The Official F1 2019 silly season *contains speculation*

[Vaud]

ajprice said:

Turbojuice said:

Who else is available realistically? There's been lots of talk of a loan move for Norris to Toro Rosso for a while.

McLaren refused to let him go didn't they?

And they won't release until they know about Alonso?

[Vaud]

Mellow Yellow said:

McLaren: Alonso/Norris and Sainz (Norris standing in when Alonso does Indy races)

What is the likely cross over? I can't see Alonso able to do both series - surely there will be too many clashing races?

[Vaud]

thegreenhell said:

So now that Lawrence Stroll has bought the Force India team, we should start to see a new round of driver movements kicking off...

Yup. Great to hear they have been saved, at least in the short term.

[Vaud]

tigerkoi said:

Genuinely, what makes you think it could only be short term? On face value it’s a hell of bench of investors who’ve been tied into this rescue. Apart from a heavy Montréalais presence with the disparate investor backgrounds amongst them in my view that points to a serious (and numerous, seven main investors?) group of guys. In fact it’s quite a consortium to have been pulled together just for a short play?

Maybe I’m seeing it from another angle.

In my view, until the new regs are clear and long term investment decisions can be made. I see this as an interim investment.

For FI, Williams and McLaren the next few years are about survival.

[Vaud]

ukaskew said:

Not driver related but I've just realised the next World Council Meeting isn't until October. That's really late for a first stab at a 2019 calendar, which we've had in the summer before, particularly as quite a few series and events work around it (and not to mention the circuits).

I think it's because there is almost no change. Only Suzuka to be contractually confirmed - and I can't see that dropping off?

[Vaud]

MissChief said:

Can't see it myself. One year maybe to see if Leclerc carries on his rise but two years seems excessive to me. Kimi will be 40 by then!

What does being 40 have to do with it?

[Vaud]

sgtBerbatov said:

McLaren have confirmed he's going to race in IndyCar next year. No more Alonso in F1.

Source? If it's this then it's a fake account...

https://twitter.com/McLaren_IndyCar

[Vaud]

Sam993 said:

He was supposed to announce it today at 14:00, presumably CET. His announcement is like his career.

I thought his post just said 14-08? (day/month rather than time)?

[Vaud]

Nickp82 said:

Gary29 said:

Won't happen.

I would be inclined to agree but I notice the word 'retirement' is not used in the release and Alonso seems to be saying he would like to come back if Mclaren become competitive again.

Keeping it nice and positive.

[Vaud]

sgtBerbatov said:

Maybe he's going to sit the next season out, win the Indy 500, come back when McLaren actually have their st together and finish on a high. Because there's absolutely no way anyone in F1 wants to remember him barely scraping in to the top 10 for the rest of 2018.

Doesn't he also have 2019 commitments for the balance of the WEC?

[Vaud]

Sa Calobra said:

Thank fk he's gone.

I never got the hype.

Could you elaborate? He has consistently been rated by team principals as the driver they rate as no 1/2/3 over the last 10 years (I forget the exact stats)

[Vaud]

carl_w said:

n which case Villeneuve needs a Le Mans win.

Surely now McLaren need an experienced driver to partner Stoff (or two new drivers)? Kimi? Get on the phone to Massa?

Kimi would be a no-BS choice - but why would he? Looks like he may get 1 or 2 years at Ferrari.
Ocon or Perez will be free. Perez brings some money and experience.
Sainz is handy but maybe lacks some longer term experience.

[Vaud]

suffolk009 said:

I totally get your point, but there are 10-12-ish drivers with far less talent than Kimi currently on the grid.

I agree. I think we are actually very lucky in F1 at the moment with the quality of the grid.

[Vaud]

Exige77 said:

^^^^What he said.

Fred’s put in some good performances but well and truly fooked off everyone around him in just about every team he’s been in.

I wish him good luck but never thought of him as one of the greats.

I see him as a flawed genius, like so many WDCs. His driving is sublime. I agree that outside of eth cockpit he is a bit of a sociopath.

[Vaud]

ajprice said:

Mercedes: Hamilton and Bottas
Ferrari: Vettel and Kimi
Red Bull: Verstappen and Gasly
Renault: Hulkenberg and Ricciardo
Haas: Magnussen and Leclerc
Force India: Perez and Stroll
McLaren: Sainz and Norris
Toro Rosso: Hartley and Ticktum
Sauber: Ericsson and Ocon
Williams: Sirotkin and Vandoorne

I can't see Ocon in a Sauber, his stock is rising with Merc backing. Maybe Williams if they go more "all in" on Merc.
Can Ticktum even qualify for a 2019 superlicence (I know he can't test)

[Vaud]

HustleRussell said:

Raikkonen is a very good driver but he’s blocking one of the very best seats.

How is he "blocking" a seat? F1 team principals have access to a lot of data and competitive analysis and are fairly un-emotive. If a change is needed, they tend to make it? With a primary driver strategy that they clearly have, the no 2 options are fewer?

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HustleRussell said:

I understand Ferrari's motivation for keeping him, but as a spectator I'd like to see Ferrari being less conservative. Kimi is still good but he isn't 'the future'.

Sure. But why does the future have to come from the 2nd seat? With Schumacher, Vettel and Alonso they secured the future by attracting the top driver of the time. The second seat is there to help secure the WCC and win when the lead has an off day/take points away from the competition.

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fk1_6 said:

Predictions are correct so far although going by the fact McLaren have brought in Sainz before his contract with Red Bull runs out, I'm now thinking Norris may be off to Torro Rosso as part of a deal between the two teams and Vandoorne will retain his seat so McLaren have some stability.

I think the RB option on him expired this week.

[Vaud]

Sam993 said:

For as long Vettel and Hamilton block access to Ferrari and Merc everyone else is just a spectator. Which is why this situation sucks.

But it is also a team strategy. Merc have been clear that they never want another Nico/Hamilton scenario - it was too destructive and sapped management time. Ferrari have a 1/2 strategy, at least since Schumacher.

[Vaud]

LaurasOtherHalf said:

I think Hamilton is one of those special cases though, the driver of his generation. If you go back you’ve always got one...
Hamilton
Alonso
Schumacher
Senna
Prost
Piquet
Lauda
Stewart
Clark

Etc etc (only imho, not gospel!)

I think you could say Vettel proved himself (like him or not) and the early plaudits right.

Ones who didn’t? Button, Kimi,

I agree... Add Hill, Jacques Villeneuve to the latter.

Hakkinen is probably in the first list, based on what Schumacher thought of him as a peer and his recovery from near death at Adelaide.