2022-2023 Silly Season Thread

[bathurst77]

Originally Posted by Alan52

As I replied above it’s over.He’s done.He’s 33 and way past his peak.Don’t waste time thinking up scenarios that aren’t going to happen.

You are likely correct Alan (btw we are both Penrith lads@)
As much as I like DR, I too think its time to love to see an entirely new name on the car. Not hulk Ric or Schu.

One of the Idy or F2 stars.. Doohan.

I was just stating "If fhe wants a F1 future" its his best bet.

I would like to see him do other stuff - Indy Nascar WEC Lemans Bathurst 12 hour or 1000

[Sandgroper]

Originally Posted by Alan52

As I replied above it’s over.He’s done.He’s 33 and way past his peak.Don’t waste time thinking up scenarios that aren’t going to happen.

Always positive I see or maybe you dont like Danny Ric.

Im sure we will see him again in the future in a F1 car.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Sandgroper

Im sure we will see him again in the future in a F1 car.

That might be the case - but it seems as a reserve driver.

I'm not sure he will race in F1 again.

[S griffin]

Haas seem to want him. The question is does Danny want to go to Haas? I think him and Kevin would make a great team, but it might not be what he wants. I think Williams we can definitely rule out.

Would be a sad end to a great career for the Honey Badger if this is it

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Alan52

As I replied above it’s over.He’s done.He’s 33 and way past his peak.Don’t waste time thinking up scenarios that aren’t going to happen.

Past his peak at 33? He's a month older than Bottas, does that make Bottas past his peak?

[Sandgroper]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Past his peak at 33? He's a month older than Bottas, does that make Bottas past his peak?

Alonso @41 also

DR is marketable for many. I guess time will tell.

[Mike Harte]

I don't know if this has been mentioned here before, but the BBC are reporting that Logan Sargeant is to fill the second seat alongside Alex Albon at Williams providing that Sargeant makes enough points to qualify for a Superlicence. The BBC say that he should get enough from his position in F2 where he is currently in 3rd place overall, or, if not, by taking part in two more F1 free practices.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/63361131

[bathurst77]

And Dan for redbull/tororosso 3rd seat
I guess hes hoping one of the 3 main guys is dumped for 2024 (max is going nowhere)

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by bathurst77

And Dan for redbull/tororosso 3rd seat
I guess hes hoping one of the 3 main guys is dumped for 2024 (max is going nowhere)

Surprised if he doesn't want Haas. I thought it slam dunk when I heard they'd offered him a seat before Spa. Maybe he knows something we don't, but I'm far from sure.

[Teretonga]

Originally Posted by peebee2

Surprised if he doesn't want Haas. I thought it slam dunk when I heard they'd offered him a seat before Spa. Maybe he knows something we don't, but I'm far from sure.

I've been a bit amused by the fact that both Schumacher and Magnussen are out qualifying him. Surely if he is better than them he would be further up the grid or getting better results.
Or has he already tested the car in the simulator and knows it isn't any better than the McLaren or doesn't suit his style........

[Skam85]

Originally Posted by peebee2

Ah, but don't confuse the bedroom keyboardists claiming to be insiders with real people who might actually really be in the real paddock.

And those real people with real paddock insight wouldn't have to intellectually phallus measure themselves and constantly say they are paddock insiders.

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by Teretonga

I've been a bit amused by the fact that both Schumacher and Magnussen are out qualifying him. Surely if he is better than them he would be further up the grid or getting better results.
Or has he already tested the car in the simulator and knows it isn't any better than the McLaren or doesn't suit his style........

What simulator do you think he might have tested it on?

[S griffin]

Be good to see Logan in at Williams. Just needs to get those final superlicence points. Be good for the American market too for him to be in F1

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Be good to see Logan in at Williams. Just needs to get those final superlicence points. Be good for the American market too for him to be in F1

He is third and only needs to finish top six, although it's tight.

I suspect the American angle is the single reason why he's been chosen.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by peebee2

I suspect the American angle is the single reason why he's been chosen.

I suspect there is more than just being American that has gone into the decision - although it will have been a factor I'm sure. Unless there is some 'insider knowledge' that confirms this was the sole reason for his selection?

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

I suspect there is more than just being American that has gone into the decision - although it will have been a factor I'm sure. Unless there is some 'insider knowledge' that confirms this was the sole reason for his selection?

With three F1 races in the US in future, it would be no surprise that Liberty might grease the wheels to have a US driver. Also, don't forget that Williams is a US-owned operation these days.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by peebee2

With three F1 races in the US in future, it would be no surprise that Liberty might grease the wheels to have a US driver. Also, don't forget that Williams is a US-owned operation these days.

Yes - as I said a factor, but not the single reason. Unless you are implying that Liberty have given Williams an incentive to sign him?

Your claim was that being American was the single reason.

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Yes - as I said a factor, but not the single reason. Unless you are implying that Liberty have given Williams an incentive to sign him?

