George Russell's teammate for 2025?

[FourWheelDrift]

Vettel was on the downslope at Aston Martin, compare Vettel vs Stroll with Alonso vs Stroll.

[maz8062]

Nova Gyna said:

maz8062 said:

[…]

My choice would be one of the relatively young retired wdc’s in Rosberg or Vettel.

Edited by maz8062 on Thursday 11th April 14:58

Edited by maz8062 on Thursday 11th April 14:59

There's no chance Nico is coming back, and I'd be surprised if Vettel ever drives an F1 car competitively again.

I can’t see past Carlos, he seems the perfect candidate to me.

I think you’re right and Carlos is the best of the available drivers. For Merc to get back to the front, in my view, they need Max or a driver on his level of talent, single minded ambition and ruthlessness. What I’ve seen of Kimi so far, he’s not quite there yet.

[thegreenhell]

They're not going to win anything in the next two years even with a Hamilton or Verstappen in the car, so they've nothing to lose in putting less experienced drivers in to learn.

[Sandpit Steve]

It’s going to be interesting to see if they’re holding out for Max, given all the RBR turmoil, or if they’re top of the list to sign Carlos. Max is obviously the better driver, but ‘events’ don’t happen as often as they’re speculated about, and the Red Bull civil war is as likely to end up amounting to nothing.

I think if I were Toto, I’d want to sign Sainz ASAP for a two-year deal, and then see how the new boy Antonelli gets on in F2 and possibly at Williams for a year or two.

[TikTak]

Still feel Alonso is the fit here. Not sure George is ready to lead the team and Sainz feels quite similar.

The future was mentioned and surely that's still GR, and not Sainz who is 30 this year and is likely departing to Audi? I agree Sainz deserves a drive before that but looking for a 1 year thing seems more risky than Alonso for a couple years on Merc's side.

If Merc want to compete in the mean time, no one can drive the nuts off a car like Alonso (even at his tender age) and if they get it right on regs change he might just get them to the front before retiring and giving Russell (and potentially Antonelli) a great platform to mix it up.

I also agree that Vettel is unlikely to be back and Sainz should be pushing for a RB seat as much as possible, although they're queuing up down that end of the paddock.

[Forester1965]

Sainz is too fast to be a number two and too slow to be a number one.

[Kart16]

PRO5T said:

Saintz needs to be pulling every string he can to get in the red bull.

Oh I know everyone says it’s the Verstappens team but the way they’re going they could up and leave and then it’s WDC time for Carlos.

Sainz has no chance against Verstappen. He has a higher chance against Russell.

[maz8062]

TikTak said:

Still feel Alonso is the fit here. Not sure George is ready to lead the team and Sainz feels quite similar.

The future was mentioned and surely that's still GR, and not Sainz who is 30 this year and is likely departing to Audi? I agree Sainz deserves a drive before that but looking for a 1 year thing seems more risky than Alonso for a couple years on Merc's side.

If Merc want to compete in the mean time, no one can drive the nuts off a car like Alonso (even at his tender age) and if they get it right on regs change he might just get them to the front before retiring and giving Russell (and potentially Antonelli) a great platform to mix it up.

I also agree that Vettel is unlikely to be back and Sainz should be pushing for a RB seat as much as possible, although they're queuing up down that end of the paddock.

Alonso I agree, would be a good bet but would he want to take on GR in his own back yard? The last time he tried that he got burned. No, I think Alonso will say the right noises but will be angling to be at AM for 2026 if Honda are in a forgiving mood.

Sainz does tick all the boxes and he’ll be free to sign a 2+1 contract.

[Kart16]

Forester1965 said:

Sainz is too fast to be a number two and too slow to be a number one.

That's a great way to put it.

[PRO5T]

Kart16 said:

PRO5T said:

Saintz needs to be pulling every string he can to get in the red bull.

Oh I know everyone says it’s the Verstappens team but the way they’re going they could up and leave and then it’s WDC time for Carlos.

Sainz has no chance against Verstappen. He has a higher chance against Russell.

He has no chance of winning in a Mercedes but does in a red bull.

As for Rosberg and Vettel not unless they’ve been doing PhDs in computational fluid dynamics since hanging up their helmets are they going to develop a ground effect car for Mercedes.

[thegreenhell]

maz8062 said:

Alonso I agree, would be a good bet but would he want to take on GR in his own back yard? The last time he tried that he got burned. No, I think Alonso will say the right noises but will be angling to be at AM for 2026 if Honda are in a forgiving mood.

Sainz does tick all the boxes and he’ll be free to sign a 2+1 contract.

I'm sure Alonso would have no fear of going up against Russell at Mercedes. The bigger decision for him is whether he thinks Mercedes or A-M is going to be the more competitive package. As he said when he was asked about a potential Mercedes move after the Japanese GP, "Mercedes is behind us [today], so it doesn't feel that attractive."

[deadslow]

thegreenhell said:

maz8062 said:

Alonso I agree, would be a good bet but would he want to take on GR in his own back yard? The last time he tried that he got burned. No, I think Alonso will say the right noises but will be angling to be at AM for 2026 if Honda are in a forgiving mood.

Sainz does tick all the boxes and he’ll be free to sign a 2+1 contract.

I'm sure Alonso would have no fear of going up against Russell at Mercedes. The bigger decision for him is whether he thinks Mercedes or A-M is going to be the more competitive package. As he said when he was asked about a potential Mercedes move after the Japanese GP, "Mercedes is behind us [today], so it doesn't feel that attractive."

this is the problem Merc have in getting a driver of the calibre they want - they're on a bit of a downer and struggle to match the customer teams, so are not immediately appealing to a driver who desperately wants to win. Though its tough to think where Carlos can go to take a step forward.

I think Merc will go for the young guy and roll the dice for '26.

[cuprabob]

It's definitely not Alonso as he's signed a new deal with Aston Martin.

Alonso extends Aston Martin deal until end of 2026 - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/68793179

[FourWheelDrift]

Taking George out of the Australian GP probably didn't help his Mercedes chances.

[PRO5T]

FourWheelDrift said:

Taking George out of the Australian GP probably didn't help his Mercedes chances.

It should have done the opposite-Alonso made him look like prime chump with that move.

[Leithen]

Mercedes need to understand why all their wonderful design tools say one thing and the reality is different.

The last thing they need is a driver who either through inexperience and/or genius simply drives around the problem.

By every account Sainz is exactly what the team needs - speed and intelligence. Wolff ought to snap him up and concentrate on the design and engineering team. Something is very wrong there.

[andburg]

Leithen said:

Mercedes need to understand why all their wonderful design tools say one thing and the reality is different.

The last thing they need is a driver who either through inexperience and/or genius simply drives around the problem.

By every account Sainz is exactly what the team needs - speed and intelligence. Wolff ought to snap him up and concentrate on the design and engineering team. Something is very wrong there.

What merc need to do make a space for an employee outside the budget cap and hire Adrian Newey.

[Jasandjules]

Kart16 said:

Sainz has no chance against Verstappen. He has a higher chance against Russell.

Indeed, when he was beating Max previously actions were taken to stop that........

[ThingsBehindTheSun]

Personally I would give the drive to Sainz, bin off Sargeant and put Andrea Antonelli in the Williams.

cuprabob said:

It's definitely not Alonso as he's signed a new deal with Aston Martin.

Alonso extends Aston Martin deal until end of 2026 - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/68793179

Alonso is going to be 45 at the end of the 26 season, that is brilliant!

[cuprabob]

ThingsBehindTheSun said:

Personally I would give the drive to Sainz, bin off Sargeant and put Andrea Antonelli in the Williams.

That's where my money would be going.