So Sky have just said Ocon had to cut ties with Merc to join Renault so no loan situation.

Looks like Russell is now next in line to the throne.

_________________
Races since last non RB, Merc, Ferrari winner (After Abu Dhabi - 19) - 138 & counting.( Last win, Lotus, 17/3/13)

Non RB, Merc, Ferrari podiums won in Hybrid era - 360 trophies available, 26 won

2017 WCC CPTTC - Jalopy Racing (Herb & Me)

Even though Mercedes are still in charge of Ocon's career, they can't employ him before 2022. Cyril said the next 2 years he's a complete Renault driver.
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/145650/mercedes-cant-recall-ocon-from-renault-during-deal

I did read somewhere even if Ocon were to cut ties with Mercedes, Wolff had said it doesn't eradicate his chance of driving for Mercedes in the future.

_________________
Feel The Fourth

BIB: I wouldn't go quite that far. Contracts in F1 are worth as much as anyone is willing to pay to break them and I'm sure there is a price that would get Ocon into a Mercedes for 2021 if Mercedes really wanted him back.

That said it does make it a lot less likely.

_________________
Pick 10 | 1st x3, 2nd x3, 3rd x8
2019: 11th | 2018: 5th | 2017: 6th | 2016: 8th | 2015: 2nd | 2014: 15th | 2013: 17th | 2012: 11th

I'd be astonished if there wasn't an agreed amount in Ocon's contract that Merc can pay to get him.

Mercedes knew that they had to sufficiently cut ties with Ocon to convince another competitive team to give him a seat. Renault will know that while Mercedes have the fastest car, if a seat opens up and they want Ocon back, it will be a case of agreeing the price and not whether he goes. Renault will do ok financially either way and have DR in the other seat.

Checo extends stay with Racing Point with a 3 year deal.
https://www.gptoday.net/en/news/f1/250332/perez-signs-multi-year-contract-extension-with-racing-point

_________________
Feel The Fourth

At last. Good luck Checo (one of ma favourite F1 drivers). Lance is also confirmed.

_________________
PF1 Pick10 - 2019-CHAMP
Wins 1 Podiums 5

Racing point just confirmed Perez to a long term deal. (Reportedly three years)
https://www.planetf1.com/news/racing-po ... term-deal/

We all know that Lance has a contract as long as he remains Lawrence's son and can make the 105% qualifying rule. Looks like the driver lineup at Racing Point just got fossilized.

OTOH RP is ahead of Haas who has possibly an even more dismal driver lineup.

_________________
Mission WinLater

Racing Point will not get a better driver than Perez. George Russell is the only potential candidate that could take that spot and might perform better. But his apprenticeship will continue at Williams

And Stroll is scoring points. He's not the worst guy out there. I'd rate Gasly, Giovinazzi and Kubica as the poorest performers of the year. Grosjean knocking on their door

_________________
I don't rely entirely on God

I rely on Prost

Despite the recent signings of Bottas and Ocon the silly season is still in full swing with the Hulk being the next brick in the wall.

Rumours are that he's been offered a contract by Haas but the Hulk is exploring his options one of those being with Alfa Romeo who are unhappy with Giovinazzi, the Ferrari fostered driver, it's a similar situation to what we had with Haas in their first year in F1 when they also had to take on a Ferrari driver Guiterrez who they dropped at the end of the season, like Guiterrez, Giovinazzi is also leaving WCC points on the table.

For the Hulk he may see Alfa Romeo has a better proposition, they presently have a better car than Haas and also have closer ties with Ferrari. If Vettel leaves Ferrari at the end of 2020 and the Hulk can beat Kimi, which I think he is capable of doing, then he might find himself a prime candidate to join Ferrari as a #2 to Leclerc?

Ok other similar drivers might be on the market at that time like Bottas and certainly Ricciardo will, but with Ricciardo that would be a different dynamic for Ferrari, instead of building the team around Leclerc they would have 2 strong #1 drivers.

A third and even better option for the Hulk is Red Bull, although this is the most unlikely as well, Red Bull are evaluating their 3 junior drivers to see which is best suited to drive for the team in 2020. However if they find that all 3 drivers are much of a muchness then they may look outside their junior program and the same argument as Ferrari they may see Hulk as a solid #2 driver for Verstappen?

