Silly season 2025-2026

[Jurgen von Diaz]

What are we talking about? Putting Sainz now as Max's teammate?

I would love that. Under one condition. It cannot be at RedBull.

Surely it can't be at Williams either.

[WardenOfTheNorth]

What are we talking about? Putting Sainz now as Max's teammate?

I would love that. Under one condition. It cannot be at RedBull.

Surely it can't be at Williams either.

Send them both back to Racing Bulls.... Arguably a better car for both of them lol

[Jurgen von Diaz]

So Bottas and Perez wants a few years of Caterham experience in Cadillac, rather than fighting for points in Alpine-Mercedes. And still, drivers always say how much they are hungry for success when actually they are after money and continuity.

[Just_a_fan]

So Bottas and Perez wants a few years of Caterham experience in Cadillac, rather than fighting for points in Alpine-Mercedes. And still, drivers always say how much they are hungry for success when actually they are after money and continuity.

Bottas and Perez are both heading towards the end of their F1 careers. Perhaps they are looking forward to the challenge of helping a new team rather than just tooling around midfield in an established team? They both have enough money from their years in big teams, so perhaps they just want a challenge without the stresses associated with fighting for a point here or there which makes no difference to anyone in reality. Getting a few point-winning finishes with Cadillac will feel more special than getting the same with Alpine.

[Jurgen von Diaz]

So Bottas and Perez wants a few years of Caterham experience in Cadillac, rather than fighting for points in Alpine-Mercedes. And still, drivers always say how much they are hungry for success when actually they are after money and continuity.

Bottas and Perez are both heading towards the end of their F1 careers. Perhaps they are looking forward to the challenge of helping a new team rather than just tooling around midfield in an established team? They both have enough money from their years in big teams, so perhaps they just want a challenge without the stresses associated with fighting for a point here or there which makes no difference to anyone in reality. Getting a few point-winning finishes with Cadillac will feel more special than getting the same with Alpine.

Beating Gasly in Alpine would open doors. Beating Bottas or Perez in the back without points, no one cares. They are already retired mentaly and doesn't believe they can match Gasly.

[Big Tea]

So Bottas and Perez wants a few years of Caterham experience in Cadillac, rather than fighting for points in Alpine-Mercedes. And still, drivers always say how much they are hungry for success when actually they are after money and continuity.

Bottas and Perez are both heading towards the end of their F1 careers. Perhaps they are looking forward to the challenge of helping a new team rather than just tooling around midfield in an established team? They both have enough money from their years in big teams, so perhaps they just want a challenge without the stresses associated with fighting for a point here or there which makes no difference to anyone in reality. Getting a few point-winning finishes with Cadillac will feel more special than getting the same with Alpine.

It is a new team with (apparently) plenty money so I assume there could be good long term prospects after their driving careers. I see it as a very good move from all parties.

[Just_a_fan]

So Bottas and Perez wants a few years of Caterham experience in Cadillac, rather than fighting for points in Alpine-Mercedes. And still, drivers always say how much they are hungry for success when actually they are after money and continuity.

Bottas and Perez are both heading towards the end of their F1 careers. Perhaps they are looking forward to the challenge of helping a new team rather than just tooling around midfield in an established team? They both have enough money from their years in big teams, so perhaps they just want a challenge without the stresses associated with fighting for a point here or there which makes no difference to anyone in reality. Getting a few point-winning finishes with Cadillac will feel more special than getting the same with Alpine.

Beating Gasly in Alpine would open doors. Beating Bottas or Perez in the back without points, no one cares. They are already retired mentaly and doesn't believe they can match Gasly.

They aren't going to win races, let alone titles, racing with Alpine. So why not help a fledgling team develop. If it does well, they get the plaudits that no one racing at Alpine is going to get by beating Gasly. Gasly has had 4 points finishes this season so far. Maybe he'll get a couple more. No reason why Cadillac can't emulate that with their drivers. If Cadillac finish next season ahead of Alpine (and that's possible), then Bottas/Perez will look good. If the team finishes last, well it's a new team and no one expects them to be good on day 1. Win win for the drivers.

[mzso]

Alpine/Renault seems like a perpetual lost cause... Anyway, it's not like we have proof they actually had a chance to get into Alpine.
By the way how many more races does Colapinto have on his contract?

[djos]

Alpine/Renault seems like a perpetual lost cause... Anyway, it's not like we have proof they actually had a chance to get into Alpine.
By the way how many more races does Colapinto have on his contract?

They need someone like Horner to come in, take a 1/3rd share in the company so he isn’t vulnerable to big car company politics (like Toto) and turn it around.

