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

[NathanOlder]

Personally I think Seb is looking at options outside of F1. He's a 4 times WDC, so I doubt he'd want to go to a midfield team. That leaves Mercedes (not gonna happen while Lewis is there) or RB (similarly, not going to happen while Max is there).

Mclaren may be an option, but does he want to go somewhere to build a team into a championship contender at this stage in his career? Does he see himself doing what Schumacher did at Mercedes? Maybe, but I don't see it myself. I also think Mclaren are happy with Carlos and Lando. They've been very open that they're not likely to win any titles for a few years, so why would they want to rock the boat?

Renault? Maybe, but as with Mclaren, it would have to be a long game sort of move.

I just don't see anywhere else for Seb to go. I think he has seen how much the likes of Jenson are enjoying racing in a range of formulas, whilst still being able to enjoy family life, and might be looking for that himself.


So who replaces him at Ferrari?

My bet is Daniel. He's been linked with Ferrari before and has Italian heritage. He is an affable person who won't rock the boat and is good for sponsor events. He's as fast as pretty much anyone else and I think, after 2 years in the midfield, will have the sort of hunger that we saw at Monaco in 2018. I think he desperately wants to prove that he has what it takes and I can't actually think of anyone who would have more hunger to succeed.

Hamilton won't go there, why would he leave the best team of the grid? A team that he has built around him. He has been very vocal about not leaving Mercedes recently and I suspect knew what was happening with Seb.

Sainz? Whilst I think he would be a good fit there, do we really think Carlos Snr would let him go to a team where he'd be number 2 driver?

Bottas? Possibly, very much a side step for him though.

Who else? Ocon? Maybe. I think anyone else is a long shot.

Bottas may be making a side step, but if that step includes a 2 or 3 yr deal, its job security over the 1yr extensions Merc seem to offer him. He could stay at Merc for 2021, Russell have an outstanding season in the midfield with Williams, Lewis signs a new deal at Merc, so Mercedes line up with Ham and Rus, Bottas tossed out and all the good seats are gone.

[Capharol]

oh how lovely everybody dreams ..... keep me smiling guys

but i stick to two things:
1. RIC won't go to Ferrari because he could have stayed at RB then, LEC has every control at Ferrari now and Ferrari aren't known for putting in two #1 drivers,when they did..... well the result has been seen last season
2. Hamilton will not go to Ferrari, because Ferrari always seems to know how to F**k up a strategy, and the environment isn't HAM his style, at Merc he has all the freedom he can get, and it has nothing to do with $$$$, because of those he has enough.

to me there are only two ppl that could take that seat, either Sainz (who is happy a McLaren, so probably no), or Giovinazzi (more likely, this way Mick can get to learn F1 at Alfa) or they pick a F2 driver to fill the seat besides LEC (if they think that one is better then Giovinazzi)

The longer it takes to announce the person going to Ferrari for 2021 the more likely it might become that the latter might happen.

and Vettel 2021??? he will retire, he is tired of this circus called F1, possible breaking point might have been Canada

[MtthsMlw]

Sainz to Ferrari is looking likely. Based on various news outlets.

[jumpingfish]

Does Sainz really want to join Ferrari as №2? Don't forget about money limits since 2021, I'm not sure that Ferrari will be still efficient with $145mln compared to $400+. And Mclaren will be with Merc engines, also Lando isn't hard teammate compared to Leclerc.

[GPR-A]

Ferrari is NOT going to sign anyone as a No. 2 driver. They have adopted Mercedes philosophy with which they are willing to provide 2 drivers with opportunity to win title and take team orders call as need arises. Previously, having hired World Champion drivers, they were obligated to provide a bit of a default upper hand. Now they are not going to get a world champion and they don't have to yield their authority. They will put another strong driver from the available pool and provide equal opportunity.

[nacho]

Didn't the Ferrari contract have some special clauses like that they need to have a world champion in their car?

There are numerous instances where they did not have one. Most recent one is 2007. A year when Kimi won WDC. Neither Massa nor Kimi contested as Champions, but for championship.

Yes, that's 13 years ago. I think there's been talk that that Ferrari's contract with F1 states that they need to have a champion in their car. So it's Hamilton or Alonso then.

[Fulcrum]

Ferrari's best/most probable options:


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.

It's actually not that unlikely considering Ferrari re-hired Raikkonen, the guy they once paid not to drive for them.

Ferrari have had an F1 World championship winning driver in their line-up since 1996, apart from 2007 (well spotted). Going into 2021 without one would be a big deal.

That said, Alonso, or similar alternatives (yes, I do mean Raikkonen) seem unlikely.

[TimmTurbo]

Remember, Ferrari have had an F1 World championship winning driver in their line-up since 1996. Going into 2021 without one would be a big deal.

2007 they had no WC driver until Brasil

[Fulcrum]

I'll make a case for the entire grid!

Hamilton - out of contract at the end of the year, Mercedes at its zenith (?), Toto potentially on the way out (?), Hamilton having equalled Schumacher's records (or bettered them). A final stint at Ferrari to bolster his bank account and potentially make him the undisputed all-time greatest (statistically at least) driver to date.

Bottas - cheap, available, quick, not a politician.

Vettel - this was a late April Fool's joke folks, we've agreed terms for next year!

