Silly season 2025-2026

[Starscreamer]

My prediction:

2025 Perez & Ricciardo sign for GM for season 2026
Good drivers and a lot of experience + extra sponsors for GM

[JPower]

Ricciardo said he's done with F1.

Perez might be a good shout. They will likely sign a young driver from Indycar for the other car.

Can't see much else changing going into 2026 unless one of the rookies severely underperforms in 2025 and even then, they'll probably get enough slack to last them another year.

2026 silly season after team competitiveness/2025 rookie performance is set will create some drama.

[PlatinumZealot]

Yuki to RedBull after Liam crumbles under the pressure.
Lewis Hamilton retires after getting blown into the weeds by Leclerc. Bearman elevated or Carlos returns.
Hulk realized he's made a mistake. Retires.
Alonso realizes the 2026 will be nowhere. Retires.

[ali623]

My prediction:

2025 Perez & Ricciardo sign for GM for season 2026
Good drivers and a lot of experience + extra sponsors for GM

Colton Herta will occupy one of the Cadillac seats - the other is between Ricciardo/Perez/Bottas/Magnussen etc.

[WardenOfTheNorth]

Yuki to RedBull after Liam crumbles under the pressure.
Lewis Hamilton retires after getting blown into the weeds by Leclerc. Bearman elevated or Carlos returns.
Hulk realized he's made a mistake. Retires.
Alonso realizes the 2026 will be nowhere. Retires.

Max moves to Aston to replace Alonso, after whispers from Newey and finds that Alonso was wrong about the 2026 car, with Max going on to take the title.

Alonso subsequently announces his return to F1 in 2027 with Red Bull and is allowed to take part in the end of season Rookie Race, which he wins by 2 laps.

[epo]

Yuki to RedBull after Liam crumbles under the pressure.
Lewis Hamilton retires after getting blown into the weeds by Leclerc. Bearman elevated or Carlos returns.
Hulk realized he's made a mistake. Retires.
Alonso realizes the 2026 will be nowhere. Retires.

Bearman really, that guy should not get a seat as so far no talents just money we already have Stroll.

Max will just retire if the RB is crap, AM is too much of a gamble with the Stroll Maffia.

[stephen]

My prediction:

2025 Perez & Ricciardo sign for GM for season 2026
Good drivers and a lot of experience + extra sponsors for GM

Neither of these drivers are likely to race for GM for the 2026 season. Perez is still with Red Bull and Ricciardo seems to have no great interest in making a return in F1.

[organic]

I think we'll see Doohan get chucked early in the season. Colapinto loaned out

With so many rookies on the grid we're in for an awful lot more safety cars & red flags.

[purestpurist]

Yuki to RedBull after Liam crumbles under the pressure.
Lewis Hamilton retires after getting blown into the weeds by Leclerc. Bearman elevated or Carlos returns.
Hulk realized he's made a mistake. Retires.
Alonso realizes the 2026 will be nowhere. Retires.

Bearman really, that guy should not get a seat as so far no talents just money we already have Stroll.

Max will just retire if the RB is crap, AM is too much of a gamble with the Stroll Maffia.

Bearman's already put two competent f1 drives together and outqualified hulk in azerbaijan. Brazil was rough but we also saw lots of drivers who clearly belong having shunts, including his teammate.

[epo]

Yuki to RedBull after Liam crumbles under the pressure.
Lewis Hamilton retires after getting blown into the weeds by Leclerc. Bearman elevated or Carlos returns.
Hulk realized he's made a mistake. Retires.
Alonso realizes the 2026 will be nowhere. Retires.

Bearman really, that guy should not get a seat as so far no talents just money we already have Stroll.

Max will just retire if the RB is crap, AM is too much of a gamble with the Stroll Maffia.

Bearman's already put two competent f1 drives together and outqualified hulk in azerbaijan. Brazil was rough but we also saw lots of drivers who clearly belong having shunts, including his teammate.

Only one oke drive, the other sucked big time there should be no room for him.

[dren]

AM accidentally makes a world beater and Fred wins his 3rd championship.
Yuki is in the Red Bull at the summer break and wins his first race before the season ends.
Max gets more agrivated with the FIA and retires.
Every rookie driver crashes more than once in qualifying and race.
Kimi remains Ferrari's last WDC.

[taperoo2k]

Yuki to RedBull after Liam crumbles under the pressure.
Lewis Hamilton retires after getting blown into the weeds by Leclerc. Bearman elevated or Carlos returns.
Hulk realized he's made a mistake. Retires.
Alonso realizes the 2026 will be nowhere. Retires.

Bearman really, that guy should not get a seat as so far no talents just money we already have Stroll.

Ferrari obviously see something in Bearman you do not. You either need the backing of an F1 team (as Lewis did via Ron Dennis) or you need sponsorship or a rich family to work your way upto F1. Unless the teams, Liberty and the FIA come together to fund the most promising young drivers then how you get into F1 isn't going to change.

From what I've seen of Bearman, he's a way better driver than Stroll, he deserves his shot at F1. It's upto him to make the most of it. If he's no good, Ferrari will drop him.

Max will just retire if the RB is crap, AM is too much of a gamble with the Stroll Maffia.

Max will either join Mercedes (if they have the best PU) or race in other categories of Motorsport. He might want to win the triple crown in motorsport, a feat only Graham Hill has achieved.

If Ferrari produce the car, then I expect we'll see Lewis challenging for the drivers title. Another battle with Max would be fun.

[ali623]

I mean we'll find out next year how good/or not good Bearman is, he's paired with Ocon, who we all know is a solid F1 driver so it'll be a perfect baseline. In fact you can say that with all the rookies next year. Doohan, Hadjar, Bortoleto and Antonelli are all also paired up with established F1 drivers.

[RonMexico]

My prediction:

2025 Perez & Ricciardo sign for GM for season 2026
Good drivers and a lot of experience + extra sponsors for GM

Does he have any realistic chance of getting a super license

Colton Herta will occupy one of the Cadillac seats - the other is between Ricciardo/Perez/Bottas/Magnussen etc.

[mzso]

I don't know why people think Lawson will crumble. He seems to be the most immune to pressure and criticism of any recent newcomer. I think Tsunoda would have been more likely to take a nosedive (he still might after getting snubbed) as he did before.

Lewis Hamilton retires after getting blown into the weeds by Leclerc. Bearman elevated or Carlos returns.
Hulk realized he's made a mistake. Retires.
Alonso realizes the 2026 will be nowhere. Retires.

I don't see these happening, besides Hülkenberg, who can never catch a break. Hamilton, might not be as a reliable qualifier as he was. But with a better car he won't be messing up many Q3-s. And I don't think there will be a sizeable gap between them performance-wise. Plus the amount they pay for him he's sure to get some favoritism. (Sunk cost fallacy)
But AM is already in a decent place with people and technological background. Newey's just what they need to pull things together, and they'll have all the same development as the rest. So I think they'll get a race win or two.