The Official F1 2020 silly season *contains speculation*

[Vaud]

exelero said:

Alfa: Kimi- Schumacher

I think it's too early and the pressure/scrutiny would be incredible. He needs 6th in the series this year I think - to get enough super licence points. He's currently 13th.

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ajprice said:

Apparently there are leaked emails and documents. Danny Ric to Ferrari replacing Vettel. https://drivetribe.com/p/qualified-the-silliest-ru...

Lots of ifs and maybes in that article, a bit like this thread

Makes sense to have a contingency plan and succession... could just be Ferrari exploring who is tied in for how long, and how much it would cost to buy them out.

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McLaren confirm Lando Norris, Carlos Sainz for F1 2020

https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/11759386/m...

One team down...

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TheDeuce said:

unless Bottas voluntarily leaves, in which case, Ocon will probably be in.

He is out of contract, year by year extensions it wouldn't be "voluntarily leaving" - it would just be non-renewal. I don't believe they have an option on him.

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Lebo44 said:

Perez --> Haas (he was already linked with Haas last year) [Grosjean out?]

Grosjean has had his time, I think.

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StevieBee said:

He's been in F1 for 10 years now. I'm struggling to think of another driver that has been there for that long delivering as little as he has.

Trulli? 252 starts / Championships 0 / Wins 1 / Podiums 11
Badoer
Piercarlo Ghinzani (eight years in Formula 1, with more than one hundred races = 2 points)

[Vaud]

DanielSan said:

I'd say Verstappen is a much better driver than Hamilton was at the same stage of his career, both quicker and since the Monaco shunt last year a lot more calculating. With a bit more of the maturity that comes with age he's going to be pretty much unstoppable if he's in a car that can consistently challenge for wins week in week out.

Better? Pretty similar, I'd say. Hard to draw a direct comparison as Lewis had a potential WDC winning car earlier in his career and a WDC team mate to beat. If anything, I think Lewis matured earlier in his career before having some odd blips (2011 against Massa) and then finding a different level that is very very high.

Max will be awesome. Max vs LeClerc vs Sainz vs Norris vs Russell has the potential to be very very special.

[Vaud]

LaurasOtherHalf said:

Just my opinion but I don't think VER has the raw speed of HAM had, nor the calculating perfection of his one lap pace. His racecraft however, incredibly special for someone so inexperienced.

But can we call him inexperienced? This is his 4th season of F1 after all.

[Vaud]

LaurasOtherHalf said:

I did think I should clarify that as I typed V, however I think we can call him inexperienced with respect to how many races he has done in his career in total-his pre-F1 experience was so short I think it's still valid.

I wonder where HAM was in his career compared to how many Formula races VER has entered in total?

Hamilton (not karting, just Formula races pre F1): 99 (2001-2006)
Verstappen: 35 (all 2014) if you exclude the 2014 Florida Winter Series which seems to be a bit of an oddball series.

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thegreenhell said:

5th season.

Sorry, quite right. 6th if you include him as a test driver at TR in 2014...

[Vaud]

LaurasOtherHalf said:

So roughly VER was on equal experience with HAM by about 2017, and is now about where Ham was in 2009? You could argue less as HAM got a lot of test miles in in 2006 I seem to remember?

I've always thought hard stats are difficult as comparisons. Different teams, appetites for risk, level of support, etc.

I like watch that they are both exceptional talents. One proven, one emerging.

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Ocon has proven he has pace at FI.

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thegreenhell said:

Vaud said:

Ocon has proven he has pace at FI.

By getting beaten by Perez, two years in a row?

No.

I mean that he clearly proved to Mercedes by the publicly available data and whatever the team shared with Mercedes that he was the right future investment.

Otherwise, they would be signing Perez (with all of his backing)

I love the armchair expertise in this forum. The team principals have far more data and analysis than we do

[Vaud]

You are right that Merc want to avoid another Rosberg situation, at almost all costs. It was divisive and destructive.

But my point remains - they have more performance data than the public, and there is more to their assessment than who beat who. They need a range of options - short term and long term; the Rosberg retirement caught them out badly.

[Vaud]

HTP99 said:

And did you see how upset Bottas was in the interview pen, he looked as though he'd had a good cry and was about to go again, maybe he knows something.

I think he was just upset at himself. With hindsight he could have had a huge haul of points against Lewis.

Mercedes have been clear that they won't decide anything until August, which in itself is hardly a vote of confidence.

I know it would be against their ethos, but if Gasly needs to be swapped still then Bottas would be a good foil against Verstappen, even as an interim move while they identify the next top driver.

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thegreenhell said:

By getting beaten by Perez, two years in a row?

And now Stroll is beating Perez... 18 pts to 13. Stats can be misleading for driver potential?

[Vaud]

Indeed

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CoolHands said:

Could merc get lando Norris into the seat next year if they wanted? I think they should throw a young disrupter into it. I think when you’re young & fast you adapt so quickly and can start pushing. Otherwise by the time you’ve proved yourself and are older, you end up like perez or bottas or some other boring driver.

Mercedes do not want a disruptor.

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Irvine did a reasonable job after Schumacher broke his leg.

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vdn said:

Would be great for the vets to move over though. Kimi is ok but not adding much to the show anymore.

Maybe, but he may be adding to Alfa in terms of direction/validation - I doubt Antonio Giovinazzi has the depth of experience?