Ferrari could make a decision as soon as the end of next week on Sebastian Vettel’s successor for the 2021 season.
On Tuesday, Vettel and Ferrari announced they were parting ways after failing to win the title during his five-year association with the Scuderia, and with the team’s hierarchy having lost faith in the four-time world champion and putting their weight behind Charles Leclerc.
McLaren’s Carlos Sainz is the current favourite to slot in alongside Leclerc at Ferrari, a move the British manufacturer would potentially sanction if they can find a reliable replacement.
Daniel Ricciardo previously held talks over a dream switch to Ferrari, but his former Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen does not expect the Australian, who joined Renault in 2018, to be chosen as Vettel's replacement.
Asked in an online Q&A if he thought Vettel’s replacement would have an "Italian-sounding name", Verstappen said: “I think it’s not going to be the Italian-sounding name.
"Let’s see. At the end of the day, it’s just a guess. We’ll have to wait and see.”
