The Official F1 2020 silly season *contains speculation*

The Official F1 2020 silly season *contains speculation*

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Discussion

TheDeuce

21,813 posts

67 months

Tuesday 12th November 2019
quotequote all
Steamer said:
TheDeuce said:
Steamer said:
Is that everyone confirmed now? I've lost track a bit
No. One seat remains at Williams with latifi's backside half on it. They won't commit until the very last minute, probably in the new year.

But other than that annoying situation, the silly season is done!
Arrr yes - Just in case someone turns up with a sack full of spare parts, gold and a magic bullet.

Thank you.
Ha! Yea that's basically it.

In fairness to Williams, when your car is useless I guess it doesn't really matter who drives it, so long as they bring the most £££. Sad, but that's their current situation. Oh Williams... Please hurry up and sell - the writing is definitely on the wall.

Steamer

13,866 posts

214 months

Tuesday 12th November 2019
quotequote all
TheDeuce said:
Steamer said:
TheDeuce said:
Steamer said:
Is that everyone confirmed now? I've lost track a bit
No. One seat remains at Williams with latifi's backside half on it. They won't commit until the very last minute, probably in the new year.

But other than that annoying situation, the silly season is done!
Arrr yes - Just in case someone turns up with a sack full of spare parts, gold and a magic bullet.

Thank you.
Ha! Yea that's basically it.

In fairness to Williams, when your car is useless I guess it doesn't really matter who drives it, so long as they bring the most £££. Sad, but that's their current situation. Oh Williams... Please hurry up and sell - the writing is definitely on the wall.
Also - if they stopped development of this seasons car early and / or diverted investment into 2020 - with the 2021 changes being so radical how much time / money and resources are going to have to be focusing on those? ie - Can't see things getting better any time soon.

TheDeuce

21,813 posts

67 months

Tuesday 12th November 2019
quotequote all
Steamer said:
Also - if they stopped development of this seasons car early and / or diverted investment into 2020 - with the 2021 changes being so radical how much time / money and resources are going to have to be focusing on those? ie - Can't see things getting better any time soon.
Glance at their accounts and it's fairly easy to see their revenue is just about what's required to keep the business itself together - and not helped by multiple years at the back making sponsorship harder to find.

On top of that finding any money to design a new car for any season is something of an inconvenience I imagine. They need recapitalising. One way or another that'll have to happen but I seriously doubt anyone will pour in that level of money without significant control of the business - which is what Frank and Claire don't want to give up. Hence, this nonsense situation where they can just about afford to prepare a car that meets regs each season but has zero chance of being competitive.

Going into 2021 we have the cost cap. They can't even reach that cap.

Kraken

1,710 posts

201 months

Tuesday 12th November 2019
quotequote all
TheDeuce said:
Going into 2021 we have the cost cap. They can't even reach that cap.
To be fair the cost cap is going to make very little difference to the majority. Most aren't spending that amount anyway and with all the exclusions it will hardly affect the bigger spenders either.

TheDeuce

21,813 posts

67 months

Tuesday 12th November 2019
quotequote all
Kraken said:
TheDeuce said:
Going into 2021 we have the cost cap. They can't even reach that cap.
To be fair the cost cap is going to make very little difference to the majority. Most aren't spending that amount anyway and with all the exclusions it will hardly affect the bigger spenders either.
It's true. My point was that it won't in any way help Williams. It'll probably tighten the teams currently above the cap a little as spending will be controlled to a degree, in some areas.

HustleRussell

24,736 posts

161 months

Monday 18th November 2019
quotequote all
Why was there talk of Hamilton contract negotiations in Brazil? I've just checked and it was previously reported that he was signed up until the end of 2020...

In any case I bet Mercedes are playing hard ball with Hamilton over his pay for the next period

Jabbah

1,331 posts

155 months

Monday 18th November 2019
quotequote all
HustleRussell said:
Why was there talk of Hamilton contract negotiations in Brazil? I've just checked and it was previously reported that he was signed up until the end of 2020...

In any case I bet Mercedes are playing hard ball with Hamilton over his pay for the next period
The talk was for 2021 and beyond. Why would Merc play hard ball any more than usual for the next contract?

vaud

Original Poster:

50,637 posts

156 months

Monday 18th November 2019
quotequote all
HustleRussell said:
Why was there talk of Hamilton contract negotiations in Brazil? I've just checked and it was previously reported that he was signed up until the end of 2020...

