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I'll start us off with some boring predictions.

1. Ferrari will be clear third best car of the season behind Red Bull or Mercedes. It appears they've been found out in 2019 regarding various tricks and I suspect this will set them back very substantially indeed.

2. Red Bull will be a legit contender for the WDC next year and their car will be there or thereabouts with the Mercedes.

3. McLaren will continue to be fourth best, and they'll make very real inroads, picking up several podiums and being competitive with Ferrari more often than one might think.

4. Williams will remain the worst team on the grid.

5. Ricciardo will beat Ocon comfortably and will be signed to a top team (meaning he'll leave Renault) for 2021.

6. Lewis Hamilton will win 8-9 races, surpassing Schumacher's Grands Prix win tally.

7. Lewis Hamilton will win his 7th WDC, tying Michael Schumacher.

8. Max Verstappen, despite the tremendous success incoming for Red Bull and Honda next season, will be announced to Mercedes for 2021.

9. Sainz will still beat Norris in the WDC standings.

10. Albon will not win a race next season despite being in a car very much capable of many race wins.


That'll do.

Some predictions:
- Lewis Hamilton will again dominate & win his 7th title.
- Verstappen will have a better year with more wins & a close 2nd to Hamilton in the WDC standings.
- Vettel will continue to lose ground to the front runners marking his final year in Ferrari.
- Mercedes will finish ahead of Red Bull & then Ferrari.
- McLaren will get stronger & will be firm 4th best team of 2020.
- Expect Racing Point to get stronger with Perez having some very good races. Stroll won't improve & will be his final year in F1.
- It will be a close fight between Ricciardo & Ocon. Ricciardo will win overall but Ocon will surprise.
- It will be close between Alpha Tauri, Haas & Alfa Romeo for the 2nd tier of midfield.
- Williams will struggle. Russell will completely outclass Latifi.
- Vietnam Grand Prix & Dutch Grand Prix will over the audience.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and predict that Vettel will have a much better year, both beating Leclerc in the standings and running Verstappen / Hamilton close.
If I'm wrong - this may be good night for him.

I personally feel Lewis will have to work for his seventh next year..

-Static regulations
-Ferrari trading their straight-line performance for downforce (or attempting too), along with redesigns of there ICU, could point to a highly competitive Ferrari.
-Red Bull showed circuit specific performance, as they always do. If they can translate that into being competitive at each circuit, Max will be within a shout of the title.

I predict that Lewis will have to be at his best to win number seventh, with a resurgent Bottas, a highly competitive Red Bull in the hands of Max, and a rejuvenated Sebastian Vettel - with a rear end that he can make work.

That or Mercedes and Lewis romp to a seventh.. if you believe how early they switched to development for this years car - its a potential scenario.

1) Mercedes win another WDC/WCC - although "best car" a bit like this year - it's nearly always good at any track, without always being the best outright - when it is the best it's unstoppable.
2) Despite the overall best car, Bottas only comes 3rd or 4th in the Championship.
3) Verstappen has a stellar season but the Red Bull performance is similar to this season relative to Mercedes.
4) Hamilton wins the championship fairly easily - surpassing Schumachers win record just after the break.
5) Ferrari don't have a great season, and are only 3rd best behind Mercedes and Red Bull
6) Vettel gets the better of Leclerc for the most part.
7) McLaren are now comfortably the 4th best team. Sainz and Norris consistently the best of the rest.
8 ) Renault continue to under perform
9) Williams are clearly the worst again
10) Nobody outside the big 3 gets a podium on merit/pace - rather retirements or luck

RBR will be second best team to Mercedes. Max will have his best career in F1. So he will finish at least 2nd in the standings.
Vettel and Charles will be very competitive but Vettel will win this time.
Renault will have much better year. Ocon will be very competitive to Ricciardo.
There will be a big difference again between top teams and midfield. But they will be very competitive among themselves excluding Williams.

I'm expecting 2020 to be even more competitive due to stable rules. I'm really eager to see what happens in the midfield. Wonder which team will be close to matching McLaren? Renault or Racing Point with their 1st car that will be developed with their improved financial might or Alpha Tauri!

