The Official F1 2022 silly season *contains speculation*
Discussion
TwentyFive said:
I would think that Mercedes 2022 will be Hamilton and Russell. Then I imagine that once Lewis retires, Mercedes will swoop in for Verstappen.
I can't see Bottas going back to Williams as some suggest. He said himself recently that other motorsports are appealing to him so I wonder he will be off to go rallying like Kimi did?
Maybe Red Bull would look at Bottas? Multiple race winner, brings inside knowledge of Mercedes? Would play nicely alongside Max.
I presume the second Red Bull seat will come down to how Tsunoda performs. I suspect that Perez will get extended for another year into 2022 and will be kept on one year deals until Tsundoa is ready. Red Bull have moved drivers up at the wrong time too often now and the Perez signing confirms they know it.
max hasn't been pushed since Danny left. I wonder if he'd handle the pressure of a close title fight.I can't see Bottas going back to Williams as some suggest. He said himself recently that other motorsports are appealing to him so I wonder he will be off to go rallying like Kimi did?
Maybe Red Bull would look at Bottas? Multiple race winner, brings inside knowledge of Mercedes? Would play nicely alongside Max.
I presume the second Red Bull seat will come down to how Tsunoda performs. I suspect that Perez will get extended for another year into 2022 and will be kept on one year deals until Tsundoa is ready. Red Bull have moved drivers up at the wrong time too often now and the Perez signing confirms they know it.
As for bottas, he's flattered results-wise by the car that he struggled to finally plop in second place 5 races after Lewis had taken the title in it. I dunno why people rate him. The red bull second seat would end him, (and thats just the car, never mind the toxic environment, Mr "to whom it may concern" can't handle a bit of internet trolling
)resolve10 said:
He left Red Bull because it was clear Max was being positioned as an unofficial #1 driver. Had he stayed, it would have been very difficult to win a championship as he would never get priority when it comes to race strategy.
As things have panned out in the two seasons since he left, Mercedes still have the better car and the best overall driver, so it's hard to see how he could have been a champion even if he stayed. Arguably it was a good call to move, his stock is probably higher as a result of getting the best out of the Renault than it would have been if he stayed at RB picking up a win or two.
In my opinion he's now in the best place he possibly can be for 2022. New regulations, Mercedes engine and the positive environment of a team on the up.
yeah he decided to leave after being told to accept blame for Baku, as horner figured he had him hostage with nowhere better to go, so danny called his bluff, good old aussie dose of f*k you then. Its quite obvious if RB had delivered "the car" they'd have maneuvered for max anyway, so he might as well try his luck elsewhere, and the renault was in the ascendancy at the time.As things have panned out in the two seasons since he left, Mercedes still have the better car and the best overall driver, so it's hard to see how he could have been a champion even if he stayed. Arguably it was a good call to move, his stock is probably higher as a result of getting the best out of the Renault than it would have been if he stayed at RB picking up a win or two.
In my opinion he's now in the best place he possibly can be for 2022. New regulations, Mercedes engine and the positive environment of a team on the up.
While it may not have been as good for outright results, I don't think leaving red bull has hurt Ricciardo really.
The amount of musical chairs they've had to play in that car since he left does give the impression it's a fairly difficult place to be and that they've now gone for Perez despite a selection of junior drivers seems to show that even the team recognise it.
The amount of musical chairs they've had to play in that car since he left does give the impression it's a fairly difficult place to be and that they've now gone for Perez despite a selection of junior drivers seems to show that even the team recognise it.
ajprice said:
Russell and Bottas at Mercedes next year? 
Young George really not helping things along today, was he? Toto as furious with the young man’s attitude, as he was with the pile of carbon fibre that used to be Bottas’s racing car.
Russell was trying too hard there, yes it would have looked great if he could mix it with the works car, but he misjudged the move and we all saw the result.
At least when Bottas has a bad day, he still usually scores points, as I’m sure he’ll be reminding the team.
