2025 Season - News and Rumours

[Greem]

Let's go!

[Sandgroper]

Cadillac Drivers are ?

Experienced; Bottas, Danny Ric, Perez
Inexperienced not contracted; ?

When are these likely to be announced

Will Bottas be contacted whilst contracted to Merc?

[Skam85]

Perez is taking a 6 month sabbatical before he decides whether he will try to continue in F1, stating he didn't expect to finish up at the end of 2024.

Hopefully his time away gives him a little more self awareness.

https://au.motorsport.com/f1/news/pe...empt/10688043/

[Henry]

Originally Posted by Sandgroper

Cadillac Drivers are ?

Experienced; Bottas, Danny Ric, Perez
Inexperienced not contracted; ?

When are these likely to be announced

Will Bottas be contacted whilst contracted to Merc?

I'd say Merc would likely be happy for somebody to make Bottas an offer... but I can't see any reason why those three would be at the top of anybody's shopping list in terms of performance.

[Sandgroper]

Originally Posted by Henry

I'd say Merc would likely be happy for somebody to make Bottas an offer... but I can't see any reason why those three would be at the top of anybody's shopping list in terms of performance.

I was thinking more around experience and or development whilst a young gun sits in the wings.

Anything possible and no contract is unbreakable it seems

[S griffin]

I'm looking forward to this season. Some big changes in teams and drivers.

[Plantagenet]

Really looking forward to some of the inter-team rivalries this year:

Ferrari - to state the obvious, and I think Hamilton will come off worse
Mclaren - I rate Piastri and I think this year he could really challenge Norris. If they are the hunt for the championship, this could be fun
Mercedes - who knows, but it will be a make or break season for Russell...although I said that in 24' !!

And Verstappen in (probably) the third or forth fastest car. Elbows out!

[Alan52]

Early worthless predictions
Ferrari for the Constructors.
Drivers is Leclerc v Verstappen and comes down to the last race with the winner being…..

[steve_r]

Originally Posted by Plantagenet

Really looking forward to some of the inter-team rivalries this year:

Ferrari - to state the obvious, and I think Hamilton will come off worse
Mclaren - I rate Piastri and I think this year he could really challenge Norris. If they are the hunt for the championship, this could be fun
Mercedes - who knows, but it will be a make or break season for Russell...although I said that in 24' !!

And Verstappen in (probably) the third or forth fastest car. Elbows out!

I agree that those 3 rivalries look interesting. I am not sure predicting that LeClerc will beat Hamilton is really stating the obvious.

I think that Russells make or break season was last year and that he drove well and beat Hamilton. A hot shot rookie teammate that is fast will probably have some good days and some bad days.

[Plantagenet]

Originally Posted by steve_r

I am not sure predicting that LeClerc will beat Hamilton is really stating the obvious.

Sorry Steve, poorly worded, I meant that choosing Ferrari as an interesting inter-team rivalry is stating the obvious.
I do think Hamilton will have the edge on race craft, the key question is whether his raw speed is still there. There was a good article from Mark Hughes (Motorsport, December) about how the evolution of these ground effect cars has taken them further and further away from Hamilton's preferred driving style but let's see.

[morninggents]

Originally Posted by steve_r

I think that Russells make or break season was last year and that he drove well and beat Hamilton. A hot shot rookie teammate that is fast will probably have some good days and some bad days.

I agree. If he had not been disqualified at Spa he would have beaten Lewis by 54 points (270 to 216).

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by morninggents

I agree. If he had not been disqualified at Spa he would have beaten Lewis by 54 points (270 to 216).

Yep Russell may have made a few overdriving led errors last year but I think he'll do a fine job as team leader.