Silly Season 2018/2019

[Big Tea]

Plot twist:

If Vettel beats Hamilton to the championship this year, Hamilton retires and we see Ocon/Bottas at Mercedes in 2019.

The video of Hamilton and Button in the car ride interview earlier this year was telling when Button was pushing Hamilton to challenge Schumachers WDC record, and Hamilton saying he had no interest...

Right now, If I ran Mercedes team and Hamilton retired, next years team would be Bottas ans Kimi.
If the reports from sky that Ferrari are 'releasing' him are correct.

I'd personally take a young Ocon over an aged Raikkonen, and I've always liked Kimi...

The irony is I have never been a big fan of Kimi. I just see him as the best fit.
He would be a good shout at Mclaren too

Prefer if Hamilton stays though

[Fulcrum]

AMuS reported prior to the race that Leclerc seat at Ferrari is a done deal. Apparently there is something that Sergio Marchionne had already decided before his death and that Ferrari wants (must?) to honour. However Kimi has a big following and is performing really well in the past few races. Adding to that, the new boss is close to Kimi. Meanwhile, Jean Todt’s son is managing Leclerc...

I noticed Jean Todt in the Ferrari pits during qualifying yesterday. He'd probably be there anyway considering it is Monza, so perhaps that doesn't imply anything.

[alexx_88]

As a fan, I'd much rather see Leclerc in the Ferrari than Kimi, presuming he feels mentally ready to do it.

[garygph]

Is it a far reach to think that Ferrari have "delayed" the decision re Kimi/Leclerc in the hope that McLaren, and others, commit to someone else, then announce the decision, and are then secure that he ( Kimi) has no "opposition" to go to next year? They have seen fit to pay him not to go anywhere before IFIRC.

[iotar__]

Is it a far reach to think that Ferrari have "delayed" the decision re Kimi/Leclerc in the hope that McLaren, and others, commit to someone else, then announce the decision, and are then secure that he ( Kimi) has no "opposition" to go to next year? They have seen fit to pay him not to go anywhere before IFIRC.

IMO no.
A. They don't care (see Raikkonen)
B. Everyone would wait for them
C. Behind the scenes exchange of information - everyone knows the candidates and choices, for example Perez said there's no place at top teams in '19.

[Ground Effect]

Is it a far reach to think that Ferrari have "delayed" the decision re Kimi/Leclerc in the hope that McLaren, and others, commit to someone else, then announce the decision, and are then secure that he ( Kimi) has no "opposition" to go to next year? They have seen fit to pay him not to go anywhere before IFIRC.

Kimi's name was linked with Mclaren around the time Ricciardo's name was too. But according to what's been reported, Mclaren have a 4 man list- Ocon, Checo, Lando and Stoffel.

[ESPImperium]

Has Ferrari decided to go with Le Clerc? Id say that Kimi was on the same form as his championship year in 2007 at the moment, but Hamilton and Vettel have pushed on much more in the past 11 years, and Kimi, well his performance has stayed the same. It also clears up the Le Clerc seat at Sauber for Vandoorne to take the seat, beside Giovinazzi id recon.

Thinking about the Perez/McLaren link, this may perversely make sense, it gets him out of Team Silverstone (what I'm calling Racing Point Force India in the interim) McLaren will get the best driver of the rest, someone that they know, and has got better since he left the team. They will also fill the car up with sponsorship as well. Also it allows Team Silverstone to keep Ocon for the discounted Mercedes bill, and also place Stroll aside a capable and experienced driver in there. Its sort of win-win for all.

As for Williams, it should allow for Kubica to take his seat this year, show from Suzuka id say. it would also allow Williams to take George Russell for a discounted Mercedes bill as well. Kubica and Russell for 2019 i think.

As for Toro Rosso, its going to be a names in a hat situation here. Wheirlien, Kvjiat, Hartley, Albon and anyone with a Super-Licence is being considered.

[Jolle]

I wonder what Ferrari (under new management) will do in the years to come. Today at Monza Vettel again lost too many points unnecessarily. He's on -30 now what could have been 50+ if Hamilton didn't have the bad luck in Austria while they have a car that is quickest this season.

Will they try to make a move on Hamilton for '21 with an offer he can't refuse (after 20+ years of Mercedes)?