I'm thinking that 2020 will be more like 2018 was. I'm expecting Ferrari to be right up there; they have the best power unit now and were only off the pace this year because they got their fundamental aero concept wrong and spent the year trying to fund workarounds for it via car setup. With a new car they can put this right and should take a big step forward. I do wonder though that Mercedes might have something in their pocket, they had this year's title in the bag by mid-season and would have switched focus to 2020 fairly early on.

So I'll say Ferrari will have the fastest car. Vettel and Leclerc will crash into each other at least once and both will continue to make the odd mistake, handing the title to a more consistent Hamilton. Other than that I'm expecting the order to stay largely the same given that there are no real rule changes. I'm not expecting any improvement from Albon but he'll probably keep the seat for the year purely because of a lack of alternatives.

Other than that I think Vettel will announce his retirement from the sport at the end of the season.

1. Lewis and Merc will win the WDC/WCC titles next year though it will be a bit closer than 2019.
2. Lewis will tie MS with his 7th WDC and will beat MS record of 91 Grands Prix.
3. Will be a spirited battle between Bottas, Leclerc, Vettel, & Verstappen for second in the WDC.
4. There will be more discussion about whether Ferrari is really strong enough to compete with Merc and RBR.
5. Leclerc again outperforms Vettel in the standings.
6. McLaren will continue to improve and Sainz Jr. will still dominate Lando Norris.
7. Grosjean may finish out the year in the Haas but won't be back for 2021.
8. Max will beat his personal best of three wins in a season.
9. Alex Albon will continue to look mediocre compared to Max.
10. Ocon and Ricciardo will raise Renault's fortunes but not to the level of McLaren.

1 Vettel will get another contract, because Ferrari figure he's better than Kimi and they kept him on for years when there were more prudent choices out there.
2 Hamilton will sign his final F1 contract, something like 3-5 years with Mercedes but with performance escape clauses for 2021.
3 Bottas will find himself at Sauber in 2021 (assuming the Alfa name doesn't stay, I'm not sure about this) as Kimi's replacement as the older Finn decides another new ruleset isn't for him.
4 Mercedes promote Russell - forcing that Bottas move - on the back of another dominant year at Williams which tells us all absolutely nothing about how good George really is.
5 Red Bull continue to compliment Honda, while Honda quietly drags that engine onto par with Mercedes.
6 Ferrari have the best engine but the aero continues to disappoint. Vettel struggles to adapt to the unbalanced car.
7 Hamilton wins the title but Leclerc and Verstappen are fighting for 2nd through the year, with power tracks letting down Max and Charles struggling on the twisty ones.
8 Albon finishes a lonely 6th in the standings, but retains the seat for 2021 due to a lack of alternative options for Red Bull.
9 McLaren finish 4th again, Sainz and Norris in a class of their own as a barrier between the big 3 and the midfield.
10 Renault are beaten by Racing Point and sell up again for 2021, leaving Ricciardo and Ocon in limbo. Ocon moves to Formula E.

Tufty wrote:1 Vettel will get another contract, because Ferrari figure he's better than Kimi and they kept him on for years when there were more prudent choices out there.
2 Hamilton will sign his final F1 contract, something like 3-5 years with Mercedes but with performance escape clauses for 2021.
3 Bottas will find himself at Sauber in 2021 (assuming the Alfa name doesn't stay, I'm not sure about this) as Kimi's replacement as the older Finn decides another new ruleset isn't for him.
4 Mercedes promote Russell - forcing that Bottas move - on the back of another dominant year at Williams which tells us all absolutely nothing about how good George really is.
5 Red Bull continue to compliment Honda, while Honda quietly drags that engine onto par with Mercedes.
6 Ferrari have the best engine but the aero continues to disappoint. Vettel struggles to adapt to the unbalanced car.
7 Hamilton wins the title but Leclerc and Verstappen are fighting for 2nd through the year, with power tracks letting down Max and Charles struggling on the twisty ones.
8 Albon finishes a lonely 6th in the standings, but retains the seat for 2021 due to a lack of alternative options for Red Bull.
9 McLaren finish 4th again, Sainz and Norris in a class of their own as a barrier between the big 3 and the midfield.
10 Renault are beaten by Racing Point and sell up again for 2021, leaving Ricciardo and Ocon in limbo. Ocon moves to Formula E.

