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Ok now that's done and dusted....
Who's putting a fiver on Bottas for next year?
Nobody who has any sense and a fiver would do that.
Leclerc, maybe. Bottas won't beat Lewis over a season
Hoping that Ferrari & RB take a proper fight to Merc (well, Albon & LeClerc - not a fan of Max or Seb), that Williams find some pace and make it through the season, that McLaren start nibbling on the tail of the top 3, that Renault decide to stay in F1 and (most unlikely) that Sky offer C4 a better highlights package than they did this year,
2020 Good points - Hamilton to close in on 100 race wins, match Schumacher on 7 titles, soundly beating Bottas (again), probably wrapping up the title by just after the mid season break. If Red Bull keeps Albon then expect him to beat Verstappen soundly, and many toys to be thrown out of the pram.
2020 Not so good points - All apart from Merc / Ferrari deciding do ditch their 2020 cars asap and develop their 2021 cars to the new rules (even Ferrari to limit development as soon as the percentages go against them). Renault to walk rather than spend cubic dollars developing tech that keeps getting banned, Williams to flounder at the back and probably not make 2021.
No new manufactures to sign up, probability that Alfa might call it a day as they've just canned their 2 potential sports cars.
But hey, theres 25 races!
Would 2021 be the first season there are more races than cars?
probably wrapping up the title by just after the mid season break
that won't happen, unless practically every other driver scores nearly 0 points in every race
a lead that's unlikely to be chased perhaps, but a mathematical win can only be much later in the season
I can see Max outscoring Albon in races where they both finish, but Albon outscoring overall due to consistency, and not getting involved in stupid mistakes that lead to DNFs.
Merc and Hamilton have to be favorites for next year. Ferrari seem to have an excellent engine, two good drivers, and have sorted out their aerodynamic problems, but they just keep dropping the ball. I think they'll improve next year, but it's hard to see LeClerk and Vettel not having a falling out if the car is competitive. Hamilton is clearly a better driver then Bottas. Bottas is fast when he gets everything sorted, but Hamilton has been amazing this year. I would say 10 to 1 odds of Hamilton coming out on top again.
Honda and Renault are still a bit behind on the engine front. Hard to see them catching Merc and Ferrari, especially in qualifying mode. I expect Red Bull and McLaren to be closer to the front, but still third and fourth. Sainz versus Norris will be interesting, as well as seeing how Albon stacks up now that he has some experience. Hard to see Renault catching Red Bull. McLaren seem to have overcome their aero problems and are rebuilding, so Renault will have to improve massively to do better than fifth. Ricciardo versus Ocon will be another fascinating one.
As for the rest, bit of a lottery, but Haas are so unpredictable that they could finish anywhere from fourth to last. Hopefully Williams will sort out their problems, but hard to see them finishing anywhere except last again. I assume they will prioritize 2021 over next year.
Would 2021 be the first season there are more races than cars?
21 races on this season's calendar, 20 cars on the grid.
Would 2021 be the first season there are more races than cars?
There are more races than cars now!
Oooof - teams reject Pirelli's 2020 tyres and stick with the ones they didn't like this year. That's a lovely Xmas present for the Pirelli bods who've been working on them for the last year or so.
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/pirelli-tyre-2020-spec-teams-vote/4608851/
ah well, it was always an interim change anyway given what's going to happen to the tyres in 2021
Ferrari have signed LeClerc for 5 years, I guess they don't want him going anywhere else. That'll probably put paid to Lewis joining them for '21.
There must be some very interesting assurances and/or clauses to make him sign up for that long this early in his career.....
It also puts Vettel in an interesting position.
Surely the guy with a 5 year contract in his pocket is the defacto No 1 driver.
What's Seb's current contract?
Ends next year
I'd be surprised if they sign Vettel again
Leclerc's five year deal is quite exceptional, enough to keep him in place if Hamilton decides to join for 2021. I can't see Vettel sticking around beyond 2020, I don't buy speculation that Mercedes would offer him a contract...pretty sure that they'd be after Verstappen and with Russell in the second car.
Oh and Williams' woe continues. They've signed Ticktum as one of their development drivers. I can't see this ending well.
There's a fair few drivers that could put in a considerably more consistent drive (the kind of consistency that they'll need to win a constructors championship) at a whopping 90% discount as compared to Vettel including Raikkonen, Hulkenberg, Ricciardo, Sainz and maybe even Perez. That said though, the day Ferrari start making rational decisions will also be the day when Formula 1 becomes a lot less interesting to watch lol
Red bull all the way.
