[Rumours] 2022 Silly Season

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by bathurst77

Is Danny R on a 12 month or multi year deal with macs?

Reported as multi-year.

https://www.speedcafe.com/2020/05/14...-join-mclaren/

[chillibowl]

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/b...tstop/6528693/

probably the article making it sound like a bigger deal then it is, but maybe there is some back and forth blame game going on about the cause of Bottas' botched stop at Monaco?

but probably just the media is looking to create cracks and this weekend's gaggle of international press will make Bottas wish he just did an Osaka and stayed home.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/b...tstop/6528693/

Related Video: 'Bottas pitstop ended up being 43 hours long'

[S griffin]

That must be the longest pitstop ever in Grand Prix racing! Longer than the Alfa 1925 Belgian GP pitstop!

[BTCC frog]

Driver lineup predictions for 2022:

Mercedes: Lewis Hamilton / George Russell
Red Bull: Max Verstappen / Sergio Perez
McLaren: Lando Norris / Daniel Ricciardo
Ferrari: Charles Leclerc / Carlos Sainz
Alpha Tauri: Pierre Gasly / Yuki Tsunoda
Alpine: Esteban Ocon / Fernando Alonso
Aston Martin: Sebastian Vettel / Lance Stroll
Alfa Romeo: Antonio Giovinazzi / Callum Ilott
Williams: Valtteri Bottas / Nicholas Latifi
Haas: Mick Schumacher / Nikita Mazepin

I am expecting the traditional pattern (of recent years) of even-numbered years having only a few changes (like 2016, 2018 and 2020) while odd numbered years have many changes (2017, 2019 and 2021). Although I think Bottas is better than many give him credit for, it looks as though this will be his final season at Mercedes, and there are no better options for him than Williams. I also think Raikkonen will retire. Alfa Romeo are allowed to pick one driver, and I am going to guess that Ferrari will choose Ilott to replace Giovinazzi, but Alfa Romeo will choose to keep Giovinazzi in place of Ilott. All others will remain the same. Alpine is an interesting one, as Bottas and Gasly have been rumoured, while Zhou will also want a promotion if he wins F2, but Ocon is doing well and I can't see them getting rid of Alonso.

[Formulahistory]

The big questionmark will be at Alfa Romeo. I don't see Ilott in and it could be Alfa Romeo pulls out of F1 and Sauber will become the Alpine Junior team.

[S griffin]

Sauber are in discussions about continuing with Alfa, so we’ll see. If Alfa decide not to continue, it wouldn’t be the first time the Sauber name is back after a manufacturer that took over the team pulled out.

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Sauber are in discussions about continuing with Alfa, so we’ll see. If Alfa decide not to continue, it wouldn’t be the first time the Sauber name is back after a manufacturer that took over the team pulled out.

Alfa are a sponsor/partner with a deal that supplies engines and puts an FDA driver in one of the seats. The team is owned by the TetraPak lot.
If the Alfa deal ends, Sauber will need to cosy up to another big partner for engines, tech. Renault/Alpine has been rumoured which could see either Zhou ot Piastri partner and experienced driver.

[S griffin]

Would Ferrari not continue to supply them with engines?

[wnut]

Here comes a rumour.

McLaren have announced they are going to participate in the Extreme E off road championship with ex drivers Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton??!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OmIEN2Ik00

[bathurst77]

I think neither of the 2 current merc drivers will be in those cars in 2022 and DEFINITELY not by 2023. Bottas will be shuffled out or retire at end of this season, and this year or next year will be lulu's last.

No prizes for guessing Russell gets Bottas seat in 2022, and the 2nd to DannyR (if they want one experienced driver) or Lando (2 young fast talents) when Lulu looks for new challenge at end of this or next season.

Im a huge Dan Fan but Norris and Russell pushing each other in the best cars would be a great competition. And Merc like to lock in drivers for long term rather than 1 or 2 years, by taking those 2 "young guns" they could have the same line up for many years.

[Alan52]

Originally Posted by bathurst77

I think neither of the 2 current merc drivers will be in those cars in 2022 and DEFINITELY not by 2023. Bottas will be shuffled out or retire at end of this season, and this year or next year will be lulu's last.

