F1: The butterfly effect of signing Sainz for Ferrari: Ricciardo arrives at McLaren

The Woking team confirms the Australian, who failed to succeed at Renault, just a few minutes after the signing of Ferrari.

• Sainz-Ferrari.
  

  Intrahistory of an agreement
  

• World 2020.
  

  An F1 on the verge of collapse
  

The transfer market in Formula 1 has experienced a tremendous upturn since Sebastian Vettel confirmed his departure from Ferrari at the end of the season. The butterfly effect triggered by the world tetracampen and the arrival of Carlos Sainz Ferrari have triggered a frenzy of activity in the offices. At the moment, McLaren confirmed this morning to Daniel Ricciardo as a substitute for Spanish in Woking.

Sainz and Ricciardo join the roster of pilots who have a guaranteed seat by 2021. A select group of six, with Charles Leclerc, to be a partner of the Spanish, Max Verstappen (Red Bull), Stephen Ocon (Renault) and Sergio Prez (Aston Martin).

McLaren did not delay even the official statement from Ferrari to overtake Ricciardo. A year ago, the Australian was already one step away from driving papaya cars, although he finally opted for Renault, where he has not achieved the expected results.

Even with Alonso

The growth of the team led by Andreas Seidl It has been the best argument to convince Ricciardo, who will lead the British project from 2021, when they will reassemble, 15 years later, Mercedes engines.

Ricciardo's departure therefore leaves a vacancy at Renault, which requires a partner for Ocon. Throughout Wednesday, the British press had speculated on a return of Fernando Alonso in 2021, although the Asturian has had to confirm that he would never return before the regulatory revolution, planned for 2022. The other candidate would be Vettel, although the German's plans rather point to withdrawal.

“There is no place for two alpha males”

Among all these uncertainties, Mercedes is emerging as the only redoubt of stability. The great dominators of the World Cup since 2015 will be able to bet on the continuity of Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, a solid duo with perfectly defined roles. The 35-year-old Briton still has the ambition to break the record for Michael Schumacher, accompanied by his faithful squire, who are also in the last hours as a candidate for Ferrari.

Finally, Red Bull must decide whether Alexander Albon remains at Verstappen's side, with a contract until 2023. At the moment, the only thing he wanted to clarify Christian horner This Thursday is that he does not see any option to recover Vettel. “There is no place for two alpha males,” revealed the head of the Austrian squire.