2021 Silly Season Thread

[kals]

Let’s kick start as a few rumours are swirling around at the moment...

Verstappen, apparently has a break clause in his contract if he’s not in the championship top 3. The speculation is that he might use it to go after Bottas’ Mercedes seat

Vettel, life isn’t too good for him at Ferrari right now and there’s talk he might try and go back to Red Bull

Ferrari, speculation is they are on the look out for a new driver

[DoubleFart]

Saw the same rumour but it was a Hamilton-Vettel-Verstappen switcheroo.

If Max was given the opportunity to go to Merc then he should grab it with both hands.

[Michkov]

I dont see Hamilton moving from Mercedes and he likely wouldn't want a driver in the car that would challenge him. I also cant see Verstappen swapping a lead drive for a number 2 seat.

[Picci]

Lewis should go to Ferrari. That would spice things up nicely. Max in a Merc would be fun.

[XcraigX]

Sorry, but if Lewis wins Championship number 6 this year, I think he will retire. Especially if they change up his teammate to one of his rivals. I don't see him wanting that much challenge.

Now if we can get Verstappen in a more competitive car, I would love it. I think he has a great talent, but he is under almost no pressure right now. I would like to see him at Ferrari or Mercedes to see if he could handle it.

[DoubleFart]

Lewis is so close to 100 victories and equalling Schumacher's 7 titles that I think he'll keep going for another two years.

[erwin greven]

[PTRACER]

Feel sorry for him. Wasn't he a McLaren driver like, 8 years ago?

Sorry, but if Lewis wins Championship number 6 this year, I think he will retire. Especially if they change up his teammate to one of his rivals. I don't see him wanting that much challenge.

Doubt it. Plus second thing hasn't happened. Could you imagine Lewis and Verstappen at the same team?

[erwin greven]

I think Lewis still will race next year. Going for #7. I doubt Mercedes wants a rivalry in their team. That is why they keep Bottas. Not good enough to be a rival to Lewis, but fast enough to give them the constructors title.

[kals]

Feel sorry for him. Wasn't he a McLaren driver like, 8 years ago?

Perez has been more successful as a FI/RP driver than either he was at or McLaren have been since the time he joined them. Actually, the same can be said of his time at Sauber.

So who gets to be Verstappen's team mate in 2020? Christian Horner has said they will look outside the current crop of junior team drivers. We know Hulk is free and would be a good temporary stop gap. But Vettel's name has been linked with this seat recently. Would he go back, and if so then who would take his seat at Ferrari?

[PTRACER]

Perez has been more successful as a FI/RP driver than either he was at or McLaren have been since the time he joined them. Actually, the same can be said of his time at Sauber.

So who gets to be Verstappen's team mate in 2020? Christian Horner has said they will look outside the current crop of junior team drivers. We know Hulk is free and would be a good temporary stop gap. But Vettel's name has been linked with this seat recently. Would he go back, and if so then who would take his seat at Ferrari?

But RP are never going to win or challenge for podiums. I feel sorry for him and Hulkenberg because after so many years in F1, they deserve at least one season in a pukka race winning team.

[kals]

Perez has been more successful as a FI/RP driver than either he was at or McLaren have been since the time he joined them. Actually, the same can be said of his time at Sauber.

So who gets to be Verstappen's team mate in 2020? Christian Horner has said they will look outside the current crop of junior team drivers. We know Hulk is free and would be a good temporary stop gap. But Vettel's name has been linked with this seat recently. Would he go back, and if so then who would take his seat at Ferrari?

But RP are never going to win or challenge for podiums. I feel sorry for him and Hulkenberg because after so many years in F1, they deserve at least one season in a pukka race winning team.

Agree with you on that. Funnily enough I think most thought his move to McLaren was well-timed and that he'd have been challenging for victories in 2013.

Oh and by the way, hidden amongst the Perez announcements is that Stroll has also been confirmed with RP for 2020. Shocker!

[DoubleFart]

They should just state that Stroll is on an open ended contract.

[hocuspocus]

Ocon in Renult for 2020, Hulkenberg out ( move to haas ? )
https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/49509020

[Everso Biggyballies]

Haas unchanged lineup for 2020.

I really dont understand this one.... Grosjean has had a nightmare couple of seasons, biffing his team mate off at times, and with Hulkenberg the Haas team had a perfect replacement. I really thought Grosjean was on his way to Formula Milkfloat.

I guess that cuts Hulks options down to Alfa, should they drop Gio..... I doubt that happening given the Gio Ferrari connection. Red Bull is I guess a long shot, but they have Albon looking the goods there,

The Haas Formula 1 team will field an unchanged driver line-up in 2020, having opted to retain Romain Grosjean alongside Kevin Magnussen.
Grosjean, who has been with the American outfit since it joined F1 in 2016, faced doubts over his continued involvement with Haas beyond 2019, as team boss Gunther Steiner confirmed the likes of Esteban Ocon - now signed for Renault - and Nico Hulkenberg were candidates to take his spot.

However, it's been decided the Frenchman will remain part of Haas' F1 roster for a fifth straight season and will continue to partner Magnussen, whose contract already ran through 2020.

Full story: https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/gros ... g/4543516/