The Official F1 2023 silly season *contains speculation*

[number2]

I'll keep an eye out for the job ad: "international water bottle carrier".

Right up my street.





(just kidding... I know she did more than than that... well )

[Niponeoff]

Verstappen latest: welcome Angela, my new personal trainer.

[Muzzer79]

number2 said:

stemll said:

vaud said:

Odd that it is after the first race, would have thought more natural to transition during the off season.

From her post, it is 7 years to the day so I assume it's where her contract naturally ended and she didn't want to renew. She has spent a huge amount of time away from her family to work with Lewis, maybe the length of this season was a stretch too far.

A 7-year contract? And they're not going to hold anyone prisoner...

As said, an odd time to leave.

No, she won't have had a 7 year contract

She'd have had a 1 or 2 year contract, renewed at the same time of the year.

It's not odd to leave when your contract expires. It's perhaps odd to have a contract expire at the start of a season, but one assumes he has a plan B.

[Pflanzgarten]

It all rather reminds me of when Rossi sacked Jeremy Burgess (not that I’m saying Cullen was sacked-it’s more likely the opposite).

The best of the best need something new every now and again.

As I just texted my mate, I can see Lewis leaving Mercedes now.

He can’t waste any more years and he knows that as much as anyone else does.

[Mark-C]

Her first race was Australia 2016 which was on the 20th March - the same weekend effectively as the second race this year ... that's the timing explained from a contract end PoV but not why they didn't do something in the close season.

[vaud]

Mark-C said:

...but not why they didn't do something in the close season.

Could be anything I guess - illness, pregnant, sick parent etc... all could have developed in the closed season.

Seems amicable and all none of our business at the end of the day.

[Muzzer79]

Pflanzgarten said:

The best of the best need something new every now and again.

As I just texted my mate, I can see Lewis leaving Mercedes now.

I just can't see it and I'm a bit surprised so many, particularly those supposed to be in the know when it comes to F1, such as pundits, are mooting it.

a) Hamilton has said far too many times that he's a Mercedes man for life and wants to go on as an ambassador when he retires, like Sterling Moss did

b) Where is he going to go? Red Bull won't want him, which only leaves Ferrari or retirement. I'm not convinced he wants to retire and Ferrari have arguably as many problems as Mercedes - just in different areas.

He'll know that he's better off waiting for Mercedes to get it right than jumping ship to something else in the last few years of his career.

[Pflanzgarten]

Muzzer79 said:

Pflanzgarten said:

The best of the best need something new every now and again.

As I just texted my mate, I can see Lewis leaving Mercedes now.

I just can't see it and I'm a bit surprised so many, particularly those supposed to be in the know when it comes to F1, such as pundits, are mooting it.

a) Hamilton has said far too many times that he's a Mercedes man for life and wants to go on as an ambassador when he retires, like Sterling Moss did

b) Where is he going to go? Red Bull won't want him, which only leaves Ferrari or retirement. I'm not convinced he wants to retire and Ferrari have arguably as many problems as Mercedes - just in different areas.

He'll know that he's better off waiting for Mercedes to get it right than jumping ship to something else in the last few years of his career.

a) he still can do if he leaves amicably.

b) I'd be amazed if any team wouldn't take him on-including Red Bull.

Mercedes are on a downward spiral, how far it continues none of us know. The signs aren't good though, it took Red Bull and Newey eight years to go from the pomp of 2013 to challenging for a title again and nine years to win it (WCC).

[HustleRussell]

Pflanzgarten said:

b) I'd be amazed if any team wouldn't take him on-including Red Bull.

Not Verhappenning.

[Pflanzgarten]

HustleRussell said:

Pflanzgarten said:

b) I'd be amazed if any team wouldn't take him on-including Red Bull.

Not Verhappenning.

What else has he got to prove? Beating Lewis in the same car would be a good look.

[MissChief]

Pflanzgarten said:

HustleRussell said:

Pflanzgarten said:

b) I'd be amazed if any team wouldn't take him on-including Red Bull.

Not Verhappenning.

What else has he got to prove? Beating Lewis in the same car would be a good look.

Hamilton is the only driver max believes is at least his equal, if not better than him. Max would put his foot down and not allow Lewis at Red Bull.

[Muzzer79]

Pflanzgarten said:

HustleRussell said:

Pflanzgarten said:

b) I'd be amazed if any team wouldn't take him on-including Red Bull.

Not Verhappenning.

What else has he got to prove? Beating Lewis in the same car would be a good look.

What makes you think he wants a good look?

They are oil and water. Putting them together would be a nightmare.

Max, like Schumacher (and, arguably, Hamilton for that matter) is quite happy having someone alongside him who he can dominate.

