F1 2015/16 Silly season predictathon!

[MiniMan64]

MartG said:

Red Bull and Toro Rosso leave, remaining teams add a 3rd car, Button in 3rd Mercedes, Alonso in 3rd Ferrari

And Bernie standing at the side of track at every race throwing money into the crowds as the Flying Pigs perform overhead.

[suffolk009]

I'd been wondering about the third car scenario (did Brundle mention it?).

But then I just read Joe Saward on the subject of Ferrari customer engines. He points out the financials are compelling (with a stock market floatation in the near future):

"This means that he [Marchionne] can insist on expensive long-term deals and that future revenue can be compounded and added to the Ferrari financials, resulting in a higher valuation when the firm goes to the markets. With a multiple in double figures, two $40 million engine deals, each for three years, could add $2.4 billion to the Ferrari value... "

[MartG]

When F1Today quote the Daily Mirror as a source, you know it probably isn't true.....

http://www.f1today.net/en/news/205465/button-could...

[ajprice]

MartG said:

When F1Today quote the Daily Mirror as a source, you know it probably isn't true.....

http://www.f1today.net/en/news/205465/button-could...

Button in the same team as "I should have known, really, that he's mental" ?!?

interesting

[ajprice]

Anyone who said Kevin Magnusson in a McLaren (me!) , that's a no.

He was told by email on his birthday, well done McLaren on your timing and communication skills ...
http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/magnussen-q-a-mc...

[l354uge]

I got sacked on my birthday once.
At least they called me...

Can't believe we still haven't confirmed the drivers for next year.

[Vaud]

l354uge said:

I got sacked on my birthday once.
At least they called me...

Can't believe we still haven't confirmed the drivers for next year.

Why? Until the RB situation is clear, it won't be.

[l354uge]

Everything usually falls into place bar the back of the grid after Italy, this year we don't even know if there will be 18 or 22 competitive cars on the grid!

[m444ttb]

If RedBull and Torro Rosso do leave which drivers are going to be handed a wad of cash in return for buffering off so their employer can accommodate Ricciardo or Verstappen (maybe even Sainz)?

[anonymous-user]

ajprice said:

Anyone who said Kevin Magnusson in a McLaren (me!) , that's a no.

He was told by email on his birthday, well done McLaren on your timing and communication skills ...
http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/magnussen-q-a-mc...

From that very article:

Q: Was the news expected?

A: Oh yes. Look, I'd already made it clear that I was 100 percent determined to race next year, and obviously McLaren already have two contracted race drivers for next year in Jenson [Button] and Fernando [Alonso]. So, well, three into two won't go, will it? I was only ever going to have a chance of a McLaren race drive in 2016 if one of them was going to retire or whatever, and that's probably not now going to happen, so it was pretty clear that there was going to be no room for me at McLaren.

I'm no fan of Ron's but there's nothing to complain about here.

[suffolk009]

It's not looking good for Red Bull. And Manor are reported to have lost Booth and Lowdon. Maybe 3 car teams for some next year?

Mercedes: Hamilton & Rosberg & Wehrlein
Ferrari: Vettel & Raikkonen & Verstappen
Williams: Massa & Bottas & Ricciardo
Force India: Perez & Hulkenberg
Renault/Lotus/Enstone: Palmer & Maldonado
Sauber: Ericsson & Nasr
McLaren: Alonso & Button & Vandoorne
Haas: Grosjean & Gutierrez

Bit too far fetched. Maybe.

[Vaud]

suffolk009 said:

It's not looking good for Red Bull. And Manor are reported to have lost Booth and Lowdon. Maybe 3 car teams for some next year?

If Red Bull dumped Red Bull team A and bought Manor - would that presumably buy them the contracts as well? Acquisition of a good customer engine by stealth.

Then rebrand it Red Bull.

(Loony Friday afternoon thinking)

[Likes Fast Cars]

RB reconcile with Renault and stay in F1, and no real silly season driver changes. Quite boring really if it turns out like this.