Pre-silly-season-silliness.

[djos]

The way its going, they may try to snipe Albon..

Now that would be interesting.

Don't laugh. Easily the most improved driver IMHO.

True, he's been doing a stellar job at Williams.

[Big Tea]

Remember though, They would not be looking for a Hamilton replacement, that would be Russell's job, they would be looking for a Russell replacement.
To me, there does not seem anyone (other than Max, who is going nowhere) who currently fits the bill.

The possibilities are Lando and Chas. I can not see anyone else there or on the horizon.

[Starscreamer]

Remember though, They would not be looking for a Hamilton replacement, that would be Russell's job, they would be looking for a Russell replacement.
To me, there does not seem anyone (other than Max, who is going nowhere) who currently fits the bill.

The possibilities are Lando and Chas. I can not see anyone else there or on the horizon.

Daniel Ricciardo or Nyck de Vries second driver

[Big Tea]

Remember though, They would not be looking for a Hamilton replacement, that would be Russell's job, they would be looking for a Russell replacement.
To me, there does not seem anyone (other than Max, who is going nowhere) who currently fits the bill.

The possibilities are Lando and Chas. I can not see anyone else there or on the horizon.

Daniel Ricciardo or Nyck de Vries second driver

Don't see it, but we (I) am used to looking at Merc as the top or two team, and it looks like that could change, so who knows.

I think De Vries has been unlucky with his timing and just has not had the flow. He is getting to the stage now where he is never going to be a driver teams want to bring on because of his age. Same with Danny, he is not going to be seen as an up and coming driver.

[Just_a_fan]

Now that would be interesting.

Don't laugh. Easily the most improved driver IMHO.

True, he's been doing a stellar job at Williams.

He's in a different environment with a different team focus. It's management 101 in action, basically.

[Shakeman]

Rubbish, he's had issues with only 1 car philosophy out of the 5 he's driven, and he comprehensively beat a 4 time champion in his rookie year at RBR. Also, his race craft is excellent, literally only 1 of his race wins was from pole (Monaco), the rest he were won the hard way (including Monza last year). He also never had a dominant car but was able to win against the best Car/Team combo F1 has ever seen (Mercedes).

Compare that to eg Bottas who only ever wins GP's from pole in the best car!

Even if Russel is the defacto Merc #1 driver, Daniel + George would still be a much better pairing than Lewis + Bottas was.

Before rubbishing everything others may say you might have the temerity to ensure you're not talking bol.., rubbish.

Ricciardo has been unimpressive in not one but two McLaren cars both with very different handling characteristics. This McLaren drives nothing like last years if you listen to the drivers. Ricciardo is all at sea save on the odd occasion when the track requires little finesse.

Both George and Lewis are driving the doors off a very difficult handling Merc which changes it's balance at all stages of the corner. They are dragging by the scruff of the neck to podiums or thereabout nearly every weekend. I wonder if Ricciardo in the same car would struggle to beat Latifi in this year's Merc.

If Ricciardo is in F1 next year in any capacity he's a very lucky boy. I personally think he's done as far as F1 is concerned and could easily find another series he can be competitive in.

Vettel couldn't deal with a loose rear on the Red Bull and Ricciardo schooled him, it's kind of the position Ricciardo finds himself in now with Lando schooling him.

[NL_Fer]

Remember though, They would not be looking for a Hamilton replacement, that would be Russell's job, they would be looking for a Russell replacement.
To me, there does not seem anyone (other than Max, who is going nowhere) who currently fits the bill.

The possibilities are Lando and Chas. I can not see anyone else there or on the horizon.

If Lewis retires they will hire a new Bottas for Russel.

[Big Tea]

Remember though, They would not be looking for a Hamilton replacement, that would be Russell's job, they would be looking for a Russell replacement.
To me, there does not seem anyone (other than Max, who is going nowhere) who currently fits the bill.

The possibilities are Lando and Chas. I can not see anyone else there or on the horizon.

If Lewis retires they will hire a new Bottas for Russel.

But who would fill the role? Someone good enough but 'manageable'? Albon possibly? Not many others. Stroll, Hmmm.
But no good as a 'bring on' driver to replace Russell.

