The Official F1 2025 silly season *contains speculation*

[Mark-C]

stemll said:

PRO5T said:

Bottas to Mercedes, junior program may mean he is just a reserve with no FP duties unless Kimi turns out to be a dud. Yuki was sure to be Red Bull but now not so sure.

Last thing GM are thinking about is drivers at this stage.

Mario bigging up Colton Herta again. He still doesn't have the super licence points he needs

I think the bit in bold is wrong - GM absolutely need to be thinking about drivers right now - they are supposed to be on the grid in about 16 months. They need to know who is at the end of contract at end of 2025 and be talking to them now.

I have no idea what points Herta has - would a year in F2 make sense for him?

[thegreenhell]

Apparently Herta needs to finish top 4 in Indycar next year to get enough points to qualify. He finished second this year, so that should be acheivable.

[andburg]

Mark-C said:

stemll said:

PRO5T said:

Bottas to Mercedes, junior program may mean he is just a reserve with no FP duties unless Kimi turns out to be a dud. Yuki was sure to be Red Bull but now not so sure.

Last thing GM are thinking about is drivers at this stage.

Mario bigging up Colton Herta again. He still doesn't have the super licence points he needs

I think the bit in bold is wrong - GM absolutely need to be thinking about drivers right now - they are supposed to be on the grid in about 16 months. They need to know who is at the end of contract at end of 2025 and be talking to them now.

I have no idea what points Herta has - would a year in F2 make sense for him?

They need a driver for development, driving the sim etc so they need to get one ASAP

[carl_w]

andburg said:

They need a driver for development, driving the sim etc so they need to get one ASAP

If I were them I'd be talking to Valtteri Bottas

[Sandpit Steve]

carl_w said:

andburg said:

They need a driver for development, driving the sim etc so they need to get one ASAP

If I were them I'd be talking to Valtteri Bottas

Yup, but he’s looking like going back to Mercedes as a development driver next year.

Carlos Sainz would also be a good call.

Colton Herta is still short of super licence points, there’s worse ideas than putting him in F2 next season. Personally I’d allow an exception for him, but that could be a slippery slope.

[ajprice]

Williams to book a filming day on Monday after Abu Dhabi to get Sainz in the car before the end of season test on the Tuesday.

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/sainz-set-for-ea...

[mycool]

They better hope they have at least 1 intact car come Sunday evening!

[Muzzer79]

Mark-C said:

stemll said:

PRO5T said:

Bottas to Mercedes, junior program may mean he is just a reserve with no FP duties unless Kimi turns out to be a dud. Yuki was sure to be Red Bull but now not so sure.

Last thing GM are thinking about is drivers at this stage.

Mario bigging up Colton Herta again. He still doesn't have the super licence points he needs

I think the bit in bold is wrong - GM absolutely need to be thinking about drivers right now - they are supposed to be on the grid in about 16 months.

Agreed. They need someone to get in a SIM and start developing, start working with engineers, etc.

They have just over a year until the first test of 2026, which they need to be present at and ready to go. That's actually a very short amount of time.

thegreenhell said:

Apparently Herta needs to finish top 4 in Indycar next year to get enough points to qualify. He finished second this year, so that should be acheivable.

It should be achievable, but Herta does have a propensity to crumble a bit when the pressure is on. Hence, only achieving 18 podiums in his Indycar career, although 9 of those are wins.

[vaud]

Sandpit Steve said:

Colton Herta is still short of super licence points, there’s worse ideas than putting him in F2 next season. Personally I’d allow an exception for him, but that could be a slippery slope.

He can get some from FP1 sessions?

[vaud]

Mark-C said:

I think the bit in bold is wrong - GM absolutely need to be thinking about drivers right now - they are supposed to be on the grid in about 16 months. They need to know who is at the end of contract at end of 2025 and be talking to them now.

They will be, along with bolstering the team from the current 200 to 3x that. I expect the headhunters will be having a very busy December.

[thegreenhell]

vaud said:

Sandpit Steve said:

Colton Herta is still short of super licence points, there’s worse ideas than putting him in F2 next season. Personally I’d allow an exception for him, but that could be a slippery slope.

He can get some from FP1 sessions?

In theory, yes, but in practice who's going to give up valuable FP sessions to help a rival team?

He just needs another solid Indycar season like he's had this year.

[stemll]

vaud said:

Sandpit Steve said:

Colton Herta is still short of super licence points, there’s worse ideas than putting him in F2 next season. Personally I’d allow an exception for him, but that could be a slippery slope.

He can get some from FP1 sessions?

He can but he's only got 32 points as can only count the last 3 years. It changed to 3 from 4 because of covid but only while the "last 3 years" included 2021 which it doesn't any more. He'd have to finish 6th or higher in F2 to get to 40. Free practice only gains 1 point and only if he does more than 100km in the session.

2022 - 1 (10th)
2023 - 1 (10th)
2024 - 30 (2nd)

Edited by stemll on Friday 29th November 19:39

[Rotary Potato]

Sod the drivers and teams. The real silly season is all about speculating who's going to be Race Director for some/all of 2025!!!

[Still Mulling]

Rotary Potato said:

Sod the drivers and teams. The real silly season is all about speculating who's going to be Race Director for some/all of 2025!!!

MBS will step up and do it himself.

[732NM]

Sandpit Steve said:

Yup, but he’s looking like going back to Mercedes as a development driver next year.

Carlos Sainz would also be a good call.

Colton Herta is still short of super licence points, there’s worse ideas than putting him in F2 next season. Personally I’d allow an exception for him, but that could be a slippery slope.

Why, he's crap. Well below F1 standard.

[ralphrj]

Vaud - is it time for you to kick off the festive season with The Official F1 2026 silly season thread?

Don't forget to add Cadillac!

[vaud]

ralphrj said:

Vaud - is it time for you to kick off the festive season with The Official F1 2026 silly season thread?

Don't forget to add Cadillac!

I will soon - need to collate my thoughts!

[honda_exige]

That was allegedly Ocon's last race in the Alpine and Doohan will be in the car for Abu Dhabi.

Edit - Confirmed

Edited by honda_exige on Sunday 1st December 18:34

[ThingsBehindTheSun]

honda_exige said:

That was allegedly Ocon's last race in the Alpine and Doohan will be in the car for Abu Dhabi.

Edit - Confirmed

Edited by honda_exige on Sunday 1st December 18:34

Ocon being Ocon in his final race. Hope Haas have a large spare parts budget

[Teppic]

Ocgone