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

[Manoah2u]

Maybe one seat opens up again?

What did he do/say?

supposedly harassed a girl physically who said NO.
it's also suggested it's taken out of proportion as the girl was 'provocative'.

whatever the case, it's making things scandalous and putting Haas in a bad light even before the guy has raced,
and prompted Haas to respond, which is really not that good, and I really wonder how Gunther Steiner is going to go with this.

Hoping he's booted before the season starts.

[El Scorchio]

Maybe one seat opens up again?

What did he do/say?

supposedly harassed a girl physically who said NO.
it's also suggested it's taken out of proportion as the girl was 'provocative'.

whatever the case, it's making things scandalous and putting Haas in a bad light even before the guy has raced,
and prompted Haas to respond, which is really not that good, and I really wonder how Gunther Steiner is going to go with this.

Hoping he's booted before the season starts.

I suppose we are truly about to see how loudly money talks....

[Manoah2u]

A lot, Mazepin has punched Illott before and nothing happened from that.

Wasn't there recently a fight where another driver who threw a wing to an opponent during racing, where even the driver's dad came in and punched around? Did that driver actually get a (lifetime) ban? should get an actual 'attempted murder' case thrown at them. Would be nice if we actually saw FIA doing something like that.

I remember a case of Adrian Sutil supposedly attacking somebody with glass which could have lead to serious injury over a supposed what, homosexual remark? Sutil's career was essentially over before that point anyway, but I wonder what actually came of that. All i remember is that Sutil was pissed off Lewis didn't 'cover his back'.

[Just_a_fan]

Maybe one seat opens up again?

What did he do/say?

supposedly harassed a girl physically who said NO.
it's also suggested it's taken out of proportion as the girl was 'provocative'.

whatever the case, it's making things scandalous and putting Haas in a bad light even before the guy has raced,
and prompted Haas to respond, which is really not that good, and I really wonder how Gunther Steiner is going to go with this.

Hoping he's booted before the season starts.

Ah. Not good.

[Fulcrum]

Plenty of alternative options for that seat, including Ilott and Shwartzman. Both have Ferrari connections.

Mazepin was always about the money, so I guess we'll find out how much the money talks.

If there are no criminal charges I think he'll be retained.

[Manoah2u]

One might argue that it was a private scene, and the girl shows provocative behaviour, sucking her middle finger and all, and she had her private parts very 'exposed' so to speak, but Nikita, whilst filming in a car, grabed her breast and fondled around which the girl seemingly did not enjoy. To actually publically post this shows high levels of morally questionable behaviour, especially concidering what more happened/happens off-camera.

Since he is signed with Haas, this puts Haas' reputation immediately in descredit.
Additionally, Formula 1. Not just the 'sexual assault' in itself, but i could go as far as to throw in the current pandemic into the mix, there were definately 4 people in the car, and no mouth masks were involved.

F1 has an interesting rule to it:

8 ) COMPETITORS APPLICATIONS

8.7

If in the opinion of the F1 Commission a competitor ..... in any way brings the Championship into disrepute, the FIA may exclude such competitor from the Championship forthwith

i would really like to see the Mazepin camp get a nice FIA mjolnir hammer slammed on top of them.

Id grab that chance if i was HAAS, as it would certainly NOT exclude Mazepin camp from PAYING Haas.
So theyd get Mazepin money, and then get to find another driver asap (Ilott, Swartzman) AND moneys.

[cooken]

Hmmm, perfect opportunity to bring in Perez to help mentor Mick.

[PlatinumZealot]

Drivers better than Perez:
5 - Ham, Max, Ric, Lec, Rus (maybe), Nando (maybe)

Drivers on the level of Perez:
3 - Vet (maybe), Sainz (maybe), Kimi (maybe)

Drivers worse than Perez:
11 - Bot, Alb, Stroll, Nor, Ocon, Gio, Lat, Mag, Gros, Gas, Kyv, Schumacher (not seen much yet), Maz (Kyv reincarnate)

Looking at it objectivly Perez and Ric are equals. Rick does not belong in the top tiers.

Evidence based: Ham tier 1 (Alonso on last form)

Tier 2: Max, Lec
Tier 3: Ric, Russell, Perez

Vettel is waaaay down the line these days. Can even argue for Kimi and Gio being better than him on current form. Vettel has not been in Q3 in the last thirteen races.

[Fulcrum]

Drivers better than Perez:
5 - Ham, Max, Ric, Lec, Rus (maybe), Nando (maybe)

Drivers on the level of Perez:
3 - Vet (maybe), Sainz (maybe), Kimi (maybe)

Drivers worse than Perez:
11 - Bot, Alb, Stroll, Nor, Ocon, Gio, Lat, Mag, Gros, Gas, Kyv, Schumacher (not seen much yet), Maz (Kyv reincarnate)

Looking at it objectivly Perez and Ric are equals. Rick does not belong in the top tiers.

