2022-2023 Silly Season Thread

[Alan52]

Originally Posted by V8 Fireworks

Thanks for the update!

Piastri was rumoured to be announced as a Williams driver at Silverstone, so the delay is most curious indeed.

It could be that it comes down to a Alpine vs McLaren scenario. Unless Alpine can provide a drive in the actual team, one presumes Piastri's commitment to Alpine is terminated and Piastri is free to sign with McLaren.

Presumably the displaced driver, Alonso or Ricciardo, would appear at Aston Martin assuming Vettel retires or otherwise at Williams.

Rumours of the gaps seem to swirl around Schumacher,Zhou and Pouchaire.
Ricciardo is done.If or rather when his McLaren drive ends his time in F1 is over.Alonso is a different case.Driving at a high level particularly in qualifying,getting easily out scored by Ocon and he will be 41 at the start of any new contract.Lots of conflicting factors.I tend to think if Alpine doesn’t re sign him he will go back to WEC.

[Casper]

Originally Posted by Alan52

Rumours of the gaps seem to swirl around Schumacher,Zhou and Pouchaire.
Ricciardo is done.If or rather when his McLaren drive ends his time in F1 is over.Alonso is a different case.Driving at a high level particularly in qualifying,getting easily out scored by Ocon and he will be 41 at the start of any new contract.Lots of conflicting factors.I tend to think if Alpine doesn’t re sign him he will go back to WEC.

A couple of blow ins from Indy Car could complicate things.

[Casper]

Perhaps this is Alonso getting a few shots in before departing the scene

https://www.autoweek.com/racing/form...rnando-alonso/

[Alan52]

Originally Posted by Casper

Perhaps this is Alonso getting a few shots in before departing the scene

https://www.autoweek.com/racing/form...rnando-alonso/

That certainly doesn’t sound like a 41 year old hunting for a new 2 year contract.

[VIVA GT]

Alonso is very clever (sometimes too clever) at shooting his mouth off and often it's what he doesn't say is the most pointed. Although it's obvious that Mercedes aren't yet up to the pace of Red Bull and Ferrari, I think that leaving his old 'tam mate' off the list of potential winners was another dig...

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by VIVA GT

Alonso is very clever (sometimes too clever) at shooting his mouth off and often it's what he doesn't say is the most pointed. Although it's obvious that Mercedes aren't yet up to the pace of Red Bull and Ferrari, I think that leaving his old 'tam mate' off the list of potential winners was another dig...

That's the 'tam' worn by the sartorially savvy Scottish driver, Hamish Lewilton?

[E.B]

Originally Posted by Alan52

That certainly doesn’t sound like a 41 year old hunting for a new 2 year contract.

I thought it might be a negotiating ploy.... play the not really that bothered card (this recent tone being different to the I can go on for 5 years Im really enjoying it of 6 months ago). Play the love it to bits card too much and you likely wont get offered so much, play the cars are not that much fun, not what was promised, too many races negativity card and Alpine might feel the need to up the offer to keep him there.

[E.B]

The other part of Alonso's procrastination on will he wont he which he is or seems to be in no hurry to resolve is it puts Oscar's future on hold a bit. Alpine dont want to go too far down the path of releasing Oscar for a year or two elsewhere if Alonso is going to suddenly decide not to continue.

A case of rock and a hard place for Oscar.

[steve_r]

As often is the case, the headlines are misleading. Brawn said before the regs came into play that he wanted more potential winners. Alonso is pointing out that this has not happened. Unless something odd happens, then if you replace Merc with Ferrari, we have exactly the same number of potential race winners at the moment as we have had for absolutely ages: 4. Or maybe 6 if you think that Merc will come good on a flat billiard table type track.

Aside from that, I do wonder if people are reading too much into what he did and did not say and whether it was meant as a dig at others or whether or not it implies whether he is or is not wanting to drive next season.

