The Official F1 2020 silly season *contains speculation*
Discussion
Feel like Lewis influenced the decision more than anyone. Wants to go for the title again next year, and doesn't want a hot-head like Ocon to get in the way. Instead, wingman Bottas will clear the route for number 7.
Be good for Ocon to get a seat next year, even if it's a pretty crap one like Renault. Could be worse I suppose!
Be good for Ocon to get a seat next year, even if it's a pretty crap one like Renault. Could be worse I suppose!
As weird as this may sound, I'm actually putting my money on Big John to stay at Haas. Mag has been quite moany this year and if not for his (admittedly outstanding) qualifying performance in Austria would be looking very underwhelming. Grosjean on the other hand has consistently shown he is a team player the last few years, has been committed to the team since they started in F1 and has seemed to be working very hard this year with his engineering team to get to the bottom of the handling problems - he has doggedly stuck to his request to go back to Melbourne spec and if Haas can turn things around off the back of the setup comparisons he could come out of this looking quite rosy.
Andy S15 said:
As weird as this may sound, I'm actually putting my money on Big John to stay at Haas. Mag has been quite moany this year and if not for his (admittedly outstanding) qualifying performance in Austria would be looking very underwhelming. Grosjean on the other hand has consistently shown he is a team player the last few years, has been committed to the team since they started in F1 and has seemed to be working very hard this year with his engineering team to get to the bottom of the handling problems - he has doggedly stuck to his request to go back to Melbourne spec and if Haas can turn things around off the back of the setup comparisons he could come out of this looking quite rosy.
That's a massive point well made. I had forgotten about Grosjean wanting the Melbourne spec which is clearly better. That along could save Haas Millions as they were going in the wrong direction.I hope you are right and they keep Grosjean. Or maybe Haas are letting both drivers go. I heard Nyck de Vries being mentioned which would give Haas a young and experienced driver with Hulkenberg also joining.
But again this is the silly season.
North West Tom said:
Feel like Lewis influenced the decision more than anyone. Wants to go for the title again next year, and doesn't want a hot-head like Ocon to get in the way. Instead, wingman Bottas will clear the route for number 7.
Be good for Ocon to get a seat next year, even if it's a pretty crap one like Renault. Could be worse I suppose!
Its rumoured that Toto wanted a change, but the senior engineers wanted Bottas..Be good for Ocon to get a seat next year, even if it's a pretty crap one like Renault. Could be worse I suppose!
Now Merc has confirmed it's line up everythings going to start to fall in place.
Most are expecting Ocon to go to Renault but I think whoever doesn't get that seat will more than likely to replace Grosjean at Haas.
I hope whoever doesn't get the Haas seat ends up in Williams alongside Russell as I feel they really could use an experienced driver at this time rather than Latifi but I think that'll come down to who brings the most funding with them more than anything. Whatever happens I think the fact that Ocon is 99% sure to leave the Merc fray is good news for Russell as he's next in line for a seat at Merc 2021 onwards.
Most are expecting Ocon to go to Renault but I think whoever doesn't get that seat will more than likely to replace Grosjean at Haas.
I hope whoever doesn't get the Haas seat ends up in Williams alongside Russell as I feel they really could use an experienced driver at this time rather than Latifi but I think that'll come down to who brings the most funding with them more than anything. Whatever happens I think the fact that Ocon is 99% sure to leave the Merc fray is good news for Russell as he's next in line for a seat at Merc 2021 onwards.
Edited by f
k1_6 on Thursday 29th August 12:17
k1_6 on Thursday 29th August 12:17ELUSIVEJIM said:
Andy S15 said:
As weird as this may sound, I'm actually putting my money on Big John to stay at Haas. Mag has been quite moany this year and if not for his (admittedly outstanding) qualifying performance in Austria would be looking very underwhelming. Grosjean on the other hand has consistently shown he is a team player the last few years, has been committed to the team since they started in F1 and has seemed to be working very hard this year with his engineering team to get to the bottom of the handling problems - he has doggedly stuck to his request to go back to Melbourne spec and if Haas can turn things around off the back of the setup comparisons he could come out of this looking quite rosy.
