The Official F1 2020 silly season *contains speculation*
Discussion
Deesee said:
Interestingly I know of a formula e team up for sale, but not an F1 team.
With F1 expansion in the US, Ford could make quite the comeback with the purchase of Mercedes Formula one GP (formally brawn/Honda/tyrell etc), and perhaps a JV into the Powertrain business.
I thought torro rosso was for sale but at a high price?With F1 expansion in the US, Ford could make quite the comeback with the purchase of Mercedes Formula one GP (formally brawn/Honda/tyrell etc), and perhaps a JV into the Powertrain business.
I think Haas will be if they have another bad year.
vaud said:
Deesee said:
Interestingly I know of a formula e team up for sale, but not an F1 team.
With F1 expansion in the US, Ford could make quite the comeback with the purchase of Mercedes Formula one GP (formally brawn/Honda/tyrell etc), and perhaps a JV into the Powertrain business.
I thought torro rosso was for sale but at a high price?With F1 expansion in the US, Ford could make quite the comeback with the purchase of Mercedes Formula one GP (formally brawn/Honda/tyrell etc), and perhaps a JV into the Powertrain business.
I think Haas will be if they have another bad year.
And who knows, if the right price is offered, perhaps they already are.
Logically if Mercedes were staying for 21, they would be well into development by now (that's how they have dominated the Hybrid era - they put in the ground work early on).
If they planned to pull out, they might be making a token effort (as camouflage) but I would expect it to be obvious to anyone with the appropriate access there wasn't any real development happening. Hence if Mercedes are pulling out after next year, I am sure Hamilton will already know even if he hasn't officially been told.
The interesting aspect would be, who will dominate the first year under the new regulations. It usually means a changing of the top order, apart from anything else because teams fighting for the Championship in the last year of the old regulations don't have the resources to develop their car for the following year of new regulations. Especially now the gap between seasons is so small. Red Bull could be well placed now their engine is sorted - if Merc/Ferrari look to be the only ones contesting Number One while McLaren/Renault are still miles away, Red Bull may choose to settle for third place (again) and focus on 2021.
But no driver is going to get into Red Bull as their number one unless Max moves on. And Ferrari has been the graveyard of Champions since Schumacher left. So realistically if Mercedes are pulling out, Hamilton will probably retire at the same time as it doesn't look like there is a good alternative (unless somehow Leclerc could be co-erced into a number 2 contract with real teeth to punish him for any disobedience).
The only other reason Hamilton might stay without Mercedes would be if it looks like there is to be another 2009-style year when this time McLaren suddenly pull a rabbit out of the hat (but having switched to Renault power it looks like they may hamstrung by a weak engine, again). I don't see Williams/Haas/Racing Point/Toro Rosso/Alfa miraculously building a championship winning car even if the new regulations do have a magical hole that someone sharp can exploit.
If they planned to pull out, they might be making a token effort (as camouflage) but I would expect it to be obvious to anyone with the appropriate access there wasn't any real development happening. Hence if Mercedes are pulling out after next year, I am sure Hamilton will already know even if he hasn't officially been told.
The interesting aspect would be, who will dominate the first year under the new regulations. It usually means a changing of the top order, apart from anything else because teams fighting for the Championship in the last year of the old regulations don't have the resources to develop their car for the following year of new regulations. Especially now the gap between seasons is so small. Red Bull could be well placed now their engine is sorted - if Merc/Ferrari look to be the only ones contesting Number One while McLaren/Renault are still miles away, Red Bull may choose to settle for third place (again) and focus on 2021.
But no driver is going to get into Red Bull as their number one unless Max moves on. And Ferrari has been the graveyard of Champions since Schumacher left. So realistically if Mercedes are pulling out, Hamilton will probably retire at the same time as it doesn't look like there is a good alternative (unless somehow Leclerc could be co-erced into a number 2 contract with real teeth to punish him for any disobedience).
The only other reason Hamilton might stay without Mercedes would be if it looks like there is to be another 2009-style year when this time McLaren suddenly pull a rabbit out of the hat (but having switched to Renault power it looks like they may hamstrung by a weak engine, again). I don't see Williams/Haas/Racing Point/Toro Rosso/Alfa miraculously building a championship winning car even if the new regulations do have a magical hole that someone sharp can exploit.
Flooble said:
Logically if Mercedes were staying for 21, they would be well into development by now (that's how they have dominated the Hybrid era - they put in the ground work early on).
If they planned to pull out, they might be making a token effort (as camouflage) but I would expect it to be obvious to anyone with the appropriate access there wasn't any real development happening. Hence if Mercedes are pulling out after next year, I am sure Hamilton will already know even if he hasn't officially been told.
I suspect they are well into development as that would make the team much more saleable. Who is going to buy a team that hasn't invetsed into the rule changes.If they planned to pull out, they might be making a token effort (as camouflage) but I would expect it to be obvious to anyone with the appropriate access there wasn't any real development happening. Hence if Mercedes are pulling out after next year, I am sure Hamilton will already know even if he hasn't officially been told.
I'm still betting they sell the F1 team, Hamilton will either retire or go to Ferarri, and Merc / Totto will put all their efforts in Formula E.
I just can't see what benefit they have with staying in F1.
768 said:
Why did Lewis seem to tie his future options with Toto in the post race press conference? Toto wouldn't be considering going to Ferrari, would he?
