2020 Silly Season

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Casper

Just a few random thoughts.

The last time the Automotive industry took a similar hammering to this the manufacturers bailed out from F1. If this happens again the knock on will cause huge changes to everyone's plans for 2021. I think everything written about the driver changes for 2021 up to this point will be largely negated and that alone will be interesting in itself.

If any manufacturers pull out then those drivers will not have a job at all. A lot of ifs but consider this goes on for over 6 months even Ferrari would have to assess where they are at. Italy is in a worse position than China and there does not seem to be any signs of the virus spread slowing in Europe at all. If Mercedes withdraws along with Renault due to the financial health of the parent companies 2/3 of the engine supply just disappeared plus four cars off the grid and four drivers headed for the unemployment office.

I doubt that the F1 we now know will exist after this but I hope I am wrong, come to think about it this might force a re-think of the whole thing which won't be a bad thing. I don't think we have begun to see the knock on effects of this crisis and a lot of what changes will occur cannot be foreseen by anyone.

Doom and gloom or reality?

I don't think they will pull out. There's a lot at steak. Would Mercedes really want to jack it in, when Hamilton is on the brink of equaling and possibly surpassing Michael Schumacher? It's too big a prize. As for Ferrari, if they duck out, they are potentially admitting defeat to Mercedes. The Commendatore, would turn in his grave.

[Casper]

Any company can only last so long before running out of cash. If I had to point the bone at two teams at risk it would be HAAS & Renault, four drivers out of the season plus the team personnel. Neither team seems to me to be committed the way they should be. Drivers were basing their decision making on the 2021 change and now that won't happen before 2023 and I bet in the mean time unforeseen events and changes will alter the already decided changes.

[V8 Fireworks]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Iirc, Bottas was initially given a one year contract with Merc. However, he proved to be such an effective wingman for Hamilton, dropping him would have been a mistake.

A mistake for Hamilton. Ricciardo however could have helped Mercedes score many more WCC points.

Why should Hamilton have a wingman, instead of needing to fight tooth and nail for every victory, ideally against Verstappen (maximum entertainment!)?

Originally Posted by chunterer

But the reason Bottas IS there is because he has been a good no.2 driver.

Yet Alonso was off contract. Surely Mercedes should have signed the best available driver for the second silver arrow -- be that driver Verstappen or Alonso or even Ricciardo?

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Who's that a problem for?

For fans.

Nico Rosberg isn't the greatest driver in the field but even he provided a good show for fans -- Rosberg provided intrigue, excitement & entertainment. Which Mercedes will win? Nobody knows. Will the Mercedes finish the race or crash into each other? Nobody knows.

Something Bottas has failed to do, whereas Alonso could potentially do, Verstappen could potentially do, and to a lesser extent Ricciardo could potentially do.

[S griffin]

Even if Merc do pull out due to a financial crisis, I wouldn't put it past Wolff to do a Brawn and take over the team himself. He probably cares too much to let it go like that

[GreenMachine]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Even if Merc do pull out ...

Engines too?

While is is VERY early days yet, Honda would have to be looking shaky for the long term. I can see both Renault and Honda pulling out before Merc, but they could all go,

Everyone a Ferrari driver?!

You read it here first ...

[Casper]

Originally Posted by V8 Fireworks

A mistake for Hamilton. Ricciardo however could have helped Mercedes score many more WCC points.

Why should Hamilton have a wingman, instead of needing to fight tooth and nail for every victory, ideally against Verstappen (maximum entertainment!)?



Yet Alonso was off contract. Surely Mercedes should have signed the best available driver for the second silver arrow -- be that driver Verstappen or Alonso or even Ricciardo?

The reasons for having a support driver are well known so going over it again is a waste of time. This years problems have really scuppered any faint chance of Alonso coming back to F1 at all and he can kiss any thoughts of it goodbye for good so rehashing that is pointless as well.

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by Casper

The reasons for having a support driver are well known so going over it again is a waste of time. This years problems have really scuppered any faint chance of Alonso coming back to F1 at all and he can kiss any thoughts of it goodbye for good so rehashing that is pointless as well.

Oh come now...

We have plenty of time to discuss many topics after all!!

[Casper]

What do you think we will be discussing in 6 months time with no F1 happening? I have long periods of non participation when things get boring even when racing is happening.

[chunterer]

There's often more to discuss away from the racing anyway.
History, rivalries, seasons gone, circuits, goodies, baddies, youngies, oldies etc
It'll be fine most people will need the outlet!!

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Casper

What do you think we will be discussing in 6 months time with no F1 happening? I have long periods of non participation when things get boring even when racing is happening.

There may be F1 in 6 months time.

[Richard C]

Originally Posted by Casper

The last time the Automotive industry took a similar hammering to this the manufacturers bailed out from F1.

Who knows what the automotive industry will look like in a years time, but if I was to rank most to least likely to leave F1 due to this...

