Silly Season 2020/2021 (starting with silliness in 2019)

[Wouter]

It is official!

Maranello 12 May 2020

Maranello, 12 May 2020 - Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow and Sebastian Vettel have jointly decided not to extend the current contract covering Sebastian’s services as a driver with the team, beyond its current expiry date of the end of the 2020 Formula 1 season.

Mattia Binotto, Managing Director Gestione Sportiva and Team Principal

"This is a decision taken jointly by ourselves and Sebastian, one which both parties feel is for the best. It was not an easy decision to reach, given Sebastian’s worth as a driver and as a person. There was no specific reason that led to this decision, apart from the common and amicable belief that the time had come to go our separate ways in order to reach our respective objectives.

https://www.ferrari.com/en-EN/formula1/ ... ssion=true

[F1NAC]

Imagine if Merceds dumps Bottas, and put Vettel with Hamilton in Mercedes.

[Gothrek]

Lets see how good Leclerc is in developing a car and can handle pressure. Last year he was the underdog, now a lot is expected from him. And some extra Ferrari pressure is never helpful.
I think it is the best for Seb as well, to me he never felt 100% at ease at the team. He also has a busy personal life, probably one of the few drivers that has 3 children, or children in general. One might wonder how that mixes with F1.

[raymondu999]

Thoughts on where Vettel would go? And who would replace him?

I think Ricciardo is going to Ferrari now. Ricciardo has not enjoyed the midfield return, imo — and I think he will be willing to take a number 2 contract to return to the front, justifying to himself that he will just outperform Leclerc so hard early on so he can claim number 1 by default. I’m not saying he can outperform Leclerc necessarily - but I think that’ll be his thought process.

I do think Seb will be either returning to RBR (replacing Albon?) or moving to Merc. No clue how that would shake the order up tho.

[Just_a_fan]

Imagine if Merceds dumps Bottas, and put Vettel with Hamilton in Mercedes.

Why would they? What would they gain from it?

[Gothrek]

My guess is, he will just quit. He hasn't liked this tire formula a lot. (me neither, but hey) He has been quite vocal about that. Plus, where would he go? To a B-Team? Doesn't seem like his style.
Only place then left would be Mercedes (RBR is closed) and that would only happen if Hamilton switches. And he would be really stupid to do that.

[raymondu999]

My guess is, he will just quit. He hasn't liked this tire formula a lot. (me neither, but hey) He has been quite vocal about that. Plus, where would he go? To a B-Team? Doesn't seem like his style.
Only place then left would be Mercedes (RBR is closed) and that would only happen if Hamilton switches. And he would be really stupid to do that.

This tire formula? 3/4 of his titles were in this same tire formula no?

Never know though. If you had said mid-2012 that Hamilton would go to Mercedes, a lot of people would have said that was stupid too.

[Jolle]

If he stays in F1, I think he might switch with Sainz. Carlos has the perfect character and drive craft to support Leclerc the way Barrichello and Massa supported their teammates. Plus, Brown’s restructure of McLaren could use a WC again in his car.

[jjn9128]

Ferrari will want a #2 so Perez or Hulk for me the most obvious. Riccardo or Sainz too much possibility for them to upset Leclerc.

[MtthsMlw]

Get Kimi back in that Ferrari

[vdemeter]

Alonso for two years would be perfect, after that Leclerc will be ready. If he can handle it!

[DChemTech]

Alonso for two years would be perfect, after that Leclerc will be ready. If he can handle it!

No, please no. Give new people a chance. The sport will not be better by keeping aged drivers in even longer. It's a competition, not a gourmet cheese.

[Just_a_fan]

Alonso for two years would be perfect, after that Leclerc will be ready. If he can handle it!

Alonso is yesterday's news. He's left F1 and I have no doubts that F1 has left him too. There are lots of quick young drivers out there who would be very happy to drive for Ferrari, wouldn't upset the team, make demands etc. They'd just turn up and drive as fast as they could for the team.

[GPR-A]

Alonso for two years would be perfect, after that Leclerc will be ready. If he can handle it!

No, please no. Give new people a chance. The sport will not be better by keeping aged drivers in even longer. It's a competition, not a gourmet cheese.

Neither would it be good having immature, young drivers polluting the track with carbon fibre, trying to win the race before turn 1. Battles are good when experienced drivers are fighting with great respect.

[GPR-A]

Alonso for two years would be perfect, after that Leclerc will be ready. If he can handle it!

Alonso is yesterday's news. He's left F1 and I have no doubts that F1 has left him too. There are lots of quick young drivers out there who would be very happy to drive for Ferrari, wouldn't upset the team, make demands etc. They'd just turn up and drive as fast as they could for the team.

Wasn't that expected of Leclerc, an officially declared No. 2 driver in 2019? It's a nusance to have 2 prima donnas in a team, fighting on track like cats and dogs costing valuable points for team, each one trying to prove himself better than the other, with little regard to the team and in the process taking each other out with acute lack of racing skills. Teams are always good when there is a fast young driver coupled with an experienced driver. It need not have to be an Alonso, but few wouldn't want to see him again.