The Official F1 2026 silly season *contains speculation*
Discussion
BrettMRC said:
Stroll isn't awful, but he's not consistent... I wonder how much of a car advantage he would need over the field to get into a championship winning position?
I would argue out of the drivers who kept their seats from 2024 he is by far the weakest. The teams got rid of all the other dead wood, (Sargeant, KMAG, Perez, Ricciardo, Bottas, Guanyu) yet he remained because his father owns the team.I think it is going to be far more difficult to justify him keeping his seat once Honda come onboard and they have the new Adrian Newey designed car.
I mean what is the point of going to all that effort and then putting Stroll in the car?
ajprice said:
Max wants in because Newey and Honda
Honda will want Yuki
Fernando wants to stay
Stroll Sr wants Jr
4 into 2.
I can't see Max making a move away from Red Bull before it's a proven certainty that another team is better. I think an agreement in 2026 to move for the 2027 season is more likely (assuming AM's car is better than RBR's). Honda will want Yuki
Fernando wants to stay
Stroll Sr wants Jr
4 into 2.
Maybe Stroll Snr negotiates a year or two before Lance's seat is taken by a Honda driver (by which time it might someone else than Yuki?).
I do wonder if Stroll Snr will be saying to Lance that 2026 is his last year. One crack at a title *if* the 2026 car is good enough. 2026 would be Lance's 10th year in F1.
Its been quite a unexpected turn of events. Lewis was somehow expected to retire about the time max was logically on course to replace him. Instead LH blocks a seat at ferrari and mercedes fill the two seats for pretty much next 3-4 years.
Forgot about mclaren but even they seem covered off for many years.
Aston wont be top of the pile for several years so I guess max better like it at redbull.
I can see max at Alpine thanks to Briatori and his knack of working deals.
Yuki then slots in next to his wingman lawson at red bull.
Forgot about mclaren but even they seem covered off for many years.
Aston wont be top of the pile for several years so I guess max better like it at redbull.
I can see max at Alpine thanks to Briatori and his knack of working deals.
Yuki then slots in next to his wingman lawson at red bull.
hondajack85 said:
Its been quite a unexpected turn of events. Lewis was somehow expected to retire about the time max was logically on course to replace him. Instead LH blocks a seat at ferrari and mercedes fill the two seats for pretty much next 3-4 years.
Forgot about mclaren but even they seem covered off for many years.
Aston wont be top of the pile for several years so I guess max better like it at redbull.
I can see max at Alpine thanks to Briatori and his knack of working deals.
Yuki then slots in next to his wingman lawson at red bull.
Isn't Russell's contract coming to an end in 25. In an interview towards the end of the season even Christian Horner mentioned they would be mad not to consider George then. Sounded like they were already looking for MVs replacement. Forgot about mclaren but even they seem covered off for many years.
Aston wont be top of the pile for several years so I guess max better like it at redbull.
I can see max at Alpine thanks to Briatori and his knack of working deals.
Yuki then slots in next to his wingman lawson at red bull.
Unfortunately it’s starting to happen.
https://x.com/chrismedlandf1/status/18769261693851...
Sounds like we can loook forward to more “Net Zero” street circuits in “New Markets”, and fewer races at the classic tracks. Sadly I’m expecting this to happen with more of the European races, which will drive hosting fees and ticket prices up, making the sport even less accessible than it is already.
https://x.com/chrismedlandf1/status/18769261693851...
Sounds like we can loook forward to more “Net Zero” street circuits in “New Markets”, and fewer races at the classic tracks. Sadly I’m expecting this to happen with more of the European races, which will drive hosting fees and ticket prices up, making the sport even less accessible than it is already.
PRO5T said:
Following on from my points on the '25 season thread, there's no way I can see Papa Stroll dumping the prodigal son for Yuki no matter what engine comes with him.
I have a feeling Stroll jnr is more likely to walk away himself. He is the butt of every F1 joke. He gets ridiculed by so many that even with an F1 driver who also happens to be a Billionaire's son sized ego, that has to hurt.When you see him, he looks to be hating it. His demeanor is one of a person who would rather be anywhere else.
Another season of stupid mistakes and getting his backside handed to him by Alonso is hardly going to make things better.
thegreenhell said:
Some stories on the less believable news sites of Aston Martin offering Max a billion dollar long term deal.
This has been doing the rounds for a week or two - AM have categorically denied it (but they would do that)Stroll's MO is to offer equity in the team to entice big hitters in - he bought it for (comparatively) bugger all and it's now worth squillions so he can give pieces of it away and still get out with a profit. This is partly how he got Newey in, I would imagine Andy Cowell is on a similar deal.
He could do that with Max but I think a billion dollars is very much exaggerated unless he's signing him for 10 years or something.
I'm still intrigued as to how they will eventually solve the Stroll Jr issue. Common sense dictates that he'll step back, but Stroll Sr is nothing if not belligerent when it comes to his son's career and he's the one with his name above the door.
Muzzer79 said:
He could do that with Max but I think a billion dollars is very much exaggerated unless he's signing him for 10 years or something.
Could be "total possible deal size"$100m/year + bonus for WDC
Equity in the team building each year based on future projected value
5 years plus options, you could get to a $1bn headline value for the papers.
vaud said:
Muzzer79 said:
He could do that with Max but I think a billion dollars is very much exaggerated unless he's signing him for 10 years or something.
Could be "total possible deal size"$100m/year + bonus for WDC
Equity in the team building each year based on future projected value
5 years plus options, you could get to a $1bn headline value for the papers.
Plus, Stroll is rich, but $100m a year is still a big chunk of money. He won't fund it himself. He's certainly not getting it from Aston Martin.
Where's it coming from? Aramco? They only pay $30m a year at the moment. Sure, they can afford to pay more but it's a big hike.
Muzzer79 said:
Depends on how much of the team Stroll has left to give away in equity.
Plus, Stroll is rich, but $100m a year is still a big chunk of money. He won't fund it himself. He's certainly not getting it from Aston Martin.
Where's it coming from? Aramco? They only pay $30m a year at the moment. Sure, they can afford to pay more but it's a big hike.
Depends - lots of variables. A friend works for Aramco buying art and investing in projects, cultural exchanges, etc and whatever he asks for he gets - bottomless pit.Plus, Stroll is rich, but $100m a year is still a big chunk of money. He won't fund it himself. He's certainly not getting it from Aston Martin.
Where's it coming from? Aramco? They only pay $30m a year at the moment. Sure, they can afford to pay more but it's a big hike.
Current sponsorship rates for the team are irrelevant. There are sponsors who would pay much more than they currently do to have their name on a car designed by Newey and driven by Max.
In addition, Stroll will be factoring in the increased team value and prize money if they win the championship.
In addition, Stroll will be factoring in the increased team value and prize money if they win the championship.
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