I quite like this one and feel the need to comment.

1. Ferrari do have history for keeping under performing drivers if we're going to put Vettel in this category but nominally this type of driver are happy to take on the #2 driver role, Vettel wouldn't stand for that.

2. I agree with this but the longest contract that Hamilton has ever signed for Mercedes has been for 3 years and I can't see the contract being longer than that especially given Hamilton's age.

3. This is possible but just as possible would be Bottas replacing Vettel at Ferrari, Bottas after all is seen by many as the best #2 on the grid, a 2 year Ferrari contract might be more appealing than a 1 year Mercedes contract?

4. Ferrari coming a calling for Bottas is not challenged by Mercedes because that then sorts out the Russell problem for them and what to do with Bottas.

5. I see Red Bull being more competitive next season in particular because Honda now have a competitive engine and Red Bull will design a better car around the engine, I can see Verstappen as being Hamilton's closest challenger.

6. I think Ferrari will have a much better car next season and presumably still the best engine but without any questionable performance boosts that can be used in particular for qualifying, the biggest short coming will be the drivers who are presently not as good as Hamilton and Verstappen, it depends a bit of what Leclerc has in his locker?

7. That could well play out.

8. I would go along with that although given how Gasly finished the season at STR he might still be in the running?

9. I can see that playing out, of interest with Norris next year will be the first season he hasn't competed as a rookie in a single seater class, it will be interesting to see how much he can step things up?

10. I don't see Renault being beat by Racing Point whilst they have Stroll competing for them so in that respect hopefully it doesn't trigger the rest of your prophecy.

Lewis wins WDC and overtakes Schumacher for race wins

Lewis signs for Ferrari

Ricciardo dominates Ocon

1 podium for Renault

Ricciardo replaces Lewis at Merc

Worldchampion wrote:Lewis wins WDC and overtakes Schumacher for race wins

Lewis signs for Ferrari

Ricciardo dominates Ocon

1 podium for Renault

Ricciardo replaces Lewis at Merc

I think if Hamilton was to leave Mercedes then they would have a big push to get Verstappen, failing that then I could see Vettel getting preference over Ricciardo.

pokerman wrote:

Worldchampion wrote:Lewis wins WDC and overtakes Schumacher for race wins

Lewis signs for Ferrari

Ricciardo dominates Ocon

1 podium for Renault

Ricciardo replaces Lewis at Merc

I think if Hamilton was to leave Mercedes then they would have a big push to get Verstappen, failing that then I could see Vettel getting preference over Ricciardo.

Agree on Verstappen but what makes you think Vettel over Ricciardo?

pokerman wrote:

Worldchampion wrote:Lewis wins WDC and overtakes Schumacher for race wins

Lewis signs for Ferrari

Ricciardo dominates Ocon

1 podium for Renault

Ricciardo replaces Lewis at Merc

I think if Hamilton was to leave Mercedes then they would have a big push to get Verstappen, failing that then I could see Vettel getting preference over Ricciardo.

In this decade only one single driver has been signed by what anyone could reasonably describe as a top team who was not one of their junior drivers or already a world champion. That was Perez to Mclaren back in 2013.

That stat doesn't look good for Ricciardo.

JN23 wrote:

pokerman wrote:

Worldchampion wrote:Lewis wins WDC and overtakes Schumacher for race wins

Lewis signs for Ferrari

Ricciardo dominates Ocon

1 podium for Renault

Ricciardo replaces Lewis at Merc

I think if Hamilton was to leave Mercedes then they would have a big push to get Verstappen, failing that then I could see Vettel getting preference over Ricciardo.

Agree on Verstappen but what makes you think Vettel over Ricciardo?

German owned team and German 4 time WDC.

pokerman wrote:

JN23 wrote:

pokerman wrote:

Worldchampion wrote:Lewis wins WDC and overtakes Schumacher for race wins

Lewis signs for Ferrari

Ricciardo dominates Ocon

1 podium for Renault

Ricciardo replaces Lewis at Merc

I think if Hamilton was to leave Mercedes then they would have a big push to get Verstappen, failing that then I could see Vettel getting preference over Ricciardo.

Agree on Verstappen but what makes you think Vettel over Ricciardo?

German owned team and German 4 time WDC.

Hmm I’m not sure to be honest. Surely Mercedes are more bothered about getting the driver in that gives them the best chance of winning the WDC (which of course could be Vettel) rather than getting a German driver in.

JN23 wrote:

pokerman wrote:

JN23 wrote:

pokerman wrote:

Worldchampion wrote:Lewis wins WDC and overtakes Schumacher for race wins

Lewis signs for Ferrari

Ricciardo dominates Ocon

1 podium for Renault

Ricciardo replaces Lewis at Merc

I think if Hamilton was to leave Mercedes then they would have a big push to get Verstappen, failing that then I could see Vettel getting preference over Ricciardo.

Agree on Verstappen but what makes you think Vettel over Ricciardo?

German owned team and German 4 time WDC.

Hmm I’m not sure to be honest. Surely Mercedes are more bothered about getting the driver in that gives them the best chance of winning the WDC (which of course could be Vettel) rather than getting a German driver in.

I heard first port of call to replace Rosberg was the Hulk but Renault would not release him, I believe they would like a German in the car given the right situation and there's probably not much too choose between Vettel and Ricciardo, not enough in respect of Ricciardo for Mercedes not to be swayed by nationality?

pokerman wrote:

JN23 wrote:

pokerman wrote:

JN23 wrote:

pokerman wrote: I think if Hamilton was to leave Mercedes then they would have a big push to get Verstappen, failing that then I could see Vettel getting preference over Ricciardo.

Agree on Verstappen but what makes you think Vettel over Ricciardo?

German owned team and German 4 time WDC.

Hmm I’m not sure to be honest. Surely Mercedes are more bothered about getting the driver in that gives them the best chance of winning the WDC (which of course could be Vettel) rather than getting a German driver in.

I heard first port of call to replace Rosberg was the Hulk but Renault would not release him, I believe they would like a German in the car given the right situation and there's probably not much too choose between Vettel and Ricciardo, not enough in respect of Ricciardo for Mercedes not to be swayed by nationality?

Is it possible that Merc thought Hulk > Bottas and that’s why they went for Hulk first but that wasn’t possible so went for Bottas. (Poor Hulk...)

I personally would go for a Ricciardo over Vettel at the respective stages of their careers. You could be right on the German driver thing though, I’m just not 100% convinced.

pokerman wrote:

JN23 wrote:Hmm I’m not sure to be honest. Surely Mercedes are more bothered about getting the driver in that gives them the best chance of winning the WDC (which of course could be Vettel) rather than getting a German driver in.

I heard first port of call to replace Rosberg was the Hulk but Renault would not release him, I believe they would like a German in the car given the right situation and there's probably not much too choose between Vettel and Ricciardo, not enough in respect of Ricciardo for Mercedes not to be swayed by nationality?

I'm inclined to go along with your reasoning. Mercedes had two German drivers when they started out. And it was an Austrian who brought in a Briton (or rather two Austrians). Actually, I wonder whether Lauda's death will turn out to be a pivotal moment for Mercedes. They have achieved what they set out to try, so I can even see them get out of F1 altogether.

Fiki wrote:

pokerman wrote:

JN23 wrote:Hmm I’m not sure to be honest. Surely Mercedes are more bothered about getting the driver in that gives them the best chance of winning the WDC (which of course could be Vettel) rather than getting a German driver in.

I heard first port of call to replace Rosberg was the Hulk but Renault would not release him, I believe they would like a German in the car given the right situation and there's probably not much too choose between Vettel and Ricciardo, not enough in respect of Ricciardo for Mercedes not to be swayed by nationality?

I'm inclined to go along with your reasoning. Mercedes had two German drivers when they started out. And it was an Austrian who brought in a Briton (or rather two Austrians). Actually, I wonder whether Lauda's death will turn out to be a pivotal moment for Mercedes. They have achieved what they set out to try, so I can even see them get out of F1 altogether.

I can see that happening as well. And Renault may be out soon as well. And with younger generations more and more embracing climate protection and stuff, I am not sure how long Red Bull will see F1 as the appropriate marketing tool. New entries are not on the horizon and/or not wanted by FIA and Liberty Media. So, we can then see Ferrari racing Stroll and Latifi in a 10-car championship ...

I do not have the impression that FIA/FM are prepared at all for such scenarios.

JN23 wrote:

pokerman wrote:

JN23 wrote:

pokerman wrote:

JN23 wrote: Agree on Verstappen but what makes you think Vettel over Ricciardo?

German owned team and German 4 time WDC.

Hmm I’m not sure to be honest. Surely Mercedes are more bothered about getting the driver in that gives them the best chance of winning the WDC (which of course could be Vettel) rather than getting a German driver in.

I heard first port of call to replace Rosberg was the Hulk but Renault would not release him, I believe they would like a German in the car given the right situation and there's probably not much too choose between Vettel and Ricciardo, not enough in respect of Ricciardo for Mercedes not to be swayed by nationality?

Is it possible that Merc thought Hulk > Bottas and that’s why they went for Hulk first but that wasn’t possible so went for Bottas. (Poor Hulk...)

I personally would go for a Ricciardo over Vettel at the respective stages of their careers. You could be right on the German driver thing though, I’m just not 100% convinced.

I agree that Ricciardo might be seen as the better driver but even then not enough for Mercedes to choose him over Vettel.

Fiki wrote:

pokerman wrote:

JN23 wrote:Hmm I’m not sure to be honest. Surely Mercedes are more bothered about getting the driver in that gives them the best chance of winning the WDC (which of course could be Vettel) rather than getting a German driver in.

I heard first port of call to replace Rosberg was the Hulk but Renault would not release him, I believe they would like a German in the car given the right situation and there's probably not much too choose between Vettel and Ricciardo, not enough in respect of Ricciardo for Mercedes not to be swayed by nationality?

I'm inclined to go along with your reasoning. Mercedes had two German drivers when they started out. And it was an Austrian who brought in a Briton (or rather two Austrians). Actually, I wonder whether Lauda's death will turn out to be a pivotal moment for Mercedes. They have achieved what they set out to try, so I can even see them get out of F1 altogether.

There was a rumour that they might stop sponsoring the race team although the engine program will continue.

I guess all of this should be in a 2021 thread really but following on from what's being said is that Vettel is shortly to begin talks with Ferrari about a new contract, both parties seemingly are keen to carry on so that being the case all we are doing really is blowing a lot of hot air.

If both parties continue on then I would be guessing that's going to freeze the driver market post 2020?

I think it'll be almost a repeat of 2019. Red Bull will disappoint, Ferrari may look promising but flounder. Max moves to Mercedes after 4 wins at Red Bull. Vettel makes mistakes and is fired by Ferrari.

pokerman wrote:I guess all of this should be in a 2021 thread really but following on from what's being said is that Vettel is shortly to begin talks with Ferrari about a new contract, both parties seemingly are keen to carry on so that being the case all we are doing really is blowing a lot of hot air.

If both parties continue on then I would be guessing that's going to freeze the driver market post 2020?

Agreed, speculation about the 2021 season does not belong in this thread. The grid is set (at least for now) for 2020 and that is what we are given for speculation.

A repeat of 2019.

Mercedes 1st.

Redbull-Ferrari 2nd and 3rd.

The rest.

Williams last.

There I don't even need to watch it.