George Russell's teammate for 2025?

[HTP99]

thegreenhell said:

I can't see him going anywhere next year as he'd just be gifting a WDC to whoever takes his RBR seat, which no racer would do for any amount of money. 2026 is more believable if he doesn't have total faith in RBPT to create a competitive engine, but that would still leave Mercedes with a tricky one year only problem.

I still think it's highly unlikely, but strange things can and do happen in F1. Nobody saw Hamilton to Ferrari coming before it was announced.

Nope, but it makes perfect sense now, however Max to Mercedes makes zero sense.

[Sandpit Steve]

PRO5T said:

Couple of places reporting that the Mercedes board has approved a driver contract for Verstappen that exceeds that of Hamilton.

Oh, so after the Carlos rumours earlier in the weekend, it’s back to Max rumours again.

I think if Toto can get Max, he’d happily take the opportunity, especially if he can add something to the ongoing chaos at Red Bull. Lewis’ Ferrari contract appears to have raised the bar somewhat for driver salaries in the cost cap era, and one can imagine the Dutchman not wanting to settle for much less than his rival. $75m/year perhaps, plus bonuses?

[Leithen]

Sandpit Steve said:

$75m/year perhaps, plus bonuses?

$100m signing bonus/management fee might be necessary.

[Sandpit Steve]

Leithen said:

Sandpit Steve said:

$75m/year perhaps, plus bonuses?

$100m signing bonus/management fee might be necessary.

Is that to pay his father to stay in the Paddock Club, and not interfere with the team operations?

[Forester1965]

HTP99 said:

Nope, but it makes perfect sense now, however Max to Mercedes makes zero sense.

Max to Mercedes makes sense. Brand ambassador value. He's the best driver at the moment. He'll help Mercedes recruit technical staff. From a reputational view he can be seen as the one who brought Mercedes out of the st. It's not Christian Horner. Lots and lots of money. New formula from 2026, who knows how Mercedes and RBPT compare on the engine front?

[rallycross]

Alonso would not have re-signed with AM unless zero chance at Redbull so GR’s team mate will most likely be Sainz if not then their junior driver will be in ( which looks too early ).

[PRO5T]

rallycross said:

Alonso would not have re-signed with AM unless zero chance at Redbull so GR’s team mate will most likely be Sainz if not then their junior driver will be in ( which looks too early ).

Alonso's decision to sign a long term contract at Aston mean the seat will likely open up at Red Bull now Saintz for WDC 2025?

[......]

Well...

How much as a driver would you say a WDC is worth? Realistically, Verstappen '21 (with or without asterisk as you prefer; in my view, if you want to tear up the rulebook for The Show, they should have red flagged the race, stuck everyone on new softs and have a proper one lap title decider, rather than the total cockup that pleased no one that we actually got) '22, '23, '24, '25 is basically a certainty, and '26... Maybe, maybe not.

Is an £x hundred million a year paycheque worth more than another WDC to Verstappen?

Possibly - we know he is thinking of life after F1, and not a team principal on the grid wouldn't offer him silly money to get out of the best car... And Mercedes are one of the teams who could write the king's ransom it would take out on a cheque.

Plus, there's The Show again. If you had two Perez level drivers in the RB, this would be one of the competitive seasons in recent decades, and you can guarantee Bernie would have thought about chucking a massive payday at Verstappen to make him switch; whether he would have done it is a separate question of course, but he'd definitely have thought of it.

It doesn't rank as impossible, just insane if Verstappen's goal is winning more championships.

[OnDaysLikeThese]

...... said:

Well...

How much as a driver would you say a WDC is worth? Realistically, Verstappen '21 (with or without asterisk as you prefer; in my view, if you want to tear up the rulebook for The Show, they should have red flagged the race, stuck everyone on new softs and have a proper one lap title decider, rather than the total cockup that pleased no one that we actually got) '22, '23, '24, '25 is basically a certainty, and '26... Maybe, maybe not.

Is an £x hundred million a year paycheque worth more than another WDC to Verstappen?

Possibly - we know he is thinking of life after F1, and not a team principal on the grid wouldn't offer him silly money to get out of the best car... And Mercedes are one of the teams who could write the king's ransom it would take out on a cheque.

Plus, there's The Show again. If you had two Perez level drivers in the RB, this would be one of the competitive seasons in recent decades, and you can guarantee Bernie would have thought about chucking a massive payday at Verstappen to make him switch; whether he would have done it is a separate question of course, but he'd definitely have thought of it.

It doesn't rank as impossible, just insane if Verstappen's goal is winning more championships.

It would be very interesting. I get the sense that Verstappen is torn between a search (if he’s not already there) for greatness, the best possible statistics (which is what his father wants for him)…

Or a bit of a challenge…

He’s repeatedly and I think genuinely complained about naff rubbish like the Vegas boxing-style introductions and has spoken before about not being in F1 at the age of Hamilton/Alonso. Max is clearly fascinated by racing, both real and virtual, but might that mean that he’s keen to leave F1 at a younger age than needs be to go and do Le Mans, classic racing, etc?

Would a few years trying to rebuild a team a la Schumacher and more money than he could set fire to appeal to him more than staying at a currently top team but one which probably has a toxic atmosphere now? After all, considering the drastically different regs, 2026 on is promised to no one (see Mercedes after the last rule change).

Mercedes are at least a factory team backed by one of the biggest car manufacturers on the planet.

I don’t think it’ll happen, but it might.

[maz8062]

rallycross said:

Alonso would not have re-signed with AM unless zero chance at Redbull so GR’s team mate will most likely be Sainz if not then their junior driver will be in ( which looks too early ).

Alonso is a clever man - he won’t go up against the likes of Max, GR, LeClerc. He hasn’t enjoyed it when faced with a competitive team mate - even Ocon, so the AM is perfect for him plus the ambassador role when he retires. He’s where he wants to be and has zero interest elsewhere. A master move because Lance is going nowhere either.

[PhilAsia]

maz8062 said:

rallycross said:

Alonso would not have re-signed with AM unless zero chance at Redbull so GR’s team mate will most likely be Sainz if not then their junior driver will be in ( which looks too early ).

Alonso is a clever man - he won’t go up against the likes of Max, GR, LeClerc. He hasn’t enjoyed it when faced with a competitive team mate - even Ocon, so the AM is perfect for him plus the ambassador role when he retires. He’s where he wants to be and has zero interest elsewhere. A master move because Lance is going nowhere either.

Although I like his feistiness atm, and the approach to each battle, I feel he is very fastidious in choosing his battles wisely. I do not blame him, and Lewis has, as he passes his zenith has his future battles to consider that dimension too.

Edited by PhilAsia on Monday 15th April 16:20