Alfa Romeo is keeping options open and is in no rush to confirm a driver line-up for the 2022 Formula 1 season.
Last week, it was confirmed the Italian carmaker would continue their partnership with the Sauber operation on a multi-year deal, albeit with annual assessments.
As a result, attention has now turned to their seats, where Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi are both out of contract.
“It’s far too early,” said team boss Fred Vasseur said on making a decision.
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“It has absolutely nothing to do with Alfa Romeo, the driver choice is the responsibility of the team.
“We have to take time to discuss and think about this, but we are not in a rush.
“I want to see what happens in F1 and the junior series also, and I will decide on the second part of the season – not before.”
With F1 introducing new regulations next year, it was suggested to Vasseur that Alfa Romeo needs continuity in its drivers to optimise performance.
“It could be a point, but it’s not necessary,” the Frenchman said. “You can say that it’s always good to have a kind of continuity into the team because at least you have a reference and you can compare with the feeling of the previous year.
“Let’s see. We’ll do the choice when it will be the right time to do it. We could keep the same line-up or we could change. Everything is open.
“And I think it’s also quite comfortable for the team to have everything open. It’s good for Antonio and it’s good for Kimi. I don’t have the feeling that to be under pressure is fundamentally bad. We need the pressure to perform and I don’t want to be in an easy world.”
Outside their current pairing Alfa Romeo has two Ferrari Academy prospects in Callum Ilott and Robert Shwartzman to consider, while names like Nico Hulkenberg and even Valtteri Bottas have also been rumoured.
As for Giovinazzi, he is determined to stay for what would be his fourth year at the Swiss team.
“The only thing I can do now is do a good job, drive fast and then we’ll see what will happen next year,” commented the Italian.
“I would really, really like to stay here also next year, at my team I’m still in. I know the people really well, I have a good relationship with the people inside, with Fred as well.
“So we’ll see what will happen but for now I can just focus on myself and we’ll see what will happen.”
Across the garage, questions are starting to be raised around Kimi Raikkonen, particularly after his collision with Sebastian Vettel in Austria.
“If I decide to quit, I really don’t care who drives the car (laughs),” he told Germany’s Sport 1 on his potential successor. “That’s no longer my problem.”
