Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari

[Bo_apex]

540TORQUES said:

Russell is experienced enough for Mercedes to take a gamble on a young kid, but I'd prefer Albon to get the drive.

Yes Albon gets less credit than he deserves. Could be a coin flip for the TP

[TheDeuce]

Bo_apex said:

TheDeuce said:

Bo_apex said:

SmoothCriminal said:

The only reason why this is probably getting traction is because of Toto saying he may put the rookie in the merc, difference there is that the merc is ste, he wouldn't be doing that if they were winning.

Why not ?

Why do you think? Because if Merc had a dominant car they already have two drivers perfectly capable of making good use of it so no reason to mix things up or take a risk on new talent - no matter how great that new talent may eventually prove to be, it would still be an unnecessary gamble in that scenario.

Did Oli not prove he can make good use of that Ferrari ?

No, he absolutely did not prove that. He proved he was able to step up remarkably well at very short notice and not screw it up, he proved that he was above average in that regard. All very impressive but he has not 'proven' that he's capable of getting one of the top cars consistently to it's rightful finishing position.

I strongly suspect he could do what is required, I'm sure some TP's do too. But there it's still not proven in the way established and known to be competitive drivers are.

[TheDeuce]

540TORQUES said:

Russell is experienced enough for Mercedes to take a gamble on a young kid, but I'd prefer Albon to get the drive.

I agree but in the context of what is being discussed, not relevant. IE we're talking about if Mercedes would take Bearman if they had a far more competitive car and subsequently Lewis hadn't decided to depart.

I don't think for one moment, if they had a car they could fight with, they would swap either George or Lewis for a promising yet unproven rookie. For the same reasons Ferrari won't swap out Lewis or Charles for a rookie.

[Leithen]

TheDeuce said:

540TORQUES said:

Russell is experienced enough for Mercedes to take a gamble on a young kid, but I'd prefer Albon to get the drive.

I agree but in the context of what is being discussed, not relevant. IE we're talking about if Mercedes would take Bearman if they had a far more competitive car and subsequently Lewis hadn't decided to depart.

I don't think for one moment, if they had a car they could fight with, they would swap either George or Lewis for a promising yet unproven rookie. For the same reasons Ferrari won't swap out Lewis or Charles for a rookie.

Sainz is the far more sensible move for Mercedes. Plenty of time for Bearman/Antonelli to become relevant for top seats.

Of course, if Horner has Thailand solidly behind him, digs in his heels and Verstappen leaves, then all bets as to where the top drivers go are off. Apart from in Ferrari...

[TheDeuce]

Leithen said:

Sainz is the far more sensible move for Mercedes. Plenty of time for Bearman/Antonelli to become relevant for top seats.

Of course, if Horner has Thailand solidly behind him, digs in his heels and Verstappen leaves, then all bets as to where the top drivers go are off. Apart from in Ferrari...

It's certainly true that 'if' the Red Bull house of cards collapses and Max buggers off, all bets are definitely off elsewhere - and with or without that happening I DO think Bearman deserves a seat and will probably get one, I'm just pointing out that a team with two more than good enough drivers installed already and a car able to win or runner up in the championship, it would be a very weird time to take on a rookie, who is unproven no matter how promising his first F1 outing was.

[Mark-C]

TheDeuce said:

Leithen said:

Sainz is the far more sensible move for Mercedes. Plenty of time for Bearman/Antonelli to become relevant for top seats.

Of course, if Horner has Thailand solidly behind him, digs in his heels and Verstappen leaves, then all bets as to where the top drivers go are off. Apart from in Ferrari...

It's certainly true that 'if' the Red Bull house of cards collapses and Max buggers off, all bets are definitely off elsewhere - and with or without that happening I DO think Bearman deserves a seat and will probably get one, I'm just pointing out that a team with two more than good enough drivers installed already and a car able to win or runner up in the championship, it would be a very weird time to take on a rookie, who is unproven no matter how promising his first F1 outing was.

Albon to Red Bull if Thailand win the Red Bull war?

A season with Max\George at Mercedes, Lewis\Charles at Ferrari and whoever Red Bull prise away from elsewhere (I'd say Piastri) would be something to see ...

[DanielSan]

Mark-C said:

Albon to Red Bull if Thailand win the Red Bull war?

A season with Max\George at Mercedes, Lewis\Charles at Ferrari and whoever Red Bull prise away from elsewhere (I'd say Piastri) would be something to see ...

If for some reason Verstappen did go to Mercedes Red Bull would be doing everything they could to get Albon in one of their cars now

[Leithen]

DanielSan said:

If for some reason Verstappen did go to Mercedes Red Bull would be doing everything they could to get Albon in one of their cars now

I’d go with Alonso…

[epom]

Bearman deserves a seat ? Am I reading that correctly?

[cuprabob]

epom said:

Bearman deserves a seat ? Am I reading that correctly?

I would put money on him being in the Haas next year.

[TheDeuce]

cuprabob said:

epom said:

Bearman deserves a seat ? Am I reading that correctly?

I would put money on him being in the Haas next year.

I think that's very likely.

[540TORQUES]

TheDeuce said:

I agree but in the context of what is being discussed, not relevant. IE we're talking about if Mercedes would take Bearman if they had a far more competitive car and subsequently Lewis hadn't decided to depart.

I don't think for one moment, if they had a car they could fight with, they would swap either George or Lewis for a promising yet unproven rookie. For the same reasons Ferrari won't swap out Lewis or Charles for a rookie.

Lewis was gone from Mercedes no matter how good the car was this year, he signed for Ferrari before he had even seen the new car. It could be a rocket ship, wouldn't make the slightest difference, he was going to Ferrari and had signed as such.