Someone I work with also works with one of the teams and Ferrari were apparently adjusting the pulsing of the fuel flow sensor, hence dumping in more fuel. Managed to all fit within the weighing tolerances. Hence why they dropped a bit on the last couple of races and likely to be curtailed next year. Allegedly 😉
They were injecting in between pulses and the rules have already been changed for next year. It came out a coupe of weeks ago
Ferrari need strong management/drivers to direct the team. They have the Italian mentality ingrained into the fabric of the team. Even when Schumacher was winning championship after championship they managed to screw it up for Irvine after Schumacher broke his leg at Silverstone.
For this reason I can't see Hamilton going there.
Max has extended with RB to 2023, so that confirms him as #1 there with LeClerc as de facto #1 at Ferrari.
Unless there's a massive reshuffle from the 21 rules that means Merc now offers the only fully competitive seat with a chance of WDC. Can't see Hamilton going anywhere else now.
I still think Hamilton will go to Ferrari in 2021 and get himself on the company car for life and free lunches forever in Italy scheme! 🙂
No reason to think this season will be any different in the pecking order. He could go to Ferrari with 7 world titles and nothing to prove and isn't afraid to go up against the best drivers.
Even when Schumacher was winning championship after championship they managed to screw it up for Irvine after Schumacher broke his leg at Silverstone.
Schumacher hadn't won a title for Ferrari at that point, I don't think Irvine winning one first was in the script or what anyone in Ferrari would have allowed.
He could go to Ferrari with 7 world titles and nothing to prove and isn’t afraid to go up against the best drivers.
Would he go as #2 or joint #1 (therefore putting Super LeClerc's nose out of joint)? Both options seem riddled with potential issues
LH would smack down the young pretender without much effort.
Especially if LeClerc hadn't won a championship by then (unlikely) and Lewis was parachuted in to bring a trophy home to Italy. He would be a national hero from the start.
Ok Boomer (sorrry, just wanted to be able to say that)
LH would smack down the young pretender without much effort.
LeClerk has just finished his second year in F1, he made a four-time champion look ordinary in the same car. He will continue to improve as he gets more experience. Hamilton is a truly astonishing driver, but he will start to slow down in the next few years. If you put those two in the same car next year, I would put my money on Hamilton because of his experience, but I think he would have to dig deep. Give LeClerk a couple more years and I would put my money on him. I don't think Ferrari will be interested in Hamilton given how impressive LeClerk was last year, Hamilton's too expensive and potentially destabilizing.
LeClerk has just finished his second year in F1, he made a four-time champion look ordinary in the same car.
Seb has always been ordinary! 🙂
No, when Vettel gets the car sorted out the way he likes, he is very fast and qualifies well. He seems to struggle when the car doesn't suit his driving style, whereas Alonso and Hamilton seem better able to work around a difficult car. I don't think Vettel is as good as Hamilton, but he's much better than ordinary. That's why Red Bull promoted him and Ferrari gave him preferred status.
Yep. Seb seems to need a very stable rear axle.
My recollection is when the FIA made some reg changes regarding the diffuser or exhaust blowing around 2012 ish, suddenly Webber closed the gap. As soon as RB got their system working, Seb was out in front again.
Oh not sure Hamilton would beat LeClerk easily. He would definitely win but I think he'd have to push hard. LeClerk might also play the role of 2nd driver better if he was teamed up with Hamilton.
It must have been hard for the Ferrari management making LeClerk toe the line. Seb had a rubbish season with mistakes and races where he was simply outclassed by the new guy. Giving LeClerk lots of ammunition to argue he should be promoted. I think Hamilton would be more consistent, faster and bring in the results compared to Seb; giving little leeway for LeClerk to even get a glimpse of being a primary driver.
For sure in a year or two when he's matured and still has that amazing pace he will be a real contender but by then Hamilton may retire or happy to take the back seat as you know he'll be an old man by then? 😉
He would definitely win
I don't think there's anything very definite about it.
LeClerk might also play the role of 2nd driver better if he was teamed up with Hamilton.
Or he might see it as an opportunity to assert himself as a racing driver instead of a water boy.
I suspect this will be a much closer, tighter season. It will depend on how competitive the cars are. I still maintain that Ferrari had the better (certainly faster) car for the first half of last season and Vettel messed it up. LeClerc was unlucky in a couple of races and had the luck been with him might have made it a more competitive season - at least in the first half. Agree that Vettel is quick and talented driver but, for me, has shown these past few seasons that he doesn't have that racers instinct. He is often quite clumsy when it's time to get the elbows out and you can see that the odds are high that it will go a bit wrong. And as he gets older I don't see that improving any. Likely to worsen as he probably still thinks in his head he is a great driver. If Ferrari and Red Bull in paerticluar have stronger cars this year then the championship will be a lot closer and I think could go anywhere between Hamilton, LeClerc and Verstappen. Based on the last two seasons I won't be reading too much into the testing sessions they have though. 🙂
Leclerc people. Leclerc! Lol
Verstappen's contract for 2020-23 is indicative that Honda will commit to Red Bull beyond 2021. Honda made massive progress last year, Honda engines claimed race wins and podiums after having made steady progress during 2018 away from the limelight in a Toro Rosso. The momentum is there to challenge Merc for 2020, a three-way fight for the title would be nice.
