Silly season 2024-2025

[bananapeel23]

Latest speculation from Italy - in 2025 Perez out, Lawson to RBR, Colapinto to VCARB. Article stipulates Tsunoda is not considered for RBR seat, while Bortoleto is favoured over Bottas in Audi Sauber

https://www.formulapassion.it/f1/f1-new ... eto-bottas

Damn!

I really don’t want to see Colapinto in a VCarb. Something about him just screams Ferrari.

I really wish he would end up at Sauber or Alpine or Williams where he would have better prospects of one day getting to Ferrari.

VCarb to Ferrari without a Red Bull stint inbetween is basically impossible.

[mvfad]

Nelson Piquet Jr. ("Crashgate" and Verstappen's brother-in-law) insinuated in a Brazilian podcast yesterday that Bortoleto will race for VCarb in 2025. I don't know whether it's true or not, but he has good contacts. He also said that Bottas has renewed with Sauber.

[PapayaFan481]

I saw a site on Instagram suggesting that Mark Webber is in talks with Red Bull about Piastri moving there....

Now I'm taking that with a massive pinch of salt, but he'd be a good option for the Milton Keynes team.

[dialtone]

Everyone going to RBR or VCARB, next year F1 will be Formula RBR, fielding 20 of 22 drivers on the grid.

[organic]

I saw a site on Instagram suggesting that Mark Webber is in talks with Red Bull about Piastri moving there....

Now I'm taking that with a massive pinch of salt, but he'd be a good option for the Milton Keynes team.

I believe it's about moving to red bull for 2026 primarily. Presumably to gain higher status (ie to become a number one) if Max left. I highly doubt he'd choose to move from being Lando's teammate to being Verstappen's.

Drivers are frequently negotiating with multiple teams even in relatively stable situations. You have to be aware of your options.

Red bull themselves also have to be doing that; Max seems to be leaning towards leaving the team and they have to plan for a future without him. He's committed to staying for 2025 but it looks quite likely for red bull to have a weak engine for 2026. Piastri moving to red bull who may have a temporary dip in competitiveness at the start of the next regs to become a number 1 at a top team, and Max leaving when red bull are likely to struggle all makes sense to me.

[dren]

Makes sense to me. Red Bull option if Max leaves to take on Piastri.

I'm not sure Colinpinto is that good or if Albon is just mediocre. He had pretty poor teammates at Williams prior. We'll find out next year with Sainz.

I doubt RBR would have already made a choice on Lawson over Tsunoda after one race. I do feel Sergio is done.

[taperoo2k]

I saw a site on Instagram suggesting that Mark Webber is in talks with Red Bull about Piastri moving there....

Now I'm taking that with a massive pinch of salt, but he'd be a good option for the Milton Keynes team.

I'd be surprised if he wasn't talking to Redbull and other teams about a possible move for 2027. Oscar is contracted to McLaren until the end of 2026 (yes I know exit clauses exist). But if you are sensible you'd see how 2026 plays out in terms of the new PU's before committing to either a new deal with McLaren or a deal with another team.

[PapayaFan481]

I saw a site on Instagram suggesting that Mark Webber is in talks with Red Bull about Piastri moving there....

Now I'm taking that with a massive pinch of salt, but he'd be a good option for the Milton Keynes team.

I believe it's about moving to red bull for 2026 primarily. Presumably to gain higher status (ie to become a number one) if Max left. I highly doubt he'd choose to move from being Lando's teammate to being Verstappen's.

Drivers are frequently negotiating with multiple teams even in relatively stable situations. You have to be aware of your options.

Red bull themselves also have to be doing that; Max seems to be leaning towards leaving the team and they have to plan for a future without him. He's committed to staying for 2025 but it looks quite likely for red bull to have a weak engine for 2026. Piastri moving to red bull who may have a temporary dip in competitiveness at the start of the next regs to become a number 1 at a top team, and Max leaving when red bull are likely to struggle all makes sense to me.

While. I'd like Oscar (and Lando) to stay with McLaren long term, if Oscar does leave then perhaps we can reunite Carlando!!

[Jurgen von Diaz]

Alonso has been at Red Bull's office inquiring about Checo's seat. Max and Fernando on the same team would be hilarious.

[AR3-GP]

Alonso has been at Red Bull's office inquiring about Checo's seat. Max and Fernando on the same team would be hilarious.

source?

[ME4ME]

That was ahead of Alonso's contract extension with Aston Martin. Lets not start inaccurate rumors.

[Wouter]

Alonso has been at Red Bull's office inquiring about Checo's seat. Max and Fernando on the same team would be hilarious.

.
source?

.
Yesterday at the PC:
.

Q: (Christian Menath – Motorsport-magazin.com) Another question for you, Christian. You talked earlier about Fernando and the three times you were talking to him about a potential contract with Red Bull Racing. The first two, I think, are more or less well documented so far. The third one you mentioned was at the beginning of the year. Given the fact that you have two drivers on the contract, what was the scenario you discussed with Fernando at the beginning of the year?

CH: Well, at that time, Sergio's contract hadn't been extended, so as Fernando is a seasoned operator, you know, he always wants to know all of his options, and between him and his manager or advisor of many years, Flavio, they're always, you know, testing the market, and it just shows how hungry and competitive he is. And, you know, he's still delivering at 42 years of age. Is he 42? 43. He's still in great shape and it just shows that age is just a number. So, yeah, you know, he's still a very, very capable Grand Prix driver and given the tools, I'm sure he'd be at the front.

[PlatinumZealot]

Perez retirement announcement is incomming. Watch this space.

[PapayaFan481]

Perez retirement announcement is incomming. Watch this space.

I think Perez knows he is losing his seat to Lawson.

Frankly after this race, Red Bull should dump Checo tomorrow.

[organic]

Horner says difficult decisions may need to be made sooner rather than later, in the name of performance

Do it, put Lawson in