However the problem for the Hulk with Red Bull is that a decision will not be made until quite late into the season and as he waits for the decision would either Haas or Alfa Romeo be prepared to wait on him?

_________________
PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: 7th place

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (8)

Hulk and Kimi would certainly be a safe pair of pair of hands (pun intended).

_________________
Räikkönen - Vettel - Bottas
Thank you Nico - You´re the champ!

PF1 Pick 10 Competition 2016: CHAMPION (2 wins, 8 podiums)

I can’t see Hulk ending up anywhere other than Haas, if he opts to stay in F1. As much as I would like to see Kimi and Hulk, especially as Giovinazzi hasn’t shown much, I don’t think Alfa would be wanting perhaps the oldest line up on the grid. The 2nd seat is for a Ferrari development driver and Nico is one of the oldest drivers on the grid. I think Giovinazzi is safe placeholding for Mick Schumacher, unless there is anyone else on the way up who could take the seat in the meantime.

He may have had ambitions of Red Bull and with a respectable record against Daniel, it may have been a possibility, but I think he blew that in Germany. Albon’s Red Bull debut would seem to have confirmed it.

Kimi might not continue past 2020 and the Hulk could take over as the old hand at Alfa when/if young Schumacher comes on board?

_________________
PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: 7th place

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (8)

I put in an earlier post that Alfa Romeo could be a good place for Nico Hulkenberg and people pointed out (apart from the fact I spelt his name wrong, Sorry Nico) is that Ferrari have a say who is in that second Alfa car they have a say whether or not to retain Antonio Giovinazzi, I have read on other F1 news sites that Alfa are not happy with Giovinazzi. It would be a good move for Alfa Romeo to sign Hulkenberg but A.R could keep Antonio Giovinazzi for next year to keep the seat warm for Mick Schumacher.

Some F1 new sites believe that Hulkenberg could get confirmed at Haas this weekend, we wait and see.

Hulk reportedly declined a one year contract at Renault.

https://www.gpfans.com/en/articles/4407 ... t-reveals/

Still don't think he will go to a midfield team. He was probably hoping for Redbull but Horner has pretty much shut that door with his comment about staying in house with their driver selections. I'd say there is a good chance Hulk is out of the grid next year.

I reported that last week but the latest I believe is that the Hulk is not going to rush into signing.

_________________
PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: 7th place

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (8)

A midfield seat in F1 is still going to pay him more money than racing elsewheres.

_________________
PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: 7th place

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (8)

How much is Haas willing to pay a driver like Hulkenberg? And Alfa already has Kimi, I don't see them paying two drivers at the same time. Anyway, if it was F1 or bust for Hulkenberg why wouldn't he have taken the one year contract? There is going to be some top seats available in 2021 so you would think he would want to stay at Renault for at least one more year.

I guess being offered a 1 year contract doesn't convey a lot of confidence in you from the team plus a driver would want the extra security of an extended contract moreso than the unlikely event of a top team signing the Hulk?

In respect to how much Haas would pay the Hulk, well as little as $2M would still be more money than a top seat in the likes of FE.

_________________
PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: 7th place

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (8)

Doesn't this somewhat speak the same for Bottas?

_________________
Feel The Fourth

I think Hulk was/ is frustrated how Renault has faltered in its development & not closed the gap to the top 3. If not Haas, I wonder if Alfa Romeo could be an outside opportunity? Giovinazzi is doing ok but his self inflicted spin into the barriers would be quite painful. He somehow fought well to come into the points but to end up like that. It was a good opportunity to score points where Raikkonen failed to do so!

_________________
Feel The Fourth

Raikkonen had damaged caused by the tangle from Max so he pretty much spent the race on the back foot, I am not arguing with anyone but surely a GP teams best interest is to hire the best drivers that they can? Hulkenberg replacing Giovinazzi is a good replacement, I think.

Yes but he's driving a Mercedes and getting paid more money than the Hulk, if Renault had a race winning car I doubt the Hulk would be looking to walk away?

_________________
PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: 7th place

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (8)

What are he chances of Vettel either retiring or being ousted from Ferrari at the end of this year? If he goes, who comes or can come in his place?

