The Official F1 2022 silly season *contains speculation*

[vaud]

So many drivers out of contract...

ajprice said:

Thanks to Vaud who started last year's thread which I have blatantly stolen from for 2021 .

And now I steal it back! Mwahahahahaha

Edited by vaud on Thursday 11th February 19:59

[Supersam83]

So here's where it stands for 2022:

Alfa Romeo-Ferrari:

TBC
TBC

Alpha Tauri:

TBC
TBC

Alpine-Renault:

Fernando Alonso
TBC

AMG-Mercedes:

TBC
TBC

Aston Martin:

Sebastian Vettel
Lance Stroll

Ferrari:

Charles Leclerc
Carlos Sainz Jr

Haas-Ferrari:

Mick Schumacher
Nikita Mazepin

McLaren-Mercedes:

Daniel Riccardo
Lando Norris

Red Bull Racing:

Max Verstappen
TBC

Williams-Mercedes:

Nicholas Latifi
TBC

9 seats available and a lot of drivers out of contract...

[Muzzer79]

9 seats available but not many good ones.....

The only box office ones are the two Mercedes seats and the one alongside Max at Red Bull.

I can't see past Hamilton and Russell at Mercedes. Bottas might be a good option for Renault.

[Deesee]

Gasly for Alpine, Ocon and Russell at Merc..

Hamilton could well be part of the new Monaco based team, or weighing up the Audi offer for 2025, although Red Bull vs Max in new regs would be box office.

[Nampahc Niloc]

Deesee said:

Gasly for Alpine, Ocon and Russell at Merc..

Hamilton could well be part of the new Monaco based team, or weighing up the Audi offer for 2025, although Red Bull vs Max in new regs would be box office.

Ocon would have to massively up his game to be in contention for a Mercedes seat.

[ajprice]

There's always the rumoured and denied clause in Verstappen's contract that he can walk away if Red Bull aren't competitive. If Mercedes hold their performance gap and Ferrari/Aston Martin catch up with Ferrari's improved engine and AM having Vettel, Red Bull might not be the regular 2nd best car.

Max and George for Mercedes 2022?

Edited by ajprice on Friday 12th February 11:22

[Deesee]

Nampahc Niloc said:

Deesee said:

Gasly for Alpine, Ocon and Russell at Merc..

Hamilton could well be part of the new Monaco based team, or weighing up the Audi offer for 2025, although Red Bull vs Max in new regs would be box office.

Ocon would have to massively up his game to be in contention for a Mercedes seat.

His quali gap to Dani Ric was eradicated by the end of the season and once he got to grips with the car, finished the back half of the season very strongly including the 2nd at Sakhir.

[Nampahc Niloc]

Deesee said:

His quali gap to Dani Ric was eradicated by the end of the season and once he got to grips with the car, finished the back half of the season very strongly including the 2nd at Sakhir.

Even so, I can’t see Mercedes replacing both drivers in the same season unless they have to. No matter how a driver performs in the midfield, they are still an unknown quantity. Unless something radically changes, Russel has to be the preferred option of the two. If Hamilton goes, I would expect them to stick with the solid, if somewhat unspectacular, known quantity that is Bottas.

[Deesee]

Nampahc Niloc said:

Deesee said:

His quali gap to Dani Ric was eradicated by the end of the season and once he got to grips with the car, finished the back half of the season very strongly including the 2nd at Sakhir.

Even so, I can’t see Mercedes replacing both drivers in the same season unless they have to. No matter how a driver performs in the midfield, they are still an unknown quantity. Unless something radically changes, Russel has to be the preferred option of the two. If Hamilton goes, I would expect them to stick with the solid, if somewhat unspectacular, known quantity that is Bottas.

If Merc do change, theres very few drivers that would turn down the drive, even with possibility of new regs, they will have the pick of the grid, including the two current drivers..

Ocon has had 3 decent seasons in the midfield as well as a very good stint at the rear of the grid with Manor, I don't see that Russell automatically gets the drive if there is a big mix up, he needs a stint in the midfield first IMO.

[BrettMRC]

If Hamilton stays, Bottas back to Williams - or possibly to Aston Martin, and George in the 2nd Merc seat.

