[Driver] 2019 F1 Silly Season

[BSchneiderFan]

Is it just my imagination, or do Mercedes seem to have cooled on Pascal Wehrlein’s potential? Missing out on the Mercedes seat when Rosberg abruptly retired must have been a blow, then having to step back to the DTM; and he doesn’t seem to feature even in rumours about next year. Certainly Ocon and Russell have overtaken him in terms of career momentum. Is that it for Wehrlein in the top flight?

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Originally Posted by BSchneiderFan

Is it just my imagination, or do Mercedes seem to have cooled on Pascal Wehrlein’s potential? Missing out on the Mercedes seat when Rosberg abruptly retired must have been a blow, then having to step back to the DTM; and he doesn’t seem to feature even in rumours about next year. Certainly Ocon and Russell have overtaken him in terms of career momentum. Is that it for Wehrlein in the top flight?

Now that would be a shame....

[S griffin]

That’s the problem when you only have 10 teams

[BSchneiderFan]

But there are always going to be more drivers people deem worthy of a seat than there are seats available, whether you have 5, 10 or 20 teams.

[NaBUru38]

So which driver is most likely to get left with no seat in 2019?


Grosjean, Vandoorne, Ericsson, Hartley, Gasly?

[BSchneiderFan]

Of those, I’d say Hartley.

[Hawkwood]

I'd say Alonso!

But, do you think Alonso leave F1 means Stoffel sticks around?

[BSchneiderFan]

Probably, for want of better options.

[gert]

Originally Posted by Hawkwood

I'd say Alonso!

But, do you think Alonso leave F1 means Stoffel sticks around?

I think his chances have gone up, to say the least.
The last time McLaren changed both drivers was in 2006/2007.

I have absolutely no clue on his technical feedback, but I'm sure McLaren does by now.
They may value that and keep him on just as a reference.
Williams used to do that too, in the good times...

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

So which driver is most likely to get left with no seat in 2019?


Grosjean, Vandoorne, Ericsson, Hartley, Gasly?

Gasly- probably set with a ride for a while

Vandoorne- prob has at least one season left with McLaren for now

Grosjean- close to losing his seat with Steiner rumbling about damages but who's better, cheaper and available unless Ferrari wants to pony up Leclerc closer to the front

Ericsson- as long as he brings cash he likely has a ride with Williams or Sauber

Hartley- is likely the least certain to be in the car next season BUT if Gasly is promoted he's prob safe at STR

[BSchneiderFan]

If Gasly is promoted, who joins Hartley at Toro Rosso? It’s a step back for Sainz and if Red Bull choose Gasly over him for the big team it suggests they’ve lost faith in him. Ticktum won’t qualify for a superlicence. Who else do they have on the books?

[Skam85]

I thought Sainz had it written into his deal that he would only go back to RB if they recalled him.

Sainz to McLaren, Gasly to RB, Norris loaned to TR as part of the James Key release.

[gert]

Originally Posted by Skam85

I thought Sainz had it written into his deal that he would only go back to RB if they recalled him.

I believe that to be true.

Originally Posted by Skam85

Sainz to McLaren, Gasly to RB, Norris loaned to TR as part of the James Key release.

That would make sense, so ... probably won't happen?

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by Skam85

I thought Sainz had it written into his deal that he would only go back to RB if they recalled him.

Sainz to McLaren, Gasly to RB, Norris loaned to TR as part of the James Key release.

You raise a good point, McLaren has made claims about getting Key in house ASAP and loaning Norris over to TR as an incentive could just do it.

[Skam85]

I think it is an arrangement that works perfectly for all parties and makes complete sense.

So yeah, won’t happen.

[BSchneiderFan]

I’m not sure it really works for Red Bull/Toro Rosso all that well. They lose James Key for keeps and get Lando Norris presumably for a limited time, as a stopgap, before he pints back to McLaren (unless he proves to be a dud).

[S griffin]

I think we are in for exciting times, as it's hard to predict who will go where

[BSchneiderFan]

And yet (so far as we know), only one driver is leaving the circus.

[E.B]

Originally Posted by BSchneiderFan

And yet (so far as we know), only one driver is leaving the circus.

At this stage, yes, but others may follow.
We are currently in the situation where only 6 seats are confirmed, with the balance out of contact at season end.

The six confirmed are:

Mercedes
44. Lewis Hamilton (Has contract)
77. Valtteri Bottas (Has contract)

Red Bull
33. Max Verstappen (Has contract)

Ferrarii
5. Sebastian Vettel (Has contract)

Renault
27. Nico Hulkenberg (Has contract)
3. Daniel Ricciardo (Has contract)


The other 14 seats are all up for review and confirmation.
One of which is Stroll who presumably will fit into Force Whatever.

[NaBUru38]

Originally Posted by Skam85

Sainz to McLaren, Gasly to RB, Norris loaned to TR as part of the James Key release.

Originally Posted by gert

That would make sense, so ... probably won't happen?

Ditto

[NaBUru38]

Also, what about Pérez and Ocon?

[BSchneiderFan]

If I were in charge at Mercedes - an unlikely eventuality, I am forced to admit - I would want one of Ocon and Russell at Force India (presumably alongside Stroll), and I would be trying to wedge the other in at Williams.

[steve nielsen]

this would be a good grid:

Mercedes

Hamilton
Bottas

Ferrari

Vettel
Raikkonen

Red Bull Honda

Verstappen
Gasly

Renault

Hulkenberg
Ricciardo

Haas

Maggnussen
Leclerc

McLaren

Sainz
Vandoorne

STR

Norris(as part of the deal with Key)
Hartley

Force Canada

Stroll
Perez

Williams

Ocon
Russel

[p-matt]

^
I reckon that's the grid, but Sirotkin instead of Russell at Williams, and Ericsson and Giovinazzi at Sauber

[Adam43]

It would be better with Alonso