The Official F1 2026 silly season *contains speculation*

[DanielSan]

Galibier said:

Not sure of the point having a sprint race in Singapore.

Money money money money

[paulguitar]

thegreenhell said:

Galibier said:

Not sure of the point having a sprint race in Singapore.

It's great to go to a sprint weekend in person. It changes the whole event significantly. Friday has a qualifying session, so it's no longer the usual slight Friday borefest. Saturday is a short race and quali, and Sunday is the main race.

[ThingsBehindTheSun]

Muzzer79 said:

ajprice said:

Lindblad coming in leaves 1 RB seat for Tsunoda and Lawson. One of them has to go

EFA

100%, it is pretty clear that Red Bull were forced to take Tsunoda to get the Honda engine. I believe that Helmut has never rated him, so now they no longer need the Honda engine they can get rid of the Honda driver.

[vaud]

ThingsBehindTheSun said:

Muzzer79 said:

ajprice said:

Lindblad coming in leaves 1 RB seat for Tsunoda and Lawson. One of them has to go

EFA

100%, it is pretty clear that Red Bull were forced to take Tsunoda to get the Honda engine. I believe that Helmut has never rated him, so now they no longer need the Honda engine they can get rid of the Honda driver.

"Marko was Lawson's boss as a Red Bull advisor, who oversaw his career and relationship with the Red Bull junior programs, including the Racing Bulls team and the parent Red Bull Racing team where Lawson was demoted after a short stint in 2025."

[Sandpit Steve]

paulguitar said:

thegreenhell said:

Galibier said:

Not sure of the point having a sprint race in Singapore.

It's great to go to a sprint weekend in person. It changes the whole event significantly. Friday has a qualifying session, so it's no longer the usual slight Friday borefest. Saturday is a short race and quali, and Sunday is the main race.

That’s what doesn’t make sense, if you’re going to do Sprints then pick the circuits where Fridays and Saturdays don’t usually sell out. Singapore and Silverstone aren’t places where that’s ever been a problem.

Lots of comments online about Singapore in particular, and the Sprint race running during the day in what will be very hot and humid conditions. Memories of Qatar a few years ago, where F1 turned up a month too early for acceptable weather.

[Sandpit Steve]

ThingsBehindTheSun said:

Muzzer79 said:

ajprice said:

Lindblad coming in leaves 1 RB seat for Tsunoda and Lawson. One of them has to go

EFA

100%, it is pretty clear that Red Bull were forced to take Tsunoda to get the Honda engine. I believe that Helmut has never rated him, so now they no longer need the Honda engine they can get rid of the Honda driver.

Honda have always made the case for having a Japanese driver in their car, for the obvious marketing benefits in their home market. They valued it at something crazy like $20m against the engine supply cost.

ISTR at the time that Marko wasn t particularly a fan of Yuki, but got convinced by Matechitz that the Honda commercials made it worth taking him on, and to be fair he had just finished 3rd in the F2 championship and was clearly the best Japanese available. It s a little harsh to describe him as a pay-driver, but he brings so much sponsorship with him it makes the decision easy for the team.

But Perez bought loads of sponsorship too, and they somewhat unceremoniously dumped him anyway!

[ajprice]

So theoretically Tsunoda could follow Honda to Aston Martin at some point. It's been reported in the last few days that Drugovich is going to a Formula E race seat, so there's a reserve driver slot probably available for 2026.

[Sandpit Steve]

ajprice said:

So theoretically Tsunoda could follow Honda to Aston Martin at some point. It's been reported in the last few days that Drugovich is going to a Formula E race seat, so there's a reserve driver slot probably available for 2026.

Given that it s pretty fair to describe both current Aston Martin drivers as being firmly towards the end of their F1 careers, it wouldn t be much of a surprise to see Tsunoda joining that team if released by Red Bull.

It also wouldn’t be a surprise to see both Alonso and Stroll walk next season, if Newey and Honda fail to deliver a total rocket ship for the new regs. IMHO they re both hanging around clinging to the possibility of being 2026 champions.

Edited by Sandpit Steve on Wednesday 17th September 10:10

[Jinba Ittai]

Sandpit Steve said:

Given that it s pretty fair to describe both current Aston Martin drivers are being firmly towards the end of their F1 careers, it wouldn't be much of a surprise to see Tsunoda jointing that team if released by Red Bull.

