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

[ENGINE TUNER]

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.

Indeed, but he has never liked them.

Nobody has liked the tires, but the tires aren't vettel's problem, his problem is that he can't handle the power of these turbo hybrid monsters, he can no longer slam the throttle and expect the back end to stick. Also he has no type of wheel to wheel battling skills and refuses to leave proper racing room. And none of that will change with a change in team.

[TAG]

That's two teams he's tucked tail and run from after a young whippersnapper comes in and snaps his whipper.

[jjn9128]

Don't turn this into a Vettel bashing thread chaps.

[TAG]

Don't turn this into a Vettel bashing thread chaps.

Just the facts. Would never state anything but. Would love to see Ricciardo and Leclerc together. I would actually root for them as a pairing. Like someone earlier said, we actually have something to talk about now!

[ENGINE TUNER]

Don't turn this into a Vettel bashing thread chaps.

Maldonado and grosjean are ridiculed at every opportunity, why is Vettel to be protected when he causes more carnage than the aforementioned? Vettel's driving has been atrocious since 2017 and before actually.

[ENGINE TUNER]

Don't turn this into a Vettel bashing thread chaps.

Just the facts. Would never state anything but. Would love to see Ricciardo and Leclerc together. I would actually root for them as a pairing. Like someone earlier said, we actually have something to talk about now!

That combo could possibly be the best combo on the grid and would be great to watch. I hope RIC gets that Ferrari seat, he is deserving, more so than Sainz.

[NathanOlder]

If Ferrari had any sense, they should be offering Bottas a multi year deal to partner Charles. Perfect harmony, brings a wealth of technical info and is decent enough to score a good haul of points.

[TAG]

If Ferrari had any sense, they should be offering Bottas a multi year deal to partner Charles. Perfect harmony, brings a wealth of technical info and is decent enough to score a good haul of points.

Well as far as Bottas is concerned, at least at Mercedes he has a fair shot at wins, at Ferrari he'd be brought in simply as a scripted support character. Not a deal he'd be interested in IMO.

[UlleGulle]

I think Bottas to Ferrari would make a lot of sense for both parties.

By this point, BOT knows he cannot beat Hamilton in the same car. He doesn't know that about LEC, although I personally have hard time seeing him being as fast over a season as LEC. If he doesn't beat LEC, BOT will be able to look back at a career driving for two of the three great teams, establishing him as one of the better drivers of this era. Not one of the greats, but a good driver. And he wouldn't get stuck in the yearly "Will BOT be replaced by OCO?"-carousel once more.

Ferrari on the other hand would get an experienced driver, used to the workings of a big team, and with some insight into the development of their main rivals. He seems to be a stable driver, uninterested in politics, and has on numerous demonstrated the ability to do what he's told.

[TAG]

Don't turn this into a Vettel bashing thread chaps.

Maldonado and grosjean are ridiculed at every opportunity, why is Vettel to be protected when he causes more carnage than the aforementioned? Vettel's driving has been atrocious since 2017 and before actually.

It's a much more fragile subject matter.

[AMG.Tzan]

Ferrari's best/most probable options:

No 1 : Daniel Ricciardo --> The best option right now...in his primes and quiet capable of winning without making mistakes like Vettel
No 2: Carlos Sainz --> Not too young not too old...not too fast not too slow...maybe a good No 2 driver against Leclerc...maybe challenging sometimes! But if i was Sainz i wouldn't go in Leclerc's team when Mclaren is my team already...no need to leave!
No 3: Fernando Alonso --> If the two drivers above don't end up in a Ferrari then this should be Ferrari's back up plan let's say! Get Alonso in there for 1-2 seasons until a good replacement comes up (although i don't see any better replacement than Danny Ric)! A Leclerc-Alonso team would surely give the constructors title to Ferrari without the need for the fastest car in the field...a car as fast as Mercedes like 2017-2018 would be ok!
No 4: Ferrari are total idiots and for some reason i think this is the driver they'll choose : Antonio Giovinazzi --> I can't see how Antonio can end up in this car when there are so many drivers out there much better than him! But we are talking about Ferrari here...they are looking for a clear No 2 from their driver pool maybe and i don't see anyone else fitting that bill!

