The Official F1 2019 silly season *contains speculation*

[anonymous-user]

Vandoorne has stated today in Autosport that McLaren have made no gains in 2018.

Does that mean Vandoorne knows he is out the door?

I think if I was in his situation I would be very quiet.

[ajprice]

hairyben said:

sky were saying he had a seat fitting and doesn't fit in the McLaren - he's too tall, his head sits above the line from rollover hoop/airbox to halo.

According to a bit of Google search he's 186cm / 6'1", 2cm taller than Hulkenberg.

[Stan the Bat]

ELUSIVEJIM said:

Vandoorne has stated today in Autosport that McLaren have made no gains in 2018.

Does that mean Vandoorne knows he is out the door?

I think if I was in his situation I would be very quiet.

Certainly seems like it if he is saying things like that.

[andburg]

Strange behaviour from Marcus Ericsson this weekend saying how impressed he was with the honda engine as he couldnt get past.

Making exuses or something else? why is he giving positive press to them?

Now the following contains wild speculation purely for entertainment.....

Fiat Chrysler were looking at buying Sauber entirely but this has gone quiet with rumours FCA are dropping the investment.
Rumours have also said RBR have been looking for a buyer for Toro Rosso for a while.....

2+2 =7

FC are buying Sauber, Longbow are then buying Toro Rosso and taking Ericsson over with them.
TR we know were short on drivers so thats 1 driver sorted and Russell/ Norris waiting for a drive somewhere. Ferrari get a seat in F1 for Giovanazzi to sit alongside LeClerc at the junior team

[r11co]

andburg said:

FC are buying Sauber, Longbow are then buying Toro Rosso and taking Ericsson over with them.
TR we know were short on drivers so thats 1 driver sorted and Russell/ Norris waiting for a drive somewhere. Ferrari get a seat in F1 for Giovanazzi to sit alongside LeClerc at the junior team

I think all bets are off regarding FCA's future plans since Marchionne's death. He was in the early stages of setting up a deal for the Agnelli family (the founders of FIAT) to get out of the automotive business completely by arranging a deal for FCA to merge with Hyundai. That may happen, it may not, but FCA will be reviewing all their options and I suspect Marchionne's successor will be keen to continue his legacy.

[MartG]

Markelov to Williams ?

https://thesportsrush.com/kubica-to-miss-out-on-wi...

[DanielSan]

When the source is Motorsport.com I’m not inclined to believe a single word that’s said. Clickbait extraordinaires at best.

[Vaud]

DanielSan said:

When the source is Motorsport.com I’m not inclined to believe a single word that’s said. Clickbait extraordinaires at best.

Joe Saward is mooting the same.

https://www.motorsportweek.com/joesaward/id/00296

[andburg]

not drivers but lights.


Rear wing rain lights for 2019 so drivers can see through the haze...seems silly not to have front facing lights so the driver being followed can see where the car behind is in the spray given the current focus on rear visibility and mirrors.

[thegreenhell]

DanielSan said:

When the source is Motorsport.com I’m not inclined to believe a single word that’s said. Clickbait extraordinaires at best.

Motorsport.com F1 news is basically Autosport.com, surely one of the more reliable news sites? The main problem with all internet news sites is the expectation to keep generating news stories every day, in order to keep site traffic up, even when there is no news to report.

[rdjohn]

andburg said:

not drivers but lights.


Rear wing rain lights for 2019 so drivers can see through the haze...seems silly not to have front facing lights so the driver being followed can see where the car behind is in the spray given the current focus on rear visibility and mirrors.

The same thought came to me. 4 daylight running LEDs mounted in the nose, before the spray gets kicked-up.

[FourWheelDrift]

Seems like Ocon might stay with Force India, Perez has announced a signed contract but can't say who yet, if it was FI they'd be announcing it. So the Haas move then?

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/904361/1/perez-has-2...

