Any driver changes during 2018?

[Jon39]

Working from the original 2018 F1 driver list at the start of the season, please tell me whether there have been any team driver changes, or driver substitutions at any of the races so far this year.

Thanks.

[CocoUK]

None.

[Jon39]

Thank you Coco.

It does seem very rare now, that the reserve drivers ever get an opportunity to race.

[HustleRussell]

F1 is a very professional world these days. Competing is a lot safer than it used to be. The driver's time which is not spent at race circuits or travelling to / from is occupied with contractual obligations for the team, so there isn't a lot of opportunity to do other events in parallel even if the contract did permit it. Driver contracts tend to preclude racing in other series and participating in extreme sports or other dangerous activities in season.

There are a few factors remaining which cause in-season driver changes

F1 related injury (Alonso, Australia '16?)
Disinterest (Alonso, Monaco '17)
Illness (Massa, Hungary or Austria '17?)
Helmut Marco

I would say there were an unusually high number of in-season changes especially in 2017.

[CocoUK]

Haha!

It is indeed a rare occurance, despite our Austrian friend efforts!