Was yesterday’s incident the result of an ambitious young driver who’s been held back too long in a poor car? He’s done all he can to dominate his teammate since he joined. He knows that if he wants to get off the back of the grid, he needs to show the world (not just Toto) that he deserves to be in the Mercedes. The possibility of overtaking Bottas in the Merc overwhelmed his good judgement.
The results were catastrophic, but we’ve seen equal mistakes from world champion drivers in the past.
The results were catastrophic, but we’ve seen equal mistakes from world champion drivers in the past.
I reckon Bottas has more 3 races until the pressure on him gets turned up.
Perez has had what can only be described as troubled weekends but has shown some real pace, once he starts to get a handle on things RBR are going to take the lead in the constructors. Merc might accept they can't win the drivers title but having such a gulf between the teammates and not winning the teams title would be unacceptable.
I dont see merc replacing him mid season though, its just not their style
Perez has had what can only be described as troubled weekends but has shown some real pace, once he starts to get a handle on things RBR are going to take the lead in the constructors. Merc might accept they can't win the drivers title but having such a gulf between the teammates and not winning the teams title would be unacceptable.
I dont see merc replacing him mid season though, its just not their style
Can we see Alonso continuing after this season, We all know how frustrated he was in the McLaren. Assuming Guanyu Zhou does well in the Formula 2 championship, can we see him replacing Alonso or Ocon depending on whether Alonso retires?
Unless Perez rapidly ups his game and starts challenging the Mercedes I cannot see him being retained for next year.
Liam Lawson is a red bull driver, will he go to Alpha Tauri and Gasly back to Red Bull assuming he does well this year and bye, bye Perez?
It's pretty clear Vettel is well past his prime, Ferrari knew it and seeing him at Racing Point is just confirming they were correct. Depending on the contract he has I can see him gone next year.
Bottas is looking even worse than usual, I guess his seat is 100% dependent on what Lewis does next year. I wonder how keen Toto is to replace him with George after their love tap?
I suspect a few of the drivers will retain their seats just because there is nobody up and coming to replace them.
Unless Perez rapidly ups his game and starts challenging the Mercedes I cannot see him being retained for next year.
Liam Lawson is a red bull driver, will he go to Alpha Tauri and Gasly back to Red Bull assuming he does well this year and bye, bye Perez?
It's pretty clear Vettel is well past his prime, Ferrari knew it and seeing him at Racing Point is just confirming they were correct. Depending on the contract he has I can see him gone next year.
Bottas is looking even worse than usual, I guess his seat is 100% dependent on what Lewis does next year. I wonder how keen Toto is to replace him with George after their love tap?
I suspect a few of the drivers will retain their seats just because there is nobody up and coming to replace them.
Joey Deacon said:
Unless Perez rapidly ups his game and starts challenging the Mercedes I cannot see him being retained for next year.
Liam Lawson is a red bull driver, will he go to Alpha Tauri and Gasly back to Red Bull assuming he does well this year and bye, bye Perez?
I wouldn't be so quick to judge Perez. Inconsistent so far but that's to be expected in a new car. He's already delivered a P5 finish from a pit lane start and a P2 quali so the pace is there in all areas. I'm expecting him to score more points than Bottas by the end of the season.Liam Lawson is a red bull driver, will he go to Alpha Tauri and Gasly back to Red Bull assuming he does well this year and bye, bye Perez?
I'd like to see Gasly get another crack with Red Bull but they don't seem to have a warm relationship and I think the ship has sailed. More chance of seeing him at Mercedes, Renault or even McLaren I think.
People are getting far too carried away after the events of round 2.
The first time Perez and several other drivers experienced their new car in wet conditions and on tyres other than the dry tyres was on the lap to grid at Imola.
Fernando Alonso chucked it off during the lap to grid
Hamilton, Verstappen, Leclerc and the majority had off-track excursions.
The first time Perez and several other drivers experienced their new car in wet conditions and on tyres other than the dry tyres was on the lap to grid at Imola.
Fernando Alonso chucked it off during the lap to grid
Hamilton, Verstappen, Leclerc and the majority had off-track excursions.