It wouldn t be a surprise to see both Alonso and Stroll walk next season, if Newey and Honda fail to deliver a total rocket ship for the new regs. IMHO they re both hanging around clinging to the possibility of being 2026 champions.

For a team with so much supposed ambition to win the world championship, and with the money they have plunged into the project, their driver line up feels completely moribund. Do we really believe that Alonso could put another championship season together? Great driver, but i don't think he has another title in him. Nothing further needs to be said about Stroll. For arguments sake, lets say Aston have a race winning car next year, I just don't think they have the line up to turn that race winning car into a championship winning car.

[DanielSan]

Jinba Ittai said:

For a team with so much supposed ambition to win the world championship, and with the money they have plunged into the project, their driver line up feels completely moribund. Do we really believe that Alonso could put another championship season together? Great driver, but i don't think he has another title in him. Nothing further needs to be said about Stroll. For arguments sake, lets say Aston have a race winning car next year, I just don't think they have the line up to turn that race winning car into a championship winning car.

An incentivised Alonso could put a championship season together now, look at his performances the moment the Aston became even decent again this season. If the cars crap he'll be in head down mode for next year before retiring

[thegreenhell]

If Alonso and Stroll were driving this year's McLaren, I think Alonso would already have the title pretty much wrapped up by now.

[ajprice]

thegreenhell said:

If Alonso and Stroll were driving this year's McLaren, I think Alonso would already have the title pretty much wrapped up by now.

In previous seasons with Stroll, I'd say 'What about the constructor title though?", but this year he's somehow 2 points ahead of Alonso so maybe they would win the constructors too.

[ThingsBehindTheSun]

Jinba Ittai said:

For a team with so much supposed ambition to win the world championship, and with the money they have plunged into the project, their driver line up feels completely moribund. Do we really believe that Alonso could put another championship season together? Great driver, but i don't think he has another title in him. Nothing further needs to be said about Stroll. For arguments sake, lets say Aston have a race winning car next year, I just don't think they have the line up to turn that race winning car into a championship winning car.

Agreed, I was pretty much certain they had persuaded Max Verstappen to join them for 2026. I don't really understand why Adrian Newey who had his pick of teams to go to went to Aston Martin only to have Lance Stroll in the car.

I think Alonso could still win a championship, but Aston Martin would need to give him the best car on the grid, at least as dominant as the current McLaren. But with a car that dominant, half the field could probably win the championship.

[TheDeuce]

Sandpit Steve said:

ajprice said:

So theoretically Tsunoda could follow Honda to Aston Martin at some point. It's been reported in the last few days that Drugovich is going to a Formula E race seat, so there's a reserve driver slot probably available for 2026.

Given that it s pretty fair to describe both current Aston Martin drivers as being firmly towards the end of their F1 careers, it wouldn t be much of a surprise to see Tsunoda joining that team if released by Red Bull.

It also wouldn t be a surprise to see both Alonso and Stroll walk next season, if Newey and Honda fail to deliver a total rocket ship for the new regs. IMHO they re both hanging around clinging to the possibility of being 2026 champions.

Edited by Sandpit Steve on Wednesday 17th September 10:10

I'd have thought both current drivers would want to be there next season, in case the car is a winner. I'd also still rate Alonso above tsunoda and think the team might do too. They need someone good if they have a good car, and it's not stroll. Is Tsunoda good enough?

As for Lance, I guess he's there for so long as he wishes to be

[HTP99]

TheDeuce said:

Sandpit Steve said:

ajprice said:

So theoretically Tsunoda could follow Honda to Aston Martin at some point. It's been reported in the last few days that Drugovich is going to a Formula E race seat, so there's a reserve driver slot probably available for 2026.

Given that it s pretty fair to describe both current Aston Martin drivers as being firmly towards the end of their F1 careers, it wouldn t be much of a surprise to see Tsunoda joining that team if released by Red Bull.

It also wouldn t be a surprise to see both Alonso and Stroll walk next season, if Newey and Honda fail to deliver a total rocket ship for the new regs. IMHO they re both hanging around clinging to the possibility of being 2026 champions.

