The Official F1 2021 silly season *contains speculation*

[Mr_Thyroid]

Paul_M3 said:

Mr_Thyroid said:

But there is excitement, or tension, that comes from poor reliability. It can be more interesting watching someone leading by more than 30 seconds if you reckon they have a 65‰ chance of finishing than watching someone leading by 3 seconds who has a 99‰ chance of finishing.

It’s not ‘racing’ though, is it?

It’s just entertainment for those who like seeing somebody who doesn’t deserve to win get a trophy.

You've also got to think that Mercedes probably could be winning some of these races by 30+ seconds but the engine rules and safety cars means winning at the slowest possible speed is maybe more important than ever.

[HustleRussell]

RonaldMcDonaldAteMyCat said:

And why no other manufacturer will come into the sport.

Yes, but how many do we need to run 10 teams? 3 is enough. 4 is an abundance. The sport needs to be confident it can maintain 3 (which it currently isn’t...)

[RonaldMcDonaldAteMyCat]

HustleRussell said:

Yes, but how many do we need to run 10 teams? 3 is enough. 4 is an abundance. The sport needs to be confident it can maintain 3 (which it currently isn’t...)

You saw what happened LMP1, right?

[thegreenhell]

RonaldMcDonaldAteMyCat said:

HustleRussell said:

Yes, but how many do we need to run 10 teams? 3 is enough. 4 is an abundance. The sport needs to be confident it can maintain 3 (which it currently isn’t...)

You saw what happened LMP1, right?

Exactly. Leaving your championship to the whim of such a small number of OEMs isn't a sustainable long term plan. Eventually another one will get bored, leaving the remainder below critical mass, and the whole thing collapses. See also BTCC a few years ago, DTM every few years, and WRC.

[TheDeuce]

thegreenhell said:

RonaldMcDonaldAteMyCat said:

HustleRussell said:

Yes, but how many do we need to run 10 teams? 3 is enough. 4 is an abundance. The sport needs to be confident it can maintain 3 (which it currently isn’t...)

You saw what happened LMP1, right?

Exactly. Leaving your championship to the whim of such a small number of OEMs isn't a sustainable long term plan. Eventually another one will get bored, leaving the remainder below critical mass, and the whole thing collapses. See also BTCC a few years ago, DTM every few years, and WRC.

Surely the real problem is that no one new can really enter as a PU supplier, the spec is just too complex and it would take at least 2 years to get competitive for anyone starting from scratch. IE BMW, Toyota, VW etc... These are monster companies with endless engineering knowledge to call upon but even they would need to spend 2-3 years looking 'weak' before they have a PU that is competitive. And that's without even considering the cost...

It's not a very attractive proposition is it? It was different at the start when everyone was building a new PU and could progress and refine their designs over the same period of years as each other.. But no one can enter this late on and expect to be successful for a worthwhile length of time before the spec changes again anyway.

They've ended up with a situation in which suppliers may depart, but no new ones will enter.

[Deesee]

George Russell could be without a seat next year..

[jsf]

Deesee said:

George Russell could be without a seat next year..

Would he notice?

He will be in the Mercedes soon enough.

[RonaldMcDonaldAteMyCat]

Deesee said:

George Russell could be without a seat next year..

What's the rumour?

[vaud]

RonaldMcDonaldAteMyCat said:

What's the rumour?

Rumours of Perez talking with Williams.

[Deesee]

jsf said:

Deesee said:

George Russell could be without a seat next year..

Would he notice?

He will be in the Mercedes soon enough.

That’s what Ocon thought too.

[Deesee]

vaud said:

RonaldMcDonaldAteMyCat said:

What's the rumour?

Rumours of Perez talking with Williams.

Yep, experience and sponsorship..

[jsf]

Deesee said:

That’s what Ocon thought too.

If he did he was kidding himself.

George is a shoe in for 2022.

[jsf]

vaud said:

Rumours of Perez talking with Williams.

Not sure that fits with his goals as stated, but then a drive is a drive for someone on the way down.

[Deesee]

jsf said:

George is a shoe in for 2022.

Can’t see that myself..

[LaurasOtherHalf]

Russel and Perez would be a good pairing actually, Latifi ahead of Russel? Money talks I guess but it would be a massive admission of cash over talent.

[RonaldMcDonaldAteMyCat]

If Perez to Williams happened, would RB take a cheeky punt on stealing Russell from Mercedes?

[jsf]

Deesee said:

jsf said:

George is a shoe in for 2022.

Can’t see that myself..

You will, when it is announced.

[jsf]

RonaldMcDonaldAteMyCat said:

If Perez to Williams happened, would RB take a cheeky punt on stealing Russell from Mercedes?

George is in the Mercedes plans long term, he isn't daft enough to go there, even if Mercedes allowed it.

[TheDeuce]

When either of the current Mercedes drivers depart, George is straight in - he's young enough to wait out for that moment wherever he ends up between now and then. Even if he takes a year off F1 and races in another series.

Although personally I think it's unlikely Williams would be too quick to boot him anyway. He's a good driver for sure and has somewhat elevated their car - I suspect in part by driving it for long enough now to deal with it's dodgy aero handling issues better than anyone else they could airdrop in to the same seat.

[Exige77]

TheDeuce said:

thegreenhell said:

RonaldMcDonaldAteMyCat said:

HustleRussell said:

Yes, but how many do we need to run 10 teams? 3 is enough. 4 is an abundance. The sport needs to be confident it can maintain 3 (which it currently isn’t...)

You saw what happened LMP1, right?

Exactly. Leaving your championship to the whim of such a small number of OEMs isn't a sustainable long term plan. Eventually another one will get bored, leaving the remainder below critical mass, and the whole thing collapses. See also BTCC a few years ago, DTM every few years, and WRC.

It's not a very attractive proposition is it? It was different at the start when everyone was building a new PU and could progress and refine their designs over the same period of years as each other.. But no one can enter this late on and expect to be successful for a worthwhile length of time before the spec changes again anyway.

Remember we had the engine token system at the start of the hybrid era and limited PUs per year so wasn’t exactly easy to catch up if you’d taken a wrong turn.