The Official F1 2020 silly season *contains speculation*
Discussion
Hamilton is “refusing to admit or deny” a meeting took place with Ferrari, ( which probably means it did ) and I don’t reckon they were discussing pasta recipes.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/50624370
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/50624370
Drivers constantly meet with other teams to look at future options. Unless he thinks Mercedes are going to pull out in 2021, I can't see Hamilton going anywhere, if nothing else because he's not an idiot and whilst Ferrari have proven they can design a decent car, they appear to still be unable to run it properly.
kambites said:
Drivers constantly meet with other teams to look at future options. Unless he thinks Mercedes are going to pull out in 2021, I can't see Hamilton going anywhere, if nothing else because he's not an idiot and whilst Ferrari have proven they can design a decent car, they appear to still be unable to run it properly.
True. Schumacher jumped to Ferrari when they couldn't design a decent car OR run it properly. 
vaud said:
True. Schumacher jumped to Ferrari when they couldn't design a decent car OR run it properly.
True, but while Benaton were a bloody good team in 94/95, they had nothing like the operational dominance of today's Mercedes team. I'm not saying Ferrari can't win during the remainder of Hamilton's career. I'm saying they are, overall, far less likely to win than Mercedes (assuming Mercedes stick around). It also took longer to turn Ferrari around in the late 90s than Hamilton is likely to have left in F1. Of course it's possible that Hamilton will see something to make him believe that Ferrari are about to turn things around, as he did with Mercedes at the start of the hybrid era... but I don't think it's very likely.
I could see him signing a one year deal with Mercedes for 2021 so he can see where the teams are after the regs changes. Lets be honest, any team would jump at the chance to take him on for 2022, even if it meant buying another driver out of their contract. I suspect quite a few drivers will be signing one-year contracts for the 2021 season.
Edited by kambites on Monday 2nd December 09:51
vaud said:
kambites said:
Drivers constantly meet with other teams to look at future options. Unless he thinks Mercedes are going to pull out in 2021, I can't see Hamilton going anywhere, if nothing else because he's not an idiot and whilst Ferrari have proven they can design a decent car, they appear to still be unable to run it properly.
True. Schumacher jumped to Ferrari when they couldn't design a decent car OR run it properly. The red team went back to their old ways when the dream team went their different ways.
Some of the talk is as if Ferrari were miles off winning the championships. The reality is, only small swings in team/driver performance would have left the season with a very different outlook.
If you'd swapped Vettel and Hamilton around, I imagine Ferrari would have a lot more points, predominantly at Mercedes' expense.
If you'd swapped Vettel and Hamilton around, I imagine Ferrari would have a lot more points, predominantly at Mercedes' expense.
kambites said:
Drivers constantly meet with other teams to look at future options. Unless he thinks Mercedes are going to pull out in 2021, I can't see Hamilton going anywhere, if nothing else because he's not an idiot and whilst Ferrari have proven they can design a decent car, they appear to still be unable to run it properly.
Also, whilst I have no problem accepting Ferrari might ask for such a meeting, the fact Lewis said yes (if he even did) isn't indicative of anything is it?I can't think of a scenario in which it wouldn't make sense to have the meeting. Even if he'd rather chew his own leg off than drive for them, he would still say yes. For the simple reason that on some level Ferrari would have to talk about their future plans, which one way or another is going to be pretty interesting stuff for Lewis..
Maybe we're all in for a shock one day and he will drive red. Or maybe this meeting never happened. Or maybe it did and it's a case of keeping your enemies closer. Not much to form an opinion on either way.
I don't understand why it would be a shock?
Ferrari have a draw all of their own and it must be very difficult to rule out driving for the most famous name in the sport. It's also well documented that Hamilton draws inspiration from Senna and that Senna intended to move to Ferrari.
Ferrari are incredibly well resourced and it's only by small fractions they haven't managed to win championships. Much of the fractions involving mistakes by drivers... Which Hamilton is less likely to make.
I would imagine it quite a romantic notion to Hamilton, to be the first Ferrari WDC since 2007 (his maiden year), beating Schumacher's WDC record, driving for the same team, the most famous team in the history of the sport, all the while being paid obscene amounts of money and adored by the screaming Tifosi?
As a racing driver at the top of his game but towards the end of his career, it's a dream move.
Ferrari have a draw all of their own and it must be very difficult to rule out driving for the most famous name in the sport. It's also well documented that Hamilton draws inspiration from Senna and that Senna intended to move to Ferrari.
Ferrari are incredibly well resourced and it's only by small fractions they haven't managed to win championships. Much of the fractions involving mistakes by drivers... Which Hamilton is less likely to make.
I would imagine it quite a romantic notion to Hamilton, to be the first Ferrari WDC since 2007 (his maiden year), beating Schumacher's WDC record, driving for the same team, the most famous team in the history of the sport, all the while being paid obscene amounts of money and adored by the screaming Tifosi?
As a racing driver at the top of his game but towards the end of his career, it's a dream move.
janesmith1950 said:
I don't understand why it would be a shock?
Ferrari have a draw all of their own and it must be very difficult to rule out driving for the most famous name in the sport. It's also well documented that Hamilton draws inspiration from Senna and that Senna intended to move to Ferrari.
Ferrari are incredibly well resourced and it's only by small fractions they haven't managed to win championships. Much of the fractions involving mistakes by drivers... Which Hamilton is less likely to make.