Evidence based: Ham tier 1 (Alonso on last form)

Tier 2: Max, Lec
Tier 3: Ric, Russell, Perez

Vettel is waaaay down the line these days. Can even argue for Kimi and Gio being better than him on current form. Vettel has not been in Q3 in the last thirteen races.

How could you describe your post as objective when you provide no data or logic to backup your statements?

[Racer X]

Drivers better than Perez:
5 - Ham, Max, Ric, Lec, Rus (maybe), Nando (maybe)

Drivers on the level of Perez:
3 - Vet (maybe), Sainz (maybe), Kimi (maybe)

Drivers worse than Perez:
11 - Bot, Alb, Stroll, Nor, Ocon, Gio, Lat, Mag, Gros, Gas, Kyv, Schumacher (not seen much yet), Maz (Kyv reincarnate)

Looking at it objectivly Perez and Ric are equals. Rick does not belong in the top tiers.

Evidence based: Ham tier 1 (Alonso on last form)

Tier 2: Max, Lec
Tier 3: Ric, Russell, Perez

Vettel is waaaay down the line these days. Can even argue for Kimi and Gio being better than him on current form. Vettel has not been in Q3 in the last thirteen races.

How could you describe your post as objective when you provide no data or logic to backup your statements?

Your tier opinion has no solid data to back it. I've seen members give convincing arguments here that changed my mind on Driver's. But this Is how you feel about these guys.
You like Hamilton more and the other slightly less basically... Those are your like categories.

[UlleGulle]

EDIT
This might be nothing but Bottas removed the Mercedes tags from his social media.
Russell also removed the Williams tags from his social media...

I wonder if Mercedes is excersising some sort of clause in Vaterris contract like what Aston Martin did to Perez....

But im just being paranoid here. again its probably nothing!

If it is, well, Perez might claim the title "Most unlucky driver ever" from Alonso. Recent form (his and Albons) would suggest he has a real shot at the RB seat.

With Bottas on the market however?

Yeah, he's among the best qualifiers on the grid, and he has recent input from Merc development, and probably some insights into 2022. I can see Dr. Marko snatching him at an instant.

[Just_a_fan]

With Bottas on the market however?

Yeah, he's among the best qualifiers on the grid, and he has recent input from Merc development, and probably some insights into 2022. I can see Dr. Marko snatching him at an instant.

If Mercedes wanted to put Russell in the car opposite Hamilton in 2021, they could just pay Bottas to sit at home. Unless his contract has a clause that says he must drive the car, which it may do I suppose, then he's got no way of forcing his employer to actually use him. That would prevent him from being poached by a rival. As he would still be under contract, he'd be liable to legal action if he went and told another team about Mercedes's plans.

[nzjrs]

With Bottas on the market however?

Yeah, he's among the best qualifiers on the grid, and he has recent input from Merc development, and probably some insights into 2022. I can see Dr. Marko snatching him at an instant.

If Mercedes wanted to put Russell in the car opposite Hamilton in 2021, they could just pay Bottas to sit at home. Unless his contract has a clause that says he must drive the car, which it may do I suppose, then he's got no way of forcing his employer to actually use him. That would prevent him from being poached by a rival. As he would still be under contract, he'd be liable to legal action if he went and told another team about Mercedes's plans.

I'd expect all drivers to have a clause which states that if they don't drive X races per year they are a free agent.

[holeindalip]

With Bottas on the market however?

Yeah, he's among the best qualifiers on the grid, and he has recent input from Merc development, and probably some insights into 2022. I can see Dr. Marko snatching him at an instant.

If Mercedes wanted to put Russell in the car opposite Hamilton in 2021, they could just pay Bottas to sit at home. Unless his contract has a clause that says he must drive the car, which it may do I suppose, then he's got no way of forcing his employer to actually use him. That would prevent him from being poached by a rival. As he would still be under contract, he'd be liable to legal action if he went and told another team about Mercedes's plans.

At the end of the day all it is, is a piece of paper with signatures. You could fight it in court and win and be paid out your remaining balance which Mercedes would just pay him off anyways, look at sauber a few years ago, 2 seats with 4 drivers signed. The contract means absolute jack....

[holeindalip]

I dont understand why persons are pushing for George to go to Mercedes in 2021 when he is pretty much guaranteed tobe there in 2022.

Because Mercedes is guaranteed to the best car in 2021, but it is not for 2022.

Alonso thought he could walk all over the rookie Hamilton in ‘07

Exactly, and Russell is probably the same level as Hamilton... So you have made Russell's fans point! Put in Russell ASAP.

It’s just too quick, too early.

How can it be too early for Russell when Hamilton debuted for McLaren-Mercedes, and Leclerc went to Ferrari after one season. That doesn't make sense.

Just assumptions and no real proof he’s on Hamilton’s level, qualifying maybe...until the go head to head over a season we can’t say...