Aren't the rumours that Toto is being lined up to take a role in Liberty Media/F1?Would tie up with Merc selling/Lewis to Ferrari.
That's the only rumour I've heard, I'm not sure if it were me I'd be too concerned about Toto moving on ahead of time, unless I didn't like the likely replacement. I've never left a job because someone else did unless it was to follow them. Maybe Toto's just an even bigger part of Merc for him than I'd realised... or it really would mean them selling up, which would be a shock.
Killer2005 said:
Aren't the rumours that Toto is being lined up to take a role in Liberty Media/F1?
There are also rumours that Ferrari have been flexing their veto muscle to introduce a governance clause that would prevent any current team boss going directly from managing a team to managing the entire sport without a sizeable (3yrs+) time gap in between.768 said:
That's the only rumour I've heard, I'm not sure if it were me I'd be too concerned about Toto moving on ahead of time, unless I didn't like the likely replacement. I've never left a job because someone else did unless it was to follow them. Maybe Toto's just an even bigger part of Merc for him than I'd realised... or it really would mean them selling up, which would be a shock.
Toto had a weekend off during the Brazil race and it was a bit of a nightmare for Mercedes.thegreenhell said:
Killer2005 said:
Aren't the rumours that Toto is being lined up to take a role in Liberty Media/F1?
There are also rumours that Ferrari have been flexing their veto muscle to introduce a governance clause that would prevent any current team boss going directly from managing a team to managing the entire sport without a sizeable (3yrs+) time gap in between."So Mr Ferrari representative you have just been found cheating with your fuel, if you wish to veto Mr Wolff from becoming our new boss we will make it all public, if however you say nothing and allow Toto to join us we will not do anything about it and Charles will keep the podium."
thegreenhell said:
Killer2005 said:
Aren't the rumours that Toto is being lined up to take a role in Liberty Media/F1?
There are also rumours that Ferrari have been flexing their veto muscle to introduce a governance clause that would prevent any current team boss going directly from managing a team to managing the entire sport without a sizeable (3yrs+) time gap in between.vaud said:
Deesee said:
Interestingly I know of a formula e team up for sale, but not an F1 team.
With F1 expansion in the US, Ford could make quite the comeback with the purchase of Mercedes Formula one GP (formally brawn/Honda/tyrell etc), and perhaps a JV into the Powertrain business.
I thought torro rosso was for sale but at a high price?With F1 expansion in the US, Ford could make quite the comeback with the purchase of Mercedes Formula one GP (formally brawn/Honda/tyrell etc), and perhaps a JV into the Powertrain business.
I think Haas will be if they have another bad year.
Deesee said:
Jim,
Merc and Alonso is never going to happen, he cost them 100m USD (+ inflation)..
I doubt there's anyone apart from zak who thinks he has anything to offer. What is the deal there - just seemed weird, with McLaren having their noses rubbed right in it with the "useless" Honda engine now powering RB to sucess that the guy most symbolic of their idiot era is lording it about, trying to be relevant...Merc and Alonso is never going to happen, he cost them 100m USD (+ inflation)..
Teddy Lop said:
Deesee said:
Jim,
Merc and Alonso is never going to happen, he cost them 100m USD (+ inflation)..
I doubt there's anyone apart from zak who thinks he has anything to offer. What is the deal there - just seemed weird, with McLaren having their noses rubbed right in it with the "useless" Honda engine now powering RB to sucess that the guy most symbolic of their idiot era is lording it about, trying to be relevant...Merc and Alonso is never going to happen, he cost them 100m USD (+ inflation)..
Record sponsorship this yr and next for McLaren with Carlos and Lando..
Teddy Lop said:
I doubt there's anyone apart from zak who thinks he has anything to offer. What is the deal there - just seemed weird, with McLaren having their noses rubbed right in it with the "useless" Honda engine now powering RB to sucess that the guy most symbolic of their idiot era is lording it about, trying to be relevant...
McLaren was able to design a car which was actually able to compete in the midfield but it's still nowhere near the top 3 teams.Even if McLaren had stuck with Honda they would still not be as fast as Red Bull.
Sainz and Norris are good but not on the level of Alonso whatever you may think of him.
ELUSIVEJIM said:
McLaren was able to design a car which was actually able to compete in the midfield but it's still nowhere near the top 3 teams.
Even if McLaren had stuck with Honda they would still not be as fast as Red Bull.
Sainz and Norris are good but not on the level of Alonso whatever you may think of him.
If Alonso couldn't bring in the sponsors then it doesn't really matter though - Norris in particular seems to have quite a following on instagram and the eSports stuff. F1 is business first after all. Even if McLaren had stuck with Honda they would still not be as fast as Red Bull.
Sainz and Norris are good but not on the level of Alonso whatever you may think of him.
I think someone said that had Mclaren stuck with Honda the engine would not be as advanced - packaging? Lack of opportunity to test (Toro Rosso?).
Flooble said:
If Alonso couldn't bring in the sponsors then it doesn't really matter though - Norris in particular seems to have quite a following on instagram and the eSports stuff. F1 is business first after all.
I think someone said that had Mclaren stuck with Honda the engine would not be as advanced - packaging? Lack of opportunity to test (Toro Rosso?).
Will be interesting to see how McLaren gets on with Mercedes engines.I think someone said that had Mclaren stuck with Honda the engine would not be as advanced - packaging? Lack of opportunity to test (Toro Rosso?).
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