Only three seats remain on the grid for the 2019 Formula 1 season, after a flurry of announcements and confirmations since summer, and now a long line of drivers are ready for a round of musical chairs that could play out until testing begins next season.
Williams today recently confirmed Mercedes backed Formula 2 front-runner George Russell as their first pick and still have a seat to fill, which is now apparently up for grabs as word in the paddock is SMP Racing may struggle to find backing for Sergey Sirtokin to do a second year with the Grove outfit.
Esteban Ocon also remains and option, but it is unlikely that Mercedes will fund two drivers. Meanwhile, Robert Kubica is back in the picture for a return with a reported $10-million to back his cause.
Racing Point or Force India or whatever it will be next year is certain to have Lance Stroll in the team, his father bought it for him after all and Sergio Perez looks set to stay. The announcements are expected to be made ahead of the Mexican's home race later this month.
With prodigal son Daniil Kvyat returning to Toro Rosso for the umpteenth time, there remains the sister car with 'AN Other' on it for now, but Red Bull consultant Helmut Marko is in no hurry to confirm the second driver which means the guessing game is likely to run until early next year.
Candidates are plentiful and, with this volatile Silly Season market, it is not sure that even the Doctor and his people know who their drivers will be next year.
So there we have it: three (two if Perez is a done deal) wrong end of the grid seats available with plenty young guns and a not so young Kubica in the queue.
Whatever happens between now and next season, fans are in for some intriguing driver/team changes, more than has been seen in the top flight for some years.
Ferrari, Red Bull and McLaren all welcome young new drivers, while a host of rookies will get their break including the likes of Williams' new boy Russell, Lando Norris (McLaren) and Antonio Giovinazzi (Sauber).
The only two teams to field unchanged drivers for next year are Mercedes with Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas teammates for 2019, while Haas has confirmed that Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean will remain with the American team.
2019 Formula 1 Drivers & Teams
| No. | Driver | Entrant | 2019 Status |
| 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | Confirmed |
| 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Mercedes | Confirmed |
| 33 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | Confirmed |
| 10 | Pierre Gasly | Red Bull | Confirmed |
| 35 | George Russell | Williams | Confirmed |
| TBC | Williams | Possible: Sirotkin, Latifi, Mazepin, Kubica, Ocon | |
| 5 | Sebastian Vettel | Ferrari | Confirmed |
| 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | Confirmed |
| 55 | Carlos Sainz | McLaren | Confirmed |
| 47 | Lando Norris | McLaren | Confirmed |
| 18 | Lance Stroll | Racing Point Force India | Confirmed (Almost!) |
| TBC | Racing Point Force India | Likely: Perez Possible: Ocon | |
| 26 | Daniil Kvyat | Toro Rosso | Confirmed |
| TBC | Toro Rosso | Possible: Hartley, Wehrlein, Ocon, Kubica | |
| 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Renault | Confirmed |
| 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | Renault | Confirmed |
| 7 | Kimi Raikkonen | Sauber | Confirmed |
| 36 | Antonio Giovinazzi | Sauber | Confirmed |
| 20 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas F1 Team | Confirmed |
| 8 | Romain Grosjean | Haas F1 Team | Confirmed |
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