The Official F1 2025 silly season *contains speculation*

[SpudLink]

s-x-i said:

Sainz Sr. has signed for Ford to contest the 2025 Dakar.

https://www.autosport.com/dakar/news/ford-signs-ca...

I wonder what this means for Sainz Jr? (if anything)

Could it be a Redbull seat as they are switching to Ford for 2026? Are the ties with Audi now cut?

Have the two careers ever been linked? Why would they be linked now?

[asfault]

for the 2025 season who do we think has the strongest driver combo. For me:
1: Ferrari with Charles and Lewis
2: Mclaren with Lando And Piastri
3. Redbull with Max and Sergio
4. Mercedes with George and tbc Sainz?

[ajprice]

Putting this here as it looks like more Ferrari building up something than for this year. Serra and D'Ambrosio going there from Mercedes, starting in October.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/cq5nn89zwqgo

[deadslow]

ajprice said:

Putting this here as it looks like more Ferrari building up something than for this year. Serra and D'Ambrosio going there from Mercedes, starting in October.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/cq5nn89zwqgo

wasn't D'Ambrosio being groomed as a potential future TP at Merc?

[vaud]

deadslow said:

wasn't D'Ambrosio being groomed as a potential future TP at Merc?

I think their efforts are behind James Vowles using Williams to test him in a TP role at lower risk to Mercedes.

[deadslow]

vaud said:

deadslow said:

wasn't D'Ambrosio being groomed as a potential future TP at Merc?

I think their efforts are behind James Vowles using Williams to test him in a TP role at lower risk to Mercedes.

yeah, that sounds about right

[Muzzer79]

deadslow said:

vaud said:

deadslow said:

wasn't D'Ambrosio being groomed as a potential future TP at Merc?

I think their efforts are behind James Vowles using Williams to test him in a TP role at lower risk to Mercedes.

yeah, that sounds about right

Toto has previously named D'Ambrosio as his successor......

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/18043...

[SpudLink]

Muzzer79 said:

Toto has previously named D'Ambrosio as his successor......

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/18043...

Hmm. I'm not sure having D'Ambrosio as his stand-in is the same as planning for him to be the long term successor as TP.

[ThingsBehindTheSun]

Oliver Bearman to stand in for Kevin Magnussen in FP1 at Imola. A hint that Bearman will be driving for Haas next year?

[Still Mulling]

ThingsBehindTheSun said:

Oliver Bearman to stand in for Kevin Magnussen in FP1 at Imola. A hint that Bearman will be driving for Haas next year?

A feasibility test. I think hints became overtones once Nico committed to Audi.

[thegreenhell]

He was always scheduled to do some FP1 sessions with Haas this year, so I don't think anything has changed on that front.

[the-norseman]

Schumacher and Antonelli are due to do some Mercedes testing soon, it might of already gone actually.

[Petrus1983]

the-norseman said:

Schumacher and Antonelli are due to do some Mercedes testing soon, it might of already gone actually.

Antonelli was testing at Imola on the 30th anniversary of Sennas passing i believe - that's why he was in the photos.

Eta - both of them.

https://www.f1technical.net/news/24556

[asfault]

Still Mulling said:

ThingsBehindTheSun said:

Oliver Bearman to stand in for Kevin Magnussen in FP1 at Imola. A hint that Bearman will be driving for Haas next year?

A feasibility test. I think hints became overtones once Nico committed to Audi.

Has Bearman got enough points for a superlicence or does he need a reasonable f2 finish this year?

[vaud]

asfault said:

Has Bearman got enough points for a superlicence or does he need a reasonable f2 finish this year?

Given he raced at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix I suspect he is ok....

[scrw.]

Albon extends his contract at Williams....what does he know? Would Williams be a seat for Sainz if the rumours are true that Merc would only offer a 1 year deal?

[andburg]

didn't see that coming

I had him as almost a sure bet for that second merc seat with Antonelli not shining in F2 and the good relationship he has with Merc/George

[scrw.]

I think he could have had a chance at any of the free seats for 2025, have Williams thrown a bucket load of cash at him? Imagine Williams with Albon, Sainz & Newey....

[Supersam83]

Albon re-signing with Williams means that Red Bull are keeping Perez then.

[andburg]

Supersam83 said:

Albon re-signing with Williams means that Red Bull are keeping Perez then.

not sure on that jump! RBR are not short of driver to put in that seat.

It could be a suggestion that Merc will take Sainz as I'm not sure who else they'd want.