Silly season 2024-2025

[Jurgen von Diaz]

Red Bull can still win all championships with Pérez so long as the car is best, but here is the question: What happens when the car isn't superior? Verstappen has the balls to fight for wins, but meanwhile, Pérez is hardly even getting to the podium. So Sainz, the seat is yours.

[Just_a_fan]

Red Bull can still win all championships with Pérez so long as the car is best, but here is the question: What happens when the car isn't superior? Verstappen has the balls to fight for wins, but meanwhile, Pérez is hardly even getting to the podium. So Sainz, the seat is yours.

Maybe without Max there, Red Bull would listen to Perez's wish list for car development i.e. reducing the "massively on the nose" thing they seem to have going on.

[Jurgen von Diaz]

Red Bull can still win all championships with Pérez so long as the car is best, but here is the question: What happens when the car isn't superior? Verstappen has the balls to fight for wins, but meanwhile, Pérez is hardly even getting to the podium. So Sainz, the seat is yours.

Maybe without Max there, Red Bull would listen to Perez's wish list for car development i.e. reducing the "massively on the nose" thing they seem to have going on.

Well, last season, when Pérez was struggling, he wanted the older version of the car, which was heavier. Naturally Red Bull couldn't do that and surely, we can say that this is not the right way for the team. They have Max, who can make the car dominant, teammates are saying, "How the hell?"

[deadhead]

Corriere dello Sport now reporting Sainz only has a real offer and a real shot at Audi, RB and Mercedes don't seem to be an option any more. What's more, they say he already accepted the offer this weekend and officially declined Alpine and Williams. Link is there only for source in Italian

https://www.formulapassion.it/f1/f1-new ... a-che-audi

Considering how highly regarded he is currently, I'm surprised that non of the top 4 teams want to give him a seat.

McLaren is understandable, they have a great duo.
Ferrari obviously prefers LEC/HAM over him.
Mercedes have an empty seat, still no go.
Red Bull have a subpar driver they can easily replace, still no go.

I'll be disappointed if Perez gets the seat tbh. If the others get closer, it cant be Max vs 2 all season.

VER is pretty comfy with Perez in the other seat so why disturb the balance I guess..

[AR3-GP]

Corriere dello Sport now reporting Sainz only has a real offer and a real shot at Audi, RB and Mercedes don't seem to be an option any more. What's more, they say he already accepted the offer this weekend and officially declined Alpine and Williams. Link is there only for source in Italian

https://www.formulapassion.it/f1/f1-new ... a-che-audi

Considering how highly regarded he is currently, I'm surprised that non of the top 4 teams want to give him a seat.

McLaren is understandable, they have a great duo.
Ferrari obviously prefers LEC/HAM over him.
Mercedes have an empty seat, still no go.
Red Bull have a subpar driver they can easily replace, still no go.

I'll be disappointed if Perez gets the seat tbh. If the others get closer, it cant be Max vs 2 all season.

VER is pretty comfy with Perez in the other seat so why disturb the balance I guess..

Considering Sainz's gap to Leclerc when it's not raining, Sainz would hardly be sufficient against a Norris-Piastri duo to keep the WCC.

If RB wanted to keep the WCC, they essentially needed to take one of Norris or Piastri away from Mclaren (therefore weakening Mclaren).

[codetower]

I still think Red Bull may end up promoting Yuki into that 2nd seat, and add someone like Lawson into the VCARB seat. As far as Sainz, it does look like Audi is his best (only?) option.

[Vanja #66]

Considering how highly regarded he is currently, I'm surprised that non of the top 4 teams want to give him a seat.

Approaching the end of this episode, I feel like I should be surprised, but I don't think I am... Ferrari and McLaren aside, AMR has Alonso and they are sure he is still as quick as ever. But more and more mistakes creep up as age shows itself, it is inevitable.

Red Bull was never a realistic shot if Max was staying. Horner wouldn't do something as stupid as antagonising Max with a driver that would be breathing down his neck more often than not.

However, I really did not expect Wolff to be so shortsighted to trully care only about either getting Max or catering to a not so impressive youngster (so far) in an effort to make a new Merc brand Champ in a few years. Seems like all Wolff cares about now is brand image and it wouldn't look so good to take the driver that Ferrari let go and replaced with Merc's decade-long star.

[Gillian]

Red Bull can still win all championships with Pérez so long as the car is best, but here is the question: What happens when the car isn't superior? Verstappen has the balls to fight for wins, but meanwhile, Pérez is hardly even getting to the podium. So Sainz, the seat is yours.

Maybe without Max there, Red Bull would listen to Perez's wish list for car development i.e. reducing the "massively on the nose" thing they seem to have going on.

2022 already shows you that Perez is still slower than Verstappen in an understeering boat that Perez prefers.

[Gillian]

Considering how highly regarded he is currently, I'm surprised that non of the top 4 teams want to give him a seat.

Approaching the end of this episode, I feel like I should be surprised, but I don't think I am... Ferrari and McLaren aside, AMR has Alonso and they are sure he is still as quick as ever. But more and more mistakes creep up as age shows itself, it is inevitable.

Red Bull was never a realistic shot if Max was staying. Horner wouldn't do something as stupid as antagonising Max with a driver that would be breathing down his neck more often than not.

However, I really did not expect Wolff to be so shortsighted to trully care only about either getting Max or catering to a not so impressive youngster (so far) in an effort to make a new Merc brand Champ in a few years. Seems like all Wolff cares about now is brand image and it wouldn't look so good to take the driver that Ferrari let go and replaced with Merc's decade-long star.

Because having a driver possibly costing you the WCC is a better option than that?

[ringo]

Mercedes would take Sainz if he took a 1 year deal. But knowing Sainz he would want a multi year deal. And multi year doesnt work for Toto.
Toto wants to keep tempting Max as long as possible abd be prepared to even talk to a Norris or Piastri or Antonelli. Sainz kills all of those options if he gets more than a year.
I think Mercedes would take him but just not multi year.
Redbull will promote Yuki i feel. He is driving very well this year and scoring thr lion share of the points for VCARB.

[Vanja #66]

Because having a driver possibly costing you the WCC is a better option than that?

WCC is a mere consolation prize when you lose WDC

[FW17]

Mercedes would take Sainz if he took a 1 year deal. But knowing Sainz he would want a multi year deal. And multi year doesnt work for Toto.
Toto wants to keep tempting Max as long as possible abd be prepared to even talk to a Norris or Piastri or Antonelli. Sainz kills all of those options if he gets more than a year.
I think Mercedes would take him but just not multi year.
Redbull will promote Yuki i feel. He is driving very well this year and scoring thr lion share of the points for VCARB.

Sainz should take the one year contract with Merc if it is on the table. 2026 for George is not assured in any way or form.

[Gillian]

Because having a driver possibly costing you the WCC is a better option than that?

WCC is a mere consolation prize when you lose WDC

So Sainz would be such an improvement over Perez that it could cost Verstappen the WDC?

[Vanja #66]

So Sainz would be such an improvement over Perez that it could cost Verstappen the WDC?

The right question is - why risk it?

[Jurgen von Diaz]

So Sainz would be such an improvement over Perez that it could cost Verstappen the WDC?

The right question is - why risk it?

What if Red Bull isn't superior next season, and Pérez is battling in the midfield while Max is battling for wins? Next season, Sainz won't be available anymoore.

Mercedes faced a similar situation in 2021. They had Russell available and took him. Where would Bottas have been in 2022? Certainly not ahead of Hamilton.