It's funny... for most of last year Perez was being hailed as one of the top drivers on the grid.
On Saturday he outqualifies Verstappen and has truly arrived, what a great choice by Red Bull / what an embarrassment for their young driver program.
One day later he has a bad day at the office and his seat is in jeopardy. Even the ever-helpful Helmet stuck his oar in.
He's really having an up-and-down year. Qualy at Bahrain was a mess for him. The race was brilliant. Then Imola qualy was brilliant, and I remember the C4 guys in the build up saying the rain was probably not what he'd want to see, he'd want conditions to not be a factor so he could get on with consolidating his good starting position.... and that proved prophetic. He had a terrible race.
The highs are showing what he's capable of. Noone since Ricciardo has come anywhere near outqualifying Max, but Perez managed it in his second race while saying he's still trying to learn the car, to come to terms with it. Albon drove some good races to make up places from bad starting positions but Perez pulled it back to 5th from a pitlane start, eclipsing anything I can remember Albon managing. And then he's mixing this with howlers in equal measure.
It depends what side of that he settles on to become his norm. If the team support him and he keeps his confidence high, the norm will become closer to the highs if he believes he got them on merit not on luck. If Helmet keeps pulling the rug from under him with negative feedback to the media, and he starts to doubt himself and maybe think this will be another McLaren year for him, he's f
ked. But he's got a long season to sort that out and he's shown more potential already than his two predecessors did in that car. Somewhat to my surprise, I might add. I never imagined him outqualifying Max.
On Saturday he outqualifies Verstappen and has truly arrived, what a great choice by Red Bull / what an embarrassment for their young driver program.
One day later he has a bad day at the office and his seat is in jeopardy. Even the ever-helpful Helmet stuck his oar in.
He's really having an up-and-down year. Qualy at Bahrain was a mess for him. The race was brilliant. Then Imola qualy was brilliant, and I remember the C4 guys in the build up saying the rain was probably not what he'd want to see, he'd want conditions to not be a factor so he could get on with consolidating his good starting position.... and that proved prophetic. He had a terrible race.
The highs are showing what he's capable of. Noone since Ricciardo has come anywhere near outqualifying Max, but Perez managed it in his second race while saying he's still trying to learn the car, to come to terms with it. Albon drove some good races to make up places from bad starting positions but Perez pulled it back to 5th from a pitlane start, eclipsing anything I can remember Albon managing. And then he's mixing this with howlers in equal measure.
It depends what side of that he settles on to become his norm. If the team support him and he keeps his confidence high, the norm will become closer to the highs if he believes he got them on merit not on luck. If Helmet keeps pulling the rug from under him with negative feedback to the media, and he starts to doubt himself and maybe think this will be another McLaren year for him, he's f
ked. But he's got a long season to sort that out and he's shown more potential already than his two predecessors did in that car. Somewhat to my surprise, I might add. I never imagined him outqualifying Max.Joey Deacon said:
Bottas is looking even worse than usual, I guess his seat is 100% dependent on what Lewis does next year. I wonder how keen Toto is to replace him with George after their love tap?
A thought crossed my mind on Sunday that unless Bottas ups his game and if Perez ups his, then Mercedes will struggle with the WCC even if Lewis blitzes the WDC. I wonder if this situation starts to pan out whether they may be tempted to swap Bottas and Russel? They'd have little to loose but quite a bit to gain - not withstanding the upheaval and chemistry change.StevieBee said:
Joey Deacon said:
Bottas is looking even worse than usual, I guess his seat is 100% dependent on what Lewis does next year. I wonder how keen Toto is to replace him with George after their love tap?
A thought crossed my mind on Sunday that unless Bottas ups his game and if Perez ups his, then Mercedes will struggle with the WCC even if Lewis blitzes the WDC. I wonder if this situation starts to pan out whether they may be tempted to swap Bottas and Russel? They'd have little to loose but quite a bit to gain - not withstanding the upheaval and chemistry change.Gassing Station | Formula 1 | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff