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So apparently de Vries is rumored for the Williams seat. Would make sense, Russell to Mercedes seems to be confirmed, and with de Vries at Williams they have possibly offered a FE seat to Bottas.
Mercedes wants to steal some of the thunder away from Max, by bringing another Dutch in their own camp to lure away some crowd support.
They should definitely try and get him a drive at McLaren!!
De Vries was let go by McLaren and was picked up with Vandoorne by Mercedes. So, don’t think that’s going to happen
So apparently de Vries is rumored for the Williams seat. Would make sense, Russell to Mercedes seems to be confirmed, and with de Vries at Williams they have possibly offered a FE seat to Bottas.
The question is whether Bottas wants to keep racing or whether he's happy to bank the millions he's already got and go enjoy life with his family. He'll be 32yo next month, not a bad age to go off and do lots of stuff you enjoy doing safe in the knowledge that a bit of careful investment will keep you in a good financial place for the rest of your life.
Maybe go do some touring car or endurance racing on the side too.
He'd probably be pretty good in LMP type stuff.
If you are more fortunate than others, build a larger table not a taller fence.
The question is whether Bottas wants to keep racing or whether he's happy to bank the millions he's already got and go enjoy life with his family. He'll be 32yo next month, not a bad age to go off and do lots of stuff you enjoy doing safe in the knowledge that a bit of careful investment will keep you in a good financial place for the rest of your life.
Maybe go do some touring car or endurance racing on the side too.
He'd probably be pretty good in LMP type stuff.
Are Merc not entering in the hypercar class?
Rosberg, Bottas and Vandoorne line up just imagine
Last edited by WaikeCU on 29 Jul 2021, 14:00, edited 1 time in total.
Mercedes wants to steal some of the thunder away from Max, by bringing another Dutch in their own camp to lure away some crowd support.
They should definitely try and get him a drive at McLaren!!
De Vries was let go by McLaren and was picked up with Vandoorne by Mercedes. So, don’t think that’s going to happen
And Alonso would never go back to McLaren or Kimi return to Ferrari. This things happen.
Merc turn round to McLaren and offer them a discount on the PU if they run a promising up and coming driver, presumably this is at a time when McLaren have an open seat, then McLaren would consider it. They'd be stupid not to.
Favourite driver: Lando Norris
Favourite team: McLaren
Turned down the chance to meet Vettel at Silverstone in 2007. He was a test driver at the time and I didn't think it was worth queuing!! 🤦🏻♂️
They should definitely try and get him a drive at McLaren!!
De Vries was let go by McLaren and was picked up with Vandoorne by Mercedes. So, don’t think that’s going to happen
And Alonso would never go back to McLaren or Kimi return to Ferrari. This things happen.
Merc turn round to McLaren and offer them a discount on the PU if they run a promising up and coming driver, presumably this is at a time when McLaren have an open seat, then McLaren would consider it. They'd be stupid not to.
There would be no reason for McLaren to give a seat to a Mercedes “Promising up and coming driver” even if a discount on the PU is on the table… McLaren is a team that wants to be back winning races and fighting for Championships with enough financial backing to do so… Yes, they have been now for a long time in the midfield, but they don’t operate like a back marker or B-Team
McLaren is a team that wants to be back winning races and fighting for Championships with enough financial backing to do so… Yes, they have been now for a long time in the midfield, but they don’t operate like a back marker or B-Team
While that is true, McLaren is no longer a top team operating on a top team budget.
The restrictions have changed spending and I could not immediately find the numbers for 2021, but in 2019 it was Mercedes, Ferrari and RBR spending close to a half billion dollars, whereas Renault and McLaren were closer to $270 million each.
McLaren is a team that wants to be back winning races and fighting for Championships with enough financial backing to do so… Yes, they have been now for a long time in the midfield, but they don’t operate like a back marker or B-Team
While that is true, McLaren is no longer a top team operating on a top team budget.