Notable mentions:
No 1: Valterri Bottas --> He has shown that he can be a capable No 2 driver...so that would be a much better option than Giovinazzi! Many would say he is Ferrari's No 1 option...but i don't think he would want to leave Mercedes right now and that's why i put him in the notable options! He is No 2 in a Mercedes but at least he has the chance to win every now and then...i don't think he'll have that chance in a Ferrari...we know how Ferrari works with No 2 drivers when they have a clear No 1!
If he manages to land in a Ferrari seat in 2021 then it'll be Mercedes with a vacant seat...and this is a totally different discussion!

No 2: Nico Hulkenberg --> Many have suggested he could be a good No 2 for Ferrari...but with all the above options i can't see why Hulk will be back in F1 in a Ferrari...maybe in an another team if Vettel retires altogether!

My personal best option: Daniel Ricciardo --> He has proven his speed time and time again and he is the only other driver apart from Leclerc to have beaten Vettel in the same car fair and square! He has also said many times he wants to be in a Ferrari and he likes Italians...this would be the perfect fit both for his career and Ferrari itself! If i was Ricciardo i would say to Ferrari...just sign me...i don't care about the money (something like Senna said to Williams about 1993)!

Formula 1's best option: Fernando Alonso --> Who else would bring back so many fans to the sport? No one...he is so loved by the fans and everyone wants to see him back...i want to see him back too! But to be honest i don't see him being any quicker than Leclerc...he's past his prime and he is out for 2 years alreardy!

[nzjrs]

I think Bottas to Ferrari would make a lot of sense for both parties.

By this point, BOT knows he cannot beat Hamilton in the same car. He doesn't know that about LEC, although I personally have hard time seeing him being as fast over a season as LEC. If he doesn't beat LEC, BOT will be able to look back at a career driving for two of the three great teams, establishing him as one of the better drivers of this era. Not one of the greats, but a good driver. And he wouldn't get stuck in the yearly "Will BOT be replaced by OCO?"-carousel once more.

Ferrari on the other hand would get an experienced driver, used to the workings of a big team, and with some insight into the development of their main rivals. He seems to be a stable driver, uninterested in politics, and has on numerous demonstrated the ability to do what he's told.

Brilliant and well argued. Agree 100%

[ENGINE TUNER]

Ferrari's best/most probable options:

No 1 : Daniel Ricciardo --> The best option right now...in his primes and quiet capable of winning without making mistakes like Vettel
No 2: Carlos Sainz --> Not too young not too old...not too fast not too slow...maybe a good No 2 driver against Leclerc...maybe challenging sometimes! But if i was Sainz i wouldn't go in Leclerc's team when Mclaren is my team already...no need to leave!
No 3: Fernando Alonso --> If the two drivers above don't end up in a Ferrari then this should be Ferrari's back up plan let's say! Get Alonso in there for 1-2 seasons until a good replacement comes up (although i don't see any better replacement than Danny Ric)! A Leclerc-Alonso team would surely give the constructors title to Ferrari without the need for the fastest car in the field...a car as fast as Mercedes like 2017-2018 would be ok!
No 4: Ferrari are total idiots and for some reason i think this is the driver they'll choose : Antonio Giovinazzi --> I can't see how Antonio can end up in this car when there are so many drivers out there much better than him! But we are talking about Ferrari here...they are looking for a clear No 2 from their driver pool maybe and i don't see anyone else fitting that bill!

Notable mentions:
No 1: Valterri Bottas --> He has shown that he can be a capable No 2 driver...so that would be a much better option than Giovinazzi! Many would say he is Ferrari's No 1 option...but i don't think he would want to leave Mercedes right now and that's why i put him in the notable options! He is No 2 in a Mercedes but at least he has the chance to win every now and then...i don't think he'll have that chance in a Ferrari...we know how Ferrari works with No 2 drivers when they have a clear No 1!
If he manages to land in a Ferrari seat in 2021 then it'll be Mercedes with a vacant seat...and this is a totally different discussion!

