A Friend Remembered A Tribute to Mike Bell 2021 Calendar

**BertMk2** · 12 Jun 2020, 13:43 (Ref:3981545)

Quote:

Originally Posted by gert

I too can't see Stroll being dropped either.
He will be replaced when he himself decides he has had enough, and (probably) takes up a management role at the team instead.

He could be shuffled off to the Aston GT squad - maybe start out in GT4 in British GT

S griffin · 12 Jun 2020, 13:45 (Ref:3981548)

Maybe he would be more suited to endurance, but anyway, if this season’s Racing Point is as good as it was in testing, then this is Stroll’s big chance to show he’s better than people say.

Theunser · 13 Jun 2020, 01:00 (Ref:3981641)

Yes, I know Stroll's dad owns the team, but it becoming a factory team might change things.
But realistically I think too Stroll is staying, I'd just really like to see Stoffel there.

broadrun96 · 13 Jun 2020, 01:05 (Ref:3981644)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Theunser

Yes, I know Stroll's dad owns the team, but it becoming a factory team might change things.
But realistically I think too Stroll is staying, I'd just really like to see Stoffel there.

He owns, or controls via investment group, controlling interest and is the managing director of the factory as well. Stroll is only leaving F1 if he has a top level Aston Martin program to go to and GTE is dead, it just hasn't been shot yet. GT3 maybe but that's less factory teams than private with factory money.

Maybe Daddy will build him a DPi and he can go play in IMSA and let the quick guys run the F1 cars.

billy bleach · 15 Jun 2020, 17:55 (Ref:3982212)

Andy Cowell leaving Mercedes . Something afoot methinks Time for Alonso to sign up!

Richard Casto · 15 Jun 2020, 18:35 (Ref:3982218)

Quote:

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Andy Cowell leaving Mercedes . Something afoot methinks Time for Alonso to sign up!

Link to news item.

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/14...1-engine-chief

If you trust the info provided by Mercedes, he let them know he wanted to leave in January. Is it that he has nothing left to prove at Mercedes, a new project elsewhere, things are changing at Mercedes, all of the above?

It took me a minute to understand the Alonso reference above!

Richard

sizzle · 16 Jun 2020, 04:00 (Ref:3982264)

Quote:

Originally Posted by billy bleach

Andy Cowell leaving Mercedes . Something afoot methinks Time for Alonso to sign up!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Casto

Link to news item.

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/14...1-engine-chief

If you trust the info provided by Mercedes, he let them know he wanted to leave in January. Is it that he has nothing left to prove at Mercedes, a new project elsewhere, things are changing at Mercedes, all of the above?

It took me a minute to understand the Alonso reference above!

Richard

Cowell will work with Thomas to support the transition and will "consult to Mercedes-Benz AG on a major future project until at least early 2021"

Hardly likely he is going anywhere near a competitor in the short term.

Mike Harte · 16 Jun 2020, 07:26 (Ref:3982270)

Quote:

Originally Posted by sizzle

Cowell will work with Thomas to support the transition and will "consult to Mercedes-Benz AG on a major future project until at least early 2021"

Hardly likely he is going anywhere near a competitor in the short term.

Just nice words to mean that he will be going on gardening leave until at least next year.

Richard Casto · 13 Jul 2020, 19:49 (Ref:3988053)

Bottas looking to stay at Mercedes for 2021.

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/b...-2021/4833817/

It is looking rough for Vettel to find a top seat in 2021. I feel he may pull an Alonso and take a year off or just outright retire.

Richard

S griffin · 13 Jul 2020, 20:39 (Ref:3988065)

Bottas has done well so far this season, let’s if a contract for next season can keep him motivated throughout. We’ll wait for the official announcement, but he could be in a good place if contract talks break down with Hamilton and he ends up leaving.

But I too struggle to see where Vettel will fit next season, unless it’s somewhere like Haas

broadrun96 · 13 Jul 2020, 21:54 (Ref:3988086)

Vettel will have to drive for little or no pay to get in the cars further back. Now whether he could bring a sponsor on board is a detail that would change things. But would that make him a paying driver and would a 4x WC want to be that guy

Nikki Katz · 14 Jul 2020, 21:51 (Ref:3988298)

Looks like vettel’s been offered a contract by racing point to replace perez for next year. I imagine it’s a significant pay cut if he takes it tho.

S griffin · 14 Jul 2020, 22:06 (Ref:3988302)

If true, that would be gutting for Checo after all he’s done for team, especially with options for next season already running out

Richard Casto · 14 Jul 2020, 23:48 (Ref:3988322)

Perez to RBR if Albon doesn't step it up?

Richard

Skam85 · 15 Jul 2020, 00:51 (Ref:3988330)

Quote:

Originally Posted by S griffin

If true, that would be gutting for Checo after all he’s done for team, especially with options for next season already running out

Agreed. Incredibly unlucky.

However he would be an upgrade on Albon at RBR and a great foil for Max.

RBR's biggest problem at the moment and over the past couple of seconds is they don't have that second guy close in 4th to throw a spanner in Merc's strategy and force their hand. So many times we have seen Mercs in the top 2 or 3 with Max in amongst them, but Gasly or Albon 30 seconds behind down the road. It's a massive hindrance.

Perez I feel would be in amongst it and importantly, able to pick up the pieces if Max retires or has problems. RBR should definitely consider it if he is an option.