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

[Schuttelberg]

That Aston Martin deal Mr.Vettel has signed is looking quite a master stroke.

Perhaps with Redbull's great chassis wasted by a Renault engine'. Then yes Aston would be the only one fighting Mercedes...

But!!!

Maybe Redbull buys the Mercedes engine on a Tag Heuer rebrand deal.

It wouldn't technically be not a Mercedes engine...

If Redbull manage to put a merc engine on their car then there will be real equal championship battle on the card.
Max best bet to be champions in 2021.

Not a chance in hell. The Mercedes is not dominant just because of the PU. It also has more downforce, mechanical grip, aero efficiency and basically everything else on a car.

A step back from works status in 2022 only makes one less challenge for Mercedes.

I actually have a feeling this will start a domino in the driver market with Max moving to Mercedes and a lot of contracts signed being put in the shredder without a lap driven.

[Phil]

I actually have a feeling this will start a domino in the driver market with Max moving to Mercedes and a lot of contracts signed being put in the shredder without a lap driven.

This. I can see this happening too. Might be bad for Hamiltons contract negotiation if he is looking for more than a 1 year deal (2021).

[raymondu999]

That Aston Martin deal Mr.Vettel has signed is looking quite a master stroke.

I don’t get how Honda exiting goes to this. Please elaborate?

[Just_a_fan]

I actually have a feeling this will start a domino in the driver market with Max moving to Mercedes and a lot of contracts signed being put in the shredder without a lap driven.

This. I can see this happening too. Might be bad for Hamiltons contract negotiation if he is looking for more than a 1 year deal (2021).

It increases the chance of Mercedes trying to reduce Hamilton's pay cheque. Max would be happy to get the seat and Merc aren't going to want to pay two big driver bills.

[Big Tea]

Perhaps with Redbull's great chassis wasted by a Renault engine'. Then yes Aston would be the only one fighting Mercedes...

But!!!

Maybe Redbull buys the Mercedes engine on a Tag Heuer rebrand deal.

It wouldn't technically be not a Mercedes engine...

If Redbull manage to put a merc engine on their car then there will be real equal championship battle on the card.
Max best bet to be champions in 2021.

Not a chance in hell. The Mercedes is not dominant just because of the PU. It also has more downforce, mechanical grip, aero efficiency and basically everything else on a car.

A step back from works status in 2022 only makes one less challenge for Mercedes.

I actually have a feeling this will start a domino in the driver market with Max moving to Mercedes and a lot of contracts signed being put in the shredder without a lap driven.

But why would Merc want Max?
They will probably have the undisputed 1 and 2 as it is. Renault may get close, as may a resurgent Ferrari, but nothing is changed at Merc. If it is not broken why fix it? (from Merck point of view)

They may as well bring in Russel, their own driver, into the second dominant car, or even if Hamilton retires.
Nothing to gain bringing in Max.

[NathanOlder]

If Max can get out if Honda, and he really wants a Mercedes seat, why doesn't Max come out and say he will drive for free? Then it puts pressure on Mercedes to say yes or no, and if not, why not.

[adrianjordan]

If Redbull manage to put a merc engine on their car then there will be real equal championship battle on the card.
Max best bet to be champions in 2021.

Not a chance in hell. The Mercedes is not dominant just because of the PU. It also has more downforce, mechanical grip, aero efficiency and basically everything else on a car.

A step back from works status in 2022 only makes one less challenge for Mercedes.

I actually have a feeling this will start a domino in the driver market with Max moving to Mercedes and a lot of contracts signed being put in the shredder without a lap driven.

But why would Merc want Max?
They will probably have the undisputed 1 and 2 as it is. Renault may get close, as may a resurgent Ferrari, but nothing is changed at Merc. If it is not broken why fix it? (from Merck point of view)

They may as well bring in Russel, their own driver, into the second dominant car, or even if Hamilton retires.
Nothing to gain bringing in Max.

They wouldn't, otherwise they would have made a serious play for him already. Doesn't stop the wet dreams of fantasists on forums though.

[Racer X]

That Aston Martin deal Mr.Vettel has signed is looking quite a master stroke.

