The Official F1 2026 silly season *contains speculation*

[the-norseman]

ThingsBehindTheSun said:

Ferrari will wonder why they paid so much money to sign a driver in the autumn of his career.

Merchandise sales will wipe that out.

I'm part of the Scuderia Ferrari Club, the president was saying there has already been a massive uptake in members joining who are purely "Hamilton" fans.

[ThingsBehindTheSun]

the-norseman said:

Merchandise sales will wipe that out.

I'm part of the Scuderia Ferrari Club, the president was saying there has already been a massive uptake in members joining who are purely "Hamilton" fans.

I am getting more and more worried that F1 is being driven by money rather than the ability of the drivers. Firstly we have Perez who we are told is being retained by Red Bull because of the sponsorship he brings with him.

Secondly Ferrari are happy with Hamilton due to the Merchandise he will sell.

I have probably only watched half of the races live this year, the rest I watch on the 8 minute YouTube highlights. Have to say I don't feel like I have missed anything.

[the-norseman]

I dislike Hamilton, but I hope my prediction above is wrong, hes certainly still a top driver, just think since signing for Ferrari next season his mind has been on that and not 2024 with Mercedes.

Hes certainly better than merchandise sales, its a similar situation to when Juventus paid stupid money for Ronaldo, actually I'll correct that, Agnelli family paid stupid money for Ronaldo. Both Juve and Manchester United made a lot of money back from shirt sales. Real Madrid certainly did.

[Altrezia]

ThingsBehindTheSun said:

I am getting more and more worried that F1 is being driven by money rather than the ability of the drivers. Firstly we have Perez who we are told is being retained by Red Bull because of the sponsorship he brings with him.

Secondly Ferrari are happy with Hamilton due to the Merchandise he will sell.

I have probably only watched half of the races live this year, the rest I watch on the 8 minute YouTube highlights. Have to say I don't feel like I have missed anything.

Its always been this way. Pay drivers have always been part of the sport.

[Muzzer79]

ThingsBehindTheSun said:

I am getting more and more worried that F1 is being driven by money rather than the ability of the drivers. Firstly we have Perez who we are told is being retained by Red Bull because of the sponsorship he brings with him.

Secondly Ferrari are happy with Hamilton due to the Merchandise he will sell.

Are you new to the sport?

It's always been this way. Niki Lauda, for example, bought his way into March and then BRM before being signed by Ferrari.

Marlboro had a whole driver programme, very akin to the Red Bull one of today.

It's an expensive sport - commercial considerations will always come to the fore.

Ferrari haven't signed Hamilton just to sell merchandise - it's a happy by-product.

[Likes Fast Cars]

carl_w said:

I can see Verstappen following Newey and Honda to AM, and Red Bull snapping up Oscar Piastri. Mr Pastry will always be #2 at McLaren, and his manager is Mark Webber.

I wouldn’t bet on that, Piastri would be insane to go to RBR, Max or no Max.

[carl_w]

the-norseman said:

Hes certainly better than merchandise sales, its a similar situation to when Juventus paid stupid money for Ronaldo, actually I'll correct that, Agnelli family paid stupid money for Ronaldo.

And John Elkann is an Agnelli, and apparently signed Hamilton without telling Fred Vasseur.

[the-norseman]

carl_w said:

And John Elkann is an Agnelli, and apparently signed Hamilton without telling Fred Vasseur.

Yep he is, they do seem to do what they want.

[Likes Fast Cars]

the-norseman said:

carl_w said:

And John Elkann is an Agnelli, and apparently signed Hamilton without telling Fred Vasseur.

Yep he is, they do seem to do what they want.

Maybe that’s the real reason the Carabinieri raided the Elkann family offices a while ago…

[the-norseman]

Likes Fast Cars said:

Maybe that’s the real reason the Carabinieri raided the Elkann family offices a while ago…

Probably Lapo having a party again.

[thegreenhell]

Not really 'silly season' per se, but Dutch GP organisers have announced that 2026 will be their last race, so we only have to endure the Zandvoort gokart track two more times.

[ajprice]

thegreenhell said:

Not really 'silly season' per se, but Dutch GP organisers have announced that 2026 will be their last race, so we only have to endure the Zandvoort gokart track two more times.

