The Official F1 2020 silly season *contains speculation*
Discussion
Exige77 said:
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.
I doubt Mercedes would be that worried as they have a few new drivers coming through by 2022 and if the car was
not quite there its better to not have the glare of the superstar putting pressure on them.
True he would be getting on a bit but current drivers are fitter than a chain smoking boozer like hunt that was probably physically
10 years older than his birth age due to bad habits.
Exige77 said:
Mercedes would have to start again with one of the younger drivers.
They've had a chance to start this development at least a year ahead of Hamilton leaving if indeed he does go elsewhere for 21, but instead it seems Toto lacks the will to take a gamble, or maybe Hamilton has more say over the 2nd driver than the team like ti make out, so as a result they've got Bottas in the car again instead.Exige77 said:
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.
Not so sure about Vettel however.
vaud 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.
Aside from Kimi?Kimi was way back in 2008 but he is the last Ferrari driver to win if this is what you mean?
ELUSIVEJIM said:
Exige77 said:
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.
Not so sure about Vettel however.
Can’t see Alonso winning a championship now, never mind in another two years.
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.
Counterpoint: Hamilton is exactly what Ferrari needs right now - consistency. Plus I would imagine he is relishing a new challenge. I do wonder whether there is a part of him that wants to prove the doubters wrong, i.e. that he can still do what he does in a lesser car. Also it's not like he needs the money, the challenge must surely be what gets him up in the morning, and if no one else is going to challenge you then you have to challenge yourself.EDIT:
janesmith1950 said:
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?
This is a much better summary than I managed.I think him moving to Ferrari for 2021 is more likely than not, especially as I can't see Vettel staying past 2020 (possibly not even in the sport).
Edited by Durzel on Monday 2nd December 12:43
Durzel said:
Counterpoint: Hamilton is exactly what Ferrari needs right now - consistency. Plus I would imagine he is relishing a new challenge. I do wonder whether there is a part of him that wants to prove the doubters wrong, i.e. that he can still do what he does in a lesser car. Also it's not like he needs the money, the challenge must surely be what gets him up in the morning, and if no one else is going to challenge you then you have to challenge yourself.
Hamilton would be faster and get more points but if the car and team are not to the same level as he is used to he will not win a Championship.The new rules might make him jump but why risk it when Ferrari have been so bad?
Ferrari does need someone like Hamilton. But IMO they should have let Vettel go and replaced him with Ricciardo for 2020.
I can only see Vettel's performances sliding.
vaud 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.
Aside from Kimi?
thegreenhell said:
I think he means last as in most recent prior to Hamilton. As you say, he isn't the last remaining WDC other than Hamilton.
Yes, badly worded- I meant he's the most recent on the grid to have won that isn't Hamilton. Vettel's last WDC was what, 6 years more recent than KR's?rev-erend said:
thegreenhell said:
Maybe he already knows that Mercedes are selling up and moving on in the near future.
Maybe..I reckon Lewis is checking out options should he want to stay beyond 2020.
The only quesiton is who is going to purchase the Merc team?
ELUSIVEJIM said:
Exige77 said:
I thought we where talking about 21 ?
Can’t see Alonso winning a championship now, never mind in another two years.
I agree. Alonso will not be back now. 2021 is a pipe dream.Can’t see Alonso winning a championship now, never mind in another two years.
lots of chess pieces to move around the table though
WestyCarl said:
rev-erend said:
thegreenhell said:
Maybe he already knows that Mercedes are selling up and moving on in the near future.
Maybe..I reckon Lewis is checking out options should he want to stay beyond 2020.
The only quesiton is who is going to purchase the Merc team?
Maybe Red team could start negotiations to buy the silver team and silver team could drag it out for a few years and finally the red team could decide to build their own WCC winning car ?
Maybe in a few years, there could even be a film about it ?
No, that wouldn’t happen would it ?
Who could play Binotto and Wolfe ?
How old would Radcliffe be in 20 years time ?
thegreenhell said:
vaud 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.
Aside from Kimi?37chevy said:
I think he could still come back but it would need a lot of movement in the top 3 for it to happen....Ie vettel retires, or albon wastes his chance so Alonso could go to red bull, Ferrari or if Hamilton went to Ferrari a spare seat at merc.
lots of chess pieces to move around the table though
Yes, perhaps too much movement. I for one would love to see him in a car able to challenge Hamilton and the new era of talent. lots of chess pieces to move around the table though
If Hamilton left for Ferrari then it could be a possibility for Alonso at Mercedes but I could see Mercedes going for Verstappen.
Perhaps a lot will be decided during 2020.
Hamilton to Ferrari?
Vettel retires or moves to Red Bull?
Does Verstappen replace Hamilton or Vettel at either Mercedes or Ferrari?
Maybe Mercedes or Ferrari will take Ricciardo out of Renault.
It could all go off and Alonso is still without a drive.
Gassing Station | Formula 1 | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff