I am a fan, but I think he talks too much some times. He weakens his own hand by appearing to be easy to keep. He cannot demand much money or benefits if Mercedes know he is not volatile or a mercenary. Also if he does leave, it would mean his words mean nothing, and his new team will have to be cautious with him.
Alonso plays the game of contracts well? I mean, the only game alonso has played well in fifteen years is playing himself.ringo wrote: ↑30 Aug 2023, 20:04I am a fan, but I think he talks too much some times. He weakens his own hand by appearing to be easy to keep. He cannot demand much money or benefits if Mercedes know he is not volatile or a mercenary. Also if he does leave, it would mean his words mean nothing, and his new team will have to be cautious with him.
He would be better off keeping people guessing and not say much about what he feels, even if deep down merc is where he wants to retire. Alonso plays the game of contracts well. You will have zero clue about where he will go and for how long or how much.
I would like to see him at Ferrari or Redbull, but he has committed so much verbally to mercedes that a move would look very awkward.
Staying at Mercedes would require a deal that goes up to December 2026, long enough to see if the team can build the fastest car for the new regulation.
Wonder what the plan is for 2026 then? I don't think he wants to retire, so was there any reason not to extend the contract into the new regs? Swapping teams would be a complete gamble at that point. I sense a simple one year extension at the end of 2025.chrisc90 wrote: ↑31 Aug 2023, 14:01CONFIRMED: Lewis Hamilton signs new contract with Mercedes through to 2025, with George Russell also confirmed for that stretch #F1
https://x.com/chrismedlandf1/status/169 ... B6rHbJDvyw
Mercedes has never signed a rookie driver to their team.
Easier said than done if they're still an upper-midfield team by then.
Er, they're currently second in the constructors' title race behind the most dominant car of its era. I guess that's one definition of "upper-midfield" but most drivers would be happy in such a seat.mkay wrote: ↑31 Aug 2023, 16:07Easier said than done if they're still an upper-midfield team by then.
Things change. That’s lifeAR3-GP wrote: ↑31 Aug 2023, 15:52Mercedes has never signed a rookie driver to their team.
The drivers are flattering the car a bit. By contrast, Stroll is making Aston look worse than they are. Merc are not necessarily convincingly the 2nd fastest car anywhere. In fact that mantle went to Mclaren, Aston, and Ferrari on more occasions than not.Just_a_fan wrote: ↑31 Aug 2023, 16:51Er, they're currently second in the constructors' title race behind the most dominant car of its era. I guess that's one definition of "upper-midfield" but most drivers would be happy in such a seat.
Team, not car. The comment was that they're an upper midfield team. They're not. As a team, they're outperforming those with ostensibly faster cars. With a faster car, they'll be leaving those others behind.AR3-GP wrote: ↑31 Aug 2023, 19:35The drivers are flattering the car a bit. By contrast, Stroll is making Aston look worse than they are. Merc are not necessarily convincingly the 2nd fastest car anywhere. In fact that mantle went to Mclaren, Aston, and Ferrari on more occasions than not.Just_a_fan wrote: ↑31 Aug 2023, 16:51Er, they're currently second in the constructors' title race behind the most dominant car of its era. I guess that's one definition of "upper-midfield" but most drivers would be happy in such a seat.