[TheDeuce]

540TORQUES said:

TheDeuce said:

I agree but in the context of what is being discussed, not relevant. IE we're talking about if Mercedes would take Bearman if they had a far more competitive car and subsequently Lewis hadn't decided to depart.

I don't think for one moment, if they had a car they could fight with, they would swap either George or Lewis for a promising yet unproven rookie. For the same reasons Ferrari won't swap out Lewis or Charles for a rookie.

Lewis was gone from Mercedes no matter how good the car was this year, he signed for Ferrari before he had even seen the new car. It could be a rocket ship, wouldn't make the slightest difference, he was going to Ferrari and had signed as such.

Also not really the point - the fact they don't have a better car and Lewis is leaving isn't relevant in terms of answering a question that was entirely hypothetical in the first place.

[540TORQUES]

TheDeuce said:

540TORQUES said:

TheDeuce said:

I agree but in the context of what is being discussed, not relevant. IE we're talking about if Mercedes would take Bearman if they had a far more competitive car and subsequently Lewis hadn't decided to depart.

I don't think for one moment, if they had a car they could fight with, they would swap either George or Lewis for a promising yet unproven rookie. For the same reasons Ferrari won't swap out Lewis or Charles for a rookie.

Lewis was gone from Mercedes no matter how good the car was this year, he signed for Ferrari before he had even seen the new car. It could be a rocket ship, wouldn't make the slightest difference, he was going to Ferrari and had signed as such.

Also not really the point - the fact they don't have a better car and Lewis is leaving isn't relevant in terms of answering a question that was entirely hypothetical in the first place.

You raised the point i addressed.

TheDeuce said:

Indeed, and nor would Lewis be leaving so he wouldn't have an empty seat in the first place!

There is no need to be so rude either.

[TheDeuce]

540TORQUES said:

TheDeuce said:

540TORQUES said:

TheDeuce said:

I agree but in the context of what is being discussed, not relevant. IE we're talking about if Mercedes would take Bearman if they had a far more competitive car and subsequently Lewis hadn't decided to depart.

I don't think for one moment, if they had a car they could fight with, they would swap either George or Lewis for a promising yet unproven rookie. For the same reasons Ferrari won't swap out Lewis or Charles for a rookie.

Lewis was gone from Mercedes no matter how good the car was this year, he signed for Ferrari before he had even seen the new car. It could be a rocket ship, wouldn't make the slightest difference, he was going to Ferrari and had signed as such.

Also not really the point - the fact they don't have a better car and Lewis is leaving isn't relevant in terms of answering a question that was entirely hypothetical in the first place.

You raised the point i addressed.

TheDeuce said:

Indeed, and nor would Lewis be leaving so he wouldn't have an empty seat in the first place!

There is no need to be so rude either.

I raised that point in a separate post and it still doesn't change the context of the original question I was answering - however, I'm sorry you found my response rude.

The bit in bold is the point I was attempting to make. Note that I think it's an entirely fair point irrespective of Lewis remaining/leaving and why.

[Pueblo]

Not for the first time LH has changed team at the right time. (Time will tell)
As it is odds on that he has a vastly better feel / knowledge about what is going on in the paddock & teams that “any” of us he could see that the toxic setup at RB was going to come down.
Again with his insider knowledge he could see that Adrian Newey would be looking for a more stable place to work and (again odds on) had known that Ferrari had been in talks with him.
That title that was stolen from him must be burning inside & he will move heaven & earth to secure it.
IMO of course.

[honda_exige]

Pueblo said:

Not for the first time LH has changed team at the right time. (Time will tell)
As it is odds on that he has a vastly better feel / knowledge about what is going on in the paddock & teams that “any” of us he could see that the toxic setup at RB was going to come down.
Again with his insider knowledge he could see that Adrian Newey would be looking for a more stable place to work and (again odds on) had known that Ferrari had been in talks with him.
That title that was stolen from him must be burning inside & he will move heaven & earth to secure it.
IMO of course.

Honestly that whole post sounds like the MAGA lot talking about Trump playing 4d chess.

[wibble cb]

Pueblo said:

Not for the first time LH has changed team at the right time. (Time will tell)
As it is odds on that he has a vastly better feel / knowledge about what is going on in the paddock & teams that “any” of us he could see that the toxic setup at RB was going to come down.
Again with his insider knowledge he could see that Adrian Newey would be looking for a more stable place to work and (again odds on) had known that Ferrari had been in talks with him.
That title that was stolen from him must be burning inside & he will move heaven & earth to secure it.
IMO of course.

Sorry , you lost me at more stable place to work….This would be the same Ferrari that cannot strategize their way out of a wet paper bag ?

Bearman did ok given the abrupt nature of his promotion to the race seat, far more is needed to justify a permanent seat(even at HAAS).

[Supersam83]

I'm thinking now that Hamilton signed with Ferrari on the basis that they would be hiring Adrian Newey for 2025 and that's what swayed him away from Mercedes.

Remember when he moved from McLaren to Mercedes in 2013, Niki Lauda showed him the recruitment of Aldo Costa, Geoff Willis, Mike Elliot, Toto Wolff, and the hybrid engine details which made him sign on the dotted line.

This feels similar...

[Gary C]

Supersam83 said:

I'm thinking now that Hamilton signed with Ferrari on the basis that they would be hiring Adrian Newey for 2025 and that's what swayed him away from Mercedes.

Remember when he moved from McLaren to Mercedes in 2013, Niki Lauda showed him the recruitment of Aldo Costa, Geoff Willis, Mike Elliot, Toto Wolff, and the hybrid engine details which made him sign on the dotted line.

This feels similar...

Even if he has to play out 25 as gardening leave, he could probably spend that time drawing red F1 cars just for fun.

Then magically have something for 2026