Silly season 2024-2025

[djos]

The pundits are having fun throwing in their 5c:

https://apple.news/AAgZbhoWiQx6VCNeZq2TZ0g

Former F1 world champion Jenson Button wants to see veteran Fernando Alonso replace the Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes in 2025, but Australian great Alan Jones is backing a straight swap with Carlos Sainz.

[chrisc90]

GR HAS to step up this year, even if it means Mercedes push Lewis back a little bit for the benefit of George. He needs all the time and attention (within reason) to develop and take the lead role come 2025. He needs to stick his thoughts in for the car and ensure than any upgrades and new designs for 2025 are going to help him the most. (whilst still taking some direction from Lewis)

If GR can become a comfortable lead driver, then Merc can risk taking the risk on a F2 driver rather than trying to find someone with time served and experience. GR has a good way to go in stepping up, and its now or never this season, and Merc need to allow that.

[Tommy Cookers]

The pundits are having fun throwing in their 5c:
https://apple.news/AAgZbhoWiQx6VCNeZq2TZ0g

Former F1 world champion Jenson Button wants to see veteran Fernando Alonso replace the Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes in 2025, but Australian great Alan Jones is backing a straight swap with Carlos Sainz.

Alan Jones also being a former F1 world champion .....
the writer quoted is factually wrong - or hasn't written a proper sentence

the fashionable nonsense (changing within a sentence what the matter in hand is called as if there's two matters) is .....
an atrocity

[djos]

Pretty much, just the usual he said, she said "journalism”.

[djos]

I’m not surprised, Daniel made it very clear that RedBull is his family and he wants to finish his career there.

Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko has told them the Honey Badger has ‘a long-term contract and is not available’.

https://apple.news/AN-V06Z7STuywiR50SDTCzg

[AR3-GP]

Gasly also "wasn't available". If Daniel wants to go and Mercedes wanted Daniel, I'm sure they'd let him go for a price. It's no secret that RB has more drivers than seats.

[djos]

Gasly also "wasn't available". If Daniel wants to go and Mercedes wanted Daniel, I'm sure they'd let him go for a price. It's no secret that RB has more drivers than seats.

Gasly wasn’t well liked within RedBull after his RBR stint, so I think that was more of a negotiating position than them really wanting to keep him.

[1158]

I've never heard HAM talk about any endurance interest, but could part of the Ferrari deal include a shot at Le Mans post F1? I wonder if it's something he would even consider.

[Zynerji]

LeC to RBR in 2025 via buyout/clause I'm thinking. I don't think Charles is going to stay with Hamilton coming...

[DGP123]

LeC to RBR in 2025 via buyout/clause I'm thinking. I don't think Charles is going to stay with Hamilton coming...

Doesn’t really make sense. Scared of an ageing Hamilton coming to Ferrari, so try and jump ship and go up against a prime Verstappen? The release clause is not until 2026, I believe?

So all in all…no.

[AR3-GP]

LeC to RBR in 2025 via buyout/clause I'm thinking. I don't think Charles is going to stay with Hamilton coming...

Doesn’t really make sense. Scared of an ageing Hamilton coming to Ferrari, so try and jump ship and go up against a prime Verstappen? The release clause is not until 2026, I believe?

So all in all…no.

I don't think the theory in the post you quoted makes sense, but I do think Leclerc had different ideas about his importance at Ferrari...You can make up any silver linings from it, that he will learn from Hamilton, etc, but Hamilton at Ferrari is only a road block for Leclerc. Hamilton is not there to help Leclerc. He is there for himself. Leclerc has no choice but to play along.

[langedweil]

We can moan whatever we want, but this weirdly positioned silly season is a way way better route to the testing days ahead than for example the yearly DTS shenanigans ..
Time flies man, already 2 cars presented and hardly discussed
Only 3,5 wks to go before the first Lights Out ... crazy

[AR3-GP]

We can moan whatever we want, but this weirdly positioned silly season is a way way better route to the testing days ahead than for example the yearly DTS shenanigans ..
Time flies man, already 2 cars presented and hardly discussed
Only 3,5 wks to go before the first Lights Out ... crazy

Never launch a car in the first week of February.

[langedweil]

Crap, I even missed the 3rd one today !
Would have been a great livery for Monster ..

[selvam_e2002]

Alonso with AM 2+1 so, he has 1 year left with AM. Honda going to supply engine for AM in 2026. Alonso will not stay with AM in 2026. The driver market will wind up in 2024 itself.

Once Honda with AM, Honda will try to put his driver along side with Stroll Jr. Hence Alonso will not be in AM in 2026.

The only option Alonso has is jumping the ship in 2025 with 2+1 . The option he has is:

1. RB -> but I doubt because he already had bad experience with Honda when they return to F1 with McLaren. Ford is new so He will not move to RB in 2025
2. Mercedes -> it is the only and best option available for him. It is best to move to Mercedes with 2+1 so he will be driving till 2027 then retire from sports at the age of 46. It is the best option for Alonso

else,
retire from F1 in end of 2025 which I doubt because he will explorer 2026 rule change.