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

[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.

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.

So would I, but if you were offered a contract by the most successful team of the day, would you turn it down if it didn't have clause in it? After all, Mercedes have always been fair to their drivers so you might feel confident that you'll get fair treatment.

As it is, I don't believe that Mercedes would do that anyway. I'd be annoyed if they did it to Bottas, even though I'm keen to see Russell in the car.

[Just_a_fan]

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....

The contract helps the team control the driver, but much less so the other way round. Sure, the driver could go to court but as it's likely to take him well in to the season to get it sorted, he may as well just suck it up, take the money and enjoy the year off.

[holeindalip]

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....

The contract helps the team control the driver, but much less so the other way round. Sure, the driver could go to court but as it's likely to take him well in to the season to get it sorted, he may as well just suck it up, take the money and enjoy the year off.

Agreed....you really have no chance if the team just says bugger off. Just take the Payout because you’re never gonna sit in the car again

[Big Tea]

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.

So would I, but if you were offered a contract by the most successful team of the day, would you turn it down if it didn't have clause in it? After all, Mercedes have always been fair to their drivers so you might feel confident that you'll get fair treatment.

As it is, I don't believe that Mercedes would do that anyway. I'd be annoyed if they did it to Bottas, even though I'm keen to see Russell in the car.

Sort of out of the box, the way things MAY go next year a stand in driver for the Merc teams could be a reasonable job if they combine and use the same one. Merc themselves 2 seats, Pink Merc (AM) 2 seats, Williams 2 seats.

Combined with pr work and a few FP sessions if Bottas has interests outside F1 which Merc has a finger in too it could be a lucrative offer.

If not, paid up and free would not be too bad. a couple years commentating combined with say Le Mans or sports or even snow, which I believe he is keen on?

I have to say though,I can not see it happening. He is unlikely to do it volentry and I doubt Merc would push it.

[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.

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

I use a similar philosphy to the driver ranking model on the "f1metrics" website.

Sustained performance with time.
Qually results. Race pace.
Team mate compare (network).
Among other factors.

[raymondu999]

Ok like... sorry to interrupt but can we discuss driver ranking in a different thread, and go back to the silly season in the silly season thread?

[Manoah2u]

yes.

Hamilton & Russell @ Mercedes
Verstappen & Perez @ RedBull
Leclerc & Sainz @ Ferrari
Alonso & Ocon @ Alpine
Ricciardo & Norris @ Mclaren
Vettel & Stroll @ Aston Martin
Schumacher & Schwartzman @ Haas
Giovanazzi & Raikkonen @ Alfa Romeo
Tsunoda & Gasly @ Alpha Tauri
Bottas & Latifi @ Williams

[Big Tea]

yes.

Hamilton & Russell @ Mercedes
Verstappen & Perez @ RedBull
Leclerc & Sainz @ Ferrari
Alonso & Ocon @ Alpine
Ricciardo & Norris @ Mclaren
Vettel & Stroll @ Aston Martin
Schumacher & Schwartzman @ Haas
Giovanazzi & Raikkonen @ Alfa Romeo
Tsunoda & Gasly @ Alpha Tauri
Bottas & Latifi @ Williams

I would prefer Bottas at AM, but that IS silly season

[hUirEYExbN]

Maybe one seat opens up again?

This is all I can find of the video: https://www.reddit.com/r/F1Meme/comment ... ds_got_it/

The woman has stated it was consensual: https://www.instagram.com/stories/almad ... 049092052/
https://i.imgur.com/wuDbdSA.jpg

This is certainly bollocking worthy and tacky as --- to upload it, but that's it. The number of people calling for blood is just dumb. They guy doesn't deserve to lose his paid seat over this, let his ineptitude and attitude on track do that for him.

[Jolle]

Maybe one seat opens up again?

This is all I can find of the video: https://www.reddit.com/r/F1Meme/comment ... ds_got_it/

The woman has stated it was consensual: https://www.instagram.com/stories/almad ... 049092052/
https://i.imgur.com/wuDbdSA.jpg

This is certainly bollocking worthy and tacky as --- to upload it, but that's it. The number of people calling for blood is just dumb. They guy doesn't deserve to lose his paid seat over this, let his ineptitude and attitude on track do that for him.

The kids behaviour on, off and around track is of some one that has never held responsible for anything. Punching competitors, molesting girls, holding covid parties, etc etc. He will fall and take HAAS with him. This behaviour just doesn't suddenly stop. I guess his first racial slurs and homophobic comments are just around the corner.

[holeindalip]

Maybe one seat opens up again?

This is all I can find of the video: https://www.reddit.com/r/F1Meme/comment ... ds_got_it/

The woman has stated it was consensual: https://www.instagram.com/stories/almad ... 049092052/
https://i.imgur.com/wuDbdSA.jpg

This is certainly bollocking worthy and tacky as --- to upload it, but that's it. The number of people calling for blood is just dumb. They guy doesn't deserve to lose his paid seat over this, let his ineptitude and attitude on track do that for him.

The kids behaviour on, off and around track is of some one that has never held responsible for anything. Punching competitors, molesting girls, holding covid parties, etc etc. He will fall and take HAAS with him. This behaviour just doesn't suddenly stop. I guess his first racial slurs and homophobic comments are just around the corner.

Just what we need in F1 when this whole season has been about eradicating it.....

[langedweil]

Maybe one seat opens up again?

This is all I can find of the video: https://www.reddit.com/r/F1Meme/comment ... ds_got_it/

The woman has stated it was consensual: https://www.instagram.com/stories/almad ... 049092052/
https://i.imgur.com/wuDbdSA.jpg

This is certainly bollocking worthy and tacky as --- to upload it, but that's it. The number of people calling for blood is just dumb. They guy doesn't deserve to lose his paid seat over this, let his ineptitude and attitude on track do that for him.

The kids behaviour on, off and around track is of some one that has never held responsible for anything. Punching competitors, molesting girls, holding covid parties, etc etc. He will fall and take HAAS with him. This behaviour just doesn't suddenly stop. I guess his first racial slurs and homophobic comments are just around the corner.

*woke alert*

[aMessageToCharlie]

People should try and keep their emotions in check and focus on the facts.

This defamation of people needs to stop. Just because you dont like how someone lives his life, it doesnt justify insulting them and making up stuff (refering to Jolle's "guess his first racial slurs and homophobic comments are just around the corner").

Of course this was a bad PR move from him and should be discussed as such, but maybe try practicing the tolerance you preach.

[adrianjordan]

This is all I can find of the video: https://www.reddit.com/r/F1Meme/comment ... ds_got_it/

The woman has stated it was consensual: https://www.instagram.com/stories/almad ... 049092052/
https://i.imgur.com/wuDbdSA.jpg

This is certainly bollocking worthy and tacky as --- to upload it, but that's it. The number of people calling for blood is just dumb. They guy doesn't deserve to lose his paid seat over this, let his ineptitude and attitude on track do that for him.

The kids behaviour on, off and around track is of some one that has never held responsible for anything. Punching competitors, molesting girls, holding covid parties, etc etc. He will fall and take HAAS with him. This behaviour just doesn't suddenly stop. I guess his first racial slurs and homophobic comments are just around the corner.

*woke alert*

Being socially aware and against prejudice and discrimination, ie woke, is a bad thing in your eyes?

[nzjrs]

*woke alert*

Being socially aware and against prejudice and discrimination, ie woke, is a bad thing in your eyes?

Enough words have been written about the intricacies of the current culture war to regress back to 'let me define your terms for you' type arguments (from both sides).