The Official F1 2025 silly season *contains speculation*

[stemll]

Hustle_ said:

vaud said:

And wasn t Horner touted as a bit of an upstart in the piranha pool?

I think he has done well and you need one hell of a personality and thick skin to survive in F1

He was in his very early 30s when he was 'promoted' to F1, very much an upstart by F1 standards, but had been running an F2 team with success, Carlin was it? A brave decision by RB which has been absolutely vindicated.

Arden, which he founded with his father who still oversees it.

[vaud]

I agree. In my mind Toto have been in F1 for longer.

I think Horner has been very impressive as a TP.

[thegreenhell]

Apparently Alpine have asked Mercedes if they would release Bottas to race for them if Colapinto doesn't improve in the coming races.

[andburg]

thegreenhell said:

Apparently Alpine have asked Mercedes if they would release Bottas to race for them if Colapinto doesn't improve in the coming races.

I just don't see that helping either. Gasly is the Max of Alpine, he's developed with the car and can get the best out of it. For me the answer is to stick with the driver they have and learn.

[cuprabob]

thegreenhell said:

Apparently Alpine have asked Mercedes if they would release Bottas to race for them if Colapinto doesn't improve in the coming races.

After putting Oscar on the grass yesterday, Colapinto probably earned himself an extra couple of races

[Byker28i]

Luca di Montezemelo, former Ferrari chairman and proper Scuderia hero, is now working for… McLaren.

https://www.topgear.com/car-news/supercars/woah-ex...

[ThingsBehindTheSun]

thegreenhell said:

Apparently Alpine have asked Mercedes if they would release Bottas to race for them if Colapinto doesn't improve in the coming races.

I don't rate Colapinto at all, he got one 8th place in his second race for Williams and everyone thought he was amazing. Bit like Nyck de Vries who got a 9th in his first race for Williams and we all know how that one turned out.

How much did Alpine buy out his contract for, was it £20 million? money well spent.

[Hustle_]

ThingsBehindTheSun said:

How much did Alpine buy out his contract for, was it £20 million? money well spent.

Can’t have been? Colapinto’s backers surely brought money?

[thegreenhell]

Hustle_ said:

ThingsBehindTheSun said:

How much did Alpine buy out his contract for, was it £20 million? money well spent.

Can t have been? Colapinto s backers surely brought money?

They had to buy him from Williams and compensate them for the loss of his sponsorship.

[Muzzer79]

ThingsBehindTheSun said:

thegreenhell said:

Apparently Alpine have asked Mercedes if they would release Bottas to race for them if Colapinto doesn't improve in the coming races.

I don't rate Colapinto at all, he got one 8th place in his second race for Williams and everyone thought he was amazing.

I tend to agree

He started out better than Logan Sargeant, which wasn't too difficult, but seemed to be somewhere near Albon

But he then spent the last few races chucking it into the scenery and everyone who was interested (including, allegedly, Red Bull) went cold

Apart from Alpine, who spent £20m to get him? They saw them coming.......

[stemll]

Muzzer79 said:

I tend to agree

He started out better than Logan Sargeant, which wasn't too difficult, but seemed to be somewhere near Albon

But he then spent the last few races chucking it into the scenery and everyone who was interested (including, allegedly, Red Bull) went cold

Apart from Alpine, who spent £20m to get him? They saw them coming.......

IIRC, he ended up costing more in crash damage in the races he did than Sargeant did in his. I suspect Williams were glad to get shot.

[tele_lover]

Not a fan of his fans (no pun intended)

Really hope Doohan returns.

[dobly]

Regarding George Russell, Mercedes and Max - I think that George and Kimi both have contracts for 2026 and beyond - Toto is stirring the pot and winding up Horner and Red Bull by having discussions with Max and his people about the possibility of signing Max at some time in the future, after the upcoming regulation change has stabilised.

[HTP99]

dobly said:

Regarding George Russell, Mercedes and Max - I think that George and Kimi both have contracts for 2026 and beyond - Toto is stirring the pot and winding up Horner and Red Bull by having discussions with Max and his people about the possibility of signing Max at some time in the future, after the upcoming regulation change has stabilised.

Russell's contract ends at the end of this season.

[dobly]

^ what I mean is the George has already signed for 2026 and beyond, but isn’t saying that yet, just to wind Max & RB up.

[Sandpit Steve]

dobly said:

^ what I mean is the George has already signed for 2026 and beyond, but isn t saying that yet, just to wind Max & RB up.

Yup, I’m thinking the same. Toto’s just playing Horny’s antics back at him.

Meanwhile the real threat, of Max signing for Aston Martin Honda, is being ignored by everyone.

It wouldn’t be a surprise to find out that Larry Stroll and Toto Wolff are working together on the ‘project’.

[suffolk009]

vaud said:

I agree. In my mind Toto have been in F1 for longer.

I think Horner has been very impressive as a TP.

Red Bull have 8 drivers and 6 constructors from 20 years in f1. Mercedes have 6 drivers and 8 constructors in last 15 years.

Even including the "official" AD21 result, statistically Wolff at Mercedes has been more successful.

From memory, at least within recent years, I think only Ross Brawn at Brawn has a higher percentage success rate.

Edited by suffolk009 on Wednesday 2nd July 12:00

[suffolk009]

Sandpit Steve said:

dobly said:

^ what I mean is the George has already signed for 2026 and beyond, but isn t saying that yet, just to wind Max & RB up.

Yup, I m thinking the same. Toto s just playing Horny s antics back at him.

Meanwhile the real threat, of Max signing for Aston Martin Honda, is being ignored by everyone.

It wouldn t be a surprise to find out that Larry Stroll and Toto Wolff are working together on the project .

If Max goes anywhere, he'll follow Newey to Aston*.

(*I have been spectacully wrong in the past)

[732NM]

dobly said:

^ what I mean is the George has already signed for 2026 and beyond, but isn t saying that yet, just to wind Max & RB up.

George would lose all credibility with the press if that were the case. He hasn't signed anything yet.

[Milkyway]

I think that Max won't leave RB... he will just leave F1.