The Official F1 2025 silly season *contains speculation*

[ralphrj]

ThingsBehindTheSun said:

So Sauber I think have three possible options, Bottas, Pourchaire and maybe Liam Lawson if he is let go by Red Bull.

There are still rumours that Audi want to bring Vettel out of retirement.

[Sandpit Steve]

ralphrj said:

ThingsBehindTheSun said:

So Sauber I think have three possible options, Bottas, Pourchaire and maybe Liam Lawson if he is let go by Red Bull.

There are still rumours that Audi want to bring Vettel out of retirement.

The sensible choice for Audi is Bottas for a couple of years. The exciting option is Pourchaire, but I still think they’d prefer a winner and experienced development driver over a rookie.

Can’t see it being Vettel unless he wants to be the next Alonso, having fun but winning nothing. He is only 37 though, younger than Lewis but older than the rest of the current field.

Unlike Fernando and Lewis, he has a wife and children.

Edited by Sandpit Steve on Tuesday 3rd September 16:36

[732NM]

there is no such thing as development drivers.

The nearest you get to that now is the sim driver, who are mostly anonymous drones.

[Still Mulling]

Autosport reporting Newey to Aston announcement in Azerbaijan build-up.

[C69]

Sandpit Steve said:

The sensible choice for Audi is Bottas for a couple of years. The exciting option is Pourchaire, but I still think they’d prefer a winner and experienced development driver over a rookie.

Can’t see it being Vettel unless he wants to be the next Alonso, having fun but winning nothing. He is only 37 though, younger than Lewis but older than the rest of the current field.

Unlike Fernando and Lewis, he has a wife and children.

Edited by Sandpit Steve on Tuesday 3rd September 16:36

Indeed, why would Vettel want to join a backmarker team that'd be a long-term project (at best)?

It's a shame nothing really came of Vettel's Porsche test sessions earlier this year. It'd be interesting to see him compete in the WEC. The less demanding schedule might suit him better, too.

[hondajack85]

What is it with these manufacturers? They seem to think they are so important that a big name will drive their backmarker car to give it some cred.
Sainz never fell for it,more due to the fact the current ferrari engined online gambling effort is at the back already.
Hunkleburg is a perfect fit and Bottas can luck into another couple of years showing up between outside interests.
Or maybe shumacher jr just to keep ralph happy.

[Sandpit Steve]

C69 said:

Sandpit Steve said:

The sensible choice for Audi is Bottas for a couple of years. The exciting option is Pourchaire, but I still think they’d
prefer a winner and experienced development driver over a rookie.

Can’t see it being Vettel unless he wants to be the next Alonso, having fun but winning nothing. He is only 37 though, younger than Lewis but older than the rest of the current field.

Unlike Fernando and Lewis, he has a wife and children.

Edited by Sandpit Steve on Tuesday 3rd September 16:36

Indeed, why would Vettel want to join a backmarker team that'd be a long-term project (at best)?

It's a shame nothing really came of Vettel's Porsche test sessions earlier this year. It'd be interesting to see him compete in the WEC. The less demanding schedule might suit him better, too.

Yep, a proper tilt at Le Mans would be a great opportunity for Vettel.

I don’t see why anyone with a young family and nothing left to prove, would want to commit himself to a 25-race global tour of a championship. The travel schedule gets more horrific each year, even for those who go at the pointy end of the plane.

[asfault]

andburg said:

FourWheelDrift said:

Sauber/Audi should promote Theo Pourchaire, he's their reserve driver, F2 Champion and proven to adapt in other racing (Indycar). Same with Aston Martin getting Felipe Drugovich in one of their cars.

What is the point of F2 if it doesn't get you an F1 drive. Current Champions in F1 are 2017 champ Charles LeClerc, George Russell from 2018 and Oscar Piastri from 2021. And the 2019 and 2020 Champs had drives (De Vries and Schumacher).

Edited by FourWheelDrift on Tuesday 3rd September 13:45

problem is not all years in F2 are equal

the recent F2 champs have all been there multiple years, needed too much to adapt or were beaten by somebody who is properly special and far more deserving.

2018 - Russell beat Norris both in first year (not counting Norris's 2 in 2017), Albon and De Vries both in 2nd year
2019 - De Vries wins, Mick Schumacher finishes mid table
2020 - Mick wins second go, Drugovich came mid table
2021 - Piastri wins in his first year, Drugovich came mid table, Pourchaire 5th
2022 - Probably the weakest field on record, Drugovich wins, Pourchaire second, Logan Sargeant 4th
2023 - Pourchaire wins

Since Piastri nobody from F2 has shown themselves really capable of success in F1

100% this. The first time winners have almost always got a seat, the second timers maybe got a shot and one was a 4th timer.

[ThingsBehindTheSun]

asfault said:

100% this. The first time winners have almost always got a seat, the second timers maybe got a shot and one was a 4th timer.

As I said earlier, Jolyon Palmer was a 4th timer.......

[hondajack85]

Where does hanging round the renault garage till they give you a drive figure compared to winning f2?
Wasn't briatore mick doohans manager in the past?
If jack matches gasly in 2025 I guess its all ok.

[ajprice]

[Nova Gyna]

They’ve either spelt his name wrong or that statement means Newey isn’t going to be wearing red any time soon, doesn’t it?

[ajprice]

Nova Gyna said:

They’ve either spelt his name wrong or that statement means Newey isn’t going to be wearing red any time soon, doesn’t it?

Between that and Alonso being very happy with his new (Newey designed) Valkyrie https://www.topgear.com/car-news/supercars/fernand..., I think he'll be wearing green.

[Cold]

Ollie Bearman is going to take K Mag's seat for Azerbaijan while Kev serves his one race ban.

[Sandpit Steve]

Cold said:

Ollie Bearman is going to take K Mag's seat for Azerbaijan while Kev serves his one race ban.

If they were going to be sensible, they’d leave Bearman in the car for the rest of the season.

[HardtopManual]

SpudLink said:

ajprice said:

Mercedes, RB and Sauber to go.

As expected, Antonelli confirmed at Mercedes.

I find this a little odd given his F2 performances. Two wins but hasn't troubled the podium in the other 20 races. George Russell toiled around in a Williams for 3 seasons before having a crack in the Merc and he won F2 in his first season. Is Antonelli really that special?

[732NM]

HardtopManual said:

I find this a little odd given his F2 performances. Two wins but hasn't troubled the podium in the other 20 races. George Russell toiled around in a Williams for 3 seasons before having a crack in the Merc and he won F2 in his first season. Is Antonelli really that special?

We will find out next year.

[vaud]

HardtopManual said:

I find this a little odd given his F2 performances. Two wins but hasn't troubled the podium in the other 20 races. George Russell toiled around in a Williams for 3 seasons before having a crack in the Merc and he won F2 in his first season. Is Antonelli really that special?

They have run him in the simulator and in private tests so I guess they have a lot of data.

[paulguitar]

vaud said:

HardtopManual said:

I find this a little odd given his F2 performances. Two wins but hasn't troubled the podium in the other 20 races. George Russell toiled around in a Williams for 3 seasons before having a crack in the Merc and he won F2 in his first season. Is Antonelli really that special?

They have run him in the simulator and in private tests so I guess they have a lot of data.

Merc thinks Antonelli is a Senna/Hamilton level talent.

[rallycross]

Sandpit Steve said:

If they were going to be sensible, they’d leave Bearman in the car for the rest of the season.

If he does well then this could happen and Kevin M gets paid off.