The Official F1 2021 silly season *contains speculation*

[anonymous-user]

Stops people asking why they haven't won a race for 9 years, I suppose.

[ajprice]

RonaldMcDonaldAteMyCat said:

Stops people asking why they haven't won a race for 9 years, I suppose.

Gasly and Perez won races last year, before that, the last non Mercedes/Red Bull/Ferrari to win a race was Kimi in a Lotus in 2013. No other team has really had a look in with the hybrid cars.

[anonymous-user]

ajprice said:

Gasly and Perez won races last year, before that, the last non Mercedes/Red Bull/Ferrari to win a race was Kimi in a Lotus in 2013. No other team has really had a look in with the hybrid cars.

So apart from Red Bull, Mercedes, Ferrari, Lotus, Racing Point and Alpha Touri, hardly any teams have won races.

Red Bull were winning with the Renault and Honda engines. Williams were occasionally front running with Mercedes engines in the early stages of the hybrid era.

McLaren have had access to the tools to do the job but just haven't done as well they should have. Hence they haven't won a race in 9 years. Hopefully they can make the next step and make it wla 3 or 4 way fight next year.

[trackdemon]

kiseca said:

trackdemon said:

thegreenhell said:

trackdemon said:

Deesee said:

Btw big McLaren announcement on Sunday at 6pm.

The press are under embargo until then.

Quell surprise, reported nowhere but an unsubstantiated post here.

What would you expect to find reported anywhere else if there really is an embargo? The only way to find out if there's any truth is to wait until the stated time.

Speculation on the usual sources saying 'McLaren to make big announcement Sunday 6pm'. That's not giving anything away, it's a teaser to revisit the site. Same as this is a teaser so we can presumably fawn over someone (maybe) knowing a thing before we do. It's just a self aggrandizing post

That's a bit strong. If it hadn't been posted I'd not have a clue that McLaren are announcing anything today, and now I do. It's a heads-up. Probably one we won't get again because the poster is getting so much st over it.

You may be right, spent Fri/Sat dealing with a stupid stressful situation so I may have carried that onto here which isn't fair. I take it back

But... I just don't have much time for folks posting like that - if you know something bloody say so instead of dangling a carrot! In the end.... different paint. Looks nice, but it's far from groundbreaking

[kiseca]

ajprice said:

RonaldMcDonaldAteMyCat said:

Stops people asking why they haven't won a race for 9 years, I suppose.

Gasly and Perez won races last year, before that, the last non Mercedes/Red Bull/Ferrari to win a race was Kimi in a Lotus in 2013. No other team has really had a look in with the hybrid cars.

I was thinking Maldonado in the Williams so I looked it up first. That was 2012. Crikey, the years are flying by!

[carl_w]

Looks like nearly all of the Gulf merch is sold out on the McLaren site (and the F1 Store) so a success in that respect.

[DanielSan]

Lando Norris has extended his Mclaren deal

https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/36306/12310581/l...

[geeks]

DanielSan said:

Lando Norris has extended his Mclaren deal

https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/36306/12310581/l...

Excellent news

[kambites]

DanielSan said:

Lando Norris has extended his Mclaren deal

https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/36306/12310581/l...

But, but, but Deesee said he was going to Mercedes! How could such a paragon of inside knowledge have been wrong?!

[Sandpit Steve]

kambites said:

But, but, but Deesee said he was going to Mercedes! How could such a paragon of inside knowledge have been wrong?!

McLaren just ensured the buyout price went up, if Mercedes were to come knocking!

(They’d probably go for Ocon or Russell first though).

[Deesee]

kambites said:

But, but, but Deesee said he was going to Mercedes! How could such a paragon of inside knowledge have been wrong?!

Did I say he would be driving for Merc next year? No I did not... I said the Merc Hierarchy and Engineers were impressed, I can only assume the McLaren management are delighted with his performance to date.

As per the ‘22 thread, IMO Ocon has the drive.

That’s a fine extension for Lando and 100% deserved.

[kambites]

Deesee said:

Did I say he would be driving for Merc next year? No I did not... I said the Merc Hierarchy and Engineers were impressed, I can only assume the McLaren management are delighted with his performance to date.

You implied he'd signed a contract!

[Deesee]

kambites said:

Deesee said:

Did I say he would be driving for Merc next year? No I did not... I said the Merc Hierarchy and Engineers were impressed, I can only assume the McLaren management are delighted with his performance to date.

You implied he'd signed a contract!

Potentially a driver contract with Toto, not a works drive!! Blimey that would be a hell of a step up and put a few egos on the grid in check

[kambites]

Deesee said:

Potentially a driver contract with Toto, not a works drive!! Blimey that would be a hell of a step up and put a few egos on the grid in check

Fair enough.

