2021 Silly Season

[S griffin]

Hopefully Hulk will see that people value him for his experience and talent and therefore will see he doesn’t need that much money

[gert]

Steiner says Haas is looking at +/- 10 people to fill their 2 seats.

Let's see:

current drivers
01. Grosjean
02. Magnussen

current "development drivers"
03. Fittipaldi
04. Delétraz
-> does Fittipaldi have a SuperLicense? Delétraz does

Free agents
05. Perez
06. Hulkenberg

F2 drivers with Ferrari links *and* SL
07. Schumacher
08. Illott
09. Schwarzman


I'm unsure if Fittipadi ever had enough points to get a SL, and if he picked it up.
Delétraz has one, I'm sure about that.


So, I would assume I'm missing 1 maybe 2 names here.

[E.B]

Re the Superlicence requirements the FIA published the updated rulings for acquisition of an SL with a Covid amended structure releasedin the last couple of weeks.

It does not seem to have changed much, and the FIA indicate in this a full listing will be available in early December.

https://www.fia.com/sites/default/fi...7.07.20_at.pdf

[chunterer]

gert, anyone joining Haas will need to bring a lot of sponsorship or be part of a development programme paying for the seat.

I reckon this would rule out Hulkenberg, unless Gene is willing to pay for an anchorman alongside a rookie?

[gert]

Originally Posted by chunterer

gert, anyone joining Haas will need to bring a lot of sponsorship or be part of a development programme paying for the seat.

I reckon this would rule out Hulkenberg, unless Gene is willing to pay for an anchorman alongside a rookie?

Sure, I don't think Hulkenberg will drive for Haas, or for any team in F1 next year.
But if they say they are (considering) talking to about 10 drivers, I'd assume talking with him is the least they can do?

[Born Racer]

Originally Posted by chunterer

...unless Gene is willing to pay for...

I initially read that as something about the former Ferrari tester paying for a Haas seat. Now that would be silly.

[RWill2073]

In my opinion, the replaceable drivers are:

Stroll
Kvyat
Perez
Latifi
Grosjean
Magnussen
Giovinazzi
Raikkonen

Likely available:

Perez
Hulkenberg
Junior formula guys

Stroll and latifi are obviously not going anywhere.

Racing point and Williams seem secured now.

So alpha tauri (1)
Haas (2)
Alpha romeo (2)

Could all be available?

Perez in alpha tauri to replace kvyats money maybe? That would be his best landing spot. Maybe Allah tauri would pay hulkenberg? Though why would they bother going outside their pool when they could replace kvyat internally, they have what seems to be 3 drivers capable of holding a red bull seat, with either albon or gasly being options for the seat next to verstappen.

Weren't hulkenberg and perez teammates before? How about both of them in either haas or alpha romeo? Could Perez's money make hulkenberg affordable for the same team? I guess that would only work with haas, if alpha romeo has to have a ferrari development guy. So maybe they can replace giovinazzi with the next junior driver in line for ferrari and pair them with perez? Then haas can take a ferrari junior driver or giovinazzi to replace grosjean and keep continuity with magnussen?

There's a lot of wasted seats for only 20 cars in the so called pinnacle of motorsport.

It's a real shame that the superlicense stuff is so restrictive. I'd love to see more back and forth between IndyCar and f1 drivers. Especially with McLaren being in both. O'Ward himself would probably be better than kvyat in red bull alone. I'd love to see what dixon or newgarden could do in f1. Or many others, for that matter.

[WyldStallion]

After a few years you'd think Haas by now would get an american driver but nope.

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by WyldStallion

After a few years you'd think Haas by now would get an american driver but nope.

Who is out there currently that is suitable though?

[S griffin]

It’s a good question. Certainly Haas could look to having a rookie next season, but who else? They can’t get Vettel it seems, but there is one American who could come over sometime, a certain Mr Herta who exactly raced in Europe before going to America

[RWill2073]

Originally Posted by S griffin

It’s a good question. Certainly Haas could look to having a rookie next season, but who else? They can’t get Vettel it seems, but there is one American who could come over sometime, a certain Mr Herta who exactly raced in Europe before going to America

Rossi also.

[Jimmy Magnusson]

I don't think there's an American that makes sense for Haas right now. Here's how I see the rest of the grid shaping up:

Red Bull
Verstappen and Gasly, because it's the least worst option?

AlphaTauri
Kvyat or Albon for one seat for the experience. Perhaps Albon because isn't Kvyat's potential well established by now? Other seat should go to a rookie - Tsunoda if he can scrape together enough superlicense points. Otherwise… maybe Ilott? He's been in the family before and could get crowded out amongs the other Ferrari juniors.

Haas
As much as I like Grosjean and Magnussen I feel it's time to dump both guys and get a fresh restart. Perez for the prime seat makes a lot of sense given his experience and connection to the US/Mexican fanbase. Him and Mick Schumacher would be a marketing dream team, and if Mick wins the F2 Championship he probably should get an F1 seat. Something like Hulkenberg+Ilott would also work but would be a lot less interesting.