1. Renault (team and a supplier)
.
.
.
.
2. Honda
3. Mercedes (as a team)
4. Mercedes (as an engine supplier)
5. Ferrari

Renault and Honda are the most mass market of them all. So they may be hit the most financially. Renault is also not setting F1 on fire these days. Mercedes might exit as a team, but remain as a supplier. I just don't see Ferrari leaving F1. While Ferrari may take a hit given't it's location, I tend to think the rich will come out of this fine financially (even if everyone is taking a beating in the stock market) and will still want to spend money on expensive cars.

Richard

[GreenMachine]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

There may be F1 in 6 months time.

In your dreams.

OK, that's a bit harsh, but the reality is that we don't know.

What we do know is that there is economic and social desolation across the planet, western democracies are having the hardest time of it for various reasons, and that for Europe and US the worst may be some way off yet. Let alone recovery, and managing the ongoing virus with a jab like the flu.

I am writing off this season. There may be a few races towards the end of the year, possibly behind closed doors, but I wouldn't bet my house (or my health) on it.

Will F1 even survive? I think that is the real question - between this and the move to electric cars there is a very dark cloud over the sport.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by GreenMachine

In your dreams.

OK, that's a bit harsh, but the reality is that we don't know.

What we do know is that there is economic and social desolation across the planet, western democracies are having the hardest time of it for various reasons, and that for Europe and US the worst may be some way off yet. Let alone recovery, and managing the ongoing virus with a jab like the flu.

I am writing off this season. There may be a few races towards the end of the year, possibly behind closed doors, but I wouldn't bet my house (or my health) on it.

Will F1 even survive? I think that is the real question - between this and the move to electric cars there is a very dark cloud over the sport.

The reality is we don't know, which is why I said there may be F1 in 6 months time.

[Casper]

For a valid series in one year there must be 8 races on three different continents. Does anyone think that will happen this year?

[GreenMachine]

Originally Posted by Casper

For a valid series in one year there must be 8 races on three different continents. Does anyone think that will happen this year?

Not this little (self-isolated) black duck ...

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Casper

For a valid series in one year there must be 8 races on three different continents. Does anyone think that will happen this year?

For arguments sake, say it were possible. However, would the teams and drivers want to compete in a truncated season? I don't think they would.

[S griffin]

I think they would rather compete if they can, even if it less than half the races that were scheduled

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

For arguments sake, say it were possible. However, would the teams and drivers want to compete in a truncated season? I don't think they would.

I think that depends on timing.

IF it looks like being completed in time for next season to run on schedule, then teams and drivers are now presented with a massive amount of testing opportunity compared to usual.

[RWill2073]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

I think that depends on timing.

IF it looks like being completed in time for next season to run on schedule, then teams and drivers are now presented with a massive amount of testing opportunity compared to usual.

Interesting thought. Use a shortened 2020 schedule as a long test schedule for 2021. Just make it a non-championship awarding season, but points still awarded for prize money purposes (what little money may be left at that point) and allow any ideas that teams would usually save for the preseason test and offseason to be used in those races. Might as well go ahead and really open up the rules to allow for different ideas, since ther isn't actually a championship to win. On second thought, maybe just award prize money based on showing up to race/laps completed, rather than finishing order, so showing up and staying on the track and finishing on lead lap matter? But treat each event same as race weekend, schedule of events and all.

[Alfisti]

Over at grand prix 247 website the April fool machine has been on overdrive...

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Over at grand prix 247 website the April fool machine has been on overdrive...

Might as well, hardly anything else to talk about at this time

[LW97]

I would love to see Lewis Hamilton in a Haas in 2021... could he make it a top team?

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by LW97

I would love to see Lewis Hamilton in a Haas in 2021... could he make it a top team?

We might see how good Magnussen really is if that happened

[LW97]

Originally Posted by S griffin

We might see how good Magnussen really is if that happened

We may indeed.

[Taxi645]

Who takes Vettel's seat:

1 Sainz: Fast enough, driver dynamic with Leclerc hard to judge. Think he wouldn't easily settle for 2nd.

2 Ricciardo: Definitely fast enough (Leclerc outpacing him seems unlikely). Driver dynamic would be okay as long as they both can have a go. He would bring a lot flair and upbeat spirit to the Ferrari team (and that they need).

3 Bottas: would be fast and dependable enough as a number 2 driver. Could be seat swap with Vettel (Hamilton and Vettel would be interesting in one team (a story F1 could ude).

4 Hulkenburg: fast and dependable enough as a 2nd driver.

5 Alonso: cool but too risky.

6 Hamilton: Only if Mercedes would quite and he could take some defining folks with him.

7 Gio: Nah.

8 Kimi: Does not need the fuss (if he sticks around anyway).

9 Norris: ? Not likely.

10 Grosjean: Never.