Your claim was that being American was the single reason.

OK, the single reason other than (hopefully) qualifying for a Super Licence.

[Greem]

Originally Posted by peebee2

OK, the single reason other than (hopefully) qualifying for a Super Licence.

Everyone recalls Scott Speed, right? Primarily, overwhelmingly, chosen because of his nationality (Red Bull backed him as an upcoming breath-of-fresh-air young charger and made great play of him being American).

That ended well.

Hopefully this new chap fares rather better!

[V8 Fireworks]

Originally Posted by Greem

Everyone recalls Scott Speed, right? Primarily, overwhelmingly, chosen because of his nationality (Red Bull backed him as an upcoming breath-of-fresh-air young charger and made great play of him being American).

That ended well.

Hopefully this new chap fares rather better!

Helmut Marko also backed mediocre F1 drivers who weren't from the United States, like Enrqiue Bernoldi and Christian Klein. So I don't 100% follow your point in that way.

"Primarily, overwhelmingly, chosen because of his nationality" This is also debatable. It says that Speed finished third in his rookie season of GP2 in 2005, which would have made Speed the most qualified Red Bull junior driver for promotion to Toro Rosso at the time -- far from being promoted merely for nationality.

Speed was then transferred to the troubled (and long discontinued) Red Bull NASCAR team where Speed did relatively well given the limitations of the Red Bull machinery IIRC.

Originally Posted by peebee2

I suspect the American angle is the single reason why he's been chosen.

de Vries already signed for AlphaTauri, Drugovich (a third season F2 driver anyway) already signed for Aston Martin, out-of-form veteran Ricciardo seems uninterested, and fellow F2 rookie Jack Doohan (who could be loaned from Alpine) doesn't seem to be doing significantly better than Sergeant anyway.

So who else exactly could Williams sign?! If top 3 as a rookie in F2 is not enough for a Williams junior program driver to be promoted to F1, what more do they need to do?!

[Should Antonio Giovinazzi or Mick Schumacher be Williams' number one choice? The former seems a mediocre choice, while a case could be made for the latter especially in combination with 1&1 sponsorship. Although the points don't show it, Schumacher has largely been matching Magnussen for the last 4-5 races IMO.]

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by Greem

Everyone recalls Scott Speed, right? Primarily, overwhelmingly, chosen because of his nationality (Red Bull backed him as an upcoming breath-of-fresh-air young charger and made great play of him being American).

That ended well.

Hopefully this new chap fares rather better!

I think it's unfair to say he was chosen only because of his nationality. I'm sure his surname was another reason!

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by V8 Fireworks

So who else exactly could Williams sign?! If top 3 as a rookie in F2 is not enough for a Williams junior program driver to be promoted to F1, what more do they need to do?!

Schumacher, Giovinazzi, Drugovich, Pourchaire, Huelkenberg, Vandoorne, Ricciardo, Shwartzman, Ilott, Kvyat to name ten, although I know some wouldn't be available or work commercially.

I'm sure there's plenty of money involved, whether that's Mr Sargent's, Dorilton's (thinking they'll sign US sponsorship) or Liberty's, or a combination of the above.

Either way I'm sure Bruno will be giving him a bit of extra boost for Abu Dhabi just to make sure of the super licence.

[Skam85]

Logan Corporal has been in the Williams program for a while, it's hardly a surprise.

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by Skam85

Logan Corporal has been in the Williams program for a while, it's hardly a surprise.

Originally Posted by V8 Fireworks

Helmut Marko also backed mediocre F1 drivers who weren't from the United States, like Enrqiue Bernoldi and Christian Klein. So I don't 100% follow your point in that way.

"Primarily, overwhelmingly, chosen because of his nationality" This is also debatable. It says that Speed finished third in his rookie season of GP2 in 2005, which would have made Speed the most qualified Red Bull junior driver for promotion to Toro Rosso at the time -- far from being promoted merely for nationality.

Speed was then transferred to the troubled (and long discontinued) Red Bull NASCAR team where Speed did relatively well given the limitations of the Red Bull machinery IIRC.




de Vries already signed for AlphaTauri, Drugovich (a third season F2 driver anyway) already signed for Aston Martin, out-of-form veteran Ricciardo seems uninterested, and fellow F2 rookie Jack Doohan (who could be loaned from Alpine) doesn't seem to be doing significantly better than Sergeant anyway.

So who else exactly could Williams sign?! If top 3 as a rookie in F2 is not enough for a Williams junior program driver to be promoted to F1, what more do they need to do?!

[Should Antonio Giovinazzi or Mick Schumacher be Williams' number one choice? The former seems a mediocre choice, while a case could be made for the latter especially in combination with 1&1 sponsorship. Although the points don't show it, Schumacher has largely been matching Magnussen for the last 4-5 races IMO.]

How dare any of you besmirch the insider knowledge of only chosen because of nationality

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

How dare any of you besmirch the insider knowledge of only chosen because of nationality