Sebastian Vettel
Discussion
Not a major surprise. Ferrari can't justify Vettel's wages when Leclerc performs better for much less. Vettel kind of blew it last season. I hope he ends up in a competitive car.
I'm not convinced Hamilton will go to Ferrari as I don't think they'll pay the money now. If Mercedes leave, that might change things.
I'm not convinced Hamilton will go to Ferrari as I don't think they'll pay the money now. If Mercedes leave, that might change things.
Vettel has appeared close to ending his career for a few reasons for the last 1-2 years. I didn't expect it to be this imminent though, I had assumed he would at least have one more full season but we all know what happened to that!!
And the same reason the season isn't currently running has only compounded the issue of his pay level vs performance. Further compounded by CLC's performance last season. And to kick it all off Ferrari have a super early and very long silly season to look at alternatives.
Whether these rumors are true or not, it's safe to say that Seb's bargaining power has been severely reduced in terms of both receiving a contract offer AND being happy with the terms of it.
Also not in his favour is that DR is soon available and a lot of people like or are interested by that possibility. Those that aren't really don't want DR signed by Ferrari of course.. but he seems a fairly popular and suitable choice to me. He was doing fantastically well at RB if his forever breaking down cars are discounted from the record. I'm sure even Ferrari analysts are capable of imagining what could have been..
I can't see what Ferrari could offer Lewis on any level that Mercedes cannot match or exceed, so I won't even bother to address that perpetual rumour again
And the same reason the season isn't currently running has only compounded the issue of his pay level vs performance. Further compounded by CLC's performance last season. And to kick it all off Ferrari have a super early and very long silly season to look at alternatives.
Whether these rumors are true or not, it's safe to say that Seb's bargaining power has been severely reduced in terms of both receiving a contract offer AND being happy with the terms of it.
Also not in his favour is that DR is soon available and a lot of people like or are interested by that possibility. Those that aren't really don't want DR signed by Ferrari of course.. but he seems a fairly popular and suitable choice to me. He was doing fantastically well at RB if his forever breaking down cars are discounted from the record. I'm sure even Ferrari analysts are capable of imagining what could have been..
I can't see what Ferrari could offer Lewis on any level that Mercedes cannot match or exceed, so I won't even bother to address that perpetual rumour again
LM240 said:
faa77 said:
Hamilton won't go to Ferrari because he wants his 7th and 8th titles.
Seb back to Red Bull?
Not likely with Max there. Seb back to Red Bull?
RB have already let (failed to retain) DR go as they put Max first. And DR when last paired with Seb beat him in the same car. So if RB see Max as superior to DR, who has already pulled Sebs pants down, why would they now see Seb as a good points scorer alongside Max?
Or from another perspective: All RB needed last season was someone consistently almost as good as Max and they could have seriously challenged Ferrari for the number 2 spot in the championship. If what you need is a supremely consistent and subservient driver, Seb is not exactly the first you would think of..
faa77 said:
Hamilton won't go to Ferrari because he wants his 7th and 8th titles.
Seb back to Red Bull?
No chance.Seb back to Red Bull?
Retirement me thinks or a long shot, to McLaren to replace Sainz with Sainz to Ferrari.
But of a crap way to go though if he does retire, his final year with (likely) not a single race.
Edited by HTP99 on Tuesday 12th May 04:52
So that's two world class drivers Ferrari have chewed up and spat out in succession.
No way will Hamilton be stupid enough to go there.
Anyone taking the Ferrari seat will be a number two to a young buck, probably be Gio from Alfa doubt the fanboys favourite the ph messiah Riccardo will get a shout
No way will Hamilton be stupid enough to go there.
Anyone taking the Ferrari seat will be a number two to a young buck, probably be Gio from Alfa doubt the fanboys favourite the ph messiah Riccardo will get a shout
Edited by SmoothCriminal on Tuesday 12th May 06:32
faa77 said:
Hamilton won't go to Ferrari because he wants his 7th and 8th titles.
Seb back to Red Bull?
I feel the Ferrari was a decent enough car, certainly in the 2017 and 2018 seasons, to win a championship. IMO Hamilton would have won a championship at the wheel of a Ferrari in those years, and possibly Leclerc. Obviously with someone else in his Mercedes the chances of doing so would have swung massively back in his favour. Bottas is better than most F1 drivers, but in his hands the Mercedes and Ferrari are much closer together.Seb back to Red Bull?
