Things ... Welcome to the Future (2018 - 2019 Silly Season)

F1Brits_90 said:
I believe it could be the same arrangement as bottas, with free engines for ocon
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Could be, but I gather the second seat needs to be paying, and Sirotkin has more money than Kubica. As it is, over at Sauber, they may bump Ericson for Giovanazzi. It would be nice to see a driver get a ride based upon something other than the size of his checkbook.
 
Izumi said:
Does Ocon wants to go to Williams? Rumor has it that he is not interested. Admittedly people are capable to change their minds even in last minute.
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Well, I think Ocon only has three options:

1. Bump Grosjean at Haas (if Haas decides to do that, and Mercedes is agreeable)
2. Take a ride at Williams.
3. Take a year off and test drive for Mercedes.

So Williams suddenly becomes attractive.
 
Ruslan said:
Could be, but I gather the second seat needs to be paying, and Sirotkin has more money than Kubica. As it is, over at Sauber, they may bump Ericson for Giovanazzi. It would be nice to see a driver get a ride based upon something other than the size of his checkbook.
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Maybe they need someone other than Giovinazzi then :D it doesn't really look as if he set the world on fire when he had a chance, Ferrari needed to look after an Italian driver, he happened to be at the right place at the right time. It doesn't really look like he's going to be the next Leclerc. IMHO there are many drivers more deserving than both Ericsson and Giovinazzi
 
So much talk about Ocon, but is he really that good, I don't think so. Up until now, he hasn't set the world on fire and he's still behind Perez, who has been quite unfortunate this season, in the standings.
 
Publius Cornelius Scipio said:
Maybe they need someone other than Giovinazzi then :D it doesn't really look as if he set the world on fire when he had a chance, Ferrari needed to look after an Italian driver, he happened to be at the right place at the right time. It doesn't really look like he's going to be the next Leclerc. IMHO there are many drivers more deserving than both Ericsson and Giovinazzi
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depends if weirlein had taken just the 1 race off. then giovinazzi performance in austraila would've stayed impressive. but I agree he missed his slot
 
On Esteban Ocon - his speciality is consistency. He might not always be the best driver out there on the day (he has his days though) but he will bring home a result each and every time. He's also someone who if he gets out in front in a race can control a win. Being in the midfield doesn't lend itself to showing these skills off but I do believe he is a talent. I think if he had been driving a Merc or a Ferrari this year he'd have been at least on the podium in most races.

It's a shame he seems to be dropping out of the sport because I had great hopes we'd have an Ocon/Verstappen rematch at the front of F1. Ocon's calculation and consistancy verses Verstappen's raw speed and excitment was fascinating to watch in F3 and would have been great to see in F1 now they have both developed.

Wherlein I don't really have much time for and don't miss. Giovanzzi is someone I have constantly underrated throughout his career and keep being proven wrong by so I hesitate to do it again.

As for the Williams drive? I think they'll go with Sirotkin for the money and George Russell for the Merc money and great 'young British driver' PR.
 
Dr. Marko supposedly admitted having on their list 10 names of candidates to fill two TR seats for next year season.

Wolff said he would release Ocon from their program if he can get a seat (somewhere). He is worth saving.

Sounds like Kvyat's name is mentioned often, including rumor that he had already seat fitting with them. I didn't like Kvyat, so leave it there.
 
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I think both Buemi and Kvyat are red herrings as they still do simulator work for Red Bull. I might be wrong.

I reckon it'll be Hartley and Vandoorne.......unless a miricale happens and Ticktum wins both F3 and the NZ series in Jan.
 
very interesting interview from toto wolff. very punchy said "In July Ocon had 2 offers on the table its was just picking the right one (im assuming force india & Renault) but ended up having 0 because people simply don’t have the balls to stick to what they say.” & also brundle said you release him if has great offer from another team he replied "no he is staying a Mercedes driver no matter what, just to shove it down their neck prove that they were wrong" which I would say that 2020 Ocon will be lewis teammate at Mercedes

but without talking money & cost again, as I understand its like a broken record but this is the root of most of F1 problems in last decade. but the manufacturers have reaped what they sow. as they upped the budgets to such levels which mean that privateers are stuggling to enter F1. unlike even as recently the early 2000's there are no neutral teams for drivers to slot into. because bar 2, they have all either sold up, become an unofficial B team or gone into liquidation.
Ferrari - Sauber & Haas
Red Bull - Toro Rosso
Mercedes - Force India & Williams
 
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So much for previous (internet based) claims that Wolff would release Ocon for another team. He was really p***d over sport's politics.
 
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I wonder If Toto is now regretting signing Bottas for next year.
If Ocon takes Bottas seat in 2020 I think Bottas could end up out of F1. He has been made to look rather mediocre and there is plenty young talent coming through.
 
He has yes i thought he was fantastic at Williams & impressive. But since the summer break in 2017 whether it trying to compete with 1 of all time greats as a teammate or his level has dropped. He has been very underwhelming, 4 tenths off in qualifying in Britain Beligium italy
 
Publius Cornelius Scipio said:
I had forgot about Wehrlein, maybe STR should hire him, him and Buemi, they both deserve another chance
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Speaking of Wehrlein, according to Andrew Benson Mercedes are cutting ties with the young German at the end of this season, does this mean he has a chance of a drive with another team if he cuts ties with them? Or are they just giving up on him?
 
RasputinLives said:
Well if your judging him on that then yes he has dropped but would Lewis have won the Italian Grand Prix without him? I doubt it
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Well yes because kimi push too hard on his tyres in opening 5 laps closing the gap to bottas. As we saw kimi was losing 3 secs a lap towards the end of the race. But since that 2017 summer break he has gone into kimi mode until he upped his game. I know bottas had few bits of bad luck but he 97pts behind lewis & considering the huge car advantage only 29pts ahead of verstappen

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Angel i think he was just too far down in the pecking order. Ocon & Russell
 
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Kimi was setting laptimes second + quicker than anyone to stop the undercut. Even these more "durable" era you cant take the goodies in 1st 5 laps of the stint. Yes bottas helped him close but considering the rate verstappen was closing. It became irrelevant
 

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