The Official 2018 F1 Silly Season *Contains Speculation*

[ajprice]

thegreenhell said:

There was a rumour that Alex Rossi was going to make an appearance in his home GP. I don't think Red Bull have any other eligible drivers on their books.

Buemi?

[Jinba Ittai]

ajprice said:

thegreenhell said:

There was a rumour that Alex Rossi was going to make an appearance in his home GP. I don't think Red Bull have any other eligible drivers on their books.

Buemi?

Buemi is the best choice of the available drivers by far. He's a Red Bull contracted driver, he does simulator work so is familiar with the 2017 cars, he's versatile and quick. Get him in!

[HustleRussell]

Whatever happened to JEV?

[CraigyMc]

HustleRussell said:

Whatever happened to JEV?

Formula E and WEC.

[jamiebae]

Motorsport.com are now reporting they want Hartley, with a chance that he’d also get the seat next year. He’s ex-Red Bull and his Porsche LMP1 berth has gone so that’d be an interesting development.

Buemi is supposedly second choice if they can’t get the deal done for Hartley to drive.

[DanielSan]

If Hartley came in and matched Kvyat first time out I think that'd be Kvyat done for next season. If he beat him first time out that may well be Kvyat done for this season

[anonymous-user]

jamiebae said:

Motorsport.com are now reporting they want Hartley, with a chance that he’d also get the seat next year. He’s ex-Red Bull and his Porsche LMP1 berth has gone so that’d be an interesting development.

Buemi is supposedly second choice if they can’t get the deal done for Hartley to drive.

That would be fantastic for Brendon, he is a super lad.

[MartG]

Motorsport.com saying Hartley has been confirmed

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/hartley-toro-ro...

[p1stonhead]

Wow this is awesome news. Looking forward to seeing Hartley in an F1 car! He is a beast in an LMP1

[anonymous-user]

Brilliant news. I've worked with Brendon in the past when he came to Europe after he lost his Red Bull spot. He has worked incredibly hard and sacrificed a lot to rebuild his career and deserves every success. He is one of the nicest blokes you could hope to meet too.

If he can have a great event, it would be superb to have him in the car next year. Fingers crossed it goes well.

[skinny]

I think Hartley is a great signing! Buemi wouldn't be bad either.

[Vaud]

So basically 1 Williams seat, Torro Rosso and Sauber left to finalise.

Grouped by existing team (with end contract date where known)

44. Lewis Hamilton (2018)
77. Valtteri Bottas (2018)

3. Daniel Ricciardo (2018)
33. Max Verstappen (2020)

5. Sebastian Vettel (2020)
7. Kimi Raikkonen (2018)

11. Sergio Perez (2018)
31. Esteban Ocon (2018)

-- TBC
18. Lance Stroll (2018)

14. Fernando Alonso (2018+)
2. Stoffel Vandoorne (2018)

-- TBC Torro Rosso
-- TBC Torro Rosso

8. Romain Grosjean (2017?)
20. Kevin Magnussen (2018?)

27. Nico Hulkenberg (2018)
55. Carlos Sainz Jnr (2019) - loan for 2018 from TR

-- TBC Sauber
-- TBC Sauber

edited for realists...

Edited by Vaud on Friday 20th October 17:31

[anonymous-user]

Vaud said:

So basically 1 Williams seat, Torro Rosso and Sauber left to finalise.

Grouped by existing team (with end contract date where known)

44. Lewis Hamilton (2018)
77. Valtteri Bottas (2018)

3. Daniel Ricciardo (2018)
33. Max Verstappen (2018 or 2019)

5. Sebastian Vettel (2020)
7. Kimi Raikkonen (2018)

11. Sergio Perez (2018)
31. Esteban Ocon (2018)

-- TBC
18. Lance Stroll (2018)

14. Fernando Alonso (2018+)
2. Stoffel Vandoorne (2018)

-- TBC Torro Rosso
-- TBC Torro Rosso

8. Romain Grosjean (2017?)
20. Kevin Magnussen (2018?)

27. Nico Hulkenberg (2018)
55. Carlos Sainz Jnr (2019) - loan for 2018 from TR

-- TBC Sauber
-- TBC Sauber

Isn't Max signed up till end of '20?

[thegreenhell]

REALIST123 said:

Isn't Max signed up till end of '20?

Only since it was announced a few minutes ago... https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/verstappen-rene...

[p1stonhead]

25 place penalty for Hartley for engine change! And they wonder why people get annoyed with the sport!

[carinaman]

I was disappointed Ricciardo didn't get a podium at Austin:

http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/opinion/f1/what-...

[andburg]

According to Crash.net Williams are now Wehrlein's only option and Paddy Lowe is refusing to rule him out.

I still think I'd put Kubica in the car on a 1 year deal unless Merc really wanted to keep Wehrlein in F1. I dont think he's shown the promise that he needed to ever get a proper Merc drive so i doubt they'll push too hard to get him in.

[rubystone]

andburg said:

According to Crash.net Williams are now Wehrlein's only option and Paddy Lowe is refusing to rule him out.

I still think I'd put Kubica in the car on a 1 year deal unless Merc really wanted to keep Wehrlein in F1. I dont think he's shown the promise that he needed to ever get a proper Merc drive so i doubt they'll push too hard to get him in.

I think MB will push to find him a seat. And if Martini are happy with a brand ambassador who’s not actually a driver, a decent reduction in engine costs could seal the deal. Unless Daddy Stroll objects.

[CraigyMc]

rubystone said:

andburg said:

According to Crash.net Williams are now Wehrlein's only option and Paddy Lowe is refusing to rule him out.

I still think I'd put Kubica in the car on a 1 year deal unless Merc really wanted to keep Wehrlein in F1. I dont think he's shown the promise that he needed to ever get a proper Merc drive so i doubt they'll push too hard to get him in.

I think MB will push to find him a seat. And if Martini are happy with a brand ambassador who’s not actually a driver, a decent reduction in engine costs could seal the deal. Unless Daddy Stroll objects.

The Strolls are the reason why I think Paul Di Resta has a decent shot at the seat.

[thegreenhell]

CraigyMc said:

The Strolls are the reason why I think Paul Di Resta has a decent shot at the seat.

It's a sad state for Williams if the pay driver can dictate the main driver.