Silly Season 2018/2019

[langwadt]

I only see Ocon paired up with a cheaper Merc engine deal. Would that mean Mclaren back with Merc PU? Sounds unlikely to me.

Or merc using him to get insider knowledge of the renault PU.

but why, some morbid curiosity of why Renault can't make it work?

[ian_s]

but why, some morbid curiosity of why Renault can't make it work?

knowledge is knowledge, even if its knowledge of what not to do.

[KeiKo403]

I know I've said elsewhere about Lance Stroll probably ending up in a FI seat this season since Papa Stroll brought him an early xmas present but I can't actually see it happening this season. I see it more likely that papa stroll would want to protect his sons image, so wouldn't put him up against Perez or Ocon mid season.

I think he'll leave him where he is (beating Sirotkin) and then next season do a deal with Merc on engines for rookie Russell to be driving alongside Lance.

Ocon to McLaren
Perez & Sirotkin at Williams

[Schuttelberg]

If I were Red Bull, I'd try all I could to get Vandoorne in a Toro Rosso. I think he's massively underrated and driving a bad car which Alonso is flattering!

[KeiKo403]

Is there a chance now that Honda have 4 cars on the grid they may want to press for a Japanese driver a little more then they could before. The Red Bull junior programme seems to have dried up a little at the moment so they can either pay for a driver or potentially sell one of their seats to Honda.

[kptaylor]

I don't get the opinions that Merc juniors will go to a Renault-powered team or to a Ferrrari-powered team. I think it would have to be Ocon remains at FI or goes to Williams in exchange for a discounted motor supply or just a merit alone. Out of all of these ideas I think Norris and/or Vandoorne to STR is the only possible surprise move. This only to help free up Key and to possibly get info on the gearboxes McLaren previously used with the Honda engines. (Not sure if this tech is still needed though.)

Perez could be the odd man out unless he moves to Haas. I think being an Americas team could be a decent marketing angle.

[Ground Effect]

I don't get the opinions that Merc juniors will go to a Renault-powered team or to a Ferrrari-powered team. I think it would have to be Ocon remains at FI or goes to Williams in exchange for a discounted motor supply or just a merit alone. Out of all of these ideas I think Norris and/or Vandoorne to STR is the only possible surprise move. This only to help free up Key and to possibly get info on the gearboxes McLaren previously used with the Honda engines. (Not sure if this tech is still needed though.)

Perez could be the odd man out unless he moves to Haas. I think being an Americas team could be a decent marketing angle.

Perez has said he's close to extending with FI, so if Stroll moves, then Ocon is out. Williams may seem like the most likely/logical destination, but we don't know what has been agreed with Kubica. It's not impossible that his contract states he's assured a seat in the event of an opening. I have no idea, I'm just assuming, since Ocon has been more strongly linked with Mclaren than Williams. Last year Pascal Wehrlein was put in a Ferrari powered Sauber.

[NathanOlder]

If I were Red Bull, I'd try all I could to get Vandoorne in a Toro Rosso. I think he's massively underrated and driving a bad car which Alonso is flattering!

Totally agree. Vandoorne is better than Gasly

[roon]

If I were Red Bull, I'd try all I could to get Vandoorne in a Toro Rosso. I think he's massively underrated and driving a bad car which Alonso is flattering!

Should he not then be flattering it as well?

[Zynerji]

If I were Red Bull, I'd try all I could to get Vandoorne in a Toro Rosso. I think he's massively underrated and driving a bad car which Alonso is flattering!

Should he not then be flattering it as well?

not if he isn't given the same updates.

[GPR-A duplicate2]

If I were Red Bull, I'd try all I could to get Vandoorne in a Toro Rosso. I think he's massively underrated and driving a bad car which Alonso is flattering!

Should he not then be flattering it as well?

not if he isn't given the same updates.

And how often has that been the case?

[WaikeCU]

Should he not then be flattering it as well?

not if he isn't given the same updates.

And how often has that been the case?

Of course he won't be fast enough if he's driving around with a damaged chassis for couple of races. I mean how does a team like Mclaren not able to find about that? I remember Grosjean had a similar chassis issue seasons ago at Lotus-Renault I believe. As a driver, it's a big handicap if your car is not able to reach the mileage of a whole race weekend without any technical issues nowadays. That handicap impacts the following race weekends as well.

[alexx_88]

If I recall correctly Vandoorne hasn't been off Alonso's pace more so than Massa or Kimi have. Remember Massa in 2012? Alonso was battling for the WDC and he was nowhere. Kimi came on a very high horse from Lotus in 2014 only to be outraced and out-qualified by Alonso with a respectable margin. Why is it surprising that a 2x WDC and probably the most consistent driver on the grid can beat a rookie? We know that this is Alonso's most impressive quality, the ability to extract the maximum out of bad or inconsistent cars and to do it consistently week after week, without mistakes.

I think Vandoorne is severely underrated and racing against a different driver will be a big boost to his career. Torro Rosso move seems the most likely and mutually beneficial to everyone.

[WaikeCU]

If I recall correctly Vandoorne hasn't been off Alonso's pace more so than Massa or Kimi have. Remember Massa in 2012? Alonso was battling for the WDC and he was nowhere. Kimi came on a very high horse from Lotus in 2014 only to be outraced and out-qualified by Alonso with a respectable margin. Why is it surprising that a 2x WDC and probably the most consistent driver on the grid can beat a rookie? We know that this is Alonso's most impressive quality, the ability to extract the maximum out of bad or inconsistent cars and to do it consistently week after week, without mistakes.

I think Vandoorne is severely underrated and racing against a different driver will be a big boost to his career. Torro Rosso move seems the most likely and mutually beneficial to everyone.

Does he need to bring money along for that seat? I think that's one thing that is lacking with Vandoorne: Sponsorship. If Mclaren didn't back him up, he wouldn't be in F1 solely because he doesn't bring enough money for a seat.

[alexx_88]

I think all drivers are judged now as a sum of sporting ability and money they bring. Either through their commercial value, through personal sponsors or in a suitcase in unmarked bills .

If RB are open to having Vandoorne, I don't see any other driver more suitable to that seat (presuming Norris goes to Mclaren). Objectively, I see little reason to keep on Hartley instead of getting Vandoorne, presuming the other seat is taken by someone else.