Edited by Sandpit Steve on Wednesday 17th September 10:10

I'd have thought both current drivers would want to be there next season, in case the car is a winner. I'd also still rate Alonso above tsunoda and think the team might do too. They need someone good if they have a good car, and it's not stroll. Is Tsunoda good enough?

As for Lance, I guess he's there for so long as he wishes to be his dad wishes him to be

[andburg]

TheDeuce said:

Sandpit Steve said:

ajprice said:

So theoretically Tsunoda could follow Honda to Aston Martin at some point. It's been reported in the last few days that Drugovich is going to a Formula E race seat, so there's a reserve driver slot probably available for 2026.

Given that it s pretty fair to describe both current Aston Martin drivers as being firmly towards the end of their F1 careers, it wouldn t be much of a surprise to see Tsunoda joining that team if released by Red Bull.

It also wouldn t be a surprise to see both Alonso and Stroll walk next season, if Newey and Honda fail to deliver a total rocket ship for the new regs. IMHO they re both hanging around clinging to the possibility of being 2026 champions.

Edited by Sandpit Steve on Wednesday 17th September 10:10

I'd have thought both current drivers would want to be there next season, in case the car is a winner. I'd also still rate Alonso above tsunoda and think the team might do too. They need someone good if they have a good car, and it's not stroll. Is Tsunoda good enough?

As for Lance, I guess he's there for so long as he wishes to be

I can't see Lance quitting any time soon, he's quick enough on his day to play a decent #2 and if the car is there all it will take is a bit of luck to finally get a win.

If that happens i reckon he'd do it but hes got a point to prove

[Rotary Potato]

ThingsBehindTheSun said:

Agreed, I was pretty much certain they had persuaded Max Verstappen to join them for 2026. I don't really understand why Adrian Newey who had his pick of teams to go to went to Aston Martin only to have Lance Stroll in the car.

I think Alonso could still win a championship, but Aston Martin would need to give him the best car on the grid, at least as dominant as the current McLaren. But with a car that dominant, half the field could probably win the championship.

Maybe it was the thought of having Robert Doornbos in the car that persuaded him to make his previous career move!

If you build a great car, then great drivers will be queuing up to drive it.

It's often said that a driver would sell his soul to drive a championship winning car. Papa Stroll wants his kid to win. So to me the obvious answer is for Stroll Sr to officially adopt a driver who can win races, and put them in the car. If next year's Red Bull is pants, and Newey pens a blinder, then I wonder if for 2027 we'll see Max Stroll-appen announced as the lead driver for Aston.

[thegreenhell]

Rotary Potato said:

Maybe it was the thought of having Robert Doornbos in the car that persuaded him to make his previous career move!

If you build a great car, then great drivers will be queuing up to drive it.

It's often said that a driver would sell his soul to drive a championship winning car. Papa Stroll wants his kid to win. So to me the obvious answer is for Stroll Sr to officially adopt a driver who can win races, and put them in the car. If next year's Red Bull is pants, and Newey pens a blinder, then I wonder if for 2027 we'll see Max Stroll-appen announced as the lead driver for Aston.

Stroll Snr obviously wants to win, but he doesn't seem too bothered about whether it's Lance or not. He's paired him against former world champions for the last few years who have consistently whipped him. If he was so concerned about Lance winning then he'd surely give him easier teammates.

[PRO5T]

Alonso? You just know he'd fall out with the team half way through the season.

[TheDeuce]

thegreenhell said:

Rotary Potato said:

Maybe it was the thought of having Robert Doornbos in the car that persuaded him to make his previous career move!

If you build a great car, then great drivers will be queuing up to drive it.

It's often said that a driver would sell his soul to drive a championship winning car. Papa Stroll wants his kid to win. So to me the obvious answer is for Stroll Sr to officially adopt a driver who can win races, and put them in the car. If next year's Red Bull is pants, and Newey pens a blinder, then I wonder if for 2027 we'll see Max Stroll-appen announced as the lead driver for Aston.

Stroll Snr obviously wants to win, but he doesn't seem too bothered about whether it's Lance or not. He's paired him against former world champions for the last few years who have consistently whipped him. If he was so concerned about Lance winning then he'd surely give him easier teammates.

Maybe with a winning car, he will give him an easier teammate?

Although it's going to be a bugger finding someone worse than a guy that crashes on an outlap and then drives into a gravel trap and gets beached. Possibly a seat for antonelli next season?