[djos]

Rubbish, he's had issues with only 1 car philosophy out of the 5 he's driven, and he comprehensively beat a 4 time champion in his rookie year at RBR. Also, his race craft is excellent, literally only 1 of his race wins was from pole (Monaco), the rest he were won the hard way (including Monza last year). He also never had a dominant car but was able to win against the best Car/Team combo F1 has ever seen (Mercedes).

Compare that to eg Bottas who only ever wins GP's from pole in the best car!

Even if Russel is the defacto Merc #1 driver, Daniel + George would still be a much better pairing than Lewis + Bottas was.

Before rubbishing everything others may say you might have the temerity to ensure you're not talking bol.., rubbish.

Ricciardo has been unimpressive in not one but two McLaren cars both with very different handling characteristics. This McLaren drives nothing like last years if you listen to the drivers. Ricciardo is all at sea save on the odd occasion when the track requires little finesse.

Both George and Lewis are driving the doors off a very difficult handling Merc which changes it's balance at all stages of the corner. They are dragging by the scruff of the neck to podiums or thereabout nearly every weekend. I wonder if Ricciardo in the same car would struggle to beat Latifi in this year's Merc.

If Ricciardo is in F1 next year in any capacity he's a very lucky boy. I personally think he's done as far as F1 is concerned and could easily find another series he can be competitive in.

Vettel couldn't deal with a loose rear on the Red Bull and Ricciardo schooled him, it's kind of the position Ricciardo finds himself in now with Lando schooling him.

Even the McLaren engineers have said “it’s still a McLaren“, meaning that the handling philosophy hasn’t changed!

[Shakeman]

Even the McLaren engineers have said “it’s still a McLaren“, meaning that the handling philosophy hasn’t changed!

A patently ludicrous conclusion of yours.

The very idea a 2021 car handles anything like a 2022 car is utterly preposterous.

[djos]

I’m not going to argue with you, it’s been very well documented that the MCL36 is still a “brake, then turn car”.

[mendis]

Remember though, They would not be looking for a Hamilton replacement, that would be Russell's job, they would be looking for a Russell replacement.
To me, there does not seem anyone (other than Max, who is going nowhere) who currently fits the bill.

The possibilities are Lando and Chas. I can not see anyone else there or on the horizon.

IMHO Russell is not a given at Mercedes if they don't have a car that fights for championships in 2023/24.

[continuum16]

Remember though, They would not be looking for a Hamilton replacement, that would be Russell's job, they would be looking for a Russell replacement.
To me, there does not seem anyone (other than Max, who is going nowhere) who currently fits the bill.

The possibilities are Lando and Chas. I can not see anyone else there or on the horizon.

If Lewis retires they will hire a new Bottas for Russel.

But who would fill the role? Someone good enough but 'manageable'? Albon possibly? Not many others. Stroll, Hmmm.
But no good as a 'bring on' driver to replace Russell.

Ocon after Alpine bungles the next round of contract negotiations.

Mercedes ties, receptive to team orders, does a serviceable job that would merit a top drive but doubtful he would be able to win the championship in a marginally superior car, like Russell probably could.

[Big Tea]

If Lewis retires they will hire a new Bottas for Russel.

But who would fill the role? Someone good enough but 'manageable'? Albon possibly? Not many others. Stroll, Hmmm.
But no good as a 'bring on' driver to replace Russell.

Ocon after Alpine bungles the next round of contract negotiations.

Mercedes ties, receptive to team orders, does a serviceable job that would merit a top drive but doubtful he would be able to win the championship in a marginally superior car, like Russell probably could.

I do not see Ocon as 'in that role' but some drivers seem to blossom when called to the front (Button, Hill?) so who knows.

TBH, We only know how drivers 'seem' to perform and not how much is the car, orders, preparation etc, so it could be....interesting.

[JPower]

Oh what rubbish, his driving style is just incompatible with the brake then turn style of the McLaren.

Every other top tier car uses a trail braking style that Daniel prefers.

I don't think that's the case with this generation of car.