In any case I bet Mercedes are playing hard ball with Hamilton over his pay for the next period
Title done and dusted. Regs a bit clearer. Using the press to his agenda at a guess. The swing factors for him will now be:

  • Mercedes board committing for x years
  • Toto's future
  • How much $$$ for Lewis
In the mean time, I would expect lots of rumors about him secretly visiting Maranello to create a tension point and accelerate Mercedes decisions

EDLT

15,421 posts

207 months

Monday 18th November 2019
quotequote all
HustleRussell said:
Why was there talk of Hamilton contract negotiations in Brazil? I've just checked and it was previously reported that he was signed up until the end of 2020...

In any case I bet Mercedes are playing hard ball with Hamilton over his pay for the next period
Toto wasn't at the race, which fuelled 100% confirmed facts that he's moving to an FIA position, Merc is selling the team and Hamilton is replace Vettel at Ferrari.

Graveworm

8,500 posts

72 months

Monday 18th November 2019
quotequote all
HustleRussell said:
Why was there talk of Hamilton contract negotiations in Brazil? I've just checked and it was previously reported that he was signed up until the end of 2020...

In any case I bet Mercedes are playing hard ball with Hamilton over his pay for the next period
Probably less than before given that drivers pay is outside the budget cap so likely to be an area where spending can grow even more for the big teams.

Mark-C

5,154 posts

206 months

Monday 18th November 2019
quotequote all
EDLT said:
HustleRussell said:
Why was there talk of Hamilton contract negotiations in Brazil? I've just checked and it was previously reported that he was signed up until the end of 2020...

In any case I bet Mercedes are playing hard ball with Hamilton over his pay for the next period
Toto wasn't at the race, which fuelled 100% confirmed facts that he's moving to an FIA position, Merc is selling the team and Hamilton is replace Vettel at Ferrari.
Yep - 70+ comments --> https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Given the numbers of variables involved starting the negotiation game (both sides) now seems about right in the rarified world of sporting superstars. If LH was a footballer his agent would have started the Ferrari rumour the moment he signed for Merc!

HustleRussell

24,736 posts

161 months

Monday 18th November 2019
quotequote all
Jabbah said:
The talk was for 2021 and beyond. Why would Merc play hard ball (with Hamilton) any more than usual for the next contract?
Because he's hardly going to walk when he's on the cusp of cementing his position as GOAT.

Killer2005

19,658 posts

229 months

Thursday 28th November 2019
quotequote all
Latifi just confirmed by Williams

housen

2,366 posts

193 months

Thursday 28th November 2019
quotequote all
Killer2005 said:
Latifi just confirmed by Williams
yeah

zzzzz


hope williams come back somehow someway

ajprice

27,548 posts

197 months

Thursday 28th November 2019
quotequote all
housen said:
Killer2005 said:
Latifi just confirmed by Williams
yeah

zzzzz


hope williams come back somehow someway
That's all the seats done now isn't it? So Hulk is gone.

TheDeuce

21,813 posts

67 months

Thursday 28th November 2019
quotequote all
housen said:
Killer2005 said:
Latifi just confirmed by Williams
yeah

zzzzz


hope williams come back somehow someway
Finally. And I hope the same too, although it's definitely hope more than expectation.

Hopefully latifi will give GR more of a battle next year which, if so, would lead to the Williams cars getting a bit more screen time - good for sponsorship. They seemed almost forgotten after the summer break this year, trundling around at the back and not even battling one another.

TheDeuce

21,813 posts

67 months

Thursday 28th November 2019
quotequote all
ajprice said:
That's all the seats done now isn't it? So Hulk is gone.
Yes. I think he said no to the possibility of Williams some time ago anyway.

And for his final F1 race he's back at the circuit that he last departed hanging upside down in a burning car saying something about "hanging like a cow". Must be an interesting mix of emotions for him.

M3ax

1,291 posts

213 months

Thursday 28th November 2019
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Be great if he got on the podium

Adrian W

13,897 posts

229 months

Thursday 28th November 2019
quotequote all
Another one with a rich daddy gets a drive

Graveworm

8,500 posts

72 months

Thursday 28th November 2019
quotequote all
Adrian W said:
Another one with a rich daddy gets a drive
You can understand why Williams might want this. He is probably there on merit. I wonder what it means for Mclaren?