The restrictions have changed spending and I could not immediately find the numbers for 2021, but in 2019 it was Mercedes, Ferrari and RBR spending close to a half billion dollars, whereas Renault and McLaren were closer to $270 million each.
Well… As of 2021 (this year) Mclaren has the spending of a top team… They are using the full Budget Cap, just as Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull (Alpine and Aston Martin)… A Top Team? They still consider themselves as one and aspire to have the on track results that reflect it… Therefore, they won’t be jeopardizing their aspirations for a discount on the PU’s
To be fair, with Norris around, they don't really need a Mercedes driver at all. It's a shame Ricciardo somehow can't get up to speed or come to grips, as Daniel is undeniably a fantastic asset. Odd how ever since he left RBR, he hasn't really come to full grips.
Norris is P3, in front of Bottas, without driving an AMG or RBR. Mclaren are missing that extra 'oumpf'. When they find it, it's gonna be bonkers.
Either way,
As if it wasn't already 100% guaranteed Russell was going to get Bottas seat,
after Bottas playing a Bowling ball in the race, that would have been final nail in the coffin.
Now though i am in no single way a fan at all of Bottas - i did feel a bit for him after his crash.
I might have been mistaken but to me it almost looked like he was crying when he was sitting on top of those tires after taking out Perez and Norris in one move, and multi-kill points in damaging Max and extra points for the aftermath having effect for Ricciardo, Stroll, Leclerc, etc.
"Explain the ending to F1 in football terms"
"Hamilton was beating Verstappen 7-0, then the ref decided F%$& rules, next goal wins
while also sending off 4 Hamilton players to make it more interesting"
McLaren is a team that wants to be back winning races and fighting for Championships with enough financial backing to do so… Yes, they have been now for a long time in the midfield, but they don’t operate like a back marker or B-Team
While that is true, McLaren is no longer a top team operating on a top team budget.
The restrictions have changed spending and I could not immediately find the numbers for 2021, but in 2019 it was Mercedes, Ferrari and RBR spending close to a half billion dollars, whereas Renault and McLaren were closer to $270 million each.
McLaren have the mentality of a top team once more and I doubt they will take a driver for a discount on the PU's. They've got Norris who with the right car can challenge for titles and Riccardo will get to grips with driving for McLaren. I think some forget just how steep of a learning curve it can be for drivers when they move teams. Once the budget cap is in place properly, McLaren should be able to compete with the top teams. The rebuild Zak Brown has been overseeing has gone well so far.
Anyway I'd not normally pay much attention to a tyre test, but with the regulation changes in 2022....
Wild idea by Villeneuve...
Although, if it is solely about getting the best drive for your son it would be logical. But is it also in the interest of Mercedes? I doubt that highly.
Wild idea by Villeneuve...
Although, if it is solely about getting the best drive for your son it would be logical. But is it also in the interest of Mercedes? I doubt that highly.
Not sure what it would mean for the AM team either. Why would Stroll Sr continue to pump money into it if his son is no longer there? Let's be honest, Lance is the only real reason he bought the team.
Wild idea by Villeneuve...
Although, if it is solely about getting the best drive for your son it would be logical. But is it also in the interest of Mercedes? I doubt that highly.
Not sure what it would mean for the AM team either. Why would Stroll Sr continue to pump money into it if his son is no longer there? Let's be honest, Lance is the only real reason he bought the team.
Why do people still think that Stroll Snr is only at AM for his son? This is a man who has built a literal fortune by investing in businesses and brands which carry a lot of clout internationally but which could do better. he then makes them do better. This is exactly what he's doing with AM. He's not stupid. He bought the team because it became available at just the right time - it had collapsed, the impending regulation change and cost cap, and his separate buy out of Aston Martin. Yes, he invested money in his son's racing career - but this is a man who has been around F1 for decades through sponsorship deals, and has a clear history of a love for motorsports and automotive history.
