Silly season 2024-2025

[PlatinumZealot]

At least end of season. Checo may be in VCARB next year i think. Depends on Lawson.

[dodds_turbo]

Wishful thinking or looking into the crystal ball (you can decide for yourself)...

Ricciardo has not been fired from VCARB/RBR but currently doesn't have a seat. Because he's not being dropped by the team, we should expect no announcement about him.

Do expect an announcement about Lawson getting to drive for VCARB for the rest of 2024.

Over the summer the rumour is that FOM and several big name sponsors pressured Red Bull Racing to keep Perez in his racing seat for now. A lot of money has been spent in adapting his current F1 career for Mexican/American TV (TelCel/Disney).

However several factors may persuade/force Perez to retire soon. His wife and he are expecting their 4th child, and his father is in poor health. This may convince Checo it's now time to be more at home/with family. He may announce it shortly before the Mexican GP (end of October) and would receive an emotional farewell throughout the race weekend.

Daniel returns to replace Checo for the remainder of 2024. Redbull may see this as their best chance for points to try and salvage WCC position. This will also allow Redbull to analyse if it the car truly does have issues, or if Perez just wasn't suited to the car. This means a seat is available at RBR for 2025. They have a few months to work out if they want Lawson, Ricciardo, or another driver...

Let's wait and see.

[AR3-GP]

It is a reasonable take.

[dialtone]

Ric should just come to drive the 499P. Fuoco and Ric would be gold.

[organic]

I don't see Perez continuing if he is dropped from red bull A team. He has talked recently about having come close to retirement in the last 6 months and that was without having to drive for the occasional p10

[PapayaFan481]

I agree. I think Checo will leave F1 either at the end of this season, or after Mexico.

And I think Marco is probably speaking to Williams about Colapinto, to see whether he is an option for VCARB if they want to put Lawson into RBR in 26.

[PapayaFan481]

It's official....

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/arti ... sxpPrbqxX0

Makes it sound like he's completely left the RBR family, while most of us expected him to remain as reserve at Red Bull.... Is that correct??

[PapayaFan481]

Tell you what, Formula 1 YouTube need to do a "Former Drivers Edition" of Grill The Grid from next season, with Daniel, Seb and a few other former drivers

[Big Tea]

Tell you what, Formula 1 YouTube need to do a "Former Drivers Edition" of Grill The Grid from next season, with Daniel, Seb and a few other former drivers

A Dark secrets special

[dialtone]

Utterly embarrassing how RBR and VCARB handled this news.

Where are the clown faces on the pitwall that are so quick to come out when Ferrari makes mistakes?

[PlatinumZealot]

Daniel Ricciardo out!

Source?

I can tell you but I'd have to kill you. So coveted are my sources because they never fail.

[PlatinumZealot]

It's official....

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/arti ... sxpPrbqxX0

Makes it sound like he's completely left the RBR family, while most of us expected him to remain as reserve at Red Bull.... Is that correct??

Yeah. Its the worst way to exit; not on your own terms. Sad for a driver of his pedigree.

[deadhead]

I'm thinking Sainz's career path will end up being remarkably similar to Ricciardo's

[organic]

I'm thinking Sainz's career path will end up being remarkably similar to Ricciardo's

I dont think sainz will ever fall off so hard like Ricciardo. Sainz has shown himself to be a tenth or so off Charles on average over the last few seasons.

Also I foresee red bull maybe trying to get him next season. Unrest there with checo edging closer to retirement and max to the door. Russell/Sainz for instance might be the best RB could do if Verstappen were to go to Merc

[Vanja #66]

There's every indication we're in for a lot of big moves next year. As much as it seemed like this year is gonna be hectic, it all went to naught... We are due a tectonic shift

For 2026 we'll only have Ferrari duo set in stone and Norris in McLaren, both on paper and by mutual desire. Others are very interesting

- Max is questionable and is targeted by both Mercedes and AMR (even though they have two drivers with contracts)
- Piastri is rumoured to be able to exit before 2026, ie at the end of next year
- Russell is out of contract by the end of 2025
- Sainz will be able to exit early, we'll se how early
- Alonso and Stroll have contracts on paper, but will old man Stroll be prepared to cash out to one of them for an early release?
- Colapinto is very impressive so far and will surely be on many radars next year
- There's many other young drivers who very much deserve a shot in F1 and seems like budget cap will mark an end to pay driver status, as there does not seem to be a great financial need by any team

I think we may very well see Max, Piastri, Russell and Sainz all switch teams between 25 and 26 in the end, including a few others as well