[Rumours] 2022 Silly Season

[Richard C]

Interesting story regarding Mercedes potentially looking to block Albon going to Williams.

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/h...liams/6659653/

Richard

[broadrun96]

Sounds more like Horner had been told no thanks and he wants to make noise for the team he's challenging with the FIA for illegal engines

[chillibowl]

They asked Horner about it on the sky broadcast. I felt it was a bit of a leading question which Horner was diplomatic about imo. that and also about the inquiries/clarifications the teams are making about the Merc engines.

I can see it as a fair point. With things being as competitive as they are, new rules next year, RB taking over an engine program...Merc are understandably concerned with a RB development driver getting time with a Merc engine while still maintaining his ties to RB.

Would be the same if it was the other way around.

Unfortunate for Albon though to be stuck in the middle.

[Greem]

The works vs customer thing is solely financial. It costs more to enter as a "works" team with your company name on the engine. The cost to "customer" teams is set in the commercial contract with the CRH and FIA.

If I recall correctly, anyway.

[S griffin]

I can see things getting messy and it would be unfortunate if Albon's chances of coming back to F1 are in other people's hands

[billy bleach]

Giovantzi P7 - strange how drivers go quicker when there job is on the line….

[Adam43]

In the paddock it was suggested that Aston Martin had offered Alonso a drive.

Aston Martin have denied this: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/as...ours-/6660515/

No smoke without fire!

I’ve ticked all the boxes there!

[Richard C]

Originally Posted by Adam43

In the paddock it was suggested that Aston Martin had offered Alonso a drive.

Aston Martin have denied this: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/as...ours-/6660515/

No smoke without fire!

I’ve ticked all the boxes there!

"Daddy, I learned all I can from the last one. Get me a new one."

How many prior WDC will Stroll rotate through the team to achieve... wait, what exactly are they trying to achieve by doing this?

Richard

[Adam43]

Keep rotating old WDC until he can beat one?

What’s Mansell up to? Has he actually retired?

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by Adam43

Keep rotating old WDC until he can beat one?

What’s Mansell up to? Has he actually retired?

I hear Mr Raikonnen might be available next year

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by S griffin

I can see things getting messy and it would be unfortunate if Albon's chances of coming back to F1 are in other people's hands

In a sense yes, but it has naff all to do with Horner whether Williams take Albon..... Probably the majority of driver moves are in other people's hands.....

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

In a sense yes, but it has naff all to do with Horner whether Williams take Albon..... Probably the majority of driver moves are in other people's hands.....

Was it not always thus?

[S griffin]

It seems to have increased in recent seasons, now you have all these different driver programmes or teams that link up with another

[Hawkwood]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

but it has naff all to do with Horner whether Williams take Albon.....

Potentially yes, but it looks like Red Bull might need to release Albon entirely if he's hoping for a Williams seat.
https://racer.com/2021/09/05/wolff-u...williams-seat/


I didn't realise Mercedes had, what seems to be, the deciding say in who gets a Williams seat?

Williams have been very quiet and seem to be letting Woldf do the talking.

[Richard C]

Originally Posted by Hawkwood

I didn't realise Mercedes had, what seems to be, the deciding say in who gets a Williams seat?

Williams have been very quiet and seem to be letting Woldf do the talking.

I expect Williams can do whatever they want! Which may trigger various repercussions (probably ultimately financial) via Mercedes. Or maybe part of whatever deal (some type of material or financial support) Williams has previously done with Mercedes includes some level of control over driver selection.

Richard

[djinvicta]

Daily Express tonight...
Nico Rosberg claims Netflix camera operators, who attend every F1 race for their Drive to Survive series, were called into Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff's office following the conclusion of the Dutch Grand Prix. The 2016 world champion says the streaming service staff were summoned to capture George Russell signing his Mercedes contract, which means he will partner Lewis Hamilton next season.

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by djinvicta

Daily Express tonight...
Nico Rosberg claims Netflix camera operators, who attend every F1 race for their Drive to Survive series, were called into Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff's office following the conclusion of the Dutch Grand Prix. The 2016 world champion says the streaming service staff were summoned to capture George Russell signing his Mercedes contract, which means he will partner Lewis Hamilton next season.

Quite possibly, but he has had a Mercedes contract since late 2015 and he didn’t drive for the works F1 team then…

[BTCC frog]

Originally Posted by djinvicta

Daily Express tonight...
Nico Rosberg claims Netflix camera operators, who attend every F1 race for their Drive to Survive series, were called into Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff's office following the conclusion of the Dutch Grand Prix. The 2016 world champion says the streaming service staff were summoned to capture George Russell signing his Mercedes contract, which means he will partner Lewis Hamilton next season.

Possibly correct, but we know the Daily Express have a reputation for *ahem* making things up. I would take this story with a pinch of salt, given that Russell is almost certain to be confirmed next week anyway so there will be no proof if the story is a complete lie.

[S griffin]

I just wish they would put us of our misery and announce what we all know

[karting]

Bottas confirmed via Saubers Twitter account

[Greem]

Move #2. What's next?

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by Greem

Move #2. What's next?

It’s a clothes shop! Sorry couldn’t resist that one

[steve_r]

So thats Bottas confirmed.

Russell will presumably be confirmed any minute, which then leaves Williams and the 2nd Alfa Romeo seat.

Red Bull have used Albon for gathering data about the Silverstone collision, in an effort to run an appeal with the FIA against Mercedes main man. That conflict of interest, plus the recent objections to the Mercedes engines themselves is entirely of Red Bulls own making. If Red Bull can't fit Albon into one of their 4 cars, then they may as well release him so that he can pursue his own career elsewhere. But if Red Bull want to keep him on contract, they shouldn't complain when their main rivals don't really want him anywhere near their hardware.

[Richard C]

Originally Posted by steve_r

Red Bull have used Albon for gathering data about the Silverstone collision, in an effort to run an appeal with the FIA against Mercedes main man. That conflict of interest, plus the recent objections to the Mercedes engines themselves is entirely of Red Bulls own making. If Red Bull can't fit Albon into one of their 4 cars, then they may as well release him so that he can pursue his own career elsewhere. But if Red Bull want to keep him on contract, they shouldn't complain when their main rivals don't really want him anywhere near their hardware.

So you are saying Mercedes would block Albon, because Albon (a Red Bull employee) was directed to be part of action designed benefit Red Bull? Is that not what employees do? By this logic, nobody (drivers, engineers, etc.) could move from team to team because they previously fought hard against each other.

However, I think there is no reason for Mercedes to not expect Albon to not be somehow contractually tied to RBR if he is driving for a team that is apparently under the Mercedes umbrella.

Richard

[S griffin]

The question is, would Red Bull continue to back someone driving under their main rivals umbrella? I’m not so sure, especially given past form