Leclerc - if there were two of him, they'd probably hire both of them. How old is the younger brother?

Albon - see Bottas. But probably too inexperienced considering Ferrari already have a relatively inexperienced driver.

Verstappen - I think he is locked in at Red Bull for the long run.

Norris - too inexperienced for Ferrari, but then again, they hired Leclerc. Has no prior history with the Scuderia that I am aware of though, and Ferrari wouldn’t want two inexperienced drivers.

Sainz - Probably in a similar class to Bottas and Albon. I don't consider this particularly likely, as he has a good thing going with McLaren, but the paying power of Ferrari and the prestige might sway him.

Ricciardo - out of contract, in his prime, bested Vettel as a teammate, has Italian heritage, quick, less expensive than Hamilton. Might want to jump from Renault before they pivot toward Ocon.

Ocon - another possible candidate, but also in the “inexperienced” category considering they already have one driver with limited experience. If we were racing, and he were competitive with Ricciardo, I'd actually rate his chances very highly.

Gasly and Kvyat - Ferrari would rehire Raikkonen before either of these two.

Stroll - see Gasly and Kvyat.

Perez - I'd love to see this guy in a fast car but I think that ship has sailed - much like it has for Hulkenberg. Personal bias aside, he'd offer some value as a #2, but there are probably better options out there.

Raikkonen - Jokes aside, he isn't the least likely candidate.

Giovinazzi - One of the least likely candidates.

Grosjean - see Stroll, Gasly, Kvyat, Giovinazzi.

Magnussen - again, no.

Russell - too inexperienced, no working relationship with the Scuderia.

Latifi - see Stroll, Gasly, Kvyat, Giovinazzi, Grosjean, Magnussen

Others:

Alonso – outside of the politics he brings to bear, he’d be a decent option.

Button - would bring prestige as a champion, but I think he's closed the door on any return to the sport.

Rosberg - considering how abruptly he left after winning, I doubt it.

Hulkenberg – as per Perez, I’d love him to have a chance in a fast car, but in all honesty, he wouldn’t merit the opportunity.

Stoffel Vandoorne - ran Alonso pretty close, all things considered. Definitely unlikely though.

Mick Schumacher - no chance, but I bet some in the printed rags will speculate.

My Shortlist:
Hamilton or Ricciardo, if you want to put the absolute strongest team together.

Bottas or Sainz, if you want a decent number 2 who brings no added prestige (titles, etc…).

Raikkonen, if you want an experienced pair of hands who can develop the car for the designated number one, who is familiar with the team, and doesn’t play political games.

Alonso, if you want an experienced pair of hands who can develop the car, who is familiar with the team, and is potentially still very quick, but disruptive in a political sense.

Likely Outcome

Raikkonen of course. Only joking, Ricciardo for me.

[WillGuna]

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.

Well, if you look at it like Niki Lauda's comeback, it is at least a little bit interesting. And Alonso it´s not really the past yet, you sound like we are suggesting Alain Prost to make a comeback. Kimi debuted at almost the same time as him and he is still there. Personally I would prefer Perez to finally have a chance in a competitive car (a very rational choice for Ferrari), but I can´t deny most people would like to have Alonso back.
But I would be really surprised if Ferrari had the balls to go for it, likely they will go with safer options.

[Fulcrum]

Remember, Ferrari have had an F1 World championship winning driver in their line-up since 1996. Going into 2021 without one would be a big deal.

2007 they had no WC driver until Brasil

LOL, true!

[Big Tea]

From Botas point of view, where he is he is number two in the number one car effectively making him, erm,, number two. Why would he move to a team that is probably not the best car, where he will be number two driver, making him effectively number 4? . Even were Merc, Ferrari and Red Bull all equal, most of us here, and probably Botas himself would consider it 'likely' that Hamilton and Max would shade fractionally (be kind) ahead of him so there does not seem an option better than the one he has.

If Merc hand him his cards, then it is a different case. He then has the same choice, or moving to a team outside the top three as the Number one driver. It will not make wins more likely, but should give him satisfaction and money.

[Just_a_fan]

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.

Wehrlein comes with an attitude problem it seems. Unless his dropping from F1 has made him reconsider himself. If his sense of entitlement is still there, I'd expect to see issues in the team.

More unsubstantiated claims, his team principals and Toto say otherwise.

ISTR comments coming from team members he'd worked with suggested he's a bit of a diva. Maybe he's grown up.

[GPR-A]

From Botas point of view, where he is he is number two in the number one car effectively making him, erm,, number two. Why would he move to a team that is probably not the best car, where he will be number two driver, making him effectively number 4? . Even were Merc, Ferrari and Red Bull all equal, most of us here, and probably Botas himself would consider it 'likely' that Hamilton and Max would shade fractionally (be kind) ahead of him so there does not seem an option better than the one he has.

If Merc hand him his cards, then it is a different case. He then has the same choice, or moving to a team outside the top three as the Number one driver. It will not make wins more likely, but should give him satisfaction and money.

He is better off fighting more inferior drivers to what he is competing now as his team mate! That would help enhance his stakes and he stands better chances of beating his team mate more often than he does today.

[Unf]

No point for Ham nad Bottas to change the best car to 2nd or even 3rd car on grid.