrious 2019 driver line-up that must make this the silliest Silly Season of all-time.

Oh, by the way, we got it wrong! Apologies. Predicting Kimi had signed a Ferrari extension in Hungary was incorrect as it transpires. No excuse, but we were not alone...