F1: 5 Midfield Drivers to watch out for in 2019

It is the New Year which means we are getting ever closer to the Formula One season that begins place on March 17th.

When it's a new season that means new faces in the driver's line-up representing all 10 teams.

We have seen over the last few seasons of two drivers going head to head for the driver's championship including Lewis Hamilton versus Sebastian Vettel and Hamilton up against his Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg.

But F1 has been known for hosting a number of dull races where the cameras focus more on the cars not at the front row to hope the race will come out as exciting for the audiences watching it at home.

The last couple of seasons has hosted some interesting battles from the mid-table drivers including the race for fourth place in the Constructors' championship.

2018 saw Renault takeover from Force India's spot in fourth place, thanks to the help of the team's points deduction after going into administration.

But 2019 is a fresh new season with a fresh of new targets for all 10 teams on the grid.

Here are five midfield drivers to look out for in the new season of F1.

#5 Lance Stroll

Lance Stroll to team up with Sergio Perez at Racing Point for 2019

After a long speculation, Lance Stroll was announced at the end of November that he will be driving for Racing Point in the 2019 championship. The Canadian takes over from Esteban Ocon's seat to race alongside Sergio Perez, that has done wonders for the team since joining them from McLaren in 2014.

Stroll does have a bit of competition at his team when someone like Perez has provided a number of podium finishes over the last five seasons. But, what will be interesting is to see how Stroll does at his second ever team in his young F1 career.

Last year was a struggle for Stroll and the whole of the Williams team as they found it difficult to produce a competitive racing car. But, a fresh start at Racing Point alongside his father and team boss, Lawrence Stroll, may just help the young man show what he's really got. Ocon will take some replacing.

#4 George Russell

2019 is exciting times for British motorsport fans with the arrival of Lando Norris at McLaren and the promising George Russell. Russell will be racing for Williams in the new season after taking over from Lance Stroll and will team up with the ever so experienced Robert Kubica.

The young Brit ended 2018 with a bang by being crowned champion of Formula 2 with team Carlin. Russell beat Norris to the F2 driver's championship by a whopping 68 points and now the 20-year-old will experience his first ever F1 campaign.

Williams had a very poor season previously by finishing last in the constructors' championship so it could clearly not get any worse for the British F1 team. But, it will certainly give Russell the motivation to help Williams climb up the ladder and avoid rock bottom yet again.

#3 Daniil Kvyat

That's right, Daniil Kvyat is back on the Toro Rosso scene after taking a season out of the F1 driver's line-up. The Russian spent most of last year as a reserve driver for Scuderia Ferrari behind Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen.

With Pierre Gasly's promising talent promoting him to Red Bull and Brendon Hartley not convincing Dr Helmut Marko to keep the New Zealander on board for another year, Kvyat was called back in.

It looked as though Kvyat would never return to the F1 grid - but he might have to thank former teammate Daniel Ricciardo for shockingly departing Red Bull - bringing the opportunity back to the Russian.

The 24-year-old left Toro Rosso before the 2017 championship had even come to a close.

Kvyat may only have the upcoming season to prove himself but his past experience in F1 may help Toro Rosso be a threat at the mid-table point of the constructors' championship.

#2 Robert Kubica

Who would have thought Kubica would return to the grid?

Believe it or not - Robert Kubica really is back on the Formula One scene after eight years away from the sport. Kubica's incredible come back has been extremely hard for the Pole to convince team bosses of a number of F1 teams to sign him up.

Many would have given up at the first hurdle but not Kubica. His dream of being back behind the wheel will be finally completed come March 17th when the lights are out in Melbourne for the opening race at the Australian Grand Prix.

George Russell will be Kubica's teammate for the new season and the questions will be who will outpace and out race the most, come the end of the championship?

Kubica's past experience in F1 will be a big help for the 34-year-old as his next aim will be to seal a second year back in the biggest racing series in motorsport.

#1 Kimi Raikkonen

Raikkonen's F1 career is not done just yet!

Imagine if the 2018 season had seen the end of the road for not just Fernando Alonso but also for Kimi Raikkonen?

Can you imagine the sadness of losing both of the biggest names in Formula One? Luckily for the fans, Raikkonen has not hung up his helmet just yet as he is about to enter in his 15th F1 season.

It will see the iceman reunite with his first ever F1 team, Sauber, after making way for Charles Leclerc at Scuderia Ferrari. It was a sight for sore eyes at last year's US Grand Prix when Raikkonen won his first F1 race in over three years which just showed the 39-year-old has still got it to compete against the best on the grid.

This will excite the members back in the Sauber garage as Raikkonen's wealth of success and experience could really make the Swiss group a threat in the constructors' championship.

Which driver are you most looking forward to seeing compete this year? Comment below...

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