2020 Silly Season

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by Skam85

Part of me thinks he's going to get caught up in the romance of beating Schumacher's WDC record in a Ferrari.

That would not surprise me at all, 7 with MB power and then want to get 8th in a Ferrari and drive off in to the sunset

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Skam85

Part of me thinks he's going to get caught up in the romance of beating Schumacher's WDC record in a Ferrari.

I suppose he could but he would be well out of his comfort zone, what with the 2021 car and the unfamiliarity of a new team.

[Skam85]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

I suppose he could but he would be well out of his comfort zone, what with the 2021 car and the unfamiliarity of a new team.

I'll be as diplomatic as I can by saying someone with Lewis' ....let's say 'confidence in self'... would back himself into winning it in a Ferrari.

Which will lead to a lot of very confused tifosi for a few races I'm sure!

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Skam85

I'll be as diplomatic as I can by saying someone with Lewis' ....let's say 'confidence in self'... would back himself into winning it in a Ferrari.

Which will lead to a lot of very confused tifosi for a few races I'm sure!

He's got a better chance of that staying with Mercedes, particularly with the 2021 car. He will be with Mercedes from its inception. If he goes to Ferrari, he won't be.

[Greem]

I've said it before and I'll say it again today: I just can't ever see Hamilton racing for the Red Team. It's way too much of a risk for both of them.

He's been with Mercedes in one form or another since he started climbing the ladder, whether in the McLaren driver development programme, with McLaren themselves, or with Mercedes F1. His time in F3 with Manor was with a Mercedes engine, his time in F3 with ASM/ART was with a Mercedes engine, in fact his only big-league year not with a Merc engine was his year in GP2 because the only engine supplier was Mecachrome. He was still aligned with Mercedes via his relationship with McLaren.

So I don't think Mercedes would let him, for one, and I would expect Ferrari would have to throw so much money at him to entice him across that they'd make a mess of their own finances. Unless Philip Morris want to splurge some hidden cash, of course...

Nope, just can't see it happening. There's too much in terms of reputation at stake for too many people.

Of course, if Mercedes were to stop racing altogether, it would be an open goal for Ferrari!

[Richard C]

Originally Posted by Greem

Of course, if Mercedes were to stop racing altogether, it would be an open goal for Ferrari!

I can see the allure of winning for Ferrari, but I think he would have to be unhappy with or unable to race for Mercedes to jump ship. You hit one of the two. As to the other, I see no reason for him to be unhappy with his current situation.

Richard

[Mike Bell]

History will eventually show that some of us were right, and some of us were wrong! I’m in the ‘never in a month of Sunday’s’ camp........

[chillibowl]

i feel as though Merc are about to offer him the most lucrative contract extension of all time.

but money aside, the biggest risk to LH in leaving Merc might just be that he will have to leave an open Merc seat behind.

[S griffin]

Merc will decide how much they need him. They need to start thinking of the future. There’s plenty out there who could lead the team to title glory

[Greem]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Merc will decide how much they need him. They need to start thinking of the future. There’s plenty out there who could lead the team to title glory

Go on then, I'll bite. Give us a decent reasoned argument as to exactly who these "plenty" are and how they might bring that glory along, because right now I can only really see two and they're completely embedded in the only two teams that are anywhere close to giving Mercedes a fight.

[djinvicta]

You're right Greem...

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by Greem

Go on then, I'll bite. Give us a decent reasoned argument as to exactly who these "plenty" are and how they might bring that glory along, because right now I can only really see two and they're completely embedded in the only two teams that are anywhere close to giving Mercedes a fight.

What, you hadn't heard Ocon's nickname was Plenty Ocon? I would have thought that was common knowledge?

But playing the game posited above:
Ocon: well Mercedes think highly of him but not enough to have kept him in a seat with cash
Russell: Mercedes thinks there's a future there but the car under him isn't stellar so what do we really know.
Latifi: Could be excellent, could bring a great budget
Stroll: See above, but less so on the could be's
Norris: Could be excellent, could be retained by McLaren long term
Gasly: Was regarded highly, appeared to crack alongside Verstappen (was that Max or was that driving style and he couldn't adapt to a car Max likes?)
Bottas: Consistent and strong driver, can he lead a team?
Leclerc and Verstappen are both locked in to their ride for at least a bit now and don't think either team will let go without a major change at the top.

Yes, Latifi and Stroll were included purely to be an ass

[Armco Bender]

Lexit.....Lewis leaving Mercedes..

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Armco Bender

Lexit.....Lewis leaving Mercedes..

Ham and Eggs-it

[steve nielsen]

Sergio Sette Camara named as Red Bull and Alpha Tauri reserve driver this season

https://redbullracing.redbull.com/ar...ve-driver-role

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by steve nielsen

Sergio Sette Camara named as Red Bull and Alpha Tauri reserve driver this season

https://redbullracing.redbull.com/ar...ve-driver-role

So Marko doesn't feel anyone they have on their books was suitable.

Oh dear me!!

[S griffin]

So we have another reserve driver confirmed then. Good that Camara has signed with a team though

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by S griffin

So we have another reserve driver confirmed then. Good that Camara has signed with a team though

Is it good for him, or good for RB though?

Not totally sure either benefits in this instance.

[S griffin]

It’s better than nothing. It means at least he has that contract in his pocket. It may or may not get him anywhere, but this is a good starting point

[steve nielsen]

Originally Posted by chunterer

So Marko doesn't feel anyone they have on their books was suitable.

Oh dear me!!

none of the junior drivers they have have the license points needed

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by steve nielsen

none of the junior drivers they have have the license points needed

That's pretty ordinary operations from Marko there then.

Suggests to me they are no longer looking to continue their once rich pipeline of talent.

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by chunterer

That's pretty ordinary operations from Marko there then.



Suggests to me they are no longer looking to continue their once rich pipeline of talent.

They have gotten to moving drivers up and firing them faster than they can accrue points. And when they don't have points but promised rides those promises disappear. Think he has the usual problem of his expertise, and ego, has not kept up with the field of talent and other teams.

[S griffin]

And the problem is once they have been dropped from the scheme, it's very unlikely you will be bought back

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by S griffin

And the problem is once they have been dropped from the scheme, it's very unlikely you will be bought back

As Albon and Kvyat have proved. Oh, hang on........

[S griffin]

And Hartley too. But it’s very unlikely Sainz will come back now