Silly season 2025-2026

[ME4ME]

Alonso quoted by Autosport.com (it's on their social media):

If 2026 is bad, there's a chance I carry on another year to finish with a good taste in my mouth. If the car is good 2026 will probably be my last year

Opens the door for Verstappen or Russel if he only gets a single-year extension from Mercedes. Or maybe Yuki after a year on the sidelines.

[JordanMugen]

Leclerc is the Hakkinen to Max's Schumacher and it makes me upset his career is being totally wasted by Ferrari.

The solution is simple: Leclerc can come to Red Bull-Ford and drive the second car!

Red Bull needs a good second driver, Leclerc needs a good car, it's a win-win all round.

[RedNEO]

Leclerc is the Hakkinen to Max's Schumacher and it makes me upset his career is being totally wasted by Ferrari.

The solution is simple: Leclerc can come to Red Bull-Ford and drive the second car!

Red Bull needs a good second driver, Leclerc needs a good car, it's a win-win all round.

Would be interesting to see Leclerc in a title fight and how he handles the pressure. Being fast is only part of it.

[RedNEO]

Alonso quoted by Autosport.com (it's on their social media):

If 2026 is bad, there's a chance I carry on another year to finish with a good taste in my mouth. If the car is good 2026 will probably be my last year

Opens the door for Verstappen or Russel if he only gets a single-year extension from Mercedes. Or maybe Yuki after a year on the sidelines.

Imagine Alonso winning the WDC and then mic dropping. Although I’d prefer him to get the double again and go out a 4 time champion

[mzso]

Alonso quoted by Autosport.com (it's on their social media):

If 2026 is bad, there's a chance I carry on another year to finish with a good taste in my mouth. If the car is good 2026 will probably be my last year

Opens the door for Verstappen or Russel if he only gets a single-year extension from Mercedes. Or maybe Yuki after a year on the sidelines.

Imagine Alonso winning the WDC and then mic dropping. Although I’d prefer him to get the double again and go out a 4 time champion

I'd prefer Lecler and Alonso at AM fighting for the championship.

[Stu]

Get back to the topic, please.
It is conveniently located at the top of the page.
Topic has had a thorough cleaning…

[TeamKoolGreen]

Time for a new silly season thread ?

Rumor is , Alonso wants to go back Alpine. It really blows my mind how negative he was and how badly he wanted to move away from Alpine. He does it to himself

The narrative was that Laurence Stroll and Alonso was a match made in hell. And barring 2023, it has turned out that way.

People will say "oh but Alpine was a disaster". Sure , it was. But sometimes you have to wait and let things shake out.

[selvam_e2002]

Instead of Alpine, Move to Ferrari and retire in high with high profile team.

[ChrisF1]

Is the Flavio - Fernando relationship still good?

[PlatinumZealot]

Is the Flavio - Fernando relationship still good?

It never went bad.

[ChrisF1]

Is the Flavio - Fernando relationship still good?

It never went bad.

Even after crashgate? I was mid chemo when that was revealed so my memory is fuzzy for 09/10 but I thought that caused a bit of a rift?

[Gillian]

Well if Nando is leaving AM for Alpine it can mean only one thing... AM will have a winning car next year.

[FNTC]

Is the Flavio - Fernando relationship still good?

It never went bad.

Even after crashgate? I was mid chemo when that was revealed so my memory is fuzzy for 09/10 but I thought that caused a bit of a rift?

I believe Flavio is still one of Alonso's managers.

[ScottB]

Curious as to what the point would be? Drop Colapinto for a year of Alonso? What's the goal / benefit?

I guess if Alonso's ambitions have retreated back to 'I'd love to sneak a podium before I retire' then Alpine is a better bet for that than Aston, but for Alpine, it's dropping a decent enough guy that brings money and who better aligns with their new title sponsor, for a year, maybe 2, of a guy at the very end of his road. If they want to replace Colapinto, hell, Albon or Sainz could be available, given the mess at Williams, and Max could yet chuck a grenade into the driver market...

[PlatinumZealot]

Well if Nando is leaving AM for Alpine it can mean only one thing... AM will have a winning car next year.

Fernando will stay. He has a newey car now and he knows next years one will be there. And possibly the one in 2028. I see him calling it quits after that. (maybe joing christian horner to be an owner driver of BYD team?)