Silly Season Latest: Stroll to Toro Rosso and other bullsh!t

Why would Papa Stroll dish out a fortune to buy Force India only to send his lad Lance, who needs substantial mollycoddling, to Max's bull-ring?

Whatever the case don't hold your breath for the Stroll to Red Bull announcement, but if it does happen then tell them you saw it on here first!

With Carlos confirmed at McLaren for next season and Fernando seeking other playgrounds a question mark now hovers over Stoffel's cockpit. The Belgian has a chance if he can ramp up his performance dramatically in the final nine races of the season.

Meanwhile, McLaren have talked a good Silly Season - remember they bid for Daniel and even would welcome Kimi back at Working!

But they are apparently not finished as well backed Sergio whose time at Force India may be over in the wake of the Stroll invasion. The Mexican was former McLaren driver and is apparently on the radar again.

Fernando blew his first Macca adventure, so why not give Sergio another chance and he does come with a host of sponsors which Zak is struggling to secure.

Now the latest is that Zak Brown and the new leadership are also keen on young Mercedes protege Esteban Ocon. However, the belief is mere talk to remain relevant by the new bosses and the prediction is they will stick with Vandoorne and have Lando Norris in the wings to step up should it be required.

Oh yes, and did we mention the Nicolas Latifi option? His Canadian billionaire father has recently bought a huge chunk of McLaren and for sure it was not to watch them get trashed every weekend.

If you ignore the Stroll to Red Bull, then it would be fair to ask: who to fill the seat alongside Max Verstappen? He is the de facto number one and, with Dany packing his toys to soon to be mega-ultra-arch-rivals Renault they need someone fast and they are keen on promoting from their own ranks."

Verstappen is unlikely to be bothered who his teammate will be his self-confidence such that he fears no one. A debunked report suggested he blocked Red Bull from promoting Carlos, doubtful but it would not be the first time a big driver has blocked a teammate's progress in F1.

Step up Pierre Gasly who should be cannon-fodder for Max and apparently increasingly favourite for the job. Brendon has little if no chance unless he actually finds that 'magic button' that everyone expected he had and raise his game substantially between Spa and Abu Dhabi. He needs to first save his Toro Rosso seat before even thinking of slipping into the garage Max owns.

The next penny to drop should be Kimi confirmation by Ferrari expected before the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, but as the 'summer break' confirmed anything can happen any time.

The state of play below shows that only nine drivers are confirmed (black) for the 2019 Formula 1 grid with eleven seats still up for grabs (blue). Speculate away so you can boast I told you so when and if it happens!