Silly season 2021-2022-2023

[Scorpaguy]

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/77986/ri ... enius.html

[Manoah2u]

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/77986/ri ... enius.html

i'm awaiting the real news still

Williams earlier announced no talks with Rich Energy, and their merch release with umbro doesn't suggest anything.
AM clearly doesn't have interest.
Haas surely wouldn't, with the Mazepin money, and their turbulent history, would they?
So to me, the only 'last' resort would be Alfa Romeo Sauber - if we're talking F1 TEAMS.

I rather wonder whether the 'comback' would revolve more around a possible 'sponsorship' of F1 races, like the proposed saturday sprint races.

Maybe whilst writing this i've missed some news, but we'll see.

I wouldn't be surprised if it's all bloated air though.

[raymondu999]

The actual announcement video did say they had a partner which would be acquiring a majority stake in an existing F1 team, and then them sponsoring said new owners —> which does preclude only basically the well funded teams. The only people who wouldn’t sell majority stakes at this point IMO are Merc/Ferrari/RBR/Aston/Renault(?)

Even Haas if they had a majority buyout could go back to having to boast Rich Energy logos

[the EDGE]

The only people who wouldn’t sell majority stakes at this point IMO are Merc/Ferrari/RBR/Aston/Renault(?)

You think McLaren would sell a majority stake?

I’m getting a bit annoyed that people are giving William Story exactly what he wants... attention

The man is a Fraud (with a capital F!) he will not be back in F1 (unless it’s a very small logo somewhere on a Inconspicuous part of a lower field team that he’s paying (upfront) top dollar for

What is all the fuss with this about? The Man is clearly just looking the for free advertising for a product that nobody has ever seen unless you’ve been crazy enough to order a case from Amazon - has anybody here done that?

[Zynerji]

<mod edit: three posts above this one from three other users, were removed: that politician you (those three) hate... others don't, just steer away from politics, please>

Politics aside, you fooled us once.

Now we need to see some proof before we believe it's going to happen.

[dans79]

Fans are worried greatly when Mr. Wolff uses names like "wingman", instead of following the rational procedure of obtaining the best two drivers possible in order to maximise WCC points.

Actually acquiring the best 2 drivers is not the rational thing to do. What you want to do is have the best combination that guarantees you a WCC with the fewest points scored. Your entrance fee for the following year is based on the points you score.

for example:
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/14749 ... e-revealed

The FIA has set the basic 2020 entry fee for all teams at $556,509, plus $6,677 per point scored in the 2019 season for the winning constructor and $5,563 per point for everybody else.

Note the WCC pays a 20% premium!

[hUirEYExbN]

Fans are worried greatly when Mr. Wolff uses names like "wingman", instead of following the rational procedure of obtaining the best two drivers possible in order to maximise WCC points.

Actually acquiring the best 2 drivers is not the rational thing to do. What you want to do is have the best combination that guarantees you a WCC with the fewest points scored. Your entrance fee for the following year is based on the points you score.

for example:
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/14749 ... e-revealed

The FIA has set the basic 2020 entry fee for all teams at $556,509, plus $6,677 per point scored in the 2019 season for the winning constructor and $5,563 per point for everybody else.

Note the WCC pays a 20% premium!

That seems like ... robbing Peter to pay Paul? After all, don't the WCC get the most prize money?

[raymondu999]

The only people who wouldn’t sell majority stakes at this point IMO are Merc/Ferrari/RBR/Aston/Renault(?)

You think McLaren would sell a majority stake?

It's a team strapped for cash atm, such as shown by them trying to sell their actual office & factory. THere were rumors they were looking for investors too.

[dans79]

don't the WCC get the most prize money?

Nope, check the payout for the 2018 season. Specifically look at the LST, CCB, and other columns.

https://www.racefans.net/2019/03/03/for ... -revealed/

1. Ferrari - 205 million
2. Mercedes - 177 million
3. Red Bull - 152 Million
4. McLaren - 100 Million
5. etc etc

[hUirEYExbN]

don't the WCC get the most prize money?

