The Official F1 2025 silly season *contains speculation*

[asfault]

Zhou will stay as long as he keeps middle of the road or equl to whatever teammate he has.
The Chinese Audience and business potential is too valuable to Liberty and F1 as a whole.

[Hustle_]

Kart16 said:

Drugovich is better than Poorchair and Bearman by a considerable margin.

...based on..?

[paulguitar]

Hustle_ said:

Kart16 said:

Drugovich is better than Poorchair and Bearman by a considerable margin.

...based on..?

He's Brazilian.

[thegreenhell]

Drugovich and Pourchaire both spent far too long trying to win in F2 to have any hope of getting anywhere further in F1. If you don't graduate after one year then you're doomed to journeyman status at best.

The only driver to win multiple races in F1 after spending more than one year in GP2/F2 is Sergio Perez.
The only drivers to win a race in F1 after spending three or more years in GP2/F2 are Pastor Maldonado and Pierre Gasly.

A career of F1 sim testing, Formula E or WEC is waiting for the rest of them.

[8Ace]

thegreenhell said:

Drugovich and Pourchaire both spent far too long trying to win in F2 to have any hope of getting anywhere further in F1. If you don't graduate after one year then you're doomed to journeyman status at best.

The only driver to win multiple races in F1 after spending more than one year in GP2/F2 is Sergio Perez.
The only drivers to win a race in F1 after spending three or more years in GP2/F2 are Pastor Maldonado and Pierre Gasly.

A career of F1 sim testing, Formula E or WEC is waiting for the rest of them.

I agree. It's a shame though as he's a bit homeless. Pourchaire and Bearman already have strong links to Sauber and Ferrari/Haas, and I'd say it's a pretty nailed on certainty that they'll both have openings in 2025. Stroll and Drugovich would be too much of a step backwards for the Astons.

[Muzzer79]

8Ace said:

. Pourchaire and Bearman already have strong links to Sauber and Ferrari/Haas, and I'd say it's a pretty nailed on certainty that they'll both have openings in 2025.

Sauber are focusing on the Audi project, not Ferrari juniors.

Ferrari are focusing on the Hamilton project

Which just leaves Haas. They may take a rookie, but have been burned with Schumacher Jnr and the like in the past. I think it’s more likely they’ll take someone ousted from a team above them.

One of the problems with modern F1 is that there is no way in for young talent now that drivers are continuing well into their 40s

[8Ace]

Muzzer79 said:

Sauber are focusing on the Audi project, not Ferrari juniors.

Ferrari are focusing on the Hamilton project

Which just leaves Haas. They may take a rookie, but have been burned with Schumacher Jnr and the like in the past. I think it’s more likely they’ll take someone ousted from a team above them.

One of the problems with modern F1 is that there is no way in for young talent now that drivers are continuing well into their 40s

Pourchaire isn't a Ferrari junior is he? I thought he was Sauber, so that might fit. I wouldn't rule out Haas though. Going for two rookies, one of which was Mazepin was a dreadful idea, but I think Bearman has real potential and Hulk would be a good mentor imo.
What's your pick for 2025?

[Europa Jon]

I'm writing this here as I didn't feel the need for a new thread: what's the point of K-Mag, and will he be there for 2025? He's outclassed by Hulkenberg, so what's he got? Does he bring in big sponsorship, or is he a technical wizard?
I understand the car's been their biggest issue recently, but surely there are better drivers who would drive a Haas for peanuts.

[Leithen]

What’s the point of HAAS? Unless the lathe salesman is prepared to open up his wallet, the team will be an increasing embarrassment. Especially so if Domenicali continues to double down as he has on the so called procedure for new teams.

[thegreenhell]

Andrew Benson in the BBC F1 commentary says the word in the paddock is that the Mercedes drive next year is only between Alonso and Antonelli.

[Hustle_]

I thought it was really interesting that Alonso was saying that he'd have to make the decision about whether he even wants to continue racing or will retire. Obviously he doesn't want to retire. That is at odds with what he was saying literally weeks ago- 'I can race maybe until I'm 50'. So on one had it's a kind of threat to Aston Martin that he won't stick around even if a better offer doesn't materialise elsewhere (extend my contract and pay me more money). On the other hand it's a message to Mercedes that he doesn't expect a multi-year deal out of them- he is happy to keep the seat warm even if they want to put Antonelli in for 2026.

[Hustle_]

Already wondering if Hamilton is doing the right thing. I think it depends entirely on how many more major scalps the team can poach this year. At the moment I can fully imagine Mercedes being better than Ferrari in the years to come.

[Kart16]

Hustle_ said:

...based on..?

Based on Drugovich big points advantage over both Pourchaire and Bearman, even though they both were on the best teams and Drugo in a humble MP.

[Kart16]

thegreenhell said:

Drugovich and Pourchaire both spent far too long trying to win in F2 to have any hope of getting anywhere further in F1. If you don't graduate after one year then you're doomed to journeyman status at best.

The only driver to win multiple races in F1 after spending more than one year in GP2/F2 is Sergio Perez.
The only drivers to win a race in F1 after spending three or more years in GP2/F2 are Pastor Maldonado and Pierre Gasly.

A career of F1 sim testing, Formula E or WEC is waiting for the rest of them.

Many drivers were promoted to F1 after 2 or more F2/GP2 seasons: Schumacher, Zhou Guanyu, Mazepin, Albon, Latifi, Gasly, Giovanazzi,Vandoorne, etc.

[Hustle_]

Kart16 said:

Hustle_ said:

...based on..?

Based on Drugovich big points advantage over both Pourchaire and Bearman, even though they both were on the best teams and Drugo in a humble MP.

Were they in the same year though or are you comparing year 1 drivers to drivers in their 2nd or 3rd year?

[thegreenhell]

Kart16 said:

Many drivers were promoted to F1 after 2 or more F2/GP2 seasons: Schumacher, Zhou Guanyu, Mazepin, Albon, Latifi, Gasly, Giovanazzi,Vandoorne, etc.

And haven't they all done so well...

[Leithen]

A couple more teams on the grid, there would be more opportunities for them. But no.

[thegreenhell]

Hustle_ said:

Kart16 said:

Hustle_ said:

...based on..?

Based on Drugovich big points advantage over both Pourchaire and Bearman, even though they both were on the best teams and Drugo in a humble MP.

Were they in the same year though or are you comparing year 1 drivers to drivers in their 2nd or 3rd year?

Rookie Pourchaire beat 2nd year Drugovich in 2021.
3rd year Drugovich beat 2nd year Pourchaire in 2022.

Hardly definitive.

[Hustle_]

Leithen said:

A couple more teams on the grid, there would be more opportunities for them. But no.

Yep. Was watching F3 cars pouring onto the circuit for qualifying and thinking ‘this is what a full grid of single seaters looks like’.

[MartG]

Rumours that Toto is looking at Max...

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/mercedes-wont-r...

Personally I don't think you'd get Max out of Red Bull while there's even a chance of another championship with them