Alfa Romeo
I love Räikkönen and I hope he stays. If he doesn't get Hulkenberg to replace him, or Perez if Hulk goes to Haas. I don't think any of the Haas boys should be a candidate for the prime seat, but Magnussen can try and go for the second one if he really wants to.
As for that second seat, I feel Giovanazzi's level is well known by now and while decent it's not champion-level material. Time for either a reasonably experienced driver (i.e. Magnussen/Hulk/Perez) or a new FDA junior. Personally I'm hoping for the second - it could be Ilott, but to me Schwartzman is the one in F2 who drives like he should be in F1.

There's still a lot of moving parts though, and for once it feels like there's quite a lot at stake in F2 for a couple of drivers.

[gert]

I don't think Rossi or Herta (or Newgarden) are interested in running at the back of a F1 race when they can run at the front in Indycar.
Being in F1 just for the sake of being in F1 is simply not worth it.

[S griffin]

Rossi's had his time, but Herta if he finds the right car could do well. We'll see how much he wants to do it

[gert]

I have no idea how many SL points Herta has, but I think he needs to be moderatly successful in Indycar to be able to gather enough SL points.

And once you reach that stage, then you have the choice between becoming outright competitive in Indycar or moving to F1 and fill the grid in a Haas, Alfa or Williams.
(Let's face it none of the topteams will put you in their own car immediatly)

I think the choice is not too hard at that moment.



And that's not just Herta, but every upcoming US-based talent.

[steve_r]

I would like to see Haas bring in someone new to F1. There must be an up and coming hotshot (perhaps with Ferraris links) who would fit in there, alongside maybe Perez or perhaps Magnussen.

Whilst I would not be unhappy to see Hulk in there, a year with rookies at all is a bit boring.

[RWill2073]

Originally Posted by gert

I have no idea how many SL points Herta has, but I think he needs to be moderatly successful in Indycar to be able to gather enough SL points.

And once you reach that stage, then you have the choice between becoming outright competitive in Indycar or moving to F1 and fill the grid in a Haas, Alfa or Williams.
(Let's face it none of the topteams will put you in their own car immediatly)

I think the choice is not too hard at that moment.



And that's not just Herta, but every upcoming US-based talent.

Yeah, kinda sucks to only have about 4-6 seats total that are even enticing.

Originally Posted by steve_r

I would like to see Haas bring in someone new to F1. There must be an up and coming hotshot (perhaps with Ferraris links) who would fit in there, alongside maybe Perez or perhaps Magnussen.

Whilst I would not be unhappy to see Hulk in there, a year with rookies at all is a bit boring.

The most boring, wasted year for team and fans is an uncompetitive team with only veterans and no rookies. What's the point? That does nothing for the teams future, as by the time the car is developed, the driver is past their prime and obviously not top tier, or they wouldn't be there. Just all pointless.

[S griffin]

That’s the problem when you have only ten teams and it’s not going to get any easier with the ringfencing of current teams. They need to start encouraging teams to join, rather than just protecting the current teams

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by steve_r

I would like to see Haas bring in someone new to F1. There must be an up and coming hotshot (perhaps with Ferraris links) who would fit in there, alongside maybe Perez or perhaps Magnussen.

Whilst I would not be unhappy to see Hulk in there, a year with rookies at all is a bit boring.

Kinda hoping we'll see Checo and little Schu at Alfa and Hulk and Callum at Haas. Or, the experienced 2 the other way around.

[P38 in workshop]

Originally Posted by S griffin

That’s the problem when you have only ten teams and it’s not going to get any easier with the ringfencing of current teams. They need to start encouraging teams to join, rather than just protecting the current teams

I couldn't agree more.Hard to see why the current teams are so certain that just anybody can roll up and disrupt things when so few have succeeded.If neither the newbies or established teams are good enough they won't get the results or cash to thrive.

[V8 Fireworks]

Originally Posted by S griffin

That’s the problem when you have only ten teams and it’s not going to get any easier with the ringfencing of current teams. They need to start encouraging teams to join, rather than just protecting the current teams

Liberty Media just announced a $200m USD entry fee for new teams.

Originally Posted by P38 in workshop

I couldn't agree more.Hard to see why the current teams are so certain that just anybody can roll up and disrupt things when so few have succeeded.If neither the newbies or established teams are good enough they won't get the results or cash to thrive.

Why would the established teams vote themselves out of the sport!? Self-interest is a curious thing...

There doesn't appear to be any change to Concorde agreement provisions that only pay prize money to 10th place (even top teams don't want a diluted prize pot split more ways), so 11th place and below teams will be on the fast road to insolvency...

While Haas (and previously) HRT outsourced manufacturing to Dallara, for everyone else you are better off paying the $150m (e.g., Dorilton-Williams) to buy an existing team with a factory, milling machines, autoclaves, wind tunnel etc than the $200m new team entry fee anyway -- because otherwise you'd have to pay for all that stuff anyhow, so you may as well get the entry with it (and some debts)!

[steve_r]

I would love to see more teams, but cant see it happening. $200m is ridiculous. The costs of the over-complicated power units are ridiculous too. That's before you even hire someone with a pencil and paper to design you a car, and a man with a lathe to make it!

[Theunser]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.gpb...-his-son-.html

Mazepin for Haas?

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by Theunser

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.gpb...-his-son-.html

Mazepin for Haas?

Oh dear!

[S griffin]

Needs more experience methinks