2021 Silly Season

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Needs more experience methinks

Requiring more 'experience' covers a whole multitude of facets with this guy.

[Hawkwood]

In fairness to Mazepin, his current F2 campaign has been decent so far. Same amount of points as Schwartzmann, and a win or two.


Full disclosure, I've not watched any F2 races this year, so only going off the points table.

[gert]

Originally Posted by Hawkwood

In fairness to Mazepin, his current F2 campaign has been decent so far. Same amount of points as Schwartzmann, and a win or two.


Full disclosure, I've not watched any F2 races this year, so only going off the points table.

I think the problem is a bit with his character and attitude, if I can believe the reports I have read.

Think: Ferrucci, Ticktum

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by gert

I think the problem is a bit with his character and attitude, if I can believe the reports I have read.

Think: Ferrucci, Ticktum

Santino has cleaned his act up big time if what the Indycar lot say is to be believed. There maybe hope for him yet!

Dan Ticktum. Just don't know what to make of him. Clearly a quick driver but a bit of a drama queen perhaps?

Back on topic, M Schu junior seemed to be popping along nicely at Fiorano last week! We await with anticipation how he (and Ilott) do this weekend in FP.

[S griffin]

Santiano still has a habit of getting involved in silly incidents if what I hear about his incident with RHR at Indy on Friday is anything to go by. The main problem though I think a lot of people had is a) he never apologised to Maini and b) the American media make it sound like he was hard done by the Europeans, which is rubbish

Ticktum OTOH seems to be getting too much flak for his outbursts on the radio from fans and the media due to his reputation, despite the fact he has learned from his self imposed ban and has kept his nose clean on track pretty much since

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Ticktum OTOH seems to be getting too much flak for his outbursts on the radio from fans and the media due to his reputation, despite the fact he has learned from his self imposed ban and has kept his nose clean on track pretty much since

IIRC there was nothing self-imposed about his ban. It was MSA-imposed.

Also IIRC he spent the year testing at Pembrey in a plain helmet.

[S griffin]

Ok then, self inflicted ban

[WyldStallion]

Do you think Chase Elliott could cut it in F1?

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by WyldStallion

Do you think Chase Elliott could cut it in F1?

Who?!? 🤔

[P38 in workshop]

Originally Posted by WyldStallion

Do you think Chase Elliott could cut it in F1?

I doubt we will ever know.The teams have often got a production line of talented drivers or sons of very wealthy men,sometimes both,badgering them for a test.They often get a chance to do a few laps and it might or might not involve the transfer of funds.It also helps to weigh less than 160 lbs.

[TrapezeArtist]

As this thread is called "Silly Season", is there anything sillier than Racing Point's 2021 plans? Checo raced really well at the Nurburgring, some good dicing, made his tyres last (as he always does) and oh-so-nearly got on the podium. The Hulk was drafted in for qualifying with zero practice running or preparation. Then climbs from 20th to 8th during the race. So yes, Vettel and Stroll are the silliest choice for 2021.

[greentrumpet]

[Richard C]

Originally Posted by WyldStallion

Do you think Chase Elliott could cut it in F1?

No.

Richard

[E.B]

I have never heard of Chase Elliot, whoever he might be. So my initial thought would be No (he would not cut it in F1).

[Hawkwood]

Originally Posted by E.B

I have never heard of Chase Elliot, whoever he might be. So my initial thought would be No (he would not cut it in F1).

He's a race winner in the NASCAR Cup Series.
He's also young enough, at 24, to be realisitcally able to 're-train' into single seaters, should he have the inclination.
Whether that'd mean he'd be good enough for F1 is doubtful, but without seeing him do a couple of years of IndyCar or F2, I suppose we'll just have to doubt without fully knowing for sure.

[RWill2073]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Rossi's had his time, but Herta if he finds the right car could do well. We'll see how much he wants to do it

Rossi's had his time? What did he get, two or three races in the worst car on the grid? By that measure, russell has had his time, he can go off to indycar now.

Here's a silly thought for silly season: red bull is a top team. They have what is essentially an open seat. They could get some attention and marketing run by pulling a newgarden, dixon, herta, or any of a few others from indycar for their second seat. That solves the problem of having to choose between competing in indycar or going to ack marker in f1 for the guys that deserve a shot. I think it would be fascinating to see what dixon could do at his age in a top f1 car, and how his personality would get along with max, and if some of his personality could rub off on max.

[chunterer]

Dixon would have made the grade 10 plus years ago he's plenty good enough but not now.
Team won't take the punt on a 40 year old 'rookie', only legendary F1 oldies get that sort of chance.

[gert]

I think most of the Indycar star drivers are past the moment where they wanted to go to F1 at all cost.
I'm not sure any of them would want to give up what they have now just for the sake of being in F1.

[RWill2073]

Originally Posted by gert

I think most of the Indycar star drivers are past the moment where they wanted to go to F1 at all cost.
I'm not sure any of them would want to give up what they have now just for the sake of being in F1.

Is it at all cost to go to a race winning team, though?

In my dream "silly season", mclaren blends their two programs, and rotates drivers between the f1 and indycar teams. So send lando to indycar for a year to give Oward a year in f1. Or they sign a guy like rossi or herta for their second seat in IndyCar and rotate them in and out of f1 as well. That way the indycar driver wouldn't lose their top drive after a year or two of f1 fun.

As for dixon not competing at 40, he's as good as he's ever been right now, and Lewis isn't that far behind age wise, and kimi is still considered a solid option at the same age. I dont know whether he would have success or not or if he would look washed up by comparison, but it sure would be fun to see.

[TrapezeArtist]

Originally Posted by Hawkwood

He's a race winner in the NASCAR Cup Series.

Well, there you are then! Couldn't be a better qualification for an F1 driver.

[steve nielsen]

Originally Posted by WyldStallion

Do you think Chase Elliott could cut it in F1?

He has never raced in single seaters, so no, no chance

[Hawkwood]

Originally Posted by TrapezeArtist

Well, there you are then! Couldn't be a better qualification for an F1 driver.

No-one's said that's a qualification for F1, and indeed, it isn't one.


However, without seeing him in something like IndyCar or F2 for a couple of years, there's strictly no way of knowing if he'd be anywhere near good enough to be in F1.

[gert]

Since Perez was linked to it: in Indycar the 2nd ASPM seat has been taken by Rosenqvist who moves over from Ganassi.
(That's not so say they can't field a 3rd car of course)

[chunterer]

Some bizarre rumours on gp.com suggesting Hulk would be alongside Max at RB; Albon and Tsunoda would be at AT; Gasly would replace Ocon at Enstone; Perez would replace Russell at Grove alongside Latifi.

That would leave Ocon and Russell out of a drive so only some of this makes any sense.

[Hawkwood]

Originally Posted by chunterer

Some bizarre rumours on gp.com suggesting Hulk would be alongside Max at RB; Albon and Tsunoda would be at AT; Gasly would replace Ocon at Enstone; Perez would replace Russell at Grove alongside Latifi.

That would leave Ocon and Russell out of a drive so only some of this makes any sense.

Seems to make sense for all the drivers mentioned (although for Perez it only makes sense if he's got an angle on Bottas' seat due to then being in the Mercedes 'stable').
Would be unfortunate for Ocon and Russell though, as Ocon is a bit of a warning for Russell about taking even a year out. Ocon's comeback hasn't been all that great.