Nope, check the payout for the 2018 season. Specifically look at the LST, CCB, and other columns.

https://www.racefans.net/2019/03/03/for ... -revealed/

1. Ferrari - 205 million
2. Mercedes - 177 million
3. Red Bull - 152 Million
4. McLaren - 100 Million
5. etc etc

OK, It does seem what I was thinking of as prize money (CC position) works like I was thinking, but I didn't realise the bonuses made such a difference.

[adrianjordan]

The only people who wouldn’t sell majority stakes at this point IMO are Merc/Ferrari/RBR/Aston/Renault(?)

You think McLaren would sell a majority stake?

It's a team strapped for cash atm, such as shown by them trying to sell their actual office & factory. THere were rumors they were looking for investors too.

Selling property and leasing it back is a very common way of raising capital.

They are not cash strapped, they had a short term funding problem due to Covid but are nowhere close to needing to sell a majority stake in the team.

[JordanMugen]

Valterri Bottas:

I’m honestly in no rush for that [contract]. I kind of get it. If the team has the opportunity for the big change coming in 2022, to have options, to choose both of their drivers, I think it’s good for the team. But yeah, honestly, from my side, no rush really. I’m just full gas for the season, and trying to get to my goals. Eventually it will be a talking point. Not quite yet.

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/bott ... 67/?nrt=54

I don't understand why Mercedes-AMG don't announce Russell's two or three year deal already, what's the point of wasting time?

Russell needs the certainty of the Mercedes drive, otherwise Red Bull or another team will poach him...

IMO there are three options for Mercedes 2022 lineup:
1. Hamilton + Russell
2. If Hamilton retires, then Russell + Ocon (finally the young driver program being useful!)
3. If Hamilton retires and Verstappen has an out-clause & is interested in AMG, then Russell + Verstappen

[El Scorchio]

Valterri Bottas:

I’m honestly in no rush for that [contract]. I kind of get it. If the team has the opportunity for the big change coming in 2022, to have options, to choose both of their drivers, I think it’s good for the team. But yeah, honestly, from my side, no rush really. I’m just full gas for the season, and trying to get to my goals. Eventually it will be a talking point. Not quite yet.

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/bott ... 67/?nrt=54

I don't understand why Mercedes-AMG don't announce Russell's two or three year deal already, what's the point of wasting time?

Russell needs the certainty of the Mercedes drive, otherwise Red Bull or another team will poach him...

IMO there are three options for Mercedes 2022 lineup:
1. Hamilton + Russell
2. If Hamilton retires, then Russell + Ocon (finally the young driver program being useful!)
3. If Hamilton retires and Verstappen has an out-clause & is interested in AMG, then Russell + Verstappen

Who says it's not agreed privately already? Why does it have to be publicly announced to have happened?
It seems quite clear the seat in 2022 is Russell's

For me it's only either:

Hamilton - Russell
Bottas - Russell

depending on what Hamilton does.

I really don't see a world in which they want or need Verstappen, unless the 2022 car isn't very good. But in which case Verstappen would stay at Red Bull, because that is highly likely to be the best car if the Mercedes doesn't work out well.

[JordanMugen]

Bottas - Russell

If Ocon is within 1-3 tenths of Alonso, just like with Ricciardo, then surely Ocon is just as good of a choice as Bottas?

[holeindalip]

Valterri Bottas:

I’m honestly in no rush for that [contract]. I kind of get it. If the team has the opportunity for the big change coming in 2022, to have options, to choose both of their drivers, I think it’s good for the team. But yeah, honestly, from my side, no rush really. I’m just full gas for the season, and trying to get to my goals. Eventually it will be a talking point. Not quite yet.

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/bott ... 67/?nrt=54

I don't understand why Mercedes-AMG don't announce Russell's two or three year deal already, what's the point of wasting time?

Russell needs the certainty of the Mercedes drive, otherwise Red Bull or another team will poach him...

IMO there are three options for Mercedes 2022 lineup:
1. Hamilton + Russell
2. If Hamilton retires, then Russell + Ocon (finally the young driver program being useful!)
3. If Hamilton retires and Verstappen has an out-clause & is interested in AMG, then Russell + Verstappen

Ocon isn’t part of Mercedes program anymore, that ended when he left racing point and no ride so he signed a deal with renault....