The Official F1 2025 silly season *contains speculation*

[Supersam83]

Looks like things are getting a bit clearer for 2025. Here's how I see it:

Ferrari - Leclerc & Hamilton

Mercedes - Russell & ?

Red Bull - Verstappen & ?

McLaren - Norris & Piastri

Aston Martin - Alonso & Stroll

Williams - Albon & ?

Haas - Magnussen & Bearman

Toro Rosso/Alpha Tauri/Visa Cash App Red Bull - Lawson & Tsunoda

Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber/Audi - Hulkenburg & ?

Alpine - Gasly & Ocon

Potential drivers left fighting for the remaining seats-

Perez
Sainz Jr
Zhou
Riccardo
Bottas
Sargeant
Antonelli

[Hustle_]

Does Hulkenberg leaving Haas save Magnussen or will it be all change for 2025?

Magnussen clearly the worser driver

[SoulGlo]

Hustle_ said:

Does Hulkenberg leaving Haas save Magnussen or will it be all change for 2025?

Magnussen clearly the worser driver

Haas will want an experienced driver if they are going to put Bearman in the car next year.

So at the moment they can pick from (who are available and would realistically move to them)

K-Mag
Bottas
Ricciardo maybe if he dumped??
Zhou
One of the Alpine drivers??

Edited by SoulGlo on Friday 26th April 13:55

[carl_w]

SoulGlo said:

Haas will want an experienced driver if they are going to put Bearman in the car next year.

So at the moment they can pick from (who are available and would realistically move to them)

K-Mag
Bottas
Ricciardo maybe if he dumped??
Zhou
One of the Alpine drivers??

Edited by SoulGlo on Friday 26th April 13:55

I think Bottas and Ricciardo will be out at the end of the season. Both have had their chances in the top teams.

[vaud]

carl_w said:

think Bottas and Ricciardo will be out at the end of the season. Both have had their chances in the top teams.

Bottas and Bearman would be an interesting combination.

[Sandpit Steve]

vaud said:

carl_w said:

think Bottas and Ricciardo will be out at the end of the season. Both have had their chances in the top teams.

Bottas and Bearman would be an interesting combination.

That would be a great choice, a rookie and a seasoned pro journeyman who’s won races.

[the-norseman]

Sandpit Steve said:

That would be a great choice, a rookie and a seasoned pro journeyman who’s won races.

Bearman will do another Schumacher at HAAS. I'm a Mick fan btw, HAAS just inst the team for rookies to go into.

[wiliferus]

With the departure of Newey, the media frenzy about Max leaving RB is intensifying. I can’t see it myself, but hypothetically speaking if he went, could he leave at the end of this season or is he tied for 2025?

The only only reason I think it’s got any credibility is that Sainz is stalling on committing. Which makes me wonder if he knows something is afoot and is pausing for a RB seat.

[Muzzer79]

wiliferus said:

With the departure of Newey, the media frenzy about Max leaving RB is intensifying. I can’t see it myself, but hypothetically speaking if he went, could he leave at the end of this season or is he tied for 2025?

Verstappen has a contract with Red Bull until 2028

Word is, that contract has clauses in it should key Red Bull personnel leave.

One of those people could be Newey.

In any case, contracts can be bought out, although to do that with Verstappens would be international telephone number figures.

Unless Horner decides that he’s hacked off with the Verstappens calling the shots. However, if he loses Newey and Verstappen, his position is very weak.

[PRO5T]

Muzzer79 said:

Horner... However, if he loses Newey and Verstappen, his position is very weak.

Not if he generates shares and a side of the pie.

[Kart16]

wiliferus said:

With the departure of Newey, the media frenzy about Max leaving RB is intensifying. I can’t see it myself, but hypothetically speaking if he went, could he leave at the end of this season or is he tied for 2025?

I believe Max will stay at least until 2026 in RB. If the RBT/Ford engine is crap, he will then use his performance contract clause to leave.

[Kart16]

Verstappen’s “brother-in-law” said on his podcast that Jos was trying to convince Max to move to Mercedes, but the latter is resisting.

[Muzzer79]

It feels like there's too much 'needle' between Verstappen and Mercedes for an effective partnership to be formed.