That's a massive point well made. I had forgotten about Grosjean wanting the Melbourne spec which is clearly better. That along could save Haas Millions as they were going in the wrong direction.I hope you are right and they keep Grosjean. Or maybe Haas are letting both drivers go. I heard Nyck de Vries being mentioned which would give Haas a young and experienced driver with Hulkenberg also joining.
But again this is the silly season.
Autosport
Haas Formula 1 team principal Gunther Steiner has revealed that Nico Hulkenberg, Esteban Ocon and current driver Romain Grosjean are in contention to partner Kevin Magnussen in 2020.
Both Magnussen and Grosjean have come under fire from Steiner for several clashes this season that have contributed to a disappointing campaign for Haas, which has now ended its split car-spec experiment as it bids to get on top of its 2019 car.
Despite Haas's struggles, Magnussen has outscored Grosjean by 18 points to eight and has a contract running through 2020, while Grosjean's contract expires at the end of the year.
The confirmation of Valtteri Bottas remaining at Mercedes in 2020 means Ocon is likely to move to Renault, taking the place of Hulkenberg, or potentially switch to Haas.
Steiner indicated that Magnussen's 2020 contract will be honoured and admitted interest in Hulkenberg and Ocon.
"There's not many drivers [available], we always said that our dream was always to have a driver with experience, so for sure there's interest [in Hulkenberg]," said Steiner, speaking after the confirmation of Bottas's new deal.
"There's interest in Ocon, I always said that they are the two. And there's interest for Romain as well. So we just need to decide who we go with."
Asked by Autosport to confirm that Ocon, Hulkenberg and Grosjean made up Haas' 2020 shortlist, Steiner reiterated: "They're the three with experience.
"Otherwise, I couldn't see anybody else who has got the experience, which is on the market."
Steiner added "the dominoes are starting to fall" in regards to the remaining free seats on next year's grid.
"We're almost there," he continued. "It's not a long time until we decide what to do [with our driver line-up].
"I will spend some time with Gene [Haas, team owner] this [week] and next week - that was always our time, Spa-Monza - when we spend quite a bit of time together too, and then the team decides what to do."
Haas Formula 1 team principal Gunther Steiner has revealed that Nico Hulkenberg, Esteban Ocon and current driver Romain Grosjean are in contention to partner Kevin Magnussen in 2020.
Both Magnussen and Grosjean have come under fire from Steiner for several clashes this season that have contributed to a disappointing campaign for Haas, which has now ended its split car-spec experiment as it bids to get on top of its 2019 car.
Despite Haas's struggles, Magnussen has outscored Grosjean by 18 points to eight and has a contract running through 2020, while Grosjean's contract expires at the end of the year.
The confirmation of Valtteri Bottas remaining at Mercedes in 2020 means Ocon is likely to move to Renault, taking the place of Hulkenberg, or potentially switch to Haas.
Steiner indicated that Magnussen's 2020 contract will be honoured and admitted interest in Hulkenberg and Ocon.
"There's not many drivers [available], we always said that our dream was always to have a driver with experience, so for sure there's interest [in Hulkenberg]," said Steiner, speaking after the confirmation of Bottas's new deal.
"There's interest in Ocon, I always said that they are the two. And there's interest for Romain as well. So we just need to decide who we go with."
Asked by Autosport to confirm that Ocon, Hulkenberg and Grosjean made up Haas' 2020 shortlist, Steiner reiterated: "They're the three with experience.
"Otherwise, I couldn't see anybody else who has got the experience, which is on the market."
Steiner added "the dominoes are starting to fall" in regards to the remaining free seats on next year's grid.
"We're almost there," he continued. "It's not a long time until we decide what to do [with our driver line-up].
"I will spend some time with Gene [Haas, team owner] this [week] and next week - that was always our time, Spa-Monza - when we spend quite a bit of time together too, and then the team decides what to do."
ELUSIVEJIM said:
Deesee said:
Its rumoured that Toto wanted a change, but the senior engineers wanted Bottas..
Senior engineer's or number one driver? We know who is in charge when it comes to Toto's World 
Toto: "Sounds fair. We'll keep Bottas."
kiseca said:
ELUSIVEJIM said:
Deesee said:
Its rumoured that Toto wanted a change, but the senior engineers wanted Bottas..
Senior engineer's or number one driver? We know who is in charge when it comes to Toto's World Toto: "Sounds fair. We'll keep Bottas."
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