The Official 2018 F1 Silly Season *Contains Speculation*

[TheAngryDog]

Supersam83 said:

McLaren didn't have a World Champion driver from 2002 to 2006 when Kimi, DC and JPM were the drivers.

So only 11 years ago.

For all their name, brand and history McLaren haven't been able to build a Championship contending car since 2005 which is the year Adrian Newey left.

Except in 2007 when LH came second in the Championship and 2008 when he won it. 2010 wasn't a bad year ether when LH came 4th, but only 16 points behind. 2011 was an odd year, JB came second to SV but with a 122 points difference, such was the dominance of the RB and SV.

[Vaud]

thegreenhell said:

Contracts don't really mean a lot if the driver doesn't want to be there. It's just a case of how much it costs to buy them out.

True, though they can enforce a sabbatical. i.e. not force him to drive for TR, but can enforce him not driving for anyone else...

[TUS 2 CON]

I wondered if we might see this next year:

Ferrari: Vettel & Verstappen

Red Bull: Riccardo & Alonso

Mercedes: Hamilton & Bottas

[Vaud]

TUS 2 CON said:

I wondered if we might see this next year:

Ferrari: Vettel & Verstappen

Red Bull: Riccardo & Alonso

Mercedes: Hamilton & Bottas

Why?

RB have said they are happy (and have always stuck to) a young drivers program. Let's face it they don't lack talent.

Why would they release Verstappen? Maybe release Carlos at a push in return for current spec Ferrari engines for TR?

[HTP99]

TUS 2 CON said:

I wondered if we might see this next year:

Ferrari: Vettel & Verstappen

Red Bull: Riccardo & Alonso

Mercedes: Hamilton & Bottas

No
No
Yes

[Vaud]

HTP99 said:

No
No
Yes

Or Hamilton + Ocon. I like the latter. That said, I think Bottas has done enough to prove himself worthy of the 2nd seat, at least for another year.

[Crafty_]

Big rumours in the Austrian paddock that Verstappen has or is going to tell RBR he wishes to leave at the end of his contract ( end of 2018 ).

So, does he have a move planned ? signed a pre-contract maybe ?

Does this mean Merc won't renew Lewis ? or Ferrari will keep Kimi for 2018 and then oust him in favour of Max ?

Meantime, the Carlos Sainz situation is interesting. After his comments yesterday Horner has said that Sainz actually has an RBR contract and they have exercised their option on him for 2018, they also have an option on him for 2019.
Horner says the RBR line up will not change (both drivers contracted), so Sainz will be in the STR.

Marko made Sainz backtrack his comments from yesterday - literally right in front of Kravitz he turned to Sainz and said "Don't you have something to say?" Sainz backtracked somewhat, but didn't confirm he'd be in an STR. Clearly he has something going on.

So, if Renault do want him, they're going to have to buy him out of a contract it would seem.

Looks like Williams are going shopping, but keeping Massa as a backup plan: http://www.crash.net/f1/news/268991/1/williams-kee...

[Supersam83]

I have a strong feeling that Max (with help from Jos) has signed a pre-contract agreement with Ferrari.

Jos knows that Max needs to stay competitive and not drop off the radar as he hasn't won another race since his 1st win in Spain 2016 and has had 7 podiums while his teammate Danny Ric has won 2 races and has 13 podiums since.

[suffolk009]

Might Kimi find his way back to McLaren?

[patmahe]

suffolk009 said:

Might Kimi find his way back to McLaren?

Would they want him? I like Kimi but I think its clear his best years are behind him and at most he is a couple of years from retirement. Vettel is showing what that Ferrari can do. McLaren have better ways to spend a few million quid in my opinion, I'd rather have Sainz or Ocon than Kimi for the longer term.

[anonymous-user]

Alonso will be in a Mercedes or Ferrari in 2018.

I would state it will be Ferrari and he will replace KImi.

[Vaud]

ELUSIVEJIM said:

Alonso will be in a Mercedes or Ferrari in 2018.

I would state it will be Ferrari and he will replace KImi.

Ferrari have stated (yesterday) that they don't want him.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/130645...

Edited by Vaud on Monday 10th July 13:30

[HTP99]

ELUSIVEJIM said:

Alonso will be in a Mercedes or Ferrari in 2018.

I would state it will be Ferrari and he will replace KImi.

He won't be in either if Vettel and Hamilton remain where they are; which is pretty much a given.

[suffolk009]

Vaud said:

Ferrari have stated (yesterday) that they don't want him.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/130645...

Edited by Vaud on Monday 10th July 13:30

If Max is unavailable they'll want him. Saying they don't want him is just part of the negotiation.

[London424]

suffolk009 said:

Vaud said:

Ferrari have stated (yesterday) that they don't want him.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/130645...

Edited by Vaud on Monday 10th July 13:30

If Max is unavailable they'll want him. Saying they don't want him is just part of the negotiation.

Why would they want him? Left in hissy fit, pissing off a lot of people there and then you'd be pissing off your current no1 driver, and paying a fortune in driver salaries as well.

[ISO51200]

Sainz is very outspoken for a man of his level of talent.

[Vaud]

suffolk009 said:

Vaud said:

Ferrari have stated (yesterday) that they don't want him.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/130645...

Edited by Vaud on Monday 10th July 13:30

If Max is unavailable they'll want him. Saying they don't want him is just part of the negotiation.

I honestly can't see why they would want him. They have a proven driver that can lead a WDC charge. You need an Ocon/Perez/Sainz to back him up and take the wins when the lead falters... at least you do while ever you have a lead/no2 strategy.

[suffolk009]

Vaud said:

suffolk009 said:

Vaud said:

Ferrari have stated (yesterday) that they don't want him.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/130645...

Edited by Vaud on Monday 10th July 13:30

If Max is unavailable they'll want him. Saying they don't want him is just part of the negotiation.

I honestly can't see why they would want him. They have a proven driver that can lead a WDC charge. You need an Ocon/Perez/Sainz to back him up and take the wins when the lead falters... at least you do while ever you have a lead/no2 strategy.

You're probably right. I'd forgotten this was Ferrari we're talking about.

Upon reflection I can't see Alonso agreeing to have a gearbox seal broken - or heeding the radio message "Sebastian is faster than you".

Only situation I can now see Alonso back at Ferrari is if Vettel leaves. 10% chance?

[rubystone]

ELUSIVEJIM said:

Alonso will be in a Mercedes or Ferrari in 2018.

I would state it will be Ferrari and he will replace KImi.

I think with respect that this just will not happen. Alonso will very likely remain with McLaren when their Mercedes engine deal is announced; probably just after Spa. True, he might sign a 1 year extension leaving him free when (if) Verstappen does move to Ferrari to see what state the market is in then. If Ferrari re-sign Kimi for 2018 then it seems nailed-on that Max has a seat at Ferrari. The question is, who has the other?

[anonymous-user]

Vaud said:

Ferrari have stated (yesterday) that they don't want him.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/130645...

Edited by Vaud on Monday 10th July 13:30

Remember this is F1.

All a bunch of liar's and cheats if they can get away with it.

Until contracts are 100% secure anything can happen.