[alexx_88]

I think trying to sync with Ricciardo's contract would be a better idea. Hamilton, given the interviews, I don't think he'll want to hang around for much longer (think he'll retire before the switch to the new formula in 2021-2023)

[Jolle]

I think trying to sync with Ricciardo's contract would be a better idea. Hamilton, given the interviews, I don't think he'll want to hang around for much longer (think he'll retire before the switch to the new formula in 2021-2023)

Could be an option, but Ferrari, history wise, likes drivers who have proven themselves as true team leaders, in speed and personality and Ricciardo at the moment has a hard time with Verstappen. I don't know when Vettel's contract ends (but that isn't a real problem historically for Ferrari either), but I would think they will monitor Verstappen and Ricciardo's progress with due care.

And Ferrari's pockets are deep.....

[ESPImperium]

Vettel has his contract up in end of 2019, he signed for 2015-2017 for €22m a season and last year signed a three year extension for €35m a season excluding bonuses.

If Ferrari were wanting to sign Hamilton, they would have to be offering him something like $100m a season base pay.

Verstappen is signed until 2020 for €14m per season, but has a parity clause in his contract from next year i hear, but it won't be enacted as it had Riccardo named in it as he had to be paid the same as him, if it was more than the €14m.

I suspect that Ferrari and Mercedes will monitor Riccardo, Verstappen and Ocon. Im sure theres gonna be a name that we haven't thought of pop up in the next two years.

And we are also suspecting that Vettel will retire in the next two years as well, for all we know, he may get tired of Ferrari and want to try a Silver Arrow.

The crystal ball, after this years silly season, is a bit bruised and has decided to go cloudy.

[ringo]

Ferrari will not select a driver who needs training or development especially when seeing that their direct competition has such experienced drivers.
They will look to experienced and proven drivers such as:
Perez
Alonso
Rosberg

It's not popular opinion, but i maintain that Perez is a top driver and can deliver a WCC for Ferrari. His results given the car he has had over the years are pretty spectacular. He is a good racer, intelligent, has the right balance of agression and patience, and doesn't make mistakes. He was a part of the ferrari program at the start of his career to boot. He should be a good selection for the Scuderia if they are serious about giving vettel a good teammate.

Bring Alonso out of retirement to race for ferrari again is a big gamble. He can possibly maul Vettel. So it's an interesting choice, but he is free and may just drive for less money than Kimi is getting today.

Rosberg is not racing anymore, but i think he wants to come back deep down inside. He is a better driver than vettel, faster, and maybe more sensible. Why not?

[apexcontrol]

surely ferrari must kick out one of there drivers, and let le cler get that seat. ....vettel or kimi i don't care witch one, same goes for merc they need give seat to ocon.
it's time those two teams stand up, and clear there line up of incompetent drivers.

F1 is all about the magic... the hero's ......what we get is drama in the likes of vettel and hamilton, prima donna behaviour and german who thinks he is a italian.
we need drivers that can drive with out needing so much help. looks awfull

[PlatinumZealot]

I know after Today that Ferrari will have decided that they MUST get Hamilton on their side to remove all doubts of winning the championship and they will attempt to sign him even if it is for 2021. How could they not try to get the best driver when they have the cash to do it?

[Ted68]

Ferrari will not select a driver who needs training or development especially when seeing that their direct competition has such experienced drivers.
They will look to experienced and proven drivers such as:
Perez
Alonso
Rosberg

It's not popular opinion, but i maintain that Perez is a top driver and can deliver a WCC for Ferrari. His results given the car he has had over the years are pretty spectacular. He is a good racer, intelligent, has the right balance of agression and patience, and doesn't make mistakes. He was a part of the ferrari program at the start of his career to boot. He should be a good selection for the Scuderia if they are serious about giving vettel a good teammate.

Bring Alonso out of retirement to race for ferrari again is a big gamble. He can possibly maul Vettel. So it's an interesting choice, but he is free and may just drive for less money than Kimi is getting today.

Rosberg is not racing anymore, but i think he wants to come back deep down inside. He is a better driver than vettel, faster, and maybe more sensible. Why not?

I'll get flamed for this, but, Vettel seems to give away points and Kimi, as much as I am a fan of his, seems to have lost the edge. So why not Alonso/Perez?