The Official F1 2019 silly season *contains speculation*

[HustleRussell]

ELUSIVEJIM said:

Well that's Lewis stipulation in his new contract complete. Keep Bottas.

Source?

Thought not.

[anonymous-user]

HustleRussell said:

Source?

Thought not.

Lewis Sign's a new deal and Bottas gets the nod the very next day.

Do we need a source?

[HustleRussell]

ELUSIVEJIM said:

HustleRussell said:

ELUSIVEJIM said:

Well that's Lewis stipulation in his new contract complete. Keep Bottas.

Source?

Thought not.

Lewis Sign's a new deal and Bottas gets the nod the very next day.

Do we need a source?

Depends on whether we're talking 'facts' or 'EJ's baseless conjecture'?

[entropy]

skinny said:

ajprice said:

Bottas at Mercedes for 2019 https://www.mercedesamgf1.com/en/mercedes-amg-f1/a...

Yawn. I mean he's competent but not gonna set the world alight

Would be interesting to know what the conversations between Wolff and Ricciardo were like and Wolff's/Merc's thinking.

[anonymous-user]

HustleRussell said:

Depends on whether we're talking 'facts' or 'EJ's baseless conjecture'?

So if Kimi is retained by Ferrari what would you think about that?

Vettel has basically just said that Leclerc has time on his hands before joining Ferrari. He wants Kimi retained as he is not an issue.

Lewis basically stated to Ricciardo he lacks strong options back in June. He also wanted Bottas retained stating they get on.

Of course they all get on. Bottas and Kimi are not an issue.

Both Vettel and Lewis are at it.

[HustleRussell]

Leaving out all the fluff, let me be direct.

You said;

ELUSIVEJIM said:

Well that's Lewis stipulation in his new contract complete. Keep Bottas.

What is your source?

[Vocal Minority]

Simple

It's speculation.

Whilst there is no direct evidence - you cannot say the a priori thread of reasoning is entirely without its basis.

I know Leroy and Chevy37 will be along shortly to tell me that Lewis doesn't care, and he'll take on anyone and that Jesus once deferred to him in a wine making course....and I know he has said that.

But I would argue - playing Devil's advocate - 'well he would, wouldn't he?' It adds luster to his reputation.

Just a possible point of view.

[anonymous-user]

HustleRussell said:

What is your source?

There is no source it is my personal view.

Everyone seems to think that Lewis would race anyone at Mercedes.

You really think he would allow Ricciardo, Alonso or someone else in that league to join him at Mercedes?

Yes Bottas can be fast at certain tracks and has had bad luck but he is not going to win a Championship.

[HustleRussell]

ELUSIVEJIM said:

HustleRussell said:

What is your source?

There is no source it is my personal view.

Ok, OK, when you start talking about stipulations in contracts it makes me wonder whether you have the inside line- obviously not.

[Sam993]

Vocal Minority said:

skinny said:

ajprice said:

Bottas at Mercedes for 2019 https://www.mercedesamgf1.com/en/mercedes-amg-f1/a...

Yawn. I mean he's competent but not gonna set the world alight

Disagree - I welcome this news.

With more luck he'd be a championship contender. People bleat about Safety Cars (virtual and otherwise) and reliability problems - well Valteri has been hit harder with that stick than anyone this year. The only two black marks on his record this year are his prang in Aus and (if you want to call it a black mark) the fact he didn't go more aggressive in Bahrain - though you could argue he was playing the percentage game.

Also - he is stern and Finnish. All good Finnish drivers are stern (to the media at least) - it's part of F1! So I welcome this news.


Shine on you incredibly serious diamond....

I find him bland not stern, Kimi and Mika were clearly talented from the get go, even in inferior cars and then when they jumped into good cars they shined. Bottas is a great 2nd driver a bit like Eddie Irvine was at Ferrari.

[kambites]

ELUSIVEJIM said:

Yes Bottas can be fast at certain tracks and has had bad luck but he is not going to win a Championship.

Many people said much the same about Rosberg...

[mk1coopers]

kambites said:

Many people said much the same about Rosberg...

I'd say (pure speculation) that Rosberg threw his toys out of the pram and had quite a bit of Mercedes Assistance to win the championship (no sabotage just destabilisation by changing the teams around), shortly after he stuck two fingers up at them, so I doubt if you will see those sorts of personnel swapping antics again

[hairyben]

HustleRussell said:

Leaving out all the fluff, let me be direct.

You said;

ELUSIVEJIM said:

Well that's Lewis stipulation in his new contract complete. Keep Bottas.

What is your source?

don't feed.... I knew on hearing the news that the usual tedious peddlers would be banging the usual tedious rhythm on their drum, what an incredibly sad way to live.

[Vaud]

hairyben said:

HustleRussell said:

Leaving out all the fluff, let me be direct.

You said;

ELUSIVEJIM said:

Well that's Lewis stipulation in his new contract complete. Keep Bottas.

What is your source?

don't feed.... I knew on hearing the news that the usual tedious peddlers would be banging the usual tedious rhythm on their drum, what an incredibly sad way to live.

It's an interesting point. Some on this forum have privileged information from team sources.

Some is speculation. It's just good to know which is which.

[anonymous-user]

kambites said:

Many people said much the same about Rosberg...

Rosberg was better than Bottas that is for sure.

But he was still not on the same level as the cream of the current grid.

Great if he was out front but lacked that edge that makes you a Lewis, Alonso etc etc...

[anonymous-user]

hairyben said:

don't feed.... I knew on hearing the news that the usual tedious peddlers would be banging the usual tedious rhythm on their drum, what an incredibly sad way to live.

Both Vettel and Hamilton have stated in the press that they want the current drivers kept.

Why do you think that is?

Because they are both a non threat.

[kambites]

ELUSIVEJIM said:

kambites said:

Many people said much the same about Rosberg...

Rosberg was better than Bottas that is for sure.

You may be right, but personally I remain to be convinced. Last year Bottas was rubbish and was deservedly slated for it, but IMO this year he has been as close to Hamilton in terms of performance and race-craft as Rosberg ever was; he's just been increadibly unlucky with reliability and non-fault accidents.

[Vaud]

ELUSIVEJIM said:

Rosberg was better than Bottas that is for sure.

But he was still not on the same level as the cream of the current grid.

Great if he was out front but lacked that edge that makes you a Lewis, Alonso etc etc...

Rosberg, in his star year was every bit the match for the current grid. In my view he burned himself out beating Lewis and knew his limits going forward.

[ghost83]

Rosberg was better than people gave him credit tbh but bottas just isn’t that good! He doesn’t have any fight in him imo I’m not surprised merc have kept him though toto is/was his manager so that’s the only real reason he’s there

[Sam993]

Vaud said:

ELUSIVEJIM said:

Rosberg was better than Bottas that is for sure.

But he was still not on the same level as the cream of the current grid.

Great if he was out front but lacked that edge that makes you a Lewis, Alonso etc etc...

Rosberg, in his star year was every bit the match for the current grid. In my view he burned himself out beating Lewis and knew his limits going forward.

For sure, as much as I don't rate Rosberg as a great driver I respect him for knowing his limitations and understanding that it's better to get off the stage as a champion than as someone who used to be one once and ended his career in some stty team at the back of the grid. That's how I see it, for sure.