George Russell's teammate for 2025?
Discussion
g4ry13 said:
Would Lando want to jump ship to Mercedes?
Lando to Mercedes. Sainz back to McLaren?
I know contracts can be bought out, etc but I think Zak has said Lando is super-locked in.Lando to Mercedes. Sainz back to McLaren?
Sainz... not sure. Albon makes sense. Left field Kevin Magnussen or Nico Hulkenberg as interim drivers.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli but not for 2025, too much of a risk that he doesn't get the super licence points in 2024.
vaud said:
g4ry13 said:
Would Lando want to jump ship to Mercedes?
Lando to Mercedes. Sainz back to McLaren?
I know contracts can be bought out, etc but I think Zak has said Lando is super-locked in.Lando to Mercedes. Sainz back to McLaren?
Sainz... not sure. Albon makes sense. Left field Kevin Magnussen or Nico Hulkenberg as interim drivers.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli but not for 2025, too much of a risk that he doesn't get the super licence points in 2024.
McLaren are on the way up and improving. Whereas Mercedes have been on somewhat of a decline relative to when Lewis was winning championships.
It would be a tricky decision because Piastri is a problem for Lando. Mercedes have the recent pedigree.
Bradgate said:
I’m a big admirer of Sainz, but I think they will go for Albon. He has taken Williams as far as he can, and has nothing left to prove. He’s ready for the move to a top team, he’s close friends with Russell so no risk of conflict there, and he’s available.
Why wouldn’t Toto sign him?
Because he had a chance at a top team (Red Bull) and, if we're cold about it, blew it.Why wouldn’t Toto sign him?
I personally think that he has re-grouped very well, but it raises a question mark over him.
If the relationship with George is a factor, I wouldn't particularly want another driver who is 'close friends' with him.
Bradgate said:
Whack!
Ouch!
Whack!
Ouch!
That sound you can hear is Lando Norris kicking himself for signing a new contract with McLaren last week…
I wouldn't be surprised if they all knew about the Hamilton rumours already by then. It seems odd why they would sign an extension when there's still two years on his current contract, so still plenty of time to extend in the future before it runs out. It's almost like they knew there was something big coming they wanted to lock themselves off from.Ouch!
Whack!
Ouch!
That sound you can hear is Lando Norris kicking himself for signing a new contract with McLaren last week…
kambites said:
I guess the question is whether Mercedes still believe Russell is WDC material and hence are after a strong number-2, or think they can pick up a lead driver with more ultimate potential than Russell.
I think they'll just be looking for the best driver they can get regardless of the George Russell question. Number 1 and 2 will sort themselves out on the track.Hopefully they'll do something wacky like sign Alonso, or bring Vettel back out of retirement, but they'll probably do the usual Mercedes corporate grey boring thing.
thegreenhell said:
I think they'll just be looking for the best driver they can get regardless of the George Russell question. Number 1 and 2 will sort themselves out on the track.
Hopefully they'll do something wacky like sign Alonso, or bring Vettel back out of retirement, but they'll probably do the usual Mercedes corporate grey boring thing.
God no, he was great in the blown diffuser era, that was it, lovely bloke but he was in the right place at the right time IMO.Hopefully they'll do something wacky like sign Alonso, or bring Vettel back out of retirement, but they'll probably do the usual Mercedes corporate grey boring thing.
Edited by HTP99 on Thursday 1st February 15:38
Sandpit Steve said:
sortedcossie said:
Merc to buy Piastri out of contract.
Yep. Piastri
Albon
Norris
Would be my order if I were Toto. He’s got pretty much unlimited money to buy anyone out, and Zak Brown is enough of a businessman to know when to take the money.
I would guess Albon initially, with a view to signing Piastri when he's available. It would be expensive to buy Piastri out of contract now, and he's still inexperienced. Albon will be cheaper, and should be solid enough for now. When the car is ready to fight for a championship, then it will be worth looking for a superstar, which Piastri might be by then.
Supersam83 said:
The dream scenario would be Alonso at Mercedes!
He has shown that he deserves a drive at a top 3 team.
Would be quite refreshing to see Alonso in a Mercedes Vs Hamilton in a Ferrari on the track battling it out.
Dream for some maybe.He has shown that he deserves a drive at a top 3 team.
Would be quite refreshing to see Alonso in a Mercedes Vs Hamilton in a Ferrari on the track battling it out.
Alonso did deserve a top 3 drive and he had one with various teams at various points in his career.
But he managed to piss them all off, or got pissed off himself, so I think it's safe to assume that he's made his bed.
Having said that, after today, I think anything's possible
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