The Official F1 2019 silly season *contains speculation*

[Vaud]

Assuming that leak is correct (Autosport and Motorsport are covering it so it is pretty solid)

Ferrari - Vettel - Leclerc*
Mercedes - Hamilton - Bottas
Red Bull - Verstappen - Gasly*
Renault - Ricciardo* - Hulkenberg
Sauber - Raikkonen* - Giovinazzi*
HAAS - Grosjean - Magnusson
McLaren - Sainz* - Norris
Racing Point Force India - Perez - TBA*
Toro Rosso - Kvyat - TBA*
Williams - Russell - Kubica

(*) change vs 2018

That leaves 2 seats:
RPFI - which will be Stroll
Toro Rosso - Albon? Or could they be persuaded to take Ocon?


So that is a quarter of the grid that has changed...

Gains vs 2018:
Russell
Norris
Kubica
Giovinazzi
Kvyat

Probable losses:
Alonso
Sirotkin
Ocon
Ericsson
Vandoorne

HustleRussell said:

Is nobody entertaining the idea that silly season 2018/19 might have been massively over hyped and will ultimately disappoint?

No

[MartG]

housen said:

kubica got a seat at williams

I hope it's not just a rumour

[Deesee]

housen said:

kubica got a seat at williams

Looks like an announcement will be made shortly, he's coming in with 25m euro in sponsorship, 2 yr deal.

[Fire99]

Deesee said:

he's coming in with 25m euro in sponsorship,

If I try really hard, when I'm 'passing the bucket' round for sponsorship, I can nearly reach 100 quid.

[HustleRussell]

Vaud said:

HustleRussell said:

Is nobody entertaining the idea that silly season 2018/19 might have been massively over hyped and will ultimately disappoint?

No

[Steamer]

Deesee said:

housen said:

kubica got a seat at williams

Looks like an announcement will be made shortly, he's coming in with 25m euro in sponsorship, 2 yr deal.

Have Williams announced their new title sponsor yet too? (sorry I've lost track since the Rich Energy hype)

[Deesee]

Steamer said:

Deesee said:

housen said:

kubica got a seat at williams

Looks like an announcement will be made shortly, he's coming in with 25m euro in sponsorship, 2 yr deal.

Have Williams announced their new title sponsor yet too? (sorry I've lost track since the Rich Energy hype)

It should/could be Kubica's sponsor PKN Orlen.

[Mark-C]

Steamer said:

Deesee said:

housen said:

kubica got a seat at williams

Looks like an announcement will be made shortly, he's coming in with 25m euro in sponsorship, 2 yr deal.

Have Williams announced their new title sponsor yet too? (sorry I've lost track since the Rich Energy hype)

I think Fire99 has got it sewn up with his £100 ...

[Vaud]

Ferrari - Vettel - Leclerc
Mercedes - Hamilton - Bottas
Red Bull - Verstappen - Gasly
Renault - Ricciardo - Hulkenberg
Sauber - Raikkonen - Giovinazzi
HAAS - Grosjean - Magnusson
McLaren - Sainz - Norris
Racing Point Force India - Perez - [lets face it it's Stroll*]
Toro Rosso - Kvyat - TBA
Williams - Russell - Kubica

[start random speculation]

* Or is it?

I can't fathom why the Stroll announcement is taking so long... maybe there is a contractual issue? Maybe Stroll is happy to have bought the team as a platform and Lance racing in it is "optional" for him?

Will we see Ocon retained there and Lance popping up at TR instead... or out to Formula E?

[/end random speculation]

[red_slr]

I would expect he cant say or do anything till after Sunday.

[StevenB]

Kubica is in

https://www.williamsf1.com/racing/news/2018/11/wil...

[FourWheelDrift]

4 (5 if Hartley isn't at TR) double driver changes and only 2 teams retaining the same drivers. Is that the biggest shuffle we have seen for years?

[budgie smuggler]

Fire99 said:

housen said:

kubica got a seat at williams

Really good for him. For Williams, it seems a curious move. They seem a bit lost at sea.

They do seem lost but I think this is a great move. It gets them publicity from Robert's fame, think he's bringing a bag o' bunse, and he's got a decent amount of experience so he can develop the car over the season.

Edited by budgie smuggler on Thursday 22 November 09:54

[Drew106]

FourWheelDrift said:

4 (5 if Hartley isn't at TR) double driver changes and only 2 teams retaining the same drivers. Is that the biggest shuffle we have seen for years?

It's going to be very interesting how the new driver line ups play out.

Which makes it more of a shame there's no free to air coverage!

I just hope the highlights package C4 will be showing is as in depth as this year.

[rdjohn]

You have to say that this thread has got to have been the most interesting spot for speculation since it was started by Vaud back in April. Apart from a few slots at the top, HAM, BOT, VET & VER, I think most of the actual outcomes would have been hard to predict.

The fact that Ocon looks to be friendless, is perhaps the biggest surprise - assuming that RB Honda would never agree to him driving the TR.

Please as I am for Robert, I feel that Williams have consigned themselves to yet another year of drudgery. Rob Smedleys interview suggested that they have weaknesses throughout the organisation, but surely, their greatest has to be woolly thinking by their managment at the top. Paying yesterday’s bills seems their biggest motivator, rather than moving up the grid.

[thegreenhell]

Vandoorne has now signed with Mercedes F1 to do simulator work alongside racing in FE next year.

[HardtopManual]

Does Bottas have a watertight contract for 2019? I ask because he’s just finished 5th in the WDC while driving the WDC and WCC winning car. I can’t recall a worse performance from a WDC teammate. Can anyone else?

[768]

He was only 4 points off third though and he lost more than that didn't he by letting Hamilton through?

Not a great year, but I doubt Merc are worried.

[HardtopManual]

True (although I believe Hamilton would have overtaken him without being let by - just my opinion; I know it’s pure conjecture). MInd you, there was also the puncture in Baku. Putting to one side the closeness of the battle for 3rd in the WDC, he scored only 60% of his teammate’s total. There are number two drivers and there is dead weight. Is there half a chance that Ocon will have a race seat at Merc next year?

[LaurasOtherHalf]

I dunno, I just don't think OCO has shown anything like enough maturity to deserve a seat in one of the best cars on the grid.

Let's be honest, if MERC still had ROS in the other car they wouldn't have won the WDC this year-for certain. I know people blow about the manufacturers wanting the WCC (or WCM if you're old school!) but I think that only counts for the lower down teams-for the big manufacturers the WDC is just worth so much more in publicity than FOM payments.

If I were MERC, I'd be saying throw everything at making HAM a 7 or even 8 time WDC record winner. Ferrari are still dining out on that publicity from the Schumi-era and they've basically won nothing of note except from luck since.