Franco should have been dumped many races ago! All he’s doing is proving he’s objectively worse than Jack was. At least Jack was actually fast and praised by his engineers for his work ethic and style.

All we’ve heard about Franco is that most of the car failures he’s had were caused by him doing something wrong and refusing to admit fault!

[basti313]

It is a new team with (apparently) plenty money so I assume there could be good long term prospects after their driving careers. I see it as a very good move from all parties.

How do you come to the conclusion, that there is money around Cadi?
Everything I see is a low-lowest-cost operation. Lowdon with the old, cheap Marussia gang. Same now matching this topic, they took Perez as Paydriver and Bottas who surely does not earn money.
I can not see any remarkable invest in manpower, I did not hear about them even trying to get a top driver or any top engineer.

[mzso]

Alpine/Renault seems like a perpetual lost cause... Anyway, it's not like we have proof they actually had a chance to get into Alpine.
By the way how many more races does Colapinto have on his contract?

They need someone like Horner to come in, take a 1/3rd share in the company so he isn’t vulnerable to big car company politics (like Toto) and turn it around.

Franco should have been dumped many races ago! All he’s doing is proving he’s objectively worse than Jack was. At least Jack was actually fast and praised by his engineers for his work ethic and style.

All we’ve heard about Franco is that most of the car failures he’s had were caused by him doing something wrong and refusing to admit fault!

I don't think Horner is a miracle worker. Red Bull needed Newey's expertise in not just car design, but how to set up and design and manufacturing to get anywhere. I doubt Horner understands much of these.

[djos]

Alpine/Renault seems like a perpetual lost cause... Anyway, it's not like we have proof they actually had a chance to get into Alpine.
By the way how many more races does Colapinto have on his contract?

They need someone like Horner to come in, take a 1/3rd share in the company so he isn’t vulnerable to big car company politics (like Toto) and turn it around.

Franco should have been dumped many races ago! All he’s doing is proving he’s objectively worse than Jack was. At least Jack was actually fast and praised by his engineers for his work ethic and style.

All we’ve heard about Franco is that most of the car failures he’s had were caused by him doing something wrong and refusing to admit fault!

I don't think Horner is a miracle worker. Red Bull needed Newey's expertise in not just car design, but how to set up and design and manufacturing to get anywhere. I doubt Horner understands much of these.

Horner knows how to build up and run a team, that’s what Alpine need.

[Big Tea]

It is a new team with (apparently) plenty money so I assume there could be good long term prospects after their driving careers. I see it as a very good move from all parties.

How do you come to the conclusion, that there is money around Cadi?
Everything I see is a low-lowest-cost operation. Lowdon with the old, cheap Marussia gang. Same now matching this topic, they took Perez as Paydriver and Bottas who surely does not earn money.
I can not see any remarkable invest in manpower, I did not hear about them even trying to get a top driver or any top engineer.

Compared to the other teams outside the top 3 I would think their adverting department would be considerably more forthcoming with the cash.
2 drivers or when they become ex drivers would probably have full fixture lists considering the amount of dealers in USA. Yes, pure speculation on my part though

[basti313]

It is a new team with (apparently) plenty money so I assume there could be good long term prospects after their driving careers. I see it as a very good move from all parties.

How do you come to the conclusion, that there is money around Cadi?
Everything I see is a low-lowest-cost operation. Lowdon with the old, cheap Marussia gang. Same now matching this topic, they took Perez as Paydriver and Bottas who surely does not earn money.
I can not see any remarkable invest in manpower, I did not hear about them even trying to get a top driver or any top engineer.

Compared to the other teams outside the top 3 I would think their adverting department would be considerably more forthcoming with the cash.
2 drivers or when they become ex drivers would probably have full fixture lists considering the amount of dealers in USA. Yes, pure speculation on my part though

Hmmm...my problem with this: Since TWG Global took over, the motorsports background got strongly diluted (if it was ever there). This is a finance corp running the whole game and not some Middle East play money corp like in other teams.
Cadillac/GM is currently a name sponsor with a minority share. The money sounds a lot, but half of the whole GM invest just went into the Anti-Dilution Fee.
I fear they will just do a Caterham/Mannor and milk the money from F1. Especially because there must/should be a license agreement with GM who can not simply gift the whole project with a known 900Mio invest. As you say, there is a lot of interest by sponsors. 300Mio per year is the stated volume...which is not enough to compete with the three top teams by the way.
Now take away the minimum budget cap, the three top managers (ok, known low-cost), engines, 30Mio for marketing/hospitality and they operate on 200Mio. Puts 100Mio back into the pockets...I guess they take it.