_________________
Feel The Fourth

As per Wolff, Ocon can't return to Mercedes in 2021 as he has a contract with Renault for 2 years with no clause of returning to Mercedes in 2021 incase Hamilton or Bottas were to leave.
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/45397/esteban-ocon-has-no-return-to-mercedes-clause-in-renault-contract.html

When it comes to contracts, we know how water tight they are in F1!

_________________
Feel The Fourth

Alonso

In all seriousness, and I mentioned this in another thread, I think they should take Kimi back for a season or two until one of their academy drivers or Verstappen is ready/available.

Until then, I fear Vettel's performances will continue to dip in complete contrast to Leclerc's. It pains me to see it happening.

_________________
#KeepFightingMichael

Steiner isn't able to make a concrete decision when it comes to deciding between Grosjean & Hulkenberg. He & Gene Haas are finding it hard to come to a conclusion.
https://www.planetf1.com/features/hulk-or-grosjean-who-do-haas-pick-for-2020/

_________________
Feel The Fourth

Well to be fair, one of them did think letting Rich Energy sponsor them was a good idea, so their judgement isn't perhaps all that great...

_________________
Pick 10 | 1st x3, 2nd x3, 3rd x8
2019: 11th | 2018: 5th | 2017: 6th | 2016: 8th | 2015: 2nd | 2014: 15th | 2013: 17th | 2012: 11th

_________________
#KeepFightingMichael

In January, Pascal Wehrlein became FErrari development driver, so he might jump in. Either he, or Kimi. I see no chance for Alonso. But I think Vettel will see the end of 2020 and if he stabilizes himself the next year, he might even get a shot of 2021 car, which he might like to drive.

_________________
The end is near

Are people really seriously entertaining the possibility of Kimi having a third career at Ferrari?

_________________
Räikkönen - Vettel - Bottas
Thank you Nico - You´re the champ!

PF1 Pick 10 Competition 2016: CHAMPION (2 wins, 8 podiums)

There's no way Wehrlein will get the shortcut to a Ferrari seat after being out for 2 years. The best seat Wehrlein can hope for is Alfa, if Giovinazzi fails to impress. If it happens that Vettel is ousted, which I still think is unlikely, I would see Hulkenberg as the more logical replacement.

_________________
“I'm happy, but there's nothing to jump around about.”

Gunther has said he declined Wehrlein's offer to drive for Haas in 2020. The main reason being Wehrlein has been out of F1 for 2 years & that's a big handicap to have.

https://www.gpfans.com/en/articles/44812/haas-rejected-wehrlein-offer-for-2020-here-s-why/

_________________
Feel The Fourth

They shouldn't be, he serves a far better role at Alfa Romeo benchmarking Ferrari's young drivers. At the moment Giovinazzi is falling a little short of stepping up to be a Ferrari driver. At best he matches Kimi, at worst he's a few tenths behind and the points totals don't lie, 31-3.

_________________
Red Bull: "Now we can fight !" https://twitter.com/redbullracing/statu ... 1737202688

It's Grosjean and Magnussen at Haas for next year.

Unbeliviblé guys, unbeliviblé.

_________________
“I'm happy, but there's nothing to jump around about.”

That's uninspiring. Hulk is now well and truly in the s***.

Mate. Mate!

Very surprised by this. Haas needed to change something. Hulkenberg made perfect sense on paper. So either he's priced himself out of what Haas could afford (which is possible given they have just lost their title sponsor, and it seems like they were actually stupid enough to believe the money they were promised would materialise) or he's simply had enough of running in F1's midfield and is looking to race elsewhere/has decided it's Red Bull or nothing.

_________________
Pick 10 | 1st x3, 2nd x3, 3rd x8
2019: 11th | 2018: 5th | 2017: 6th | 2016: 8th | 2015: 2nd | 2014: 15th | 2013: 17th | 2012: 11th

Putting together bits and pieces that we know I would guess that they approached Hulk who said he was holding out on the Red Bull/Ferrari situations and wouldn't sign anything before then. Haas decided they wouldn't wait that long. It's a gamble from Hulk but not necessarily a big one. If he has to sit out 2020 rather than yet another year in the midfield is that so bad? He can have a lot of fun in that year. And of course it leaves a tiny chance of a top drive.

One possibility is also a Ferrari development driver and aiming for a race seat at Ferrari in 2021. Plus if even that fails, it's still a path to replace Kimi at Alfa in 2021.

_________________
“I'm happy, but there's nothing to jump around about.”