Silly Season 2018/2019

[Sieper]

I don’t see that with Ocon, I thought Wehrlein was at least of his level.

I have seen Wehrlein show car control on the very highest level, he has sometimes really outperformed an incredibly Poor Sauber. Yet Wehrlein is now out of F1 and don’t worry, imthink Ocon will be retained.

[PlatinumZealot]

Mercedes need a B team. Williams wont sell out to them and Force India has its own plans.
Ferrari has Sauber as their proper be team now never mind Haas who seems to be independent.
Redbull has torro rosso.
renault are pretty much "shoppers" in the driver market so they are fine without a B team.

[Ground Effect]

I don’t see that with Ocon, I thought Wehrlein was at least of his level.

I have seen Wehrlein show car control on the very highest level, he has sometimes really outperformed an incredibly Poor Sauber. Yet Wehrlein is now out of F1 and don’t worry, imthink Ocon will be retained.

I think Wehrlein was good, but not nearly as good as Ocon. Among the teams last season, Sauber had the smallest average qualifying delta between team mates and Ericsson gives quite a bit away on the weight side, so he has an automatic disadvantage before a wheel is turned. Wehrlein however has extremely good tyre management and was usually able to pull off long stints. Ocon and Wehrlein both test drove for Force India, but Ocon won the seat. Force India was more impressed with him.

[djos]

I don’t see that with Ocon, I thought Wehrlein was at least of his level.

I have seen Wehrlein show car control on the very highest level, he has sometimes really outperformed an incredibly Poor Sauber. Yet Wehrlein is now out of F1 and don’t worry, imthink Ocon will be retained.

Wehrlein got left out in the cold due to being difficult to work with, this was reported via multiple sources. It's one thing for a WDC to act like a diva, but when you've accomplished nothing in F1, teams won't tolerate it.

[Zynerji]

I never rated Wehrlein. I rate Ocon very highly tho...

[PlatinumZealot]

I don’t see that with Ocon, I thought Wehrlein was at least of his level.

I have seen Wehrlein show car control on the very highest level, he has sometimes really outperformed an incredibly Poor Sauber. Yet Wehrlein is now out of F1 and don’t worry, imthink Ocon will be retained.

Wehrlein got left out in the cold due to being difficult to work with, this was reported via multiple sources. It's one thing for a WDC to act like a diva, but when you've accomplished nothing in F1, teams won't tolerate it.

Max Verstappen Laughs at that thought. lol

[djos]

I don’t see that with Ocon, I thought Wehrlein was at least of his level.

I have seen Wehrlein show car control on the very highest level, he has sometimes really outperformed an incredibly Poor Sauber. Yet Wehrlein is now out of F1 and don’t worry, imthink Ocon will be retained.

Wehrlein got left out in the cold due to being difficult to work with, this was reported via multiple sources. It's one thing for a WDC to act like a diva, but when you've accomplished nothing in F1, teams won't tolerate it.

Max Verstappen Laughs at that thought. lol

Lol, but Max is a diva of RedBull's own making, they have none but themselves to blame.

[ringo]

I see OCON will be in Formula1 next year.

Kimi is the one who has overstayed. Ferrari cannot win a constructors with him. He shows good pace and race craft, good for his age, but cannot sustain the speed from Q1 to Q3 nor over the race distance. He is part of F1 history and people love him, but time to go home Kimi!!

Ferrari - Vettel, Perez
Mercedes - Hamilton, Bottas
Redbull - Verstappen, Gasly
Renault - Hulkenberg, Ricciardo
Haas - Magnussen, Leclerc
Racing Point - Stroll, Ocon
Torro Rosso - Vergne, Kyvaat
Mclaren - Sainz, Norris
Sauber - Ericson, Giovinazi
Williams - Sirotkin, Kubica

Grosjean Out!

I just think the championship is too serious to put Leclerc in the Ferrari right now. He needs to at least be racing in the thick of the midfield and get some more mileage under his belt. Perez looks like the right man for the job, of all the available racers, to get Ferrari a constructors championship.

[Fulcrum]

If I were Ferrari I'd sign Ocon. But given the way Ferrari tend to sign drivers, they'd probably go with Perez (experienced).

