Hamilton to Red Bull?

[CHT]

I don't think Hamilton is interested in Money. He said he has never once looked at how much is in his bank account.

And you believe this ?

And his reason to move to Switzerland

[Hangaku]

Hamilton is no different from any other F1 driver. You would be a mug to live in the UK when earning so much money. It's got nothing to do with driving for cash, it's just business sense, and I defy anyone who thinks otherwise.

[CHT]

Hamilton is no different from any other F1 driver. You would be a mug to live in the UK when earning so much money. It's got nothing to do with driving for cash, it's just business sense, and I defy anyone who thinks otherwise.

Alonso just recently move back to Spain, so I guess he has lost his business sense in F1?

[raymondu999]

@CHT - What Hangaku said was UK (the United Kingdom) and not "home country." His comment (I believe) was directed specifically at living in the UK and not at living in someone's home country

[Richard]

I was surprised to hear about Alonso moving back to Spain. I guess he's exploiting some tax loophole. A common one is that the sportsman is employed by a company in a tax haven.

For example, Alonso could be employed by 6Tents Ltd based in Bermuda. Ferrari pay 6Tents Ltd $20m a year for his services, but 6Tents only give Alonso a miserly $1m a year. So his Spanish tax is based on an income of $1m.

Another thing is that you often hear of sportsman being paid a notional salary ($1m a year) but the "image rights" are separate and owned by an offshore company. Then the rteam has to pay a fee to use the sportman's picture and other endorsements. The notional salary is taxed, the image rights are just a business to business transaction.

[Just_a_fan]

A switched-on manager will know this and look to maximise winning potential rather than just salary / driver status in the team. Better to be number 2 at RedBull on a few thousand a race and win the title than be number 1 driver at Ferrari on $10m / year and win nothing.

Simon Fuller doesnt have the track record in not making money and I dont expect anything to change just because its Lewis Hamilton

Indeed. The point is that winning the title is worth more financially to all concerned because of the endorsements and appearance fees etc. that naturally flow from it. Fuller will know that the best way for him to get even richer is if Hamilton wins another title or two. He'll make his decisions on that basis, not team loyalty or salary offers.

[munudeges]

Put simply, Red Bull don't need Lewis Hamilton.

[Just_a_fan]

True enough, Seg.

[Shrieker]

Red Bull won't be needing Lewis Hamilton until (unless ? ) McLaren builds a car almost on a par with the bull.

But I agree with Horner. Hamilton and Vettel in the same squad is a no no. You've got to go with only one of them. We've seen this situation before with Prost/Senna and Hamilton/Alonso. Simply, it does not work and it's been proven; twice.

[raymondu999]

Sad as it is, 2 superstars working together doesn't work. As an ancient Chinese proverb says (I'm Chinese) "One mountain cannot have two tigers"

[ringo]

It's all relative.

If Hamilton makes Vettel look like a rookie, then we wont have that problem.

It's all about psychology. As it is Button cannot demand any special treatment as he is the slower one.

If Lewis goes to redbull and makes vettel look ordinary, Vettel can only grumble under the quiet, he can't demand much if he is not performing on an equal level.

Alonso and Hamilton is a unique situation and i don't think we will see that again in these modern times. Both drivers have to be almost equal in speed, and 1 has to be inferior in reputation; such as Hamilton was at the time.

Vettel having webber is as bad as it's going to get. Webber is very outspoken and can rattle the cage sometimes. Hamilton wont do that and Vettel wont do that. They'll just let the driving do the talking.

[spinmastermic]

But the the two of them in the same team would be great to watch. Turkey 2010 X 1,000.

[raymondu999]

Interesting point you bring up there Ringo. But I think that works both ways as well. If any one of them (Lewis/Sebastian) beats the other to a pulp in a season of the same machinery, then there wouldn't be much friction. It doesn't matter if both are 7-time WDCs, methinks. Then the clear winner will get special treatment.

If one is *slightly* ahead, then they could demand special treatment, but that would then create friction.

But I think Horner's point is that that's not a risk they're willing to take.

[CHT]

I think we can forget about Lewis joining RBR, the only possible seat available for him at the moment will be Ferrari.

And I am most certain that Ferrari will be keen to sign lewis despite having Alonso because having Lewis driving a Ferrari will be a major marketing boost for their road car division.

[raymondu999]

I don't agree. I think they saw 2007, and indeed they profited from it. I don't think they'd be willing to introduce the same system.