Toto managing him I could imagine, but I can't see Mercedes ever taking Norris over Russell and nor do I think they'd want them as team mates after what happened with Hamilton and Rosberg; I know the junior categories are very different than F1, but from everything I've seen I think Russell is simply a more talented driver.

So the only way I could ever see him at Mercedes is if they lose Russell to another team (which I suppose is quite possible if they don't put him in the car in 2022).

[Deesee]

kambites said:

Deesee said:

Potentially a driver contract with Toto, not a works drive!! Blimey that would be a hell of a step up and put a few egos on the grid in check

Fair enough.

Toto managing him I could imagine, but I can't see Mercedes ever taking Norris over Russell and nor do I think they'd want them as team mates after what happened with Hamilton and Rosberg; I know the junior categories are very different than F1, but from everything I've seen I think Russell is simply a more talented driver.

So the only way I could ever see him at Mercedes is if they lose Russell to another team (which I suppose is quite possible if they don't put him in the car in 2022).

I think with Russell he needs a stint in the midfield, no point in being flawless on a Saturday, and making unfortunate and unforced errors on a Sunday.

I’m unsure on Russell’s contract situation, I’ve been told he’s 3/4 yrs in on a 10yr Merc contract, but his Williams deal ends this season. He could well end up sitting out a year.

[kambites]

Deesee said:

I think with Russell he needs a stint in the midfield, no point in being flawless on a Saturday, and making unfortunate and unforced errors on a Sunday.

It's not at all clear what will constitute a "mid-field" team next year though. I suspect Mercedes will replace Bottas with Russell for 2022 on the basis that no-one really as a clue what the competitive order will be anyway and it'll give him a chance to learn the team alongside Hamilton in a year which is likely to be a complete mess anyway.

If he's not at Mercedes next year, I think he'll back out of his Mercedes driver contract and find a seat elsewhere. If nothing else I'm sure Redbull would jump to give him an AT seat if only to get him out of Mercedes' grasp. Leaving F1, even if it's only, temporarily has rarely proven a good career move.

Edited by kambites on Wednesday 19th May 11:33

[Mr Pointy]

Deesee said:

I think with Russell he needs a stint in the midfield, no point in being flawless on a Saturday, and making unfortunate and unforced errors on a Sunday.

I’m unsure on Russell’s contract situation, I’ve been told he’s 3/4 yrs in on a 10yr Merc contract, but his Williams deal ends this season. He could well end up sitting out a year.

Surely that would piss him off massively as he watches other less talented drivers get good cars. He's toiled long enough in the Williams.

[Muzzer79]

Deesee said:

I think with Russell he needs a stint in the midfield, no point in being flawless on a Saturday, and making unfortunate and unforced errors on a Sunday.

I’m unsure on Russell’s contract situation, I’ve been told he’s 3/4 yrs in on a 10yr Merc contract, but his Williams deal ends this season. He could well end up sitting out a year.

Whilst I could see benefit for George going somewhere like Aston Martin, I imagine there's no room at the inn. There's certainly not at McLaren now.

So, I think if Mercedes replace Bottas, they'll need to put George in. They'll realise he needs to learn, but also see the speed.

I can't see it going to Ocon. He was average for the majority of last year and we're only 4 races in to this year with him up against a 40-year old Alonso who hasn't got fully up to speed yet.

[swisstoni]

Mr Pointy said:

Deesee said:

I think with Russell he needs a stint in the midfield, no point in being flawless on a Saturday, and making unfortunate and unforced errors on a Sunday.

I’m unsure on Russell’s contract situation, I’ve been told he’s 3/4 yrs in on a 10yr Merc contract, but his Williams deal ends this season. He could well end up sitting out a year.

Surely that would piss him off massively as he watches other less talented drivers get good cars. He's toiled long enough in the Williams.

He’s really done all he can, considering what he’s driving, to show that he’s good enough. And the one chance he got in the Merc was amazing.

If Merc can’t offer him a chance next year then he’ll have to move away unfortunately imho.

[HTP99]

Mr Pointy said:

Deesee said:

I think with Russell he needs a stint in the midfield, no point in being flawless on a Saturday, and making unfortunate and unforced errors on a Sunday.

I’m unsure on Russell’s contract situation, I’ve been told he’s 3/4 yrs in on a 10yr Merc contract, but his Williams deal ends this season. He could well end up sitting out a year.

Surely that would piss him off massively as he watches other less talented drivers get good cars. He's toiled long enough in the Williams.

Yep, he's in his 4th season now, another couple of years in a midfield team would do his nut in plus he'd be a couple of years older and the age that F1 drivers seem to come into F1 now, he'll be an old man, he's good enough to move up to a top tier team.