I would imagine it quite a romantic notion to Hamilton, to be the first Ferrari WDC since 2007 (his maiden year), beating Schumacher's WDC record, driving for the same team, the most famous team in the history of the sport, all the while being paid obscene amounts of money and adored by the screaming Tifosi?
As a racing driver at the top of his game but towards the end of his career, it's a dream move.
Winning for Mercedes is one thing. Taking Ferrari to a Championship would be another.Ferrari have a draw all of their own and it must be very difficult to rule out driving for the most famous name in the sport. It's also well documented that Hamilton draws inspiration from Senna and that Senna intended to move to Ferrari.
Ferrari are incredibly well resourced and it's only by small fractions they haven't managed to win championships. Much of the fractions involving mistakes by drivers... Which Hamilton is less likely to make.
I would imagine it quite a romantic notion to Hamilton, to be the first Ferrari WDC since 2007 (his maiden year), beating Schumacher's WDC record, driving for the same team, the most famous team in the history of the sport, all the while being paid obscene amounts of money and adored by the screaming Tifosi?
As a racing driver at the top of his game but towards the end of his career, it's a dream move.
But is it a risk worth taking as it seems to be the kiss of death joining them.
vaud said:
Agreed.
It would also be a double hit for Mercedes, as not only would Ferrari have the Hamilton, who would they find to drive the Mercedes of the same calibre and consistency?
I'd imagine Verstappen, Alonso and Vettel would be chomping at the bit to drive the Mercedes. It would also be a double hit for Mercedes, as not only would Ferrari have the Hamilton, who would they find to drive the Mercedes of the same calibre and consistency?
This is assuming Mercedes still own the team, of course.
Also, if Hamilton were to move, I'd imagine a number of his crew would be tempted to move with him.
janesmith1950 said:
vaud said:
Agreed.
It would also be a double hit for Mercedes, as not only would Ferrari have the Hamilton, who would they find to drive the Mercedes of the same calibre and consistency?
I'd imagine Verstappen, Alonso and Vettel would be chomping at the bit to drive the Mercedes. It would also be a double hit for Mercedes, as not only would Ferrari have the Hamilton, who would they find to drive the Mercedes of the same calibre and consistency?
This is assuming Mercedes still own the team, of course.
Also, if Hamilton were to move, I'd imagine a number of his crew would be tempted to move with him.
When was the last time Alonso / Vettel won a WDC ?
A very looong time ago.
Both yesterday’s men.
Mercedes would have to start again with one of the younger drivers.
It makes perfect sense for Hamilton to talk with the red team. Any future offer may well help in his negotiations with Merc or something might be learnt re red teams plans.
Mercedes will be building up George Russell for the Mercedes seat, for Bottas' seat, or whenever Hamilton leaves or retires. Russell has done well with what he's had to work with this year at Williams, another year with Latifi and Mercedes testing runs, and he'll be up for a Mercedes drive in 2021, maybe replacing Bottas if Hamilton does stay on.
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/147434/russell-t...
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/147434/russell-t...
People want answers and they want them now! Lewis needs to tell us and sign a document now on what he is doing in 2 years time.
Meanwhile I would thing hamilton and the rest will do at least a year where they are under the new regs to see who
has done the best job. So no movement till at least 2022.
There is an alonso sized monument to the hazards of trusting another teams glossy brochures and promises.
My main worry is for alonso making a dramatic comeback in another dog of a car. First day of testing 2021 and 5 seconds off the pace....
Meanwhile I would thing hamilton and the rest will do at least a year where they are under the new regs to see who
has done the best job. So no movement till at least 2022.
There is an alonso sized monument to the hazards of trusting another teams glossy brochures and promises.
My main worry is for alonso making a dramatic comeback in another dog of a car. First day of testing 2021 and 5 seconds off the pace....
janesmith1950 said:
Vettel was the last non-Mercedes driver to win the WDC (and that was the end run of 4 consecutive WDCs). He may have had a bad run at Ferrari, but he's the last driver on the grid to have won a WDC that isn't Hamilton.
Would Rosberg come back without Hamilton there to fuddle his brain I wonder...Fundoreen said:
People want answers and they want them now! Lewis needs to tell us and sign a document now on what he is doing in 2 years time.
Meanwhile I would thing hamilton and the rest will do at least a year where they are under the new regs to see who
has done the best job. So no movement till at least 2022.
There is an alonso sized monument to the hazards of trusting another teams glossy brochures and promises.
My main worry is for alonso making a dramatic comeback in another dog of a car. First day of testing 2021 and 5 seconds off the pace....
No big team will sign a big money driver in the 2021 era for a single year. Meanwhile I would thing hamilton and the rest will do at least a year where they are under the new regs to see who
has done the best job. So no movement till at least 2022.
There is an alonso sized monument to the hazards of trusting another teams glossy brochures and promises.
My main worry is for alonso making a dramatic comeback in another dog of a car. First day of testing 2021 and 5 seconds off the pace....
Hammy will have to put his money at the new 2021 roulette wheel on Red or Light Black.
It will be his only chance.
Age gets us all in the end.
SeeFive said:
janesmith1950 said:
Vettel was the last non-Mercedes driver to win the WDC (and that was the end run of 4 consecutive WDCs). He may have had a bad run at Ferrari, but he's the last driver on the grid to have won a WDC that isn't Hamilton.
Would Rosberg come back without Hamilton there to fuddle his brain I wonder...Gassing Station | Formula 1 | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff