Silly Season 2021

[Seanie]

.

Channel 4 had an interview with the HAAS boss who said that money was tight, the present car is no good and they need time and money to develop a decent 2022 car. The 2021 car is not going to be a great improvement on today's car.

They need to rebalance the money between drivers and car development, spending relatively more on car development.

When i first read that both drivers were going, presumably leaving F1, was may be that entire HAAS F1 team may not be far behind...

[UnlikeUday]

Russell saying the rumours about Perez replacing Russell at Williams are a startup from Perez's camp so Red Bull get pressurized into signing him.
https://the-race.com/formula-1/russell- ... -red-bull/

[jimmyj]

The way for Haas to go should be Hulkenberg and a young driver. Mick Schumacher is favourite for one seat. Having two kids wouldn't be a good idea. I think we all knew Grosjean was going, but I thought KMag had a chance of staying.

Hulk and Mick would be a great pairing. Certainly would drum up some interest in the team.

Yes please!

[Paolo_Lasardi]

Russell saying the rumours about Perez replacing Russell at Williams are a startup from Perez's camp so Red Bull get pressurized into signing him.
https://the-race.com/formula-1/russell- ... -red-bull/

... and they also asked Roberts to reject confirming Russell ... ?

Even though unlikely, I would like to see a Perez/Russell line-up.
Latifi just wastes a seat.

[Exediron]

Russell saying the rumours about Perez replacing Russell at Williams are a startup from Perez's camp so Red Bull get pressurized into signing him.
https://the-race.com/formula-1/russell- ... -red-bull/

... and they also asked Roberts to reject confirming Russell ... ?

Even though unlikely, I would like to see a Perez/Russell line-up.
Latifi just wastes a seat.

Replacing Latifi with Perez seems like a perfect solution for all involved, except Latifi. Perez is quicker, and brings substantial backing to cover any loss of income from losing Latifi's sponsors.

Replacing Russell with Perez I can also understand, since it would boost up the bottom line, but it's a cowardly decision and I'd hate the new management for it.

[mikeyg123]

Russell saying the rumours about Perez replacing Russell at Williams are a startup from Perez's camp so Red Bull get pressurized into signing him.
https://the-race.com/formula-1/russell- ... -red-bull/

... and they also asked Roberts to reject confirming Russell ... ?

Even though unlikely, I would like to see a Perez/Russell line-up.
Latifi just wastes a seat.

Replacing Latifi with Perez seems like a perfect solution for all involved, except Latifi. Perez is quicker, and brings substantial backing to cover any loss of income from losing Latifi's sponsors.

Replacing Russell with Perez I can also understand, since it would boost up the bottom line, but it's a cowardly decision and I'd hate the new management for it.

You can see the logic Russell is scoring no points and brings no money. He is also going off to Merc, probably after next season.

Perez brings money and will score at least as many as zero points. He will also sign on for more than a year. When Russell leaves next year will a driver as good as Perez be available?

Now that being said the truth is Russell has a contract and if you're going to be taken seriously in business you should honor contracts. Russell should stay.

[pokerman]

Russell saying the rumours about Perez replacing Russell at Williams are a startup from Perez's camp so Red Bull get pressurized into signing him.
https://the-race.com/formula-1/russell- ... -red-bull/

... and they also asked Roberts to reject confirming Russell ... ?

Even though unlikely, I would like to see a Perez/Russell line-up.
Latifi just wastes a seat.

Replacing Latifi with Perez seems like a perfect solution for all involved, except Latifi. Perez is quicker, and brings substantial backing to cover any loss of income from losing Latifi's sponsors.

Replacing Russell with Perez I can also understand, since it would boost up the bottom line, but it's a cowardly decision and I'd hate the new management for it.

You can see the logic Russell is scoring no points and brings no money. He is also going off to Merc, probably after next season.

Perez brings money and will score at least as many as zero points. He will also sign on for more than a year. When Russell leaves next year will a driver as good as Perez be available?

Now that being said the truth is Russell has a contract and if you're going to be taken seriously in business you should honor contracts. Russell should stay.

In respect to Perez did they not mange to trigger a clause in his contract, I wonder how that works with Russell?

[Exediron]

In respect to Perez did they not mange to trigger a clause in his contract, I wonder how that works with Russell?

I thought they just bought him out, to be honest. F1 contracts are fragile things, and although you hear all sorts of stuff about triggers and clauses I tend to think the teams just break them whenever they feel like it. At the end of the day, a contract is just money -- and they've got lots of that.

[mikeyg123]

Russell saying the rumours about Perez replacing Russell at Williams are a startup from Perez's camp so Red Bull get pressurized into signing him.
https://the-race.com/formula-1/russell- ... -red-bull/

... and they also asked Roberts to reject confirming Russell ... ?

Even though unlikely, I would like to see a Perez/Russell line-up.
Latifi just wastes a seat.

Replacing Latifi with Perez seems like a perfect solution for all involved, except Latifi. Perez is quicker, and brings substantial backing to cover any loss of income from losing Latifi's sponsors.

Replacing Russell with Perez I can also understand, since it would boost up the bottom line, but it's a cowardly decision and I'd hate the new management for it.

You can see the logic Russell is scoring no points and brings no money. He is also going off to Merc, probably after next season.

Perez brings money and will score at least as many as zero points. He will also sign on for more than a year. When Russell leaves next year will a driver as good as Perez be available?

Now that being said the truth is Russell has a contract and if you're going to be taken seriously in business you should honor contracts. Russell should stay.

In respect to Perez did they not mange to trigger a clause in his contract, I wonder how that works with Russell?

They just paid Perez's contract out. They'll be a clause in Russell's that says they can terminate it for x amount as well.

[UnlikeUday]

I've got a friend on another forum who knows 1 journalist that is connected to the F1 paddock.

As per the hearing, there are 3 journalists that are saying Perez is close to signing up with Red Bull!

If You guys remember in 1 of Perez's latest I terviews last weekend, he did say hopefully I'll be able to give some news soon.

[pokerman]

I've got a friend on another forum who knows 1 journalist that is connected to the F1 paddock.

As per the hearing, there are 3 journalists that are saying Perez is close to signing up with Red Bull!

If You guys remember in 1 of Perez's latest I terviews last weekend, he did say hopefully I'll be able to give some news soon.

I hope so and that then keeps Russell in F1.

[UnlikeUday]

I've got a friend on another forum who knows 1 journalist that is connected to the F1 paddock.

As per the hearing, there are 3 journalists that are saying Perez is close to signing up with Red Bull!

If You guys remember in 1 of Perez's latest I terviews last weekend, he did say hopefully I'll be able to give some news soon.

I hope so and that then keeps Russell in F1.

As per what I've heard from a reliable source, it's good news for Checo, Hulk & Russell!

[pokerman]

I've got a friend on another forum who knows 1 journalist that is connected to the F1 paddock.

As per the hearing, there are 3 journalists that are saying Perez is close to signing up with Red Bull!

If You guys remember in 1 of Perez's latest I terviews last weekend, he did say hopefully I'll be able to give some news soon.

I hope so and that then keeps Russell in F1.

As per what I've heard from a reliable source, it's good news for Checo, Hulk & Russell!

I'm baffled to were Hulk might be going, some other reliable sources can't be that reliable then?

[mikeyg123]

I've got a friend on another forum who knows 1 journalist that is connected to the F1 paddock.

As per the hearing, there are 3 journalists that are saying Perez is close to signing up with Red Bull!

If You guys remember in 1 of Perez's latest I terviews last weekend, he did say hopefully I'll be able to give some news soon.

I hope so and that then keeps Russell in F1.

As per what I've heard from a reliable source, it's good news for Checo, Hulk & Russell!

It's good news for Hulk?

[UnlikeUday]

I've got a friend on another forum who knows 1 journalist that is connected to the F1 paddock.

As per the hearing, there are 3 journalists that are saying Perez is close to signing up with Red Bull!

If You guys remember in 1 of Perez's latest I terviews last weekend, he did say hopefully I'll be able to give some news soon.

I hope so and that then keeps Russell in F1.

As per what I've heard from a reliable source, it's good news for Checo, Hulk & Russell!

It's good news for Hulk?

Haas.

[pokerman]

I've got a friend on another forum who knows 1 journalist that is connected to the F1 paddock.

As per the hearing, there are 3 journalists that are saying Perez is close to signing up with Red Bull!

If You guys remember in 1 of Perez's latest I terviews last weekend, he did say hopefully I'll be able to give some news soon.

I hope so and that then keeps Russell in F1.

As per what I've heard from a reliable source, it's good news for Checo, Hulk & Russell!

It's good news for Hulk?

Haas.

Haas was supposed to be Mazepin and Schumacher.

[UnlikeUday]

I hope so and that then keeps Russell in F1.

As per what I've heard from a reliable source, it's good news for Checo, Hulk & Russell!

It's good news for Hulk?

Haas.

Haas was supposed to be Mazepin and Schumacher.

Yeah I know that & I was too saying it myself. But things have changed behind the scenes here & there. Hulk confirmation is not as sure shot (yet) as much as Checo's!

[mikeyg123]

As per what I've heard from a reliable source, it's good news for Checo, Hulk & Russell!

It's good news for Hulk?

Haas.

Haas was supposed to be Mazepin and Schumacher.

Yeah I know that & I was too saying it myself. But things have changed behind the scenes here & there. Hulk confirmation is not as sure shot (yet) as much as Checo's!

If we end up with Perez and Hulk both on the grid that will be great.

[SlipstreamF1]

The last time Mercedes, Ferrari or Red Bull hired a driver that they neither had any kind of prior relationship with or was a world champion already was Nico Rosberg back in 2010.

The days when a driver could prove themselves in the midfield before getting a crack at a top drive has long since past and I don't expect that to change in 2021. I can't see anything other than the status quo being maintained.

Nico raced for Mercedes-McLaren in karting for 2 years, spending 1 year with Lewis as his teammate.

[mikeyg123]

The last time Mercedes, Ferrari or Red Bull hired a driver that they neither had any kind of prior relationship with or was a world champion already was Nico Rosberg back in 2010.

The days when a driver could prove themselves in the midfield before getting a crack at a top drive has long since past and I don't expect that to change in 2021. I can't see anything other than the status quo being maintained.

Nico raced for Mercedes-McLaren in karting for 2 years, spending 1 year with Lewis as his teammate.

Don't quote that FFS. Quote something where I turned out to be right

[JN23]

Gasly confirmed at Alpha Tauri for 2020: https://twitter.com/alphataurif1/status ... 00705?s=21

Edit: confirmed for 2021, oops

[Harpo]

Gasly confirmed at Alpha Tauri for 2020: https://twitter.com/alphataurif1/status ... 00705?s=21

It's about time, 2020 is almost over...

[JN23]

Gasly confirmed at Alpha Tauri for 2020: https://twitter.com/alphataurif1/status ... 00705?s=21

It's about time, 2020 is almost over...

Just in case anyone was in doubt and weren’t sure if Gasly had actually been driving for AT this year

[Harpo]

Gasly confirmed at Alpha Tauri for 2020: https://twitter.com/alphataurif1/status ... 00705?s=21

It's about time, 2020 is almost over...

Just in case anyone was in doubt and weren’t sure if Gasly had actually been driving for AT this year

The current epidemic of double on the internet required this confirmation...

[UnlikeUday]

Gasly getting retained just will help fix all the pieces of the silly season puzzle!

[Harpo]

Gasly getting retained just will help fix all the pieces of the silly season puzzle!

The last thing he should have wished is going back to RBR. At least he gets one more year to find a seat outside of the Red Bull roller coaster.

[DOLOMITE]

Good for Gasly they seem a good fit. Real dilemma for Red Bull though. With Gasly staying put at AT , red Bulls options for Albon are even more more difficult. If they were to put Albon in alongside him, someone has to lose... If Gasly emerges the better driver RB look bad for 2 questionable promotions, if Albon comes out on top it's not like they'd promote him again so what would be the point?...
I think as a promotion step having AT then RBR works OK for the driver program, but this approach of swapping them round not so much. I would imagine ther has been some review of how they use the program in future, no one has come out of this well.

[Option or Prime]

Good for Gasly they seem a good fit. Real dilemma for Red Bull though. With Gasly staying put at AT , red Bulls options for Albon are even more more difficult. If they were to put Albon in alongside him, someone has to lose... If Gasly emerges the better driver RB look bad for 2 questionable promotions, if Albon comes out on top it's not like they'd promote him again so what would be the point?...
I think as a promotion step having AT then RBR works OK for the driver program, but this approach of swapping them round not so much. I would imagine ther has been some review of how they use the program in future, no one has come out of this well.

I think even RBR have doubts about this program, whats the point if as we suspect they simply bring in an experienced outside driver? (Perez).

[pokerman]

The last time Mercedes, Ferrari or Red Bull hired a driver that they neither had any kind of prior relationship with or was a world champion already was Nico Rosberg back in 2010.

The days when a driver could prove themselves in the midfield before getting a crack at a top drive has long since past and I don't expect that to change in 2021. I can't see anything other than the status quo being maintained.

Nico raced for Mercedes-McLaren in karting for 2 years, spending 1 year with Lewis as his teammate.

I think it was 2 years as teammates?

[pokerman]

The last time Mercedes, Ferrari or Red Bull hired a driver that they neither had any kind of prior relationship with or was a world champion already was Nico Rosberg back in 2010.

The days when a driver could prove themselves in the midfield before getting a crack at a top drive has long since past and I don't expect that to change in 2021. I can't see anything other than the status quo being maintained.

Nico raced for Mercedes-McLaren in karting for 2 years, spending 1 year with Lewis as his teammate.

Don't quote that FFS. Quote something where I turned out to be right

Also it's looking like Perez might get signed by Red Bull.

[UnlikeUday]

The last time Mercedes, Ferrari or Red Bull hired a driver that they neither had any kind of prior relationship with or was a world champion already was Nico Rosberg back in 2010.

The days when a driver could prove themselves in the midfield before getting a crack at a top drive has long since past and I don't expect that to change in 2021. I can't see anything other than the status quo being maintained.

Nico raced for Mercedes-McLaren in karting for 2 years, spending 1 year with Lewis as his teammate.

Don't quote that FFS. Quote something where I turned out to be right

Also it's looking like Perez might get signed by Red Bull.

As per the new rumour coming from my friend's source, he may be announced officially on coming Monday.

[Siao7]

The last time Mercedes, Ferrari or Red Bull hired a driver that they neither had any kind of prior relationship with or was a world champion already was Nico Rosberg back in 2010.

The days when a driver could prove themselves in the midfield before getting a crack at a top drive has long since past and I don't expect that to change in 2021. I can't see anything other than the status quo being maintained.

Nico raced for Mercedes-McLaren in karting for 2 years, spending 1 year with Lewis as his teammate.

Don't quote that FFS. Quote something where I turned out to be right

Also it's looking like Perez might get signed by Red Bull.

As per the new rumour coming from my friend's source, he may be announced officially on coming Monday.

It's an upgrade from Tracing Point I guess, but I am worried he will be destroyed by Max.

[Exediron]

It's an upgrade from Tracing Point I guess, but I am worried he will be destroyed by Max.

He's gotta try. At this point in his career he doesn't have time to kill; he needs to risk it.

He already went up against Button and matched him, so we'll see. If Max embarrasses Perez, I think we'll know there's something off about that #2 Red Bull car. I expect Max to beat him, but not humiliate him.

[Siao7]

It's an upgrade from Tracing Point I guess, but I am worried he will be destroyed by Max.

He's gotta try. At this point in his career he doesn't have time to kill; he needs to risk it.

He already went up against Button and matched him, so we'll see. If Max embarrasses Perez, I think we'll know there's something off about that #2 Red Bull car. I expect Max to beat him, but not humiliate him.

You are right, probably a beating but not exactly a humiliation is the more possible outcome. I rate Max faster than Jenson in pretty much every aspect of their driving, but then again Perez is more mature and possibly better than when in McLaren. We'll see, it will be a formidable duo nonetheless.

[mikeyg123]

Nico raced for Mercedes-McLaren in karting for 2 years, spending 1 year with Lewis as his teammate.

Don't quote that FFS. Quote something where I turned out to be right

Also it's looking like Perez might get signed by Red Bull.

As per the new rumour coming from my friend's source, he may be announced officially on coming Monday.

It's an upgrade from Tracing Point I guess, but I am worried he will be destroyed by Max.

It's a shot to nothing. He's got nothing to lose and the bar is set so low he might be able to get over it. At this point if he doesn't get the Red Bull gig his F1 career in terms of achieving success is over anyway.

Worst case scenario he's destroyed by Max but at least he's racing further up the order than he would be in a Haas or a Williams.

[Siao7]

Don't quote that FFS. Quote something where I turned out to be right

Also it's looking like Perez might get signed by Red Bull.

As per the new rumour coming from my friend's source, he may be announced officially on coming Monday.

It's an upgrade from Tracing Point I guess, but I am worried he will be destroyed by Max.

It's a shot to nothing. He's got nothing to lose and the bar is set so low he might be able to get over it. At this point if he doesn't get the Red Bull gig his F1 career in terms of achieving success is over anyway.

Worst case scenario he's destroyed by Max but at least he's racing further up the order than he would be in a Haas or a Williams.

Yeah, I guess he will be ok either way

[TheGiantHogweed]

Don't quote that FFS. Quote something where I turned out to be right

Also it's looking like Perez might get signed by Red Bull.

As per the new rumour coming from my friend's source, he may be announced officially on coming Monday.

It's an upgrade from Tracing Point I guess, but I am worried he will be destroyed by Max.

It's a shot to nothing. He's got nothing to lose and the bar is set so low he might be able to get over it. At this point if he doesn't get the Red Bull gig his F1 career in terms of achieving success is over anyway.

Worst case scenario he's destroyed by Max but at least he's racing further up the order than he would be in a Haas or a Williams.

I think most would consider Bottas and Perez to be on a similar level, and probably the same situation with Verstappen and Hamilton but with a higher level. If Perez went to Red Bull with a team that probably currently does everything Verstappen's way, with Perez being new to the team, I can only imagine the gap will be as big or bigger than between Hamilton and Bottas. But saying that, that would be nothing like as big as the gap between Verstappen vs Gasly / Albon.

[JN23]

Also it's looking like Perez might get signed by Red Bull.

As per the new rumour coming from my friend's source, he may be announced officially on coming Monday.

It's an upgrade from Tracing Point I guess, but I am worried he will be destroyed by Max.

It's a shot to nothing. He's got nothing to lose and the bar is set so low he might be able to get over it. At this point if he doesn't get the Red Bull gig his F1 career in terms of achieving success is over anyway.

Worst case scenario he's destroyed by Max but at least he's racing further up the order than he would be in a Haas or a Williams.

I think most would consider Bottas and Perez to be on a similar level, and probably the same situation with Verstappen and Hamilton but with a higher level. If Perez went to Red Bull with a team that probably currently does everything Verstappen's way, with Perez being new to the team, I can only imagine the gap will be as big or bigger than between Hamilton and Bottas. But saying that, that would be nothing like as big as the gap between Verstappen vs Gasly / Albon.

If you’re talking qualifying gap between Verstappen and Perez then absolutely it will be bigger than Hamilton-Bottas, but that’s because I don’t think Perez is a particularly good qualifier and Bottas is.

Race performance will be more interesting and that’s where Perez’s reputation comes from. I guess finishing fourth every race behind Verstappen would be considered a success following the struggles of Gasly and Albon.

[mikeyg123]

Also it's looking like Perez might get signed by Red Bull.

As per the new rumour coming from my friend's source, he may be announced officially on coming Monday.

It's an upgrade from Tracing Point I guess, but I am worried he will be destroyed by Max.

It's a shot to nothing. He's got nothing to lose and the bar is set so low he might be able to get over it. At this point if he doesn't get the Red Bull gig his F1 career in terms of achieving success is over anyway.

Worst case scenario he's destroyed by Max but at least he's racing further up the order than he would be in a Haas or a Williams.

I think most would consider Bottas and Perez to be on a similar level, and probably the same situation with Verstappen and Hamilton but with a higher level. If Perez went to Red Bull with a team that probably currently does everything Verstappen's way, with Perez being new to the team, I can only imagine the gap will be as big or bigger than between Hamilton and Bottas. But saying that, that would be nothing like as big as the gap between Verstappen vs Gasly / Albon.

The gap in quali will definately be bigger than the gap between Hamilton and Bottas. Quali is Perez's biggest weakness and the Red Bull is far harder to drive than the Merc so the gap between drivers gets exaggerated.

[Siao7]

As per the new rumour coming from my friend's source, he may be announced officially on coming Monday.

It's an upgrade from Tracing Point I guess, but I am worried he will be destroyed by Max.

It's a shot to nothing. He's got nothing to lose and the bar is set so low he might be able to get over it. At this point if he doesn't get the Red Bull gig his F1 career in terms of achieving success is over anyway.

Worst case scenario he's destroyed by Max but at least he's racing further up the order than he would be in a Haas or a Williams.

I think most would consider Bottas and Perez to be on a similar level, and probably the same situation with Verstappen and Hamilton but with a higher level. If Perez went to Red Bull with a team that probably currently does everything Verstappen's way, with Perez being new to the team, I can only imagine the gap will be as big or bigger than between Hamilton and Bottas. But saying that, that would be nothing like as big as the gap between Verstappen vs Gasly / Albon.

If you’re talking qualifying gap between Verstappen and Perez then absolutely it will be bigger than Hamilton-Bottas, but that’s because I don’t think Perez is a particularly good qualifier and Bottas is.

Race performance will be more interesting and that’s where Perez’s reputation comes from. I guess finishing fourth every race behind Verstappen would be considered a success following the struggles of Gasly and Albon.

Bottas fights Hamilton on equal footing though. And has the wins to prove it. In RB it is pretty much all about Max, I think this is what TGH is possibly referring to.