The 7th championship with Mercedes this year, and 8th with Ferrari in 2021. Doing what Alonso and Vettel couldn't do
And Russel to Mercedes. Did Ocon burn his Mercedes ties when he moved to Renault?
If Sainz were to go to Ferrari, Ricciardo's a solid bet to move to McLaren in his place I'd have thought (McLaren being on his audition list before deciding Renault). Ferrari's plan to unseat Seb appears to have worked - make him uneasy, stick a young buck in there and push him. It'll be LeClerc's team next year, formed around him with the view of winning WDC's with him. For that reason, I'd expect the management mentality to revert back to Ferrari of old, with a well defined pecking order.
That being the case, they need a rear gunner, not necessarily a heavy hitter. Of the available drivers, that leaves Giovannazi, but I'd not be surprised if KMag ends up in the seat - Haas look to be winding down operations, and even if not, it's an easy enough conversation to have between Ferrari and Haas. If you want a rear gunner to protect your MVP, get the toughest defensive driver on the grid (IMO) in the seat.
It's a pity that Seb might see out his last year at Ferrari without an opportunity to show he still had the talent - it's become another Alonso story, where the actions and memories of the last year or two define an entire career, and in Seb's case, he's still box office material if he has a car under him that's to his liking. There looks to be no other doors open to him next year - with one very unlikely one... Perez goes to Ferrari, Vettel goes to Aston Martin.
That being the case, they need a rear gunner, not necessarily a heavy hitter. Of the available drivers, that leaves Giovannazi, but I'd not be surprised if KMag ends up in the seat - Haas look to be winding down operations, and even if not, it's an easy enough conversation to have between Ferrari and Haas. If you want a rear gunner to protect your MVP, get the toughest defensive driver on the grid (IMO) in the seat.
It's a pity that Seb might see out his last year at Ferrari without an opportunity to show he still had the talent - it's become another Alonso story, where the actions and memories of the last year or two define an entire career, and in Seb's case, he's still box office material if he has a car under him that's to his liking. There looks to be no other doors open to him next year - with one very unlikely one... Perez goes to Ferrari, Vettel goes to Aston Martin.
Hamilton to Ferrari in 2021 assumes that whoever Ferrari would offer a place to this year would only be given a one year contract, like Vettel, and would be happy to sign that.
I can’t see many drivers wanting to take the risk of being out of contract after a year when they could be more secure where they are?
I think Hamilton going to Ferrari is more probable than people think. He’s got nothing to prove at Mercedes, or in Formula 1 generally, so unless he is obsessed about leaving with what might seem an insurmountable number of titles - which is possible - he might be motivated more about the challenge, and to prove the naysayers wrong about his success being down to the car.
Ferrari would give him a blank cheque, too.
I can’t see many drivers wanting to take the risk of being out of contract after a year when they could be more secure where they are?
I think Hamilton going to Ferrari is more probable than people think. He’s got nothing to prove at Mercedes, or in Formula 1 generally, so unless he is obsessed about leaving with what might seem an insurmountable number of titles - which is possible - he might be motivated more about the challenge, and to prove the naysayers wrong about his success being down to the car.
Ferrari would give him a blank cheque, too.
Durzel said:
Hamilton to Ferrari in 2021 assumes that whoever Ferrari would offer a place to this year would only be given a one year contract, like Vettel, and would be happy to sign that.
I can’t see many drivers wanting to take the risk of being out of contract after a year when they could be more secure where they are?
I think Hamilton going to Ferrari is more probable than people think. He’s got nothing to prove at Mercedes, or in Formula 1 generally, so unless he is obsessed about leaving with what might seem an insurmountable number of titles - which is possible - he might be motivated more about the challenge, and to prove the naysayers wrong about his success being down to the car.
Ferrari would give him a blank cheque, too.
Do you mean 2022?I can’t see many drivers wanting to take the risk of being out of contract after a year when they could be more secure where they are?
I think Hamilton going to Ferrari is more probable than people think. He’s got nothing to prove at Mercedes, or in Formula 1 generally, so unless he is obsessed about leaving with what might seem an insurmountable number of titles - which is possible - he might be motivated more about the challenge, and to prove the naysayers wrong about his success being down to the car.
Ferrari would give him a blank cheque, too.
The only reason that Hamilton would go to Ferrari would be if Mercedes pulled out of F1 and there have been murmurings of this.
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