The Official F1 2019 silly season *contains speculation*

[Vaud]

StevieBee said:

I've long thought that the whole driver academy thing (and similar in other sports too) needs some careful examination. I do wonder how much is focused upon teams investing in finding and supporting the next 'Hamilton" and how much its about stopping other teams getting their hands on one who 'might' become the next 'Hamilton'.

Tricky balance though - if they support and invest in talent then they want a return.

I think RB told DR that he was free to move any time and break his contract, but here is the total investment that we have made to date and that will be the cost of exit. I may have misremembered.

Without the academy process we would only see more pay drivers and less talent?

[Vaud]

Deesee said:

I’ve put this on a previous post/thread they should run a 3rd car for q2 or q3 young driver only then a sprint race for the young drivers after quali in the 3rd car.

Edit, sorry meant p2/p3 not quali!!!

Edited by Deesee on Friday 7th September 14:13

Or just add a sub race. 2 lap quali, or random grid. 1 car per team, 1/3rd race distance, run after quali.

[Vaud]

MartG said:

Yup - 3rd car for young/rookie driver in practices sessions, sprint race after F1 qualy with top 2 finishers added to the back of the F1 grid on Sunday ( score WDC points but not constructors )

Good thought but it might have unintended consequences if the rookies get used to spoil/intercept the leaders. Given the fastest cars would get through, you would in the current system have an extra Merc and and extra Ferrari taking WDC points from the midfield at most races.

Worth a try though.

[Vaud]

FourWheelDrift said:

Limit the 3rd drivers to last years cars?


Whatever idea I'm sure Williams will moan about it and stop it.

Would last years WIlliams be faster?

[Vaud]

kambites said:

If you made F2 part of the F1 race weekend and put team names and liveries which casual F1 fans recognised on the cars, etc. I think it'd make quite a significant difference to how they were perceived.

It is in conjunction with the F1 race. What I would like to see is a 20 mins highlights package that I can watch on youtube (even with enforced adverts) within a week of the race.

[Vaud]

Brilliant!!!! Thank you

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poosemon said:

Deesee said:

Sky Sports.com have the highlights with an hour, both races, no paywall.

Eg

Race 2

http://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/f1/114...

Race 1

http://www.skysports.com/watch/video/11487969/f2-r...

Wow, thanks for that, hadn't realised this was available for free! Just watching now

Again, many thanks - I really enjoyed that. Good races.

[Vaud]

Clickbait.

But I have heard crazier stories. Ferrari's issue might be that both Kimi and Charles have contracts (maybe Sergio committed?) and it all needs unwinding.

I can only think that there must be a serious complexity for the announcement to be delayed from Monza.

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http://f1i.com/news/316553-mick-schumacher-f3-hat-...

Rather than start a Mick Schumacher thread, I thought I'd throw this one in here. Can Mick go all the way? 2nd now in the championship and just behind Ticktum. Three wins in one weekend...

A year in F2 and then F1?

[Vaud]

The Moose said:

That is very true - the Ferrari team carry a certain je ne sais quoi that other teams just don't/can't have.

If he could start whacking in poles and wins early on, the Tifosi would probably get behind him. The problem is that I can't see Ferrari accepting what he does when not F1ing. It would probably be the making of Ferrari if they could change their culture...but that's a different point!

The Tifosi don't care if they are winning. They accepted "Il leone" - Mansell as one of their own... Schumacher with his raw speed, Alonso with his passion. Kimi with his monotone mumbles and vodka.

I think the Tifosi (when applied to Ferrari) are open in their adoration of a racer, regardless of what they do off track.

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Vaud said:

Clickbait.

But I have heard crazier stories. Ferrari's issue might be that both Kimi and Charles have contracts (maybe Sergio committed?) and it all needs unwinding.

I can only think that there must be a serious complexity for the announcement to be delayed from Monza.

Well I was wrong on the clickbait!

What a crazy silly season.

[Vaud]

Dr Z said:

Ferrari's chief designer involved in the last few years' cars went to Sauber as TD earlier this year. We can expect a significant upturn in performance for Sauber in the coming years.

I wonder which Ferrari powered team will be next to benefit from the special mix fuel... Sauber or Haas?

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Mercedes
44. Lewis Hamilton (2020)
77. Valtteri Bottas (2019 + option for 2020)

Red Bull
33. Max Verstappen (2020)
10. Pierre Gasly (?)

Ferrari
5. Sebastian Vettel (2020)
16 Charles Leclerc (?)

Racing Point Force India
11. Sergio Perez (out of contract)
31. Esteban Ocon (2019)

Williams
35. Sergey Olegovich Sirotkin (2019)
18. Lance Stroll (2018?)

McLaren
55. Carlos Sainz Jnr (2020 probably)
19?. Lando Norris

Torro Rosso
- ?
28. Brendon Hartley (?)

Haas
8. Romain Grosjean (out of contract)
20. Kevin Magnussen (out of contract)

Renault
3. Daniel Ricciardo (2020?)
27. Nico Hulkenberg (option for 2019) but unconfirmed

Sauber
9 Marcus Ericsson (?)
7. Kimi Raikkonen (2020)

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ghost83 said:

Clearly sauber aren’t going to be competitive I don’t know why he didn’t just retire with dignity even go into another category

Because he loves to race.

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ukaskew said:

Surprised by some of the Kimi comments here. Up and coming team with what I presume will be far less pressure and commercial commitments, less politics etc.

He's leaving a team where he has zero opportunity of seriously challenging for anything as he is a clear number 2, that's got to take its toll, probably far more than a relatively easy life at a midfield team which may well have a few exciting podium battles next season.

Yup, and i suspect the Sauber will be no slouch next year. It might even be the challenger to RB while they "settle in" with Honda.

With McLaren, Williams and arguably Force India all disrupted, I think Sauber could be the Haas challenger but with even more Ferrari "insight" and maybe the next recipient of the special fuel?

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Krikkit said:

I thought Maldonado was now not so much a golden boy thanks to the lack of PDVSA money? That was originally his way in, and it's since dried up...

It's only a gazillion zillion since the currency was devalued.

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Deesee said:

Yep, Leclerc manager is the son of the chief at the fia and Ferrari royalty.

Ex-Ferrari and did not part on good terms, IIRC.

No point in looking for conspiracy... yet...

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DanielSan said:

Just imagine if the Sauber can make a big jump again next year and Kimi is fighting with the Renault’s and Force India’s. That should give some brilliant racing.

I hope so. Kimi may even sneak the odd podium.

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Flooble said:

Anyone else think this may be a way to control Raikkonen for the rest of the season?

Getting rid of him completely (unlikely to be able to keep it a secret till the end of the season, especially if Leclerc had to be contracted) would result in seven races where he had nothing to lose - potentially destroying Vettel's championship chances.

This way, if the deal is brokered or funded by Ferrari, Rakkonen has an incentive to play ball with Ferrari team orders, to preserve his contract for the next two years.

Not in my understanding.

The contracts will be separate.. there could be no "contract threat" of his Sauber drive being contingent on the balance of 2018 at Ferrari - at least nothing that would stand up at the Contract Recognition Board or an Arbitration Court.

[Vaud]

Clockwork Cupcake said:

There were plenty of rumours circulating about his sexuality (as if that has ANY bearing on his driving ability). But even so, that wouldn't prevent him marrying for the sake of appearance and having kids.

Or indeed being bisexual.