'Gasly considers Alpine departure and negotiates with Williams'

Rumours surfaced this week that Hulkenberg is about to sign for several years with Audi, now called Stake F1 Team (aka Sauber). Croft thinks that the switch is going to happen. "He will be there at Audi alongside Carlos Sainz. I think that’s where Sainz is heading because Mercedes will bring in Andrea Kimi Antonelli - that makes logical sense and I think Red Bull will keep hold of Sergio Perez - that makes logical sense as well," the commenter said.

Gasly to leave Alpine?

That would mean no place for Valtteri Bottas and Guanyu Zhou. Where should the latter go? "He could go to Alpine. Remember he was a Renault academy driver so he could go back into that stable again. Ocon or Gasly - or both - are going to have to leave Alpine," Croft said. Still, Croft says Zhou is more likely to have to watch from the sidelines next year than get a spot at Alpine.

"Gasly might find himself at Williams. I am sure he’s been in negotiations with Williams to drive alongside Alex Albon. That does free up a space but they also have Jack Doohan waiting in the wings who is very much acclimatised in that team. Haas? No. I think that will be Kevin Magnussen and Ollie Bearman."

Zhou exit looks imminent

The conclusion of the story? "We could do with two more teams on the grid." There are too few seats available for the number of drivers. If Croft has to name one driver who is going to be left out, he mentions Zhou. "I don’t think you keep a driver in the sport because the popularity of that driver as such guarantees a full house at a Grand Prix. I think Zhou deserves a place on the grid. He’s a much better driver than that Sauber allows him to show more often than not," Croft concluded.