Retro Silly Season

[S griffin]

Coulthard was linked to Honda for 06

[Theunser]

Jean Alesi, after making his unforgettable debut in 1989, was a target for many teams. His Williams pre-contract is well-known, but for 1990, Mclaren contacted him to replace Prost, but that came to nothing. Also Ligier made an offer for him. But he opted to stay at Tyrrell, and then to move to Ferrari in 1991.

[S griffin]

About the earlier post about Unser, I think he was actually linked to Brabham for 85 alongside Piquet, not 86

[S griffin]

Alonso was linked to a Jaguar drive for 03

[Theunser]

Ferrari wanted an italian driver, when Prost was sacked.
Modena, Capelli, Martini, de Cesaris and Larini were in the running.

[S griffin]

Michael Andretti was rumoured too

[Theunser]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Michael Andretti was rumoured too

And if I remember correctly, Keke Rosberg had a meeting with them.

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by Theunser

And if I remember correctly, Keke Rosberg had a meeting with them.

That was to replace Berger in '89 after his fiery Imola shunt.

[S griffin]

I know Larini was also in talks about replacing Berger. And I think Marco Greco was rumoured to take Larini's Ossela seat as a result. Larini feels Berger came back quicker to stop anyone taking his seat!

[S griffin]

Berger was linked to Sauber and McLaren for 98

[Roninho]

Originally Posted by S griffin

About the earlier post about Unser, I think he was actually linked to Brabham for 85 alongside Piquet, not 86

Are you sure? At the end of '84 Unser Jr. had only won 1 race in Indycar and finish a best of 6th overall. Kind of suprises me he would be in much demand in F1 allready.

[S griffin]

I seem reading about it when Autosport revisited the 84 Austrian GP to make 1000 races in F1

[S griffin]

Senna was in talks with Ferrari on the Wednesday before that fateful weekend at Imola

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Senna was in talks with Ferrari on the Wednesday before that fateful weekend at Imola

He was also in talks with Audi, Ducati and a leading cycle mftr that week.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by chunterer

He was also in talks with Audi, Ducati and a leading cycle mftr that week.

Yes, Carraro. As well as TAG Heuer and others.

It makes me wonder how many of these silly season stories are genuine cases of drivers being close to filling a seat, observations of two people who move in the same circles having a conversation, or just wild speculation with no basis?

In 20 years time, will we hear about Vettel having a conversation with Red Bull at the first race in 2020?

[S griffin]

If you don’t like this thread, don’t read it. We are both enjoying about old times and have very reputable sources and good memories thank you

[S griffin]

I remember Hakkinen being linked to a comeback with McLaren for 07, due to him arranging a test, but Hamilton had already signed for the team, just hadn’t been announced yet

[Theunser]

Originally Posted by S griffin

I know Larini was also in talks about replacing Berger. And I think Marco Greco was rumoured to take Larini's Ossela seat as a result. Larini feels Berger came back quicker to stop anyone taking his seat!

Bertaggia was the one who Osella even tested. They made an offer to JJ Lehto too.

[Theunser]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Yes, Carraro. As well as TAG Heuer and others.

It makes me wonder how many of these silly season stories are genuine cases of drivers being close to filling a seat, observations of two people who move in the same circles having a conversation, or just wild speculation with no basis?

In 20 years time, will we hear about Vettel having a conversation with Red Bull at the first race in 2020?

All of my posts have sources, it's not like I made them up or something. Yes, some of them are just gossips, but in most cases there were contacts between teams and drivers.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Theunser

All of my posts have sources [...], some of them are just gossips,

In that case - how can a reader determine if there is any substance to the post if the source or a reference is not provided?

I'm not trying to knock the thread - just to understand if the 'rumours' are credible.

Take my Vettel to Red Bull rumour. There was contact between the team and the driver. But how do we know if there is a genuine rumour about him joining Red Bull, as opposed to a simple piece of gossip?

The key is in the reference material to the link - https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...1-Ferrari-News
'team principal Christian Horner admits it would be "difficult" to re-sign the Ferrari star.'

Without any source or reference provided, all I am reading are a list of posts that amount to nothing much more than 'Driver A was linked to Team Y in year ###'. If that's what the thread is about, then fine, I'll at least know that there is no value in it for me.

[Theunser]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

In that case - how can a reader determine if there is any substance to the post if the source or a reference is not provided?

I'm not trying to knock the thread - just to understand if the 'rumours' are credible.

Take my Vettel to Red Bull rumour. There was contact between the team and the driver. But how do we know if there is a genuine rumour about him joining Red Bull, as opposed to a simple piece of gossip?

The key is in the reference material to the link - https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...1-Ferrari-News
'team principal Christian Horner admits it would be "difficult" to re-sign the Ferrari star.'

Without any source or reference provided, all I am reading are a list of posts that amount to nothing much more than 'Driver A was linked to Team Y in year ###'. If that's what the thread is about, then fine, I'll at least know that there is no value in it for me.

I understand what you're saying. Now I'll try to post the sources and hopefully this will improve the thread.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Theunser

I understand what you're saying. Now I'll try to post the sources and hopefully this will improve the thread.

[S griffin]

Nothing wrong with this thread, I trust the knowledge. Quite a lot of them I had heard before too

[Theunser]

This is an attempt. Please make a feedback if this is the format that you'd like to see.

In the 1988 Spanish Grand Prix rumours circulated that AGS might sign Christian Danner to replace Streiff with the latter moving to Coloni.
Sources:
https://bandeiraverde.com.br/2013/08...a-ags-parte-7/
Actually about this page, I know it's in portuguese, but with Google you can translate it. The site has some amazing, detailed stories.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Theunser

This is an attempt. Please make a feedback if this is the format that you'd like to see.

In the 1988 Spanish Grand Prix rumours circulated that AGS might sign Christian Danner to replace Streiff with the latter moving to Coloni.
Sources:
https://bandeiraverde.com.br/2013/08...a-ags-parte-7/
Actually about this page, I know it's in portuguese, but with Google you can translate it. The site has some amazing, detailed stories.

Thanks.

Just my own personal opinion, but I find a lot more value in that post.
I can see the provenance of the rumour, and appreciate the opportunity to investigate further the story from the time.

I understand that there may be occasions where a source is not available - and still welcome reading about them. It just helps my appreciation of the rumour in the context of a discussion in 2020.