Silly Season 2020/2021 (starting with silliness in 2019)

[Bill]

Hulk is probably the most overrated driver in f1 his reputation is built on myth rather results perhaps something to do with his junior career.Williams were not impressed with him so was saber.he is prone to mistake especially when good position like last year Baku and this year Germany.the likes of maldanodo and prez have victory and podiums respectively but people don't think much of them or is it because they are not European.

[roon]

Hulk is probably the most overrated driver in f1 his reputation is built on myth rather results perhaps something to do with his junior career.Williams were not impressed with him so was saber.he is prone to mistake especially when good position like last year Baku and this year Germany.the likes of maldanodo and prez have victory and podiums respectively but people don't think much of them or is it because they are not European.

Yeah, there wasn't really much else to take issue with regarding Maldonado was there. If you think he and Perez are non-European, there are a few million Spanish genocided natives you might consider remembering. Speaking of overrating: 15.

[Big Tea]

Yes it is a skill, but there is more to it than that. Loooong ago I raced bikes, and knew I was never going to be the best because I had too much imagination and did not like pain

I would be passed by a bike with the same tyres and probably the same handling as me, but I did not have the confidence (guts???) to follow it quite so quickly into the bends. Some of the riders immediately struck you as 'nutters' who would not be bothered by a 100mph off, Its just a few weeks in plaster etc. These are the ones who won.

Me, no matter what I am told by others or my own brain, I would not push any harder than my 'nerve' said was as far as it would go. Going past this point is a skill in its self.

Had I known that it would slide a fraction, pull back, then let go I may have stuck it out, but I could not convince myself. Probably a season with one of the even better bikes would have made a difference, so going from a STR may be like for like, or a sharp edge?

i know exactly what you mean! I've only driven on the road in a car but I have to know i can survive, all the time. And bikes, lol, I see the highsides and how high they get flung up in the air before they plummet down onto the tarmac or kerbs and I know I could never go anywhere near that. They're a different species from me. And even in a car, in F1, I'd have to lift going into Eau Rouge.

and off topic but... have you seen the story that Marc Marquez and Lewis might do a bit of a challenge? Both in both vehicles! That'll need insanity-level courage i think.

That would be... interesting

[zeph]

Glad to hear Bottas is staying, sanity prevailed over at Mercedes, and a lot of pundits got it wrong....again.

Ocon at Renault seems like a good solution, although I wouldn’t be surprised to see intra-team rivalry with Danny Ric get out of hand.

Hulk to Haas, as that team must be just about done with waiting for Grosjean to exhale.

[Jolle]

So under contract of confirmed for next year:

Mercedes: Hamilton & Bottas
Ferrari: Vettel & Leclerc
RedBull: Verstappen & TBA
Renault: Ricciardo & Ocon
McLaren: Sainz & Norris
Alfa-Sauber Raikkonen & TBA
HAAS: Magnussen & TBA
Racing Point: Stroll & (Perez)
Williams: Russel & TBA
Toro Rosso: TBA & TBA

in brackets the drivers who are probably going to stay where they are. The three RedBull seats will probably go to at least two of the current drivers.
Ferrari "owns" GIO's seat, if they have no better option, he could stay. Kubica's seat is possibly open and of course Grosjean.

[Zarathustra]

My guess?

Bottas keeps his seat.
Ocon to Renault.
Hulkenberg to Haas.
Grosjean out.

Just sayin’- boys..

[Capharol]

My guess?

Bottas keeps his seat.
Ocon to Renault.
Hulkenberg to Haas.
Grosjean out.

Just sayin’- boys..

that wasn't that hard to predict .... i would have applaud if you would have guessed ... Ricciardo to Merc or something odd like that.

[Racer X]

Hulk is probably the most overrated driver in f1 his reputation is built on myth rather results perhaps something to do with his junior career.Williams were not impressed with him so was saber.he is prone to mistake especially when good position like last year Baku and this year Germany.the likes of *Maldanodo* and *Perez* have victory and podiums respectively but people don't think much of them or is it because they are not European.

(Sorry I made 2 *edits* to your post.)

I've always found this interesting how Hulkenberg was always highly rated despite no accomplishments. Compared to say Magnusen I think Magnusen is way better because Magnusen takes risks and yeah sure. Sometimes Mag will --- up but hes a lot more agressive and just play in there to win pushing and trying to be his best. That is just an example to compare another good reference is Grosjean another driver who has taken risks and made mistakes but is also an extremely good driver. Altho luck sometimes has a good or bad effect for example with Ricciardo we all know he can win a race hes extremely good no need to explain here that hes a solid racer. But again sure sometimes luck can affect you badly like the last few season where Ricciardos engines or car parts have caused him headaches. But still despite all that these are all drivers who risk and push and want to be World Champions.