Perhaps with Redbull's great chassis wasted by a Renault engine'. Then yes Aston would be the only one fighting Mercedes...

But!!!

Maybe Redbull buys the Mercedes engine on a Tag Heuer rebrand deal.

It wouldn't technically be not a Mercedes engine...

If Redbull manage to put a merc engine on their car then there will be real equal championship battle on the card.
Max best bet to be champions in 2021.

Honda are staying next year 2021. They leave at the end of 2021 this next season. They will be needing new engines for 2022, in two seasons.

[Schuttelberg]

That Aston Martin deal Mr.Vettel has signed is looking quite a master stroke.

I don’t get how Honda exiting goes to this. Please elaborate?

Because at the moment, the most attractive drives for 2022 seem to be Mercedes, Renault, McLaren and Aston.

[Racer X]

That Aston Martin deal Mr.Vettel has signed is looking quite a master stroke.

I don’t get how Honda exiting goes to this. Please elaborate?

Because at the moment, the most attractive drives for 2022 seem to be Mercedes, Renault, McLaren and Aston.

No just anything powered by Mercedes. If you include Renault then you must include Redbull since the FIA rules clearly dictate that the engine supplier with the least amount of customers must supply a team needing an engine supplier.

So then Renault can't negotiate they must supply Redbull.

If there is a delay it's because Redbull is probably looking at all options before accepting the Renault. Also because this does not take place until 2022. So we probably will get more news on the Redbull response at the end of this season.

[adrianjordan]

I don’t get how Honda exiting goes to this. Please elaborate?

Because at the moment, the most attractive drives for 2022 seem to be Mercedes, Renault, McLaren and Aston.

No just anything powered by Mercedes. If you include Renault then you must include Redbull since the FIA rules clearly dictate that the engine supplier with the least amount of customers must supply a team needing an engine supplier.

So then Renault can't negotiate they must supply Redbull.

If there is a delay it's because Redbull is probably looking at all options before accepting the Renault. Also because this does not take place until 2022. So we probably will get more news on the Redbull response at the end of this season.

Not forgetting that RBR will also need to make sure all their sponsors etc are happy before any announcement.

[Big Tea]

Just thinking, and not very far either. Red Bull are in an engine bind Again. They must be getting fed up of it now and willing to spend a few groats more for security.
A famous brand, Aston Martin, are going to be racing using an engine from a competitor in performance road cars.
Honda is taking their toys home.
FIA F1 must be getting the creeps in case someone else takes their engine away for what ever reason.
(you can see where this is going, can't you)

Now I don't think it is likely Honda will sell out to a Red Bull Aston Martin consortium, but there are going to be many engine people in the job market over the next couple of years with the cap and global cut back, and if any consortium can get it together to have an engine up and running it has to be the combined might of FIA F1, Red Bull Aston Martin, (plus the combined funds of a couple of billionaires about the paddock and looking into the paddock). And, Andy Cowell coincidentally saying he wants ' go and have a go at something different', and Toto Wolff getting itchy feet.

What a combination that could be.

If more is needed , Fia could possibly sweeten it more by closing the gap between F1 and F2 and supplying this engine to F2 in a lesser form. Think this may either convince Honda to be a part of it of fill the gap until the engine is ready?

Lots of IF's of course, but I always was an optimist.

[Jolle]

Just thinking, and not very far either. Red Bull are in an engine bind Again. They must be getting fed up of it now and willing to spend a few groats more for security.
A famous brand, Aston Martin, are going to be racing using an engine from a competitor in performance road cars.
Honda is taking their toys home.
FIA F1 must be getting the creeps in case someone else takes their engine away for what ever reason.
(you can see where this is going, can't you)

Now I don't think it is likely Honda will sell out to a Red Bull Aston Martin consortium, but there are going to be many engine people in the job market over the next couple of years with the cap and global cut back, and if any consortium can get it together to have an engine up and running it has to be the combined might of FIA F1, Red Bull Aston Martin, (plus the combined funds of a couple of billionaires about the paddock and looking into the paddock). And, Andy Cowell coincidentally saying he wants ' go and have a go at something different', and Toto Wolff getting itchy feet.