Let's make it silly seasony then! It's because Verstappen won't be in F1 in 2027.

[Sandpit Steve]

ajprice said:

thegreenhell said:

Not really 'silly season' per se, but Dutch GP organisers have announced that 2026 will be their last race, so we only have to endure the Zandvoort gokart track two more times.

Let's make it silly seasony then! It's because Verstappen won't be in F1 in 2027.

You’re not alone in thinking that on today’s news.

Zandvoort spent millions on the circuit redevelopment, and haven’t had much trouble selling all the tickets months in advance - so if they can’t make the numbers add up, it’s got to be because they’re half expecting a certain driver to be missing from the grid from ‘27.

[vaud]

Sandpit Steve said:

You’re not alone in thinking that on today’s news.

Zandvoort spent millions on the circuit redevelopment, and haven’t had much trouble selling all the tickets months in advance - so if they can’t make the numbers add up, it’s got to be because they’re half expecting a certain driver to be missing from the grid from ‘27.

I suspect it is simpler - F1 were open that there looked at all options including alternating with another track - my guess is it is that uncertainty and alternate year income that breaks the business plan.

[Muzzer79]

Sandpit Steve said:

Zandvoort spent millions on the circuit redevelopment, and haven’t had much trouble selling all the tickets months in advance - so if they can’t make the numbers add up, it’s got to be because they’re half expecting a certain driver to be missing from the grid from ‘27.

Or that, even selling all the tickets, F1's fees are so exorbitant that they still can't make the race pay.

Silverstone, IINM, suffered/suffers from the same issue when it comes to the GP.

[vaud]

Former Marussia Sporting Director Graeme Lowdon announced as General Motors F1 project Team Principal

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/former-...

[stemll]

vaud said:

Former Marussia Sporting Director Graeme Lowdon announced as General Motors F1 project Team Principal

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/former-...

So that's Zhou confirmed as their first driver then...

[Diderot]

carl_w said:

I can see Verstappen following Newey and Honda to AM, and Red Bull snapping up Oscar Piastri. Mr Pastry will always be #2 at McLaren, and his manager is Mark Webber.

Piastri needs to up his game though. Lando has comprehensively destroyed him over two seasons now. A third season of Lando trouncing him on most weekends and Oscar will be seen as yet another F2 champion who can’t cut it in F1. He was lauded as the messiah but has never really delivered or had a second coming.

[Rotary Potato]

Diderot said:

Piastri needs to up his game though. Lando has comprehensively destroyed him over two seasons now. A third season of Lando trouncing him on most weekends and Oscar will be seen as yet another F2 champion who can’t cut it in F1. He was lauded as the messiah but has never really delivered or had a second coming.

A little harsh, but I do agree with the sentiments. Oscar is still young though, and could yet continue developing .... so personally I wouldn't be looking to write him off just yet, but he has generally seemed to be a 1/2 step behind Norris through the season. I don't think there's any danger of him turning into a Lance Stroll ... but there is another level he'll have to find if he wants to be a regular contender at the front.

His temperament seems great though. He appears to keep a very even keel and not much seems to rock him. Even if he doesn't improve at all from the level he's currently at, he'd still do a better job than a good proportion of the grid in any role from team leader at a smaller team through to being a very solid number 2 for any team in title contention wanting a clear no.1 driver.

The whole point of generational talents is that they don't come around that often ... and even if Oscar never quite reaches the level that the hype around him said he'd reach, he'll still have been a damn handy F1 driver.

[Muzzer79]

Diderot said:

carl_w said:

I can see Verstappen following Newey and Honda to AM, and Red Bull snapping up Oscar Piastri. Mr Pastry will always be #2 at McLaren, and his manager is Mark Webber.

Piastri needs to up his game though. Lando has comprehensively destroyed him over two seasons now. A third season of Lando trouncing him on most weekends and Oscar will be seen as yet another F2 champion who can’t cut it in F1. He was lauded as the messiah but has never really delivered or had a second coming.

"Destroyed him"?



My perception is that Lando hasn't actually dominated Piastri like you'd expect him to.

The relationship has been much more Rosberg/Hamilton, in terms of speed, rather than Verstappen/Perez.....