[Pflanzgarten]

MissChief said:

Pflanzgarten said:

HustleRussell said:

Pflanzgarten said:

b) I'd be amazed if any team wouldn't take him on-including Red Bull.

Not Verhappenning.

What else has he got to prove? Beating Lewis in the same car would be a good look.

Hamilton is the only driver max believes is at least his equal, if not better than him. Max would put his foot down and not allow Lewis at Red Bull.

I disagree, I think Max would have him there no problem, he thinks he's superior.

[MissChief]

Pflanzgarten said:

MissChief said:

Pflanzgarten said:

HustleRussell said:

Pflanzgarten said:

b) I'd be amazed if any team wouldn't take him on-including Red Bull.

Not Verhappenning.

What else has he got to prove? Beating Lewis in the same car would be a good look.

Hamilton is the only driver max believes is at least his equal, if not better than him. Max would put his foot down and not allow Lewis at Red Bull.

I disagree, I think Max would have him there no problem, he thinks he's superior.

There’s certainly something psychological when it comes to Hamilton on Max’s part. He doesn’t drive the way he does against Hamilton the way he does with any other driver.

[JonChalk]

MissChief said:

Pflanzgarten said:

MissChief said:

Pflanzgarten said:

HustleRussell said:

Pflanzgarten said:

b) I'd be amazed if any team wouldn't take him on-including Red Bull.

Not Verhappenning.

What else has he got to prove? Beating Lewis in the same car would be a good look.

Hamilton is the only driver max believes is at least his equal, if not better than him. Max would put his foot down and not allow Lewis at Red Bull.

I disagree, I think Max would have him there no problem, he thinks he's superior.

There’s certainly something psychological when it comes to Hamilton on Max’s part. He doesn’t drive the way he does against Hamilton the way he does with any other driver.

Verstappen is RBR's chosen one; absolutely nothing.....NOTHING....will be allowed to show him up, embarrass him, out qualify him, or generally cast any doubt on him not being No.1.

There is ZERO chance of Hamilton being in a RB with Verstappen in the team. Too risky for all parties.

[Niponeoff]

JonChalk said:

MissChief said:

Pflanzgarten said:

MissChief said:

Pflanzgarten said:

HustleRussell said:

Pflanzgarten said:

b) I'd be amazed if any team wouldn't take him on-including Red Bull.

Not Verhappenning.

What else has he got to prove? Beating Lewis in the same car would be a good look.

Hamilton is the only driver max believes is at least his equal, if not better than him. Max would put his foot down and not allow Lewis at Red Bull.

I disagree, I think Max would have him there no problem, he thinks he's superior.

There’s certainly something psychological when it comes to Hamilton on Max’s part. He doesn’t drive the way he does against Hamilton the way he does with any other driver.

Verstappen is RBR's chosen one; absolutely nothing.....NOTHING....will be allowed to show him up, embarrass him, out qualify him, or generally cast any doubt on him not being No.1.

There is ZERO chance of Hamilton being in a RB with Verstappen in the team. Too risky for all parties.

It's got nothing to do with max.

Christian would not want the hassle of managing that squabbling pair of primadonnas.

Would be a huge headache.

[stemll]

number2 said:

stemll said:

vaud said:

Odd that it is after the first race, would have thought more natural to transition during the off season.

From her post, it is 7 years to the day so I assume it's where her contract naturally ended and she didn't want to renew. She has spent a huge amount of time away from her family to work with Lewis, maybe the length of this season was a stretch too far.

A 7-year contract? And they're not going to hold anyone prisoner...

As said, an odd time to leave.

Also a big part of the LH support team changing.

More likely 7 one year contracts and just doesn't want a new one, not that we'll ever know or that it's any of our business. It was just one possible explanation for the timing. If it originally started at the first race of 2016 which was 20th March then 17th March would have been the Thursday before the race.

ETA apologies, seems I wasn't at the end of the thread and others have already pointed out how the dates align with 2016

[andburg]

I wonder whether she was paid by Mercedes and included in the cost cap? given their performance they need every penny they can spend on the car.

[vaud]

andburg said:

I wonder whether she was paid by Mercedes and included in the cost cap? given their performance they need every penny they can spend on the car.

If you want to start cost saving, you don't start with the physio of your primary asset.

Anyhow, various news sites says Lewis pays her...

[C5_Steve]

Sad to see Ang leaving, she's been a massive part of Lewis' team and I've no doubt she'll still be a big part of his life. I wonder if she'll have any involvement in the new academy Susie Wolff is heading up. Perhaps in an advisory capacity. If anyone knows how to structure a successful racers life it's her and I'd assume she's built a good relationship with both the Wolff's over the years.