The Official F1 2025 silly season *contains speculation*

[ajprice]

Mercedes, RB and Sauber to go.

[Mark-C]

rallycross said:

Muzzer79 said:

Good to see a new driver being given a chance, rather than recycling old talent again.

So, just VCARB and Sauber left to confirm for next year then?

Agreed this is great news
Meanwhile sauber will be tugging around at the back while Bottas collects his pension - he should be booted out.

Really good to see Doohan get the drive. Would be even better to see some more new faces but suspect Bottas may be seen as a safe pair of hands for Audi...

[ThingsBehindTheSun]

Mark-C said:

Really good to see Doohan get the drive. Would be even better to see some more new faces but suspect Bottas may be seen as a safe pair of hands for Audi...

Agreed, he is basically the best driver left out of those without a seat. However, if he does get the drive why have they left it so late to announce it? Were they holding out for Sainz?

Or is there a 1% chance that Mercedes are not going to sign Antonelli and will give Bottas a one year contract?

[paulguitar]

rallycross said:

Meanwhile sauber will be tugging around at the back while Bottas collects his pension - he should be booted out.

Why?

[Muzzer79]

rallycross said:

Muzzer79 said:

Good to see a new driver being given a chance, rather than recycling old talent again.

So, just VCARB and Sauber left to confirm for next year then?

Agreed this is great news
Meanwhile sauber will be tugging around at the back while Bottas collects his pension - he should be booted out.

I don't think the root cause of Sauber's issues are related to Bottas. He can only do what he can do with what he's given.

If Bottas, as a multiple race winner, multi-WDC runner-up and proven team player with experience of a top team, were driving for another team at the moment, you'd have to say he'd be on Sauber's list so I see no reason why he shouldn't be retained.

[SpudLink]

Two or three new drivers per season seems about right to me. We’ve seen a lot of stability in recent years, so it’ll be good to get back to a sensible turnover of talent.

Of the established drivers that need to be ‘booted out’ I would not have Bottas on the list.

[MustangGT]

ajprice said:

Mercedes, RB and Sauber to go.

I see three very tasty pairings in that line up, Ferrari, McLaren and Williams.

Be interesting to see the other names in due course.

[SpudLink]

If Ricciardo stays for 2025 (big IF), that would be three Australians on the grid. I can’t remember that happening in the time I’ve been watching.

[SoulGlo]

SpudLink said:

If Ricciardo stays for 2025 (big IF), that would be three Australians on the grid. I can’t remember that happening in the time I’ve been watching.

I just read this post while "Men at Work- Down Under" was playing on someone's radio in the background.

[Mark-C]

SoulGlo said:

SpudLink said:

If Ricciardo stays for 2025 (big IF), that would be three Australians on the grid. I can’t remember that happening in the time I’ve been watching.

I just read this post while "Men at Work- Down Under" was playing on someone's radio in the background.

And I was in a boring meeting so went down a Wiki Rabbit hole ... Monaco 1965 had 3 Australians (and 2 New Zealanders) on the grid.

I'm assuming that is weel before most (but not all) were watching!

[SpudLink]

Mark-C said:

SoulGlo said:

SpudLink said:

If Ricciardo stays for 2025 (big IF), that would be three Australians on the grid. I can’t remember that happening in the time I’ve been watching.

I just read this post while "Men at Work- Down Under" was playing on someone's radio in the background.

And I was in a boring meeting so went down a Wiki Rabbit hole ... Monaco 1965 had 3 Australians (and 2 New Zealanders) on the grid.

I'm assuming that is weel before most (but not all) were watching!

A few months before I was born. So literally not in my lifetime.

[SpudLink]

So, while waiting for the track to be cleared after Sargeant’s big incident, i’m wondering how people rate Jack Doohan.
It’s great to see Mick Doohan’s son make it to F1. It’s not long since he made his debut in British F4. But I don’t see evidence that he is ‘the best of the best’ when it comes to drivers making their way up the ladder.
Obviously we don’t know yet, but he looks like a potential journeyman at best.

[Forester1965]

I watched some of F2 races and the impression I got was on those weekends when everything was dialled in, he was really good. Gasly will be a good barometer.

[parabolica]

rallycross said:

Agreed this is great news
Meanwhile sauber will be tugging around at the back while Bottas collects his pension - he should be booted out.

At least he’s a race winner, I’d argue if anyone should be booted it’s Nico ‘never on the podium’ Hulkenberg, as much as I like him. Can’t blame him for playing the nationality card though; ze Germans really wanted one of their own in their car.

[Hustle_]

Bottas vs. Hulkenberg is a close run thing IMO. I think I’m genuinely picking Hulkenberg. He has the qually pace AND some race craft.

[ChocolateFrog]

What happened to Hamilton.

Genuine lack of pace or some sort of issue?

[PhilAsia]

ChocolateFrog said:

What happened to Hamilton.

Genuine lack of pace or some sort of issue?

Mentally broken, again...

[asfault]

SpudLink said:

So, while waiting for the track to be cleared after Sargeant’s big incident, i’m wondering how people rate Jack Doohan.
It’s great to see Mick Doohan’s son make it to F1. It’s not long since he made his debut in British F4. But I don’t see evidence that he is ‘the best of the best’ when it comes to drivers making their way up the ladder.
Obviously we don’t know yet, but he looks like a potential journeyman at best.

Agreed, decent isj f2 campaigns but nothing special. defo got the luck with renault driver, ocon fking up, and sainz not going to renault.

[asfault]

ajprice said:

Mercedes, RB and Sauber to go.

Does this make
Ferrari strongest line up
Mclaren
Williams?
In thst order?

[Gad-Westy]

asfault said:

ajprice said:

Mercedes, RB and Sauber to go.

Does this make
Ferrari strongest line up
Mclaren
Williams?
In thst order?

I think I'd agree with that. Though pretty hard to know on McLaren vs. Ferrari drivers with neither mclaren driver having driven any other F1 car. They certainly look strong though.