Silly season 2024-2025

[CMSMJ1]

Whispers about Sainz & Antonelli swap for 2025, this to play Antonelli in away from the "blast furnace " of Internet public opinion.

There is already footage of Carlos in the FW46 on a filming day (today) and with Santander sponsorships - that rumour seems far fetched?

[Farnborough]

Yes, tenuous, but possible. Speculation on my part from whispers generally available.

It didn't seem like a title sponsorship, Santander of Williams, from what was "leaked" there.

Personal sponsorship, Spanish companies are keen in positive relationships of their countrymen too.

Doubt it would cost as much to be subsidiary on Williams in comparison to more partnership of Ferrari.

Could be both Williams and Personal if Sainz was to be placed in MB team. Upside in both has potential for a sponsor.

[DChemTech]

Whispers about Sainz & Antonelli swap for 2025, this to play Antonelli in away from the "blast furnace " of Internet public opinion.

There is already footage of Carlos in the FW46 on a filming day (today) and with Santander sponsorships - that rumour seems far fetched?

Also Williams <> Mercedes is quite a different dynamic than RB <> RB2. I'd be very surprised if this swap were to happen.

[Tonino]

Yes, tenuous, but possible. Speculation on my part from whispers generally available.

It didn't seem like a title sponsorship, Santander of Williams, from what was "leaked" there.

Personal sponsorship, Spanish companies are keen in positive relationships of their countrymen too.

Doubt it would cost as much to be subsidiary on Williams in comparison to more partnership of Ferrari.

Could be both Williams and Personal if Sainz was to be placed in MB team. Upside in both has potential for a sponsor.

Good lord, the amount of rubbish spread by nobodies on twitter these days is unbelievable. The rumor was started by some Brazilian Sainz fan account, and then it reached that so-called 'journalist,' Mariana Becker. Toto has already rebuked it, too bad he didn’t laugh in her face. The Sainz misinformation spreaders should just give it up already. He’s not going to be driving for Mercedes.

[FW17]

Does Sainz get out clause is only for Merc , Ferrari and RB or some other teams as well (Alpine)?

[Farnborough]

Yes, tenuous, but possible. Speculation on my part from whispers generally available.

It didn't seem like a title sponsorship, Santander of Williams, from what was "leaked" there.

Personal sponsorship, Spanish companies are keen in positive relationships of their countrymen too.

Doubt it would cost as much to be subsidiary on Williams in comparison to more partnership of Ferrari.

Could be both Williams and Personal if Sainz was to be placed in MB team. Upside in both has potential for a sponsor.

Good lord, the amount of rubbish spread by nobodies on twitter these days is unbelievable. The rumor was started by some Brazilian Sainz fan account, and then it reached that so-called 'journalist,' Mariana Becker. Toto has already rebuked it, too bad he didn’t laugh in her face. The Sainz misinformation spreaders should just give it up already. He’s not going to be driving for Mercedes.

Unsure if you've got this wrong, or I.

The thread is "Silly" and as such will involve gossip, speculation etc, etc.

Contracts are made, traded (sometimes) and maybe subject to changes in circumstances that we are not immediately aware of.

Are you suggesting we can't talk about it ?

The alternative is that Sainz has now, through dilettante contract attention, traded himself through and possibly out of a position in his career that may have got him a shot at WDC.

[Farnborough]

Whispers about Sainz & Antonelli swap for 2025, this to play Antonelli in away from the "blast furnace " of Internet public opinion.

There is already footage of Carlos in the FW46 on a filming day (today) and with Santander sponsorships - that rumour seems far fetched?

Also Williams <> Mercedes is quite a different dynamic than RB <> RB2. I'd be very surprised if this swap were to happen.

You're ommiting precedence in that is exactly the arrangement "effectively " that had GR in holding patern for 3 years in driving within the Williams team.
Different dynamic, same effect.

Toto still involved with Ocon contract negotiations in another team that "employed" him too.

There are many little relationships in reality, whether acknowledged or not.

[DChemTech]

There is already footage of Carlos in the FW46 on a filming day (today) and with Santander sponsorships - that rumour seems far fetched?

Also Williams <> Mercedes is quite a different dynamic than RB <> RB2. I'd be very surprised if this swap were to happen.

You're ommiting precedence in that is exactly the arrangement "effectively " that had GR in holding patern for 3 years in driving within the Williams team.
Different dynamic, same effect.

Toto still involved with Ocon contract negotiations in another team that "employed" him too.

There are many little relationships in reality, whether acknowledged or not.

And same with Leclerc and Sauber. But those cases were different: there was no spot at team X, there was a spot at (friendly) team Y, and so an understanding was reached where a driver would take that spot with the outlook of moving to team X once possible. Team Y benefitted from having a good driver for the duration ánd a financially lucrative construct, most welcome especially for the troubled Williams team.

Such a situation is currently not present. Both teams have already committed to a driver, there is no vacancy. Williams is in a better place and is likely keen on taking a senior driver to help them further their objectives; trading that committed driver for a rookie would be a step back. Unless they are urgently strapped for cash or would get a very, very good deal, there's no reason for them to swap.

[Farnborough]

I'm suggesting nothing untoward, but these things have done and still do exist, however that's debated here.

Unless you're in possession of factual and internal conversation and agreement, then our opposed views are equally speculated.

Did anyone notice recently that YT coverage of Antonelli in a Merc GT3 ? race car at Imola, run by his father's team, had T Wolf apparently as one of the driver's (or looked like it was labelling to that effect) on the car ?

There's much talk and back scratching throughout the race community, we only usually see when it comes out into the open.

But isn't that the topic of this thread, running aside from more factual examination in technical focus.

[Tonino]

I'm suggesting nothing untoward, but these things have done and still do exist, however that's debated here.

Unless you're in possession of factual and internal conversation and agreement, then our opposed views are equally speculated.

Did anyone notice recently that YT coverage of Antonelli in a Merc GT3 ? race car at Imola, run by his father's team, had T Wolf apparently as one of the driver's (or looked like it was labelling to that effect) on the car ?

There's much talk and back scratching throughout the race community, we only usually see when it comes out into the open.

But isn't that the topic of this thread, running aside from more factual examination in technical focus.

Toto's GT3 test took place back in March. He's quite close with the Antonelli family, so that's not unusual. Additionally, Kimi is mentoring Toto's young son, Jack, in karting.

[Farnborough]

My answer was to Dchem initially.

But your response does confirm an incestuous interelationship nonetheless. That's a crude way of putting it, but in big corporate circles there's certainly strong opinion of arrangement like this, MB being of the "big and corporate " in definition.

You'll note I've placed my point with "I'm suggesting nothing untoward, but these things have done and still do exist, however that's debated here." Many will express the opposite view though.

The jist of this though, is that I could see and it's often come up, extremely good reason for Antonelli to be in Williams to start regardless of the contracts we see now today. That would be a very paternal way to carry out Toto's "duty of care" in legal and incestuous liability.

There's clearly great intent to both safeguard, and all the while promote Antonelli, the upshot of which may be some personal/professional conflict.

[DChemTech]

I'm suggesting nothing untoward, but these things have done and still do exist, however that's debated here.

Unless you're in possession of factual and internal conversation and agreement, then our opposed views are equally speculated.

Did anyone notice recently that YT coverage of Antonelli in a Merc GT3 ? race car at Imola, run by his father's team, had T Wolf apparently as one of the driver's (or looked like it was labelling to that effect) on the car ?

There's much talk and back scratching throughout the race community, we only usually see when it comes out into the open.

But isn't that the topic of this thread, running aside from more factual examination in technical focus.

you are free to give your perspective, and I am equally free - especially given the speculative nature of the topic - to indicate reasons why that view is unlikely. Hence my response, which has never been presented as a factual argument, just as a situational assessment.