[cuprabob]

FourWheelDrift said:

Seems like Ocon might stay with Force India, Perez has announced a signed contract but can't say who yet, if it was FI they'd be announcing it. So the Haas move then?

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/904361/1/perez-has-2...

There was talk yesterday of Perez going back to McLaren alongside Sainz.

[andburg]

FourWheelDrift said:

Seems like Ocon might stay with Force India, Perez has announced a signed contract but can't say who yet, if it was FI they'd be announcing it. So the Haas move then?

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/904361/1/perez-has-2...

I'd say that's the most likely option, FI cant go to Merc asking for B team status while ditching their junior driver.

He's said numerous times his FI contract didn't need a signature so either its a new multi year deal with them rather than a single year option or hes going elsewhere. HAAS is a good sideways option, the seat immediately available would be the Williams as they want the sponsorship cash and experience but i don't think hes interested in running around at the back.

Interesting bit is the timing, signing and not announcing at Spa could possibly be an announcement at Monza suggesting an Italian link. Raikonnen is expected to get a new Ferrari deal but its by no means a guarantee and LeClerc probably needs another season before the pressure of a red car.

If he is leaving FI, questions is will he finish the season there?

[Vaud]

andburg said:

I'd say that's the most likely option, FI cant go to Merc asking for B team status while ditching their junior driver.

He's said numerous times his FI contract didn't need a signature so either its a new multi year deal with them rather than a single year option or hes going elsewhere. HAAS is a good sideways option, the seat immediately available would be the Williams as they want the sponsorship cash and experience but i don't think hes interested in running around at the back.

Interesting bit is the timing, signing and not announcing at Spa could possibly be an announcement at Monza suggesting an Italian link. Raikonnen is expected to get a new Ferrari deal but its by no means a guarantee and LeClerc probably needs another season before the pressure of a red car.

If he is leaving FI, questions is will he finish the season there?

Well apparently he has big feet and he is tall so he won't fit anywhere else for this season.

[andburg]

Vaud said:

andburg said:

I'd say that's the most likely option, FI cant go to Merc asking for B team status while ditching their junior driver.

He's said numerous times his FI contract didn't need a signature so either its a new multi year deal with them rather than a single year option or hes going elsewhere. HAAS is a good sideways option, the seat immediately available would be the Williams as they want the sponsorship cash and experience but i don't think hes interested in running around at the back.

Interesting bit is the timing, signing and not announcing at Spa could possibly be an announcement at Monza suggesting an Italian link. Raikonnen is expected to get a new Ferrari deal but its by no means a guarantee and LeClerc probably needs another season before the pressure of a red car.

If he is leaving FI, questions is will he finish the season there?

Well apparently he has big feet and he is tall so he won't fit anywhere else for this season.

isn't that Ocon though not Perez?

[Vaud]

andburg said:

isn't that Ocon though not Perez?

Yes, sorry, getting my thread mixed up.

[HustleRussell]

Saward reckons Perez secured his position at RPFI before he initiated the administration of the team hence will stay with Ocon being the moving part.

It is beginning to look like Ocon may sit out the final quarter of the season but Mercedes will surely sort out a 2019 seat for him.

I wonder if Lawrence Stroll will be looking at all of this disruption and concluding that his boy should surely finish his vegetables before he is allowed dessert.

[anonymous-user]

HustleRussell said:

Saward reckons Perez secured his position at RPFI before he initiated the administration of the team hence will stay with Ocon being the moving part.

It is beginning to look like Ocon may sit out the final quarter of the season but Mercedes will surely sort out a 2019 seat for him.

I wonder if Lawrence Stroll will be looking at all of this disruption and concluding that his boy should surely finish his vegetables before he is allowed dessert.

It wouldn't surprise me if the driver contracts are now null and void because they were contracts with the old company.

[Nickp82]

HustleRussell said:

I wonder if Lawrence Stroll will be looking at all of this disruption and concluding that his boy should surely finish his vegetables before he is allowed dessert.