No 2: Nico Hulkenberg --> Many have suggested he could be a good No 2 for Ferrari...but with all the above options i can't see why Hulk will be back in F1 in a Ferrari...maybe in an another team if Vettel retires altogether!

My personal best option: Daniel Ricciardo --> He has proven his speed time and time again and he is the only other driver apart from Leclerc to have beaten Vettel in the same car fair and square! He has also said many times he wants to be in a Ferrari and he likes Italians...this would be the perfect fit both for his career and Ferrari itself! If i was Ricciardo i would say to Ferrari...just sign me...i don't care about the money (something like Senna said to Williams about 1993)!

Formula 1's best option: Fernando Alonso --> Who else would bring back so many fans to the sport? No one...he is so loved by the fans and everyone wants to see him back...i want to see him back too! But to be honest i don't see him being any quicker than Leclerc...he's past his prime and he is out for 2 years alreardy!

You forgot Wehrlein who is vastly underrated and already un the Ferrari stable as a sim driver. His exploits in FE have been impressive and his drives in F1 equally impressive. He is clearly better than GIO to me.

[notsofast]

Vettel to Mercedes ... to (eventually) replace Toto?

[DChemTech]

Ferrari's best/most probable options:

No 1 : Daniel Ricciardo --> The best option right now...in his primes and quiet capable of winning without making mistakes like Vettel
No 2: Carlos Sainz --> Not too young not too old...not too fast not too slow...maybe a good No 2 driver against Leclerc...maybe challenging sometimes! But if i was Sainz i wouldn't go in Leclerc's team when Mclaren is my team already...no need to leave!
No 3: Fernando Alonso --> If the two drivers above don't end up in a Ferrari then this should be Ferrari's back up plan let's say! Get Alonso in there for 1-2 seasons until a good replacement comes up (although i don't see any better replacement than Danny Ric)! A Leclerc-Alonso team would surely give the constructors title to Ferrari without the need for the fastest car in the field...a car as fast as Mercedes like 2017-2018 would be ok!
No 4: Ferrari are total idiots and for some reason i think this is the driver they'll choose : Antonio Giovinazzi --> I can't see how Antonio can end up in this car when there are so many drivers out there much better than him! But we are talking about Ferrari here...they are looking for a clear No 2 from their driver pool maybe and i don't see anyone else fitting that bill!

Notable mentions:
No 1: Valterri Bottas --> He has shown that he can be a capable No 2 driver...so that would be a much better option than Giovinazzi! Many would say he is Ferrari's No 1 option...but i don't think he would want to leave Mercedes right now and that's why i put him in the notable options! He is No 2 in a Mercedes but at least he has the chance to win every now and then...i don't think he'll have that chance in a Ferrari...we know how Ferrari works with No 2 drivers when they have a clear No 1!
If he manages to land in a Ferrari seat in 2021 then it'll be Mercedes with a vacant seat...and this is a totally different discussion!

No 2: Nico Hulkenberg --> Many have suggested he could be a good No 2 for Ferrari...but with all the above options i can't see why Hulk will be back in F1 in a Ferrari...maybe in an another team if Vettel retires altogether!

My personal best option: Daniel Ricciardo --> He has proven his speed time and time again and he is the only other driver apart from Leclerc to have beaten Vettel in the same car fair and square! He has also said many times he wants to be in a Ferrari and he likes Italians...this would be the perfect fit both for his career and Ferrari itself! If i was Ricciardo i would say to Ferrari...just sign me...i don't care about the money (something like Senna said to Williams about 1993)!

Formula 1's best option: Fernando Alonso --> Who else would bring back so many fans to the sport? No one...he is so loved by the fans and everyone wants to see him back...i want to see him back too! But to be honest i don't see him being any quicker than Leclerc...he's past his prime and he is out for 2 years alreardy!

I absolutely disagree with "F1's best option". If you want any sign that the sport is not looking forward but backward, it's bringing back a driver that debuted 20 years ago because there's apparently noone more suitable. It does fit within the current tendency of humanity to romanticize the past, but that's not humanities best option either. What the sport needs is new heroes. If Vettel drops out, bring in someone fresh, or at least someone that still has 5+ years potential.