2019 Contracts - where do all the pieces land?

[88mph]

There's a huge amount of talent yet to sign and seemingly some space at decent teams.

Naturally I'm keen to see where Ricciardo ends up... I'm hoping Ferrari or Mercedes.

So whats happening with these guys for 2019

Hamilton
Kimi
Alonso
Ricciardo

Keen to hear your thoughts...

 

[DREAM TEAM BUFF]

I can't see Dan or Lewis moving

Alonso might be leaving F1

No idea on Kimi but I think his time is almost up at F1

 

[88mph]

I can't see Dan or Lewis moving

Alonso might be leaving F1

No idea on Kimi but I think his time is almost up at F1

Surely Dan must be tempted. Will Honda be able to deliver for him??

 

[DREAM TEAM BUFF]

Surely Dan must be tempted. Will Honda be able to deliver for him??

If he moves on to Ferrari or Mercedes he will be the number 2 drive once again and he is better then that

 

[88mph]

If he moves on to Ferrari or Mercedes he will be the number 2 drive once again and he is better then that

Do Mercedes enforce the number 1 diver thing?

We know Ferrari does.

 

[DREAM TEAM BUFF]

Do Mercedes enforce the number 1 diver thing?

.

Yep

 

[Simple Jack]

Nothing interesting will happen unless Hamilton pulls the pin. Safe, boring corporate culture will ensure that.

If I was Liberty I'd take the risk of pissing off Ferrari and Mercedes and highly incentivise them to make it interesting.

Imagine if you could swing Hamilton v Alonso and Vettel v Ricciardo in the title contending cars. Even with the paywalls revenue/ratings would go up because people would be excited about it.

 

[88mph]

Yep

Well he's Number 2 at RBR anyway. Might as well hop into a car that's going to win more races.

 

[DREAM TEAM BUFF]

Well he's Number 2 at RBR anyway.

Only because RBR treat him as N2 be he is the main driver for them

 

[Klyntonius]

If he moves on to Ferrari or Mercedes he will be the number 2 drive once again and he is better then that

Bottas is certainly a number 2 driver coz he's not as good as Hamilton but curious as to how he is really treated as a number 2. Was Rosberg?

 

[88mph]

Bottas is certainly a number 2 driver coz he's not as good as Hamilton but curious as to how he is really treated as a number 2. Was Rosberg?

They were encouraged to compete IMO.

 

[The_torpedo]

Hamilton - will re-sign for Mercedes for 3 years I believe
Kimi - rumours say he is leaving at the end of the year - Charles Leclerc possibly to replace him (Giovinazzi to Sauber)
Alonso - will go to Indycar and shoot for the Triple Crown. Lando Norris to replace him
Ricciardo - rumoured to be re-signing for RB until end of 2020.

 

[imadodgyumpire]

Nothing interesting will happen unless Hamilton pulls the pin. Safe, boring corporate culture will ensure that.

If I was Liberty I'd take the risk of pissing off Ferrari and Mercedes and highly incentivise them to make it interesting.

Imagine if you could swing Hamilton v Alonso and Vettel v Ricciardo in the title contending cars. Even with the paywalls revenue/ratings would go up because people would be excited about it.

I hope you never run F1. You're unappreciated poster anyway, even if you don't post as often as you used to.

 

[happy_eagle]

http://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12...r-options-discussed-after-kimi-raikkonen-link

Ferrari's Raikkonen is out of contract at the end of the season and Sky Sports News understands McLaren would consider their former driver among alternative options in the event that Alonso did not drive for the team in 2019.

McLaren obviously expecting not to have Fernando next year, chasing a big fish.

 

[DREAM TEAM BUFF]

Kimi - rumours say he is leaving at the end of the year - Charles Leclerc possibly to replace him (Giovinazzi to Sauber)

Nico Hülkenberg is linked to the team for a move

 

[The_torpedo]

Nico Hülkenberg is linked to the team for a move

Source?

 

[DREAM TEAM BUFF]

Source?

Sky Sport Uk

 

[The_torpedo]

http://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12...r-options-discussed-after-kimi-raikkonen-link


McLaren obviously expecting not to have Fernando next year, chasing a big fish.

Can't see them taking Kimi if Lando Norris wins the F2 title this year

 

[DREAM TEAM BUFF]

Can't see them taking Kimi if Lando Norris wins the F2 title this year

Russell is the only challenge for the title

 

[DamoESP]

http://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12...r-options-discussed-after-kimi-raikkonen-link

McLaren obviously expecting not to have Fernando next year, chasing a big fish.

Geeze.....if you think the ALO radio messages can be a bit toxic while driving that junk car, imagine RAI radio messages....

EDIT: actually tbf to RAI, I don't remember him complaining too much while driving for Lotus, and they had a lean season or two there for awhile.

 

[Simple Jack]

Geeze.....if you think the ALO radio messages can be a bit toxic while driving that junk car, imagine RAI radio messages....

EDIT: actually tbf to RAI, I don't remember him complaining too much while driving for Lotus, and they had a lean season or two there for awhile.

Then a race winning machine...

McLaren have had 4 or 5 years of abject failure now with little light at the end of the tunnel.

 

[Thegibbsgamble]

If rbr can't match McLaren's offer then no point staying at rbr.

That Honda engine will take years to be competitive at best.

Ferrari would love the Italian connection with Daniel son

It's romantic.

 

[Simple Jack]

I hope you never run F1. You're unappreciated poster anyway, even if you don't post as often as you used to.

Ouch!/Thanks?

Curious on the first point, you wouldn't want F1 management to risk upsetting the engine manufacturers to try and give us a 4 way fight for the title?

I'd also be satisfied with letting them keep their lap dogs number 2's as long as some sort of engine equalisation measures were brought in to allow other teams a chance at the title(s). They did it to Red Bull every single year of their run, Ferrari and Mercedes have been getting off incredibly lightly so far in the turbo-hybrid era.

On the second I'm still watching/reading, but general life/work busy-ness has me contributing far less. Plus these 11.10 start times for half the season are making Mondays remarkably unpleasant!

Off topic:
What are your thoughts on the ACO's new LMP1 (or whatever it'll be called) rules for 2020/21? I've mostly seen negative reactions but I don't mind the idea.

 

[YippeeYiYeo]

Ricciardo still hasn’t signed with Red Bull, and Raikonnens seat is still not confirmed in that other Ferrari either. Really hoping there is some hush hush talk behind closed doors for Dan to join Ferrari. At the peak of his career he deserves a drive in a car that can win a championship. I know it’s a tiny hope because of the Leclerc rumours but until it’s set in stone I still have hope.

 

[happy_eagle]

I would send Leclerc to Haas for a few more years of development (Grojsean probably the first to go based on performance) in a better car.
Vettel and Ricciardo at Ferrari would be good enough to win a constructors title even without the best car on the grid.