Bit like Mansell going to McLaren.

Far stranger things have happened however.

[kambites]

Muzzer79 said:

It feels like there's too much 'needle' between Verstappen and Mercedes for an effective partnership to be formed.

I suspect they're both pragmatic enough to put it behind them if they feel it gives both parties the best chance of winning. It's hard to see that being the case for a good few years though, with Mercedes in their current situation (unless Newey somehow ends up there).

[Mark-C]

kambites said:

Muzzer79 said:

It feels like there's too much 'needle' between Verstappen and Mercedes for an effective partnership to be formed.

I suspect they're both pragmatic enough to put it behind them if they feel it gives both parties the best chance of winning.

This! I think they'll all get over whatever problems they may have if they both see it a way of getting back to\staying at the top.

[StevieBee]

Muzzer79 said:

It feels like there's too much 'needle' between Verstappen and Mercedes for an effective partnership to be formed.

Bit like Mansell going to McLaren.

Far stranger things have happened however.

From what I recall, the needle with Mansell and McLaren was more Mansell and Dennis. Most of the team were keen to have him but in any case, ended up more as a marriage of convenience rather than a love affair. Much like Hunt and McLaren and I guess there must have been some who thought the same magic could be replicated.

As for Mercedes, as time marches on, I'm beginning to think that they've see their best years. I've no doubt they will become regular contenders again but I think Max or anyone, thinking they'd regain the dominance they had in past is somewhat shy of the reality.

[Muzzer79]

kambites said:

Muzzer79 said:

It feels like there's too much 'needle' between Verstappen and Mercedes for an effective partnership to be formed.

I suspect they're both pragmatic enough to put it behind them if they feel it gives both parties the best chance of winning.

Will they both solve each other's problems to enable the winning though?

I suspect at the moment that neither party is what the other needs in order to create wins.

But Verstappen, realistically, has nowhere else to go now that the Ferrari door has been shut.

I'd be surprised if he moved anywhere before 2026, but it depends how much disarray the power struggle at Red Bull is causing.

[PhilAsia]

Muzzer79 said:

kambites said:

Muzzer79 said:

It feels like there's too much 'needle' between Verstappen and Mercedes for an effective partnership to be formed.

I suspect they're both pragmatic enough to put it behind them if they feel it gives both parties the best chance of winning.

Will they both solve each other's problems to enable the winning though?

I suspect at the moment that neither party is what the other needs in order to create wins.

But Verstappen, realistically, has nowhere else to go now that the Ferrari door has been shut.

I'd be surprised if he moved anywhere before 2026, but it depends how much disarray the power struggle at Red Bull is causing.

Not only are MB struggling to get on top of the GE, some of their key personnel have been poached. MB are struggling a little, but I doubt RBR will nose-dive that quickly without AN - for that reason I do not see Max moving until 2026, and he will only move then if there is an obviously better option.

[vaud]

PhilAsia said:

...but I doubt RBR will nose-dive that quickly without AN - for that reason I do not see Max moving until 2026, and he will only move then if there is an obviously better option.

Agree - AN has built a team with depth and experience.

[Sandpit Steve]

Muzzer79 said:

kambites said:

Muzzer79 said:

It feels like there's too much 'needle' between Verstappen and Mercedes for an effective partnership to be formed.

I suspect they're both pragmatic enough to put it behind them if they feel it gives both parties the best chance of winning.

Will they both solve each other's problems to enable the winning though?

I suspect at the moment that neither party is what the other needs in order to create wins.

But Verstappen, realistically, has nowhere else to go now that the Ferrari door has been shut.

I'd be surprised if he moved anywhere before 2026, but it depends how much disarray the power struggle at Red Bull is causing.

That the rumours persist about both Verstappen and Newey, is indicative of the mess still not being resolved behind the scenes.

One can well imagine that Toto (and he won’t be the only one!) has met with them both in recent weeks, and can put his hand in his pocket and pull out two very large cheques if required.

Neither man is irreplaceable at RB, and they won’t go sliding down the field overnight if they both leave, but they are key cogs in the machine that’s bought the team’s recent success. There is a much broader and deeper level of talent at Milton Keynes though, and I can’t see any other teams coming through in ‘24 or ‘25.