Your bold prediction for the 2020 season

[jjones]

Teams already written off this season knowing most races won't run so are just developing the 2021 car.

[Speed Badger]

- Vettel to win the championship.
- Renault to win a race.
- Stroll podium
- Russell to drive for Mercedes after Bottas dropped.

[vaud]

Borderline if we have the 8 races needed, though Oz and Bahrain gets us 2... late season might balance it out.

So, a lottery...

[anonymous-user]

Some likely, some unlikely:

WDC: Hamilton
WCC: Mercedes

Surprises:

• Ferrari finish 5th in WCC, behind Racing Point and McLaren.
• Vettel retires from F1 before the end of the season.
• Ricciardo signs for Ferrari.
• Williams outscore Haas in WCC.
• Perez wins his first race.
• Sainz wins his first race.

[Fundoreen]

I can see a case for vettel stopping for a season or 2 at the end of the year.
He can then get an idea who is doing best with the new regs as it may not be ferrari.
He knows he is a very good driver. He use to win all those ROC events in equal machinery and
has a lot of natural talent.
Yes same process as Alonso but he's probably more popular with the big teams.

[spunkytherabbit]

Fundoreen said:

I can see a case for vettel stopping for a season or 2 at the end of the year.
He can then get an idea who is doing best with the new regs as it may not be ferrari.
He knows he is a very good driver. He use to win all those ROC events in equal machinery and
has a lot of natural talent.
Yes same process as Alonso but he's probably more popular with the big teams.

I agree with Vettel's pedigree of his championship years, and he'd still be viable after break for a strong midfield team and make a good contribution, I can't see it playing out like that now though. Whilst Alonso's reputation for trouble making has probably been the single biggest factor in doors closing on him since he left, it proved a point to the F1 teams - they will always survive without a big name driver.

Max and Charles have taken the limelight the last few years but the next generation of driver is firmly here up and down the grid and there are enough rising stars to fill the gaps when someone 'big' leaves. So much so that I think the days are gone of a former WDC being able to take a sabbatical like Kimi did and find a drive. Even just one year later. F1 has always moved on quickly, but seems to have done so even faster the last year. Or maybe with Max and Charles taking up so much attention nobody noticed just how established that 'next generation' had become.

[BrettMRC]

Starting to think there won't be a 2020 season at all now.

[carinaman]

No 2020 season results in Hamilton not equalling Schumacher's record.

[DanielSan]

carinaman said:

No 2020 season results in Hamilton not equalling Schumacher's record.

It will if he wins in 21 though, no 20 season at all just means his last 2 consecutive titles will go from 19-21 and a small asterisk next to it.

[Fundoreen]

I now think Vettel may call it a day.For the moment anyway. All thanks to the virus I think he would take stock of all the world travel and decide he is happier in his bond villain hidaway built at the top of a mountain or something like it.
Think the new car delay plays into it also as that was initially something worth sticking round for next year.
Same with Kimi.
Big blow for the likes of Alonso as well as the new cars get pushed back.
2023 would now be the earliest its worth dipping a toe. He must be gutted.

[anonymous-user]

NFC 85 Vette said:

Some likely, some unlikely:

WDC: Hamilton
WCC: Mercedes

Surprises:

• Ferrari finish 5th in WCC, behind Racing Point and McLaren.
• Vettel retires from F1 before the end of the season.
• Ricciardo signs for Ferrari.
• Williams outscore Haas in WCC.
• Perez wins his first race.
• Sainz wins his first race.

So far... some of it's coming good, not in a good way though...

[anonymous-user]

How did it pan out...

NFC 85 Vette said:

Some likely, some unlikely:

WDC: Hamilton Yep - not really a shock
WCC: Mercedes Yep - not really a shock

Surprises:

• Ferrari finish 5th in WCC, behind Racing Point and McLaren. yup, but even worse, 6th.
• Vettel retires from F1 before the end of the season. Nope.
• Ricciardo signs for Ferrari. Nope; he'll be glad he chose McLaren instead...
• Williams outscore Haas in WCC. Nope, but I wouldn't be shocked if they do in 2021.
• Perez wins his first race. Yep
• Sainz wins his first race. Nope

[LaurasOtherHalf]

LaurasOtherHalf said:

Coronavirus won't actually make that much of a difference.

Well that didn't age well!

[parabolica]

parabolica said:

Mine is that a mid-field team will win a race this year; maybe a McLaren, or a Racing Point if their car is as fast as everyone in the paddock seems to think it might be (obvs the result of a chaotic race of some kind).

This one did though

[thegreenhell]

thegreenhell said:

A pink car will win a race.
A McLaren will get a podium.
Williams won't finish last in the WCC.

Two out of three, then.