I'm not using Perez and Maldonado because they are not European.

To avoid that whole topic I just want to highlight that I dont think Hulkenberg was all that good.

Here is my opinion either;

1. He never really pushed to take risks because he was afraid of messing up and preferred to be consistent and played it safe.
or
2.He pushed as hard as he could and he actually was consistently at his peak and still just simply never achieved anything.


So he either was scared and didnt show his full potential and F1 should be a place where the best push to their limits. Or he showed his full potential and hes just simply average.

[Redragon]

Magnussen Vs Hulk on same team could mean the end of Haas. T

[Zynerji]

Alexander Rossi on Haas radar?

[Racer X]

Gentlemen please can we get back to the main topic at hand.

How is it that a mediocre driver was so highly rated for such a long period of time?
Hulkenberg!

[DChemTech]

Hulk is probably the most overrated driver in f1 his reputation is built on myth rather results perhaps something to do with his junior career.Williams were not impressed with him so was saber.he is prone to mistake especially when good position like last year Baku and this year Germany.the likes of *Maldanodo* and *Perez* have victory and podiums respectively but people don't think much of them or is it because they are not European.

(Sorry I made 2 *edits* to your post.)

I've always found this interesting how Hulkenberg was always highly rated despite no accomplishments. Compared to say Magnusen I think Magnusen is way better because Magnusen takes risks and yeah sure. Sometimes Mag will --- up but hes a lot more agressive and just play in there to win pushing and trying to be his best. That is just an example to compare another good reference is Grosjean another driver who has taken risks and made mistakes but is also an extremely good driver. Altho luck sometimes has a good or bad effect for example with Ricciardo we all know he can win a race hes extremely good no need to explain here that hes a solid racer. But again sure sometimes luck can affect you badly like the last few season where Ricciardos engines or car parts have caused him headaches. But still despite all that these are all drivers who risk and push and want to be World Champions.


I'm not using Perez and Maldonado because they are not European.

To avoid that whole topic I just want to highlight that I dont think Hulkenberg was all that good.

Here is my opinion either;

1. He never really pushed to take risks because he was afraid of messing up and preferred to be consistent and played it safe.
or
2.He pushed as hard as he could and he actually was consistently at his peak and still just simply never achieved anything.


So he either was scared and didnt show his full potential and F1 should be a place where the best push to their limits. Or he showed his full potential and hes just simply average.

Grosjean is occasional speed, and frequent error. Hulkenberg (unless he comes in a podium position) is consistency. The latter meant sure he was best of the rest last year, while Grosjean was dangling at the back. I would take Hulk over Grosjean any time - teams need a consistent driver, too.

At FI he was consistent and typically similar to Perez, with one exception. When there was some chance at a podium, Perez was there. Hence, I do rate Perez higher for his consistency and sense of opportunity. Then again, I think Perez is really pretty good and would do well at a top team, had he gotten the chance. But Hulkenberg deserves that chance too - he'd be a good, consistent second driver. Not one that drives home the WDC, but one that cements the WCC - like Bottas or so.

[Capharol]

Alexander Rossi on Haas radar?

No, again ....
Rossi signed a multi year contract with andretti to drive in Indy.... rossi is going no where

[NAPI10]

Mercedes F1 team can't recall Esteban Ocon from Renault before 2022-
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/14565 ... uring-deal

Does that mean Ocon eventually out of contention for Merc? RIC and VER will be available to side Hamilton in 2021.

[bosyber]

... Perez was there. Hence, I do rate Perez higher for his consistency and sense of opportunity. Then again, I think Perez is really pretty good and would do well at a top team, had he gotten the chance. ...

I think McLaren was in a bit of a mess that year - well, clearly starting to show the mess that year, looking at 2012 which they could have won - that might have made it harder to judge Perez too. While I do believe Perez maybe didn't fully grab the chance he got, in the end they would probably, especially with his consistency in races, have had a lot more solid results in the next years. Anyway, as shown by Magnussen and Vandoorne, for quite a few years the team was not a good place for new drivers coming in, so McLaren was maybe not the chance at a top team that Perez or the fans and Pundits thought it was, but it did come with all the pressure.

I think he'd be a very solid number two for Ferrari at this point able to back up Leclerc and ensure a better basis for fighting the WCC, including having had that 'we are a top team, but not consistently bringing the results, so expect harsh eyes on your performance bit' he got at McLaren and would surely feel at Ferrari.