The Official F1 2021 silly season *contains speculation*

[ajprice]

Today seems the right time to get the 2021 Silly Season thread going, after Mr Vettel's announcement that he won't be staying at Ferrari. The 2020 thread ran through to testing this year, so here goes for 2021. Details of 2020 teams and drivers were picked up from the formula1.com and racefans.net team and driver lists, and some Google. If I got anything wrong I'll update this.

Thanks to Vaud who started last year's thread which I have blatantly stolen from for 2021 .

Mercedes
44. Hamilton (2020)
77. Bottas (2020)
Test/Reserve/3rd/Sim drivers
Stoffel Vandoorne
Esteban Gutierrez


Ferrari
5. Vettel (2020)
16. Leclerc (2024)
Test/Reserve/3rd/Sim drivers
-


Red Bull - Honda
23. Albon (2020)
33. Verstappen (2020)
Test/Reserve/3rd/Sim drivers
Sebastien Buemi
Sergio Camara


McLaren - Renault (Mercedes in 2021)
55. Sainz (2020)
4. Norris (2020)
Test/Reserve/3rd/Sim drivers
Oliver Turvey


Renault
31. Ocon (2021)
3. Ricciardo (2020)
Test/Reserve/3rd/Sim drivers
Guanyu Zhou


Alpha Tauri - Honda
26. Kvyat (2020)
10. Gasly (2020)
Test/Reserve/3rd/Sim drivers
Sebastien Buemi


Racing Point (Aston Martin in 2021) - Mercedes
11. Perez (2022)
18. Stroll (until Dad says so )
Test/Reserve/3rd/Sim drivers
-


Alfa Romeo - Ferrari
7. Raikkonen (2020)
99. Giovinazzi (2020)
Test/Reserve/3rd/Sim drivers
Robert Kubica
Tatiana Calderon


Haas - Ferrari
8. Grosjean (2020)
20. Magnussen (2020)
Test/Reserve/3rd/Sim drivers
Pietro Fittipaldi
Louis Delétraz


Williams - Mercedes
63. Russell (2021)
6. Latifi (2020)
Test/Reserve/3rd/Sim drivers
Jack Aitken
Roy Nissany
Dan Ticktum
Jamie Chadwick


As with last year... "Please stay on topic. Any “Vettel is broken” and discussions of Hamilton’s dress sense and I’ll ask the mods to delete the thread . "

There are already several multi page threads about Vettel leaving Ferrari, lets keep this one to the grid in general, although Vettel's move is a big deal.

[ajprice]

Jordan210 said:

exelero said:

Apparently Sainz is taking Vettel’s place

And Danny Ric going to McLaren

Just saw that too https://www.essentiallysports.com/f1-news-ferrari-...

A. If this is all true about Sainz and DR deals being done, and B. If Seb doesn't go home after this year, does he fill the gap at Renault? Technically they're a works team but Red Bull and now McLaren have shown them the way with their own engines. If Vettel does go to Renault, they need to get their st together, and I can't see that happening soon.

[ajprice]

BBC saying Sainz to Ferrari and Ricciardo to McLaren is all but a done deal. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/52627900

...and the possibility of Alonso back at Renault?

[ajprice]

@RenaultF1Team Twitter account posted a picture of Alonso on the podium for Renault in 2004. Alonso replied. Hmmm...

[ajprice]

TheInternet said:

With so little F1 to mull over and contemplate I'm slightly pissed off with McLaren and Ferrari for robbing us of the opportunity of weeks of wild speculation.

Let's see how long Renault/Vettel/Alonso/Hulk can stretch out

[ajprice]

TheInternet said:

ELUSIVEJIM said:

Mercedes must be laughing.

Will Ferrari have the best driver line up on the grid though?

(There's something to get you teeth into.)

I read somewhere that with Leclerc being 22 and Sainz 25 it's the youngest Ferrari line up for 50 years.

[ajprice]

Deesee said:

I’d love to see Merc/Daimler run two teams.. LH & VB in one SV & GR in the other.. ( they’ve also got Stoffel & De Vries & Guiterez).

I’m sure there’s only 3 drivers (+ stroll) contracted for 2021, so I’m sure we’ll see a big change up ahead of the changes in 2022.

Brain fart. Who's GR?

[ajprice]

cuprabob said:

ajprice said:

Brain fart. Who's GR?

George Russell

Ah, Vettel to Williams then?

[ajprice]

Alonso to Renault may be a done deal https://www.essentiallysports.com/f1-news-french-r...

[ajprice]

If this Vettel to Mercedes thing does happen, where does Bottas go?

[ajprice]

kambites said:

Did the 2020 car look that bad in pre-season testing?

The driver tub was the same as 2019, with new parts around it. It's got the narrow nosecone which is supposed to improve aero, but then it flares out to meet the wide tub and it all looks a bit half arsed.

Picture from f1technical forum, comparing the step on the Renault to the narrow front of the tub on the McLaren.

Edited by ajprice on Tuesday 19th May 12:08

[ajprice]

Bottas to Renault talks report. I'd guess they would be after Seb or Fernando first to fill the seat though. https://f1i.com/news/373545-renault-reportedly-ini...

[ajprice]

Daimler statement on the Mercedes team future and Toto Wolff https://www.essentiallysports.com/f1-news-daimler-...

Mercedes said:

“It is our clear intention to continue competing in Formula One as a Mercedes-Benz works team in the years to come, and to do so with our managing partner Toto Wolff.”

[ajprice]

Deesee said:

Hmmm..

Some thought time..

What the hell is Cyril going to do when Flavio turns up in his team kit asking Pat what lap Ocon is due to (S)bin It..

If they want the other driver to spin off on command, Vettel is their man!

[ajprice]

Russell and Latifi stay at Williams for 2021 https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.russell...

[ajprice]

Meanwhile on Planet Villeneuve, Red Bull should drop Albon for Vettel https://www.planetf1.com/news/jv-alex-albon-sebast...

[ajprice]

Raikkonen is apparently handing in his notice for the end of the year this weekend https://insideracing.com/index.php/formula-1/12263...

Leaves an Alfa seat for a newbie in the Ferrari ranks (Mick Schumacher?) or a current Racing Point driver if Vettel does go to RP/Aston Martin next year.

[ajprice]

Vettel and Stroll Sr bumping elbows at Silverstone, and apparently Seb went from the circuit with Szafnauer.

https://twitter.com/sebforever587/status/129031419...

[ajprice]

I only realised this weekend that McLaren's race numbers next year will be 3 and 4 with Ricciardo and Norris.

[ajprice]

Here we go. Gene Haas wants driver changes, he's looking at Hulk for Grosjean, Perez for Magnussen. https://www.planetf1.com/news/nico-hulkenberg-haas....