Alfa Romeo has confirmed its 2020 F1 driver line-up, with Antonio Giovinazzi remaining for a second season alongside Kimi Räikkönen
Antonio Giovinazzi will drive for Alfa Romeo next year, after the team extended the Italian’s contract following a series of strong performances.
A shaky start to the season put his future in doubt, but Giovinazzi has matched Kimi Räikkönen since the summer break, regularly outqualifying his more experienced team-mate, and making his case for a second season with the team.
In a statement published after the United States Grand Prix, Alfa Romeo praised him for his maturity, enthusiasm and talent.
“I am very happy to be staying with the team for 2020,” said Giovinazzi. “I am grateful for the incredible level of support I received in my first full season in Formula 1: everyone in the team has stuck by my side since I joined and I am really looking forward to continuing our journey together.
“We learned a lot this year and I am confident we can make a big step forward next season. I won’t be a rookie anymore so there won’t be any excuses for me: I want to be competitive right from the start of the championship and repay the confidence the team has shown in me.”
More on F1 in 2020
Frédéric Vasseur, Alfa Romeo’s team principal had said that Giovinazzi was in line to retain his seat if he could maintain his level of performance since the summer break: since the Belgian Grand Prix, Giovinazzi has outqualified Räikkönen in four of the seven races.
“Antonio has done really well this year and I am extremely pleased to be able to confirm he will stay with Alfa Romeo Racing for 2020,” said Vasseur. “The way he has integrated into the team and has consistently improved throughout his first full season in the sport are very promising and we cannot wait to unlock his full potential as we continue to work together.
“Antonio has emerged as a very quick driver, even alongside as tough a benchmark as Kimi, and we expect him to develop even further as his experience grows. His technical feedback, work ethics and positive approach will help us continue to push our team forward, and so will the consistency of an unchanged line-up for next season.”
Carlos Sainz has battled against 'chosen' team-mates like Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc for all his F1 career — and thrived. Now, at Williams, he finally has a team centred on him, says Mark Hughes. But the fight goes on
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has moved to consolidate his power by making the governing body's decision-making process less accountability and vulnerable to scrutiny. Explore the various controversies in his tumultuous time as FIA's president
Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz would have made for a stellar Red Bull driver line-up in 2025. Adam Cooper reveals why it extended Sergio Perez's contract early in the year — but has now apparently changed its mind
In Abu Dhabi, McLaren was crowned F1 constructors' champion for the first time since its MP4-13 delivered the title 26 years ago. Matt Bishop recalls what made Adrian Newey's first McLaren masterpiece 'seriously rock'