What a combination that could be.

If more is needed , Fia could possibly sweeten it more by closing the gap between F1 and F2 and supplying this engine to F2 in a lesser form. Think this may either convince Honda to be a part of it of fill the gap until the engine is ready?

Lots of IF's of course, but I always was an optimist.

Mercedes is already a shareholder of AM plus sells them AMG engines for their road cars. That is a beautiful way those companies are tied together. Almost so much that if Mercedes would leave F1, they could transfer both their UK factories to AM with the trading of some shares (and still keeping a foot between the door).
The trouble with Honda is, that it’s not a separate company that could easily be sold off like the former Illmore plant or Viry in the case of Renault.

I’m afraid RedBull has to flatter Renault again the coming year. Maybe Renault already anticipated this with the Alpine branding. So it won’t be RedBull-Renault vs Renault (which Renault lost last time quite spectacular) but RedBull-Renault vs Alpine. Winning with RedBull and playing the underdog with Alpine, that quirky little french sportscar builder.

[Manoah2u]

Just thinking, and not very far either. Red Bull are in an engine bind Again. They must be getting fed up of it now and willing to spend a few groats more for security.
A famous brand, Aston Martin, are going to be racing using an engine from a competitor in performance road cars.
Honda is taking their toys home.
FIA F1 must be getting the creeps in case someone else takes their engine away for what ever reason.
(you can see where this is going, can't you)

Now I don't think it is likely Honda will sell out to a Red Bull Aston Martin consortium, but there are going to be many engine people in the job market over the next couple of years with the cap and global cut back, and if any consortium can get it together to have an engine up and running it has to be the combined might of FIA F1, Red Bull Aston Martin, (plus the combined funds of a couple of billionaires about the paddock and looking into the paddock). And, Andy Cowell coincidentally saying he wants ' go and have a go at something different', and Toto Wolff getting itchy feet.

What a combination that could be.

If more is needed , Fia could possibly sweeten it more by closing the gap between F1 and F2 and supplying this engine to F2 in a lesser form. Think this may either convince Honda to be a part of it of fill the gap until the engine is ready?

Lots of IF's of course, but I always was an optimist.

Mercedes is already a shareholder of AM plus sells them AMG engines for their road cars. That is a beautiful way those companies are tied together. Almost so much that if Mercedes would leave F1, they could transfer both their UK factories to AM with the trading of some shares (and still keeping a foot between the door).
The trouble with Honda is, that it’s not a separate company that could easily be sold off like the former Illmore plant or Viry in the case of Renault.

I’m afraid RedBull has to flatter Renault again the coming year. Maybe Renault already anticipated this with the Alpine branding. So it won’t be RedBull-Renault vs Renault (which Renault lost last time quite spectacular) but RedBull-Renault vs Alpine. Winning with RedBull and playing the underdog with Alpine, that quirky little french sportscar builder.

This just made me realize.........Alonso signed with Alpine-Renault.
Renault surely is going to make a deal with RedBull Racing.
RBR had interest in Alonso but because of Honda couldn't acquire him.

2022 Alonso moves to RedBull racing alongside Verstappen, or to REPLACE Verstappen whom will move to Aston Martin F1 Team alongside Vettel to replace Stroll?

[Racer X]

This just made me realize.........Alonso signed with Alpine-Renault.
Renault surely is going to make a deal with RedBull Racing.
RBR had interest in Alonso but because of Honda couldn't acquire him.

2022 Alonso moves to RedBull racing alongside Verstappen, or to REPLACE Verstappen whom will move to Aston Martin F1 Team alongside Vettel to replace Stroll?

I once had a history teacher that every day he just hated me. Then one day he tells me "You should really stop doing drugs." I told him I didn't do any, his response was "we'll have you considered?"

I realize it's Silly season but a driver swap with a team that you had a bad relationship with towards the end? Also a team that doesn't take in outside talent. RedBull likes to have driver's from their own academy. Max has way more to give then Alonso in the long run and probably in the short term as well. Alonso might have a good few years left but Max has a long time still to come. I mean I know it's silly season but no. Lol but then again it's 2020.... So who knows...