No prizes for guessing Russell gets Bottas seat in 2022, and the 2nd to DannyR (if they want one experienced driver) or Lando (2 young fast talents) when Lulu looks for new challenge at end of this or next season.

Im a huge Dan Fan but Norris and Russell pushing each other in the best cars would be a great competition. And Merc like to lock in drivers for long term rather than 1 or 2 years, by taking those 2 "young guns" they could have the same line up for many years.

I don’t think Mercedes would be looking at a driver who gets lapped by his teammate or one in the last few years of his F1 career.

[bathurst77]

Originally Posted by Alan52

I don’t think Mercedes would be looking at a driver who gets lapped by his teammate or one in the last few years of his F1 career.

this year could well be the beginning of the end of danny's career.
in hindsight, moving to renault was

but thats off topic for this thread

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by bathurst77

this year could well be the beginning of the end of danny's career.
in hindsight, moving to renault was

but thats off topic for this thread

I certainly hope not! Just remember form is temporary, class is permanent

[Skam85]

Originally Posted by bathurst77

I think neither of the 2 current merc drivers will be in those cars in 2022 and DEFINITELY not by 2023. Bottas will be shuffled out or retire at end of this season, and this year or next year will be lulu's last.

No prizes for guessing Russell gets Bottas seat in 2022, and the 2nd to DannyR (if they want one experienced driver) or Lando (2 young fast talents) when Lulu looks for new challenge at end of this or next season.

Im a huge Dan Fan but Norris and Russell pushing each other in the best cars would be a great competition. And Merc like to lock in drivers for long term rather than 1 or 2 years, by taking those 2 "young guns" they could have the same line up for many years.

Ocon is a smokey too. He's still in the Merc family.

[E.B]

Originally Posted by Skam85

Ocon is a smokey too. He's still in the Merc family.

I believe he rescinded his Merc association when he joined Renault (now Alpine) in 2020. He is however still managed by Toto Wolff as he has been for some years now.
Toto recently as good as said Ocon and Mercedes will no longer happen. His exact words were that his Alpine ties "complicated his prospects of becoming a Mercedes driver" in the near future.

[broadrun96]

Exactly that, he was released from his MB ties to pursue other opportunities as he saw Georgie was the chosen one now and he didn't push Bottas out after negotiating hard for the seat.

Had to be hard for his manager to argue with the team boss there.

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by E.B

I believe he rescinded his Merc association when he joined Renault (now Alpine) in 2020. He is however still managed by Toto Wolff as he has been for some years now.
Toto recently as good as said Ocon and Mercedes will no longer happen. His exact words were that his Alpine ties "complicated his prospects of becoming a Mercedes driver" in the near future.

Webber to Renault. Ocon to Mercedes.

[Skam85]

https://au.motorsport.com/f1/news/wo...value%5D=19624

Sounds like he's still in the fold in some way.

[GingerPixel]

Russell and Vettel at Merc in '22

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by GingerPixel

Russell and Vettel at Merc in '22

Now that one is definitely half-hilarious......

[GingerPixel]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

Now that one is definitely half-hilarious......

I was joking but it's not that ridiculous is it? Vettel as an old hand with experience of a couple of different generations of car and a link to the Merc design philosphy through his current seat. Not a bad mentor/teammate for a young new hotshoe.

[steve_r]

Whilst it would seem quite harsh to pile criticism on Vettel after his excellent display last time out, I think that he is damaged goods and should not be even considered for a top championship team again. I can see why Aston ditched the impressive Perez for him, but I am fairly sure that this will be his last team in F1.

And Ocon has just signed a 3 year deal to stay at Alpine. Good for him.

[S griffin]

I think it might be premature to write Vettel off, but at the same time we should see how he performs for the rest of the year. After all his final 2 seasons with Ferrari still had the occasional good race, so we have to see if his past two performances can be repeated or if it is just a flash in the pan

[E.B]

Originally Posted by Skam85

https://au.motorsport.com/f1/news/wo...value%5D=19624

Sounds like he's still in the fold in some way.

Ocon has today signed a 3 year contract extension with Alpine that will see him at the team until end 2024.
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/es...-2024/6575075/