[Richard C]

Originally Posted by steve_r

As often is the case, the headlines are misleading. Brawn said before the regs came into play that he wanted more potential winners. Alonso is pointing out that this has not happened. Unless something odd happens, then if you replace Merc with Ferrari, we have exactly the same number of potential race winners at the moment as we have had for absolutely ages: 4. Or maybe 6 if you think that Merc will come good on a flat billiard table type track.

I tend to think that its very unrealistic to expect much more parity in the first year of the new regulations. While they are not helping things by breaking their own rules by extending the budget cap and letting the big teams spend even more money, hopefully we might see more consolidation in solutions and actual race pace in the next few years. I tend to think this season will see the most drama (some teams getting it badly wrong vs. other getting it significantly right)

Originally Posted by steve_r

Aside from that, I do wonder if people are reading too much into what he did and did not say and whether it was meant as a dig at others or whether or not it implies whether he is or is not wanting to drive next season.

Agree.

Richard

[Alan52]

I think he wants to drive.However if Alpine have told him he is being replaced by Piastri he needs to lay some ground for a different narrative.

[S griffin]

Alonso is showing that aged 40, he's still got it. However Alpine can't afford to wait forever with regards to Piastri. There's the problem

[V8 Fireworks]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Alonso is showing that aged 40, he's still got it. However Alpine can't afford to wait forever with regards to Piastri. There's the problem

The delays to the Piastri announcement are not helpful. If Alpine cannot find another drive for Piastri, then Piastri drives the Alpine and there is no vacancy there for Alonso to fill.

Noting that Ocon and Piastri have Alpine contracts for 2023, while Alonso has no Alpine contract for 2023.

[bathurst77]

We are a few days from summer holiday, a time of rest recreation and renegotiating.

We have Seb waving goodbye, and Latifi unlikely to keep his seat and question marks over 1 at mclaren, Alpha Tauri and perhaps Alpine. Who knows whats going on at haas and Sauber.. ahem AR.

I think amg, red bull and ferrari wont change

who is in AM? Who is in wiily?
Where is Oscar P, where is Herta? where is Danny R?

soooooo.....
"Let the Silly Season begin!!!"

[Richard C]

My son suggested Stroll Sr. in the other AM car.

Richard

[Greem]

No chance. Dad Stroll would walk all over Junior!

[Mike_Powell]

Give Jamie Chadwick a chance !

[bathurst77]

Now they are saying Porsche are buying into RB (does that give them A Tauri?) and Audi are tying into Sauber.
But they are both part of VAG so they will be fighting against themselves..
My brain hurts Mr Gumby!

[Theunser]

That Aston seat looks so open right now, but I just haven't got a clue who could get it and I doubt AMR has any.

Might send an email to Silverstone....I guess you could never know...

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by bathurst77

Now they are saying Porsche are buying into RB (does that give them A Tauri?) and Audi are tying into Sauber.

But they are both part of VAG so they will be fighting against themselves..

My brain hurts Mr Gumby!

Yes, Porsche is claimed to be buying 50% of Red Bull Technology so they would get a stake in AT. I've seen a few different claims of how much RBT owns of AT, Marko has his weird likely tax advantaged ownership games

[Theunser]

So apparently Alonso is going to Aston Martin. It is official, yet I still can't belive my eyes.

[GTRMagic]

Maybe Alpine?

[bathurst77]

Yep Fernando in the Aston, so does that put Oscar in the Alpine after all?

https://tinyurl.com/y52sj5nf

I love silly season

[Ferrari333SP]

Papa Stroll probably dangled $$$$$ in front of Fernando and he was like "Yep, to Aston I go"

[AndreasDavour]

I am wondering if this will turn out to be Fernando's old habit of moving in the wrong direction at the wrong time? Sure, Alpine seems to be good at making bad calls, and the car doesn't really come alive in the races. But, with rumours of Stroll Sr micromanaging and them not really moving forward I wonder if this is a smart move?


I guess Fernando knows he will not be in a Ferrari, Mercedes or Red Bull and needs a change. Or does he?