[Raleigh]

I can't see Ocon staying at FI, Lawrence Stroll isn't going to want another driver of the same age and experience who is probably going to demolish Lance. Perez would be different even if performing on the same level as Ocon, at this point he is a veteran driver and highly rated.

Indeed if Kubica gets a race drive anywhere it might be Force India for his experience with set-up that would help Lance.

Ocon has a few potential options, the most secure of which would be Williams although in the past Toto Wolff has been reluctant to pay for seats and would prefer to just loan out Ocon for a year or two.

Haas is a possible option, depends how Raikkonen/Leclerc/Giovinazzi shake out. Haas is in a very good position for driver choice, they have Magnussen and Grosjean both driving well, the option of Leclerc if he doesn't go to Ferrari, Vandoorne on the market and if they want Ocon on a 2 year deal Toto would be rushing to sign.

Williams is probably going to end up with Mazepin/Sirotkin or Mazepin/Ocon, considering Sirotkin has $15M backing a year and Mazepin likely more than that you can see why Toto is looking at other options first.

[Racer X]

Ferrari - Vettel, Perez

I just think the championship is too serious to put Leclerc in the Ferrari right now. He needs to at least be racing in the thick of the midfield and get some more mileage under his belt. Perez looks like the right man for the job, of all the available racers, to get Ferrari a constructors championship.

I've felt this way for some time now. When Perez was in Sauber he showed potential but like any young driver he required experience. Also to prove it via becoming a more consistent driver.

Then came his stint in McLaren which seemed to be more damaging then beneficial. However he grew in character and carried that forward into the opportunity give to him by Force India.

He most certainly repaid them with several podiums. Force India has had solid lineups with Hulk and Perez/Ocon.

Retaining Ocon along with Perez to me has been valuable for both. Because Ocon has the same kind of potential that Perez showed when young. So stability has allowed Ocon to grow and grow quicker then his fellow young drivers he's benefited from being in a solid team and having an experienced racer next to him. Who has races alongside. Kobayashi
Button and Hulk who have themselves different bacgkround and have helped make Perez more solid. To me has been a benefit to Ocon. Perez has in my opinion been challenged by his team mates just the same.

Perhaps not by Kamuy but with Button he got to work with a world Champ. With Hulk he had to learn to be consistent. With Ocon he is pushed by Ocon to be consistent and be the Veteran. In a way they have pushed and guided each other in ways that help one another.

If any 2 drivers deserve to remain it's these 2 who have done so much for a team who has struggled so much like Force India. I hope they both find seats.

I don't how ever think Ferrari will go with Perez. It would be a great choice. But I don't see them doing that.

I also don't see them going with Ocon.

They would probably rather keep Kimi or convince Fernando to do 1 more season.

Vettel is a solid driver.... If they can keep Kimi they will if they can get Alonso they will.

As great as Taking either Ocon or Perez would be I don't think Ferrari would risk it.

[WaikeCU]

If I were Ferrari I'd sign Ocon. But given the way Ferrari tend to sign drivers, they'd probably go with Perez (experienced).

And former Ferrari product?

[Fulcrum]

If I were Ferrari I'd sign Ocon. But given the way Ferrari tend to sign drivers, they'd probably go with Perez (experienced).

And former Ferrari product?

That might (or might not) make the decision easier.

[NathanOlder]

https://www.gpfans.com/en/articles/2559 ... r-in-2019/

It doesnt get much sillier than this

Raikkonen to drive and take part ownership at Sauber for 2019

[ESPImperium]

Am i the only one that thinks that Mercedes, Renault and possibly Honda need a proper B Team like Red Bull having STR?

Its just a pity that Manor didn't get the same treatment from Mr E. that Force India got with Liberty. As im sure this would have been a perfect platform for Mercedes to have as a B Team. Same could have gone on with Renault and Caterham, it is my belief that Lotus as it was then was going to buy the team for £38m, but decided against it as it was going to be a burden for them. Im Sure that if Manor and Caterham were to have to have had the Non Listed parts treatment from Mercedes and Renault it would have had a better impact for both teams. And if there was space for a 13th entry via a HRT it would have been even better.

We would have had 26 drivers to discuss. However the present 2 tier F1 may have became worse with it being a 3 tier sport.