Silly Season 2018/2019

[Big Tea]

shades of Surtees and Halewood then? I think the difference is too much now though

Incase anyone does not know

John Surtees, CBE (11 February 1934 – 10 March 2017) was an English Grand Prix motorcycle road racer and Formula One driver. He was a four-time 500cc motorcycle World Champion – winning that title in 1956, 1958, 1959 and 1960 – the Formula One World Champion in 1964, and remains the only person to have won World Championships on both two and four wheels.

Halewood had lots of motorcycle pluss TT, podiums in F1 and Le Mans

[kptaylor]

Really don't know, but would m/c championships count as anything towards a superlicense? RB really don't have much choice in their group who have the needed license...

[Morteza]

Vergne says there is a possibilty of his return to F1 in 2019 according to this tweet

https://twitter.com/CRASH_NET_F1/status ... 17473?s=19

[ME4ME]

I fully expect Red Bull to promote Gasly and hire Vergne as Toro Rosso's new lead driver. Secondly I think Marko will be approaching George Russel and Lando Norris and see if they're willing to join if they're not offered a seat in F1 by their associated teams by the end of september. By that date they're probably free to do so, although its yet to be seen if they'd be willing jump ship.

[FrukostScones]

Ferrari: VET/RAI
Mercedes: HAM//BOT
Red Bull: VES/MAG
McLaren: SAI/OCO
Findia: STR/PER
Sauber: ERI/GIO
Toro Rosso: GAS/NOR
Haas: LEC/Vergne
Williams: RUS/€€€
Renault: RIC/HUL

[roon]

HAM-BOT might be a good nickname for Valtteri. RIC-OCO would have been a good matchup for Renault, what with the Baroque engines.

[Ground Effect]

Ferrari: VET/RAI
Mercedes: HAM//BOT
Red Bull: VES/MAG
McLaren: SAI/OCO
Findia: STR/PER
Sauber: ERI/GIO
Toro Rosso: GAS/NOR
Haas: LEC/Vergne
Williams: RUS/€€€
Renault: RIC/HUL

Vergne to Haas? That seems a bit far out. I think KMag will stay, not sure about Grosjean.

[kptaylor]

Vergne was with Ferrari for a bit so Haas wouldn't be a stretch.I think Perez is the more likely one to wind up there. LEC and GIO as Ferrari Acedemy drivers will wind up at Sauber if they're the designated B team.

[7ka]

Could Kubica get out of the 2019 game?

[FrukostScones]

Ferrari: VET/RAI
Mercedes: HAM//BOT
Red Bull: VES/MAG
McLaren: SAI/NOR
Findia: STR/PER
Sauber: ERI/GIO
Toro Rosso: GAS/WEH
Haas: LEC/Vergne
Williams: OCO/RUS
Renault: RIC/HUL

Wehrlein TR rumors again.

[ScottB]

Paddy Lowe has already started to make changes at Williams, the effects will not be noticeable until next year. I wouldn’t be surprised if Williams bounces back before McLaren does.

Budget seems to be Williams most pressing problem, with Martini and the Stroll's checking out, who is paying the bills? A closer relationship with Merc might alleviate some of that pressure, otherwise I'd expect the lineup to be comprised of whoever has the biggest chequebooks. That there are reports pitching Ocon to Mclaren and not Williams would suggest the latter more than the former.

[RAF]

Could Kubica fill any of these vacant seats?

[iotar__]

I'm quoting myself .

McLaren & Sainz, a good match . Spanish so that helps, not Alonso but he talked about Alonso often so association is there.

"Sainz will ask Alonso for McLaren advice" https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/13813 ... ren-advice

Why? After +three (?) years, 3rd team and +60 races he needs an advice? Marketing through association is the answer.

[iotar__]

Could Kubica fill any of these vacant seats?

No, although weirder things happened at Toro Rosso (Hartley, Vergne rumours) and Stroll to FI changes the picture a bit.

Pity about WRC, it is even worse than F1. Can't complain about most of the seats but Citroen betting everything on Meeke and hiring Ostberg/Breen was in wtf territory. Same for endless chances for Evans. I'm not rallies connoisseur so whatever.

[jericho]

Ferrari: VET/RAI
Mercedes: HAM//BOT
Red Bull: VES/GAS
McLaren: SAI/OCO
Findia: STR/PER
Sauber: ERI/LEC
Toro Rosso: NOR/??
Haas: MAG/GRO
Williams: RUS/€€€
Renault: RIC/HUL

Something like this...