[Muzzer79]

Nampahc Niloc said:

Deesee said:

Gasly for Alpine, Ocon and Russell at Merc..

Hamilton could well be part of the new Monaco based team, or weighing up the Audi offer for 2025, although Red Bull vs Max in new regs would be box office.

Ocon would have to massively up his game to be in contention for a Mercedes seat.

And Hamilton is now a 'lifer' at Mercedes. When he retires, he'll be in an ambassador-style role, which he's often talked about.

He's achieved too much to start again and go to the back of the field with a start up or go with Audi when he's 40 years old.

[vulture1]

What's this Audi talk are they looking at a team or engine supply?

[Muzzer79]

vulture1 said:

What's this Audi talk are they looking at a team or engine supply?

Rumours that they'll look at an engine supply with the 2025 regs. They also have links to Red Bull, historically.

Like all of the other rumours linking the VW group to F1 in the last 25 years, I would expect it to come to nothing.

[pits]

Muzzer79 said:

vulture1 said:

What's this Audi talk are they looking at a team or engine supply?

Rumours that they'll look at an engine supply with the 2025 regs. They also have links to Red Bull, historically.

Like all of the other rumours linking the VW group to F1 in the last 25 years, I would expect it to come to nothing.

Running 2.0 TDi's with the fuel pump whacked up and a woosher

[Pizzaeatingking]

Deesee said:

If Merc do change, theres very few drivers that would turn down the drive, even with possibility of new regs, they will have the pick of the grid, including the two current drivers..

Ocon has had 3 decent seasons in the midfield as well as a very good stint at the rear of the grid with Manor, I don't see that Russell automatically gets the drive if there is a big mix up, he needs a stint in the midfield first IMO.

I think the majority of people who questioned George and his talent have seen enough now to know he's the real deal. Ocon lucking out on a 2nd place might look good on paper but the way George performed and behaved was enough to know who will be first in line for that Merc drive, unless something mad happens this season.

[Deesee]

Pizzaeatingking said:

Deesee said:

If Merc do change, theres very few drivers that would turn down the drive, even with possibility of new regs, they will have the pick of the grid, including the two current drivers..

Ocon has had 3 decent seasons in the midfield as well as a very good stint at the rear of the grid with Manor, I don't see that Russell automatically gets the drive if there is a big mix up, he needs a stint in the midfield first IMO.

I think the majority of people who questioned George and his talent have seen enough now to know he's the real deal. Ocon lucking out on a 2nd place might look good on paper but the way George performed and behaved was enough to know who will be first in line for that Merc drive, unless something mad happens this season.

According to Max 90% of the field would win races in the W11, the whole grid could have all performed in that car.

Personally I see changes at Merc next year, and probably both drivers moving on.. Esteban and George are the natural replacements, although it depends on who else is interested in the drive, and what Wolff, Ineos and Petronas want for their investment.

Lewis did not get the contract he wanted and it would not surprise me if he’s got a ‘22 drive lined up, or steps away gracefully with the records.

[Baron Greenback]

Fernando Alonso: Two-time F1 champion fractures upper jaw in cycling accident!

The 39-year-old two-time world champion had a "successful corrective operation" and will remain in hospital for observation for 48 hours.

The team added: "The medical team are satisfied with his progress. After a few days of complete rest, he will be able to progressively resume training.

[Exige77]

Baron Greenback said:

Fernando Alonso: Two-time F1 champion fractures upper jaw in cycling accident!

The 39-year-old two-time world champion had a "successful corrective operation" and will remain in hospital for observation for 48 hours.

The team added: "The medical team are satisfied with his progress. After a few days of complete rest, he will be able to progressively resume training.

There’s a whole thread running on this here:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[HustleRussell]

Bottas isn’t outlasting Hamilton at Mercedes IMO. I reckon Hamilton will this season be considering extending to ‘22/23 but will have to weigh up that opportunity against the threat posed by a new team mate.

Mercedes really need to find a place for Russell in particular, and Ocon whose seat at Alpine is threatened.

I don’t think Verstappen’s bad boy image fits at Mercedes.

[Deesee]

Max looks different in silver?