Formula 1's new and returning drivers for 2019

Between 2017 and 2018, Formula 1's line-up of drivers remained unusually constant, but that's altered drastically for 2019. There have been huge moves for the top teams, with Ferrari and Red Bull both welcoming new drivers to their race seats, which has meant there are naturally fresh faces further down the grid.

There are also quite a few familiar faces that we didn't see in 2018, and one that will be making his first Grand Prix start for the first time in almost a decade in Australia. There are three rookies and three returning drivers in total to run through, so there's plenty of profiles to familiarise yourselves with before Melbourne rolls around.

Lando Norris

Norris is one of two British F1 rookies in 2019

Team: McLaren

Age: 19

Experience: Rookie

Race Number: #4

Last year's Formula 2 runner-up gets his chance with McLaren for 2019, replacing the British outfit's previous young hot-shot, Stoffel Vandoorne. With Carlos Sainz as a team-mate, Lando Norris won't be expected to lead the team to any sort of glory anytime soon, but the British driver has shown excellent speed and race craft in his junior career.

At 19-years-old, he'll be the youngest driver on the grid in Melbourne, but the teenager has a very mature head on his shoulders and has been with the papaya-coloured team for a number of years now.

With Lewis Hamilton ageing (but by no means losing his speed) many people in the UK are wondering where their next world champion will come from, and this young man is without a doubt in the frame.

He's not the only one mind you, but expect him to have a solid if not spectacular first season, with potential flashes of brilliance, he's definitely got time on his side to improve, though.

Antonio Giovinazzi

Team: Sauber

Age: 25

Experience: 2 GP Starts (2017)

Race Number: #99

The first of our returning drivers is Antonio Giovinazzi, who becomes the first Italian to be a full-time Formula 1 driver since Jarno Trulli and Vitantonio Liuzzi in 2011, a full eight years ago.

Giovinazzi actually made his F1 debut two years ago, in the wake of Pascal Wehrlein's Race of Champions injury, which kept the German out of action for two races. Gio produced a decent display in Australia, finishing a respectable 12th.

There was the talk of Antonio remaining in the car for the rest of the season, however, this was quickly shot down, after the Italian wrecked two cars in China at the following race.

Despite this, don't expect Gio to struggle in 2019, although he'll need to do extremely well to beat team-mate, Kimi Raikkonen. Sauber have worked with Giovinazzi during 2018 and he knows their car, this is a decision that the Swiss outfit won't have rushed and they have probably made the right one.

Alexander Albon

Team: Toro Rosso

Age: 22

Experience: Rookie

Race Number: #23

Another driver to graduate from Formula 2 is Alexander Albon, who will become the first Thai Formula 1 driver since Prince Birabongse Bhanudej Bhanubandh (actual royalty, not his first name) competed in the 1950s.

Albon finished third in last year's feeder series - and like someone else on this list - has had a very arduous path to the top. In 2012, at just 16-years-old, he became part of the Red Bull Junior Team, the same driver academy that Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo, Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen all came through.

However, he was axed later the same year and considered quitting racing. However, the London-born driver stuck with motorsport and quickly ascended through the lower formulas. Last year, Albon finished third in F2 and did enough to impress Toro Rosso (Red Bull's second team) into re-hiring him and partnering him with the next man on this list...

Daniil Kvyat

Team: Toro Rosso

Age: 24

Experience: 72 GP Starts (2014-17)

Race Number: #26

Many fans thought they would never see the day... Especially for Toro Rosso/Red Bull.

Daniil Kvyat became one of the youngest ever Formula 1 drivers when he made his debut for STR in 2014. The Russian enjoyed a decent first season in F1, being promoted to the senior team for 2015 where he outscored Daniel Ricciardo.

Things went downhill from there, though. 2016 was a tough year, being demoted back to Toro Rosso after taking Vettel out at the start of his home race in Russia. Max Verstappen's seat was swapped with Kvyat's, the former would go on to win his first race with Red Bull and become the youngest Grand Prix winner ever.

Despite his poor form, he was retained by STR for 2017, but things continued to deteriorate. Despite Sainz leaving for Renault, the Torpedo was fired in favour of Pierre Gasly and Brendon Hartley. A year with Ferrari as a test driver and a shortage of good RBR talent means that Kvyat gets a chance at Formula 1 again.

George Russell

Could Russell (left) follow in Lewis Hamilton's footsteps and become F1 World Champion?

Team: Williams

Age: 20 (21 on debut)

Experience: Rookie

Race Number: #63

Formula 2's 2018 winner beat out the likes of Esteban Ocon and Sergey Sirotkin for this seat. George Russell fully deserves his great reputation. Russell has shown excellent speed and consistency in his victorious campaign, beating both Norris and Albon to the title.

He's currently a Mercedes youngster and his style is reminiscing of the last Brit to drive for Williams. Jenson Button - the 2009 World Champion - was smooth and consistent from an early age and impressed during his rookie year.

JB was demoted to Benetton for 2001, but expect to only see this young man going further up. He's got the backing of the best team in the sport and has already shown that he's quick in modern F1 cars, setting the unofficial lap record at the Hungaroring in testing. He'll need to do well to beat his teammate, though.

Robert Kubica

Team: Williams

Age: 34

Experience: 76 GP Starts (2006-10)

Race Number: #88

It's something that some fans of Formula 1 for the last ten years or more have dreamt of and it's finally become a reality. Robert Kubica was looking as though he had the pace and maturity to become world champion as early as 2008, he just needed to be in a top car to challenge for the whole season.

A rallying accident in 2011 injured his arm so severely that he still doesn't have full motion of the limb to this day, but that hasn't stopped the Polish driver from persevering. After testing with Renault in 2017, he was Williams' test driver last year and now has a racing seat at the Grove outfit for 2019.

Some will be sceptical as to how he can race at the highest level with his disability, but there is a big chance that he'll hit the ground running. Kubica's testing times at Barcelona last year were impressive, certainly more so than Lance Stroll and Sergey Sirotkin's times, despite the party line which Williams were repeating.

Kubica and Russell are the perfect blend of youth and experience. Picking who will come out on top over a season is a difficult task. If there is the need to pick one, though, Russell can be a safer choice, as he's been racing more recently than Kubica, and is by no means a slouch himself.

Who are you most excited to see joining or re-joining the sport in 2019? Let us know in the comments below!

Edited by Victor R. Lopez M.