The Official 2018 F1 Silly Season *Contains Speculation*

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hairyben said:

Would any of them slot into the no.2 driver role demanded by vettel?

How do you know what is demanded by Vettel?

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jamiebae said:

I do also wonder if Kvyat's continued presence at STR is due to the team being for sale and maybe targeting Russian buyers?

I remember a comment that said - who is next in the RB program? Their view was that there isn't an obvious candidate.

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OK, my theory in progress:

Ferrari
Sauber -(with Ferrari engine branded as Maserati)
McLaren - (with Ferrari engine branded as Alfa Romeo)
HaaS - Ferrari

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Monza will be the start of things falling into place in my view. Ferrari always like to announce there/

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thegreenhell said:

I'm sure that Red Bull have already confirmed both of their drivers for next year.

I think their position is that they are under contract, so no need to confirm anything.

I think they said that they might let Sainz go if they were paid all of their development costs for him?

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suffolk009 said:

I remeber reading somewhere that Massa and certainly Irvine made a lot more money out of their years at Ferrari than they ever could have made at any other team.

Someone described it to me this way... every driver thinks they are the next Senna/Prost/Schumacher - self belief and a level of arrogance is very important in a top driver.

However, the really smart ones - once they realise that they may be top 10 or even top 5, but are not the next Senna/Prost/Schumacher cash in... as Irvine/Massa/Barrichello did. All competent in their day but realised that it would be better to be in the right car and win occasionally, and take the money...

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Vandoorne confirmed at McLaren, but Alonso not (yet)

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thegreenhell said:

I can't see it happening. Williams are the the biggest under-performers this season for me, making very poor use of the best PU package. Both Williams were slower than both McLarens in FP3 at Spa just now, so I can't see why he would make that switch.

What's at the heart of it? I had heard major correlation issues between the CFD, wind tunnel and track, but that is 2nd hand.

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Pat Symonds (in multiple podcasts when he was at Williams) was clear that they were not ready for Alonso... they didn't have a car that would bring the best out in him to be competitive - and so there was no point in chasing him. If they had a top 3/4 car then there would be a rationale...

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Sadly I think he is a brilliant driver - one of the very, very best and on a par with Schumacher, Senna, Hamilton, etc in being able to extract every little bit out of a car on it's day.

However, this is matched with a charismatic but divisive personality internally to teams that is, for want of a better phrase, "marmite"... or at worst, destructive - proven at McLaren and Ferrari.

I have it on good authority that Mercedes evaluated him but after the Hamilton/Rosberg battles, they wanted much better internal harmony and are very, very happy with the new dynamic.

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HTP99 said:

More chance of me driving for Mercedes than Alonso.

I guess it depends - if Hamilton is non committal for 2019+ then might they take Alonso for 2+1 years and take the risk for next year? But then they are happy with Bottas... but no contract...

Wild speculation...

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jbudgie said:

What is Lauda's actual position at Mercedes? i.e.job description?

And why does he always turn up in his gardening clothes?

Non-Executive Chairman of Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team

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suffolk009 said:

jbudgie said:

suffolk009 said:

From most accounts it was him that talked Lewis into joining Mercedes.

Thought that was Ross Brawn?

I may be completely wrong, but I thought it was Lauda who did most of the running.

My understanding is that it was a joint effort. Lauda as a driver to driver conversation, Ross as a pragmatic "here are the team assets, who we have and where we are investing, etc".

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So given they haven't signed Bottas yet.. I wonder who else is courting him? McLaren as number 1?

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cuprabob said:

Bottas will be at Merc next year, the contract is a formality.

Is it? so why isn't it signed and announced?

I think you are right, I just don't see why they would delay if it is a formality.

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HustleRussell said:

If you'll excuse the Horner-ism I believe McLaren have 'an option' on Button for 2018 to cover off the eventuality that Alonso might get fed up.

What's the reference to Horner?

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So I'm guessing that the McLaren announcement will be:

• McLaren to take Renault (branded as Renault?)
• Alonso to commit to 2 years
• Torro Rosso to take 3 year Honda deal with RB having option for years 2/3 (if the engine comes good)

All down to the severance payment to McLaren and how much Torro Rosso get for next year to be a guinea pig?

I will hazard a wild guess that Honda end up paying some of Alonsos salary next year as comp.

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suffolk009 said:

sandman77 said:

You do realise that after 13 races this year Vettel is only 3 points behind Hamilton. I would say that he has a chance of beating the Merc works team.

I had seen that. I may be wrong but I thing Ferrari's resurgence will fade away as the season continues.

They have a further engine spec to introduce and some tracks will favour them.

Anyhow this thread is about 2018.

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jsf said:

McLaren will do what's best for McLaren, they would like to keep Alonso, but if they cant, they will plug another driver in.

Sure, but who is :

Fast and consistent
Available
Experienced (you don't want two near-rookies)
Brings sponsors at a reasonable level
Not part of a rival drivers program (like Ocon)

Not sure it is a very long list?

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Possibly. I know this is heresy on a mainly British forum, but I don't think Jenson is that good.

Right place and right time with Brawn, but inconsistent and lacking a killer instinct.