Yeah I've been super enjoying the closing up of the gaps between the top teams due to the stability of the engines regs. Great stuff!
My money,for the manufacturers title, is on whoever Rich Energy/lightning volt throw there huge financial backing behind. With that sort of financial muscle behind a team they are sure to walk it.
Haas certainly would have been faster if they walked.
To think that Rich Energy could've sponsored Williams last year...
Very good news, assuming it's true.
But, ahead of the 2020 campaign, Motorsport Broadcasting are reporting that Channel 4 can now show extended highlights of all 22 races on the calendar in addition to continued live coverage of the British Grand Prix.
That translates to Formula 1 fans being able to watch 70 per cent of the races now compared to 50 per cent in 2019, with the race edit now up to approximately 60 minutes instead of 45.
good news! looking forward to the new season starting.
the race edit now up to approximately 60 minutes instead of 45.
The entire highlights show will now run for 150 minutes, rather than 120,
Bah, 60min show with 45mins of race would've been ideal
Well I'd call that quite good news.
Very good news would be full race, live, on C4/BBC/ITV and Radio4Live/SportsXtra (and highlights later).
I know it's not the same sport as it used to be but I still try to listen in live to the Radio5 coverage. At least up to the first crash. I now record the highlights show and fast forward it while keeping an eye on the top left corner until the "replay" box shows. Then I stop, rewind a bit, watch the incident that justified the replay, listen to the analysis of said incident then hit fast forward.
Drive to Survive Series 2 on Netflix February 28.
bring back ground effect (oh and active suspension while we're at it)
I'm no so sure, the cars still had front and rear wings (the air coming off the ground effect and rear wing will affect turn-in on the following car). So the regulation on vanes and end plate and vortex generator would be ban the lot ?
Front wings on ground effect cars in the early eighties were tiny, BT49 didn't have one.
Looks like Stoll snr has done a deal to keep Aston Martin afloat, which will remove the confusing Aston Martin Red Bull Honda sponsorship thing from 2021 and see the crappily named Racing Point team become Aston Martin.
thepurist
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Looks like Stoll snr has done a deal to keep Aston Martin afloat, which will remove the confusing Aston Martin Red Bull Honda sponsorship thing from 2021 and see the crappily named Racing Point team become Aston Martin.
Cool. They were talking about this on Missed Apex before the deal was done, sounded like AM were in fairly deep do-do.
More info:
https://europe.autonews.com/automakers/aston-martin-sells-stake-f1-billionaire-lawrence-stroll
Probably nothing like what will appear at the first test - but Haas have uploaded pictures of their 2020 car...
https://www.racefans.net/2020/02/06/first-pictures-new-haas-vf-20-2020-f1-car/
aaand predictably, it looks quite a lot (almost exactly) like Ferrari's 2019 car.
I can't see there being anything too radical this year - they'll be chucking all the $$$ at the 2021 cars.
Like the livery.
@jimster01 Ferrari didnt WANT Irvin to win, remember 3 wheels on my wagon at Nurburgring in 99?? They wanted Schmacher at all costs broken leg or no. They wouldnt know a good decision if it bit them on the arse.
Seb is a fab driver if the car drives like its on rails, if the car is difficult to drive hes toast, I think Le Clerc could turn out to be the same, Hamilton has the ability to drive a car thats pretty much undriveable to most everyone else, like schumacher in his heyday. Its that ability thats made Lewis 6 time champ.
I hope Albon does take it to Max, Max also seems to have the I can drive an undriveable car thing.
I dont think Lewis will ever go to Ferrari, its not his kind of team mentality.
I dont think Lewis will ever go to Ferrari, its not his kind of team mentality.
I think before they signed Leclerc, Lewis (and I'm a Hamilton fan) would've been arrogant enough to believe that he could make it work anywhere.
@jimster01 Ferrari didnt WANT Irvin to win, remember 3 wheels on my wagon at Nurburgring in 99?? They wanted Schmacher at all costs broken leg or no. They wouldnt know a good decision if it bit them on the arse.
Irvine won three of his four career GP wins between the '99 British GP and the end of the season. Hashtag just sayin'.
@pondo Oh I know, Ive been an F1 fan since 1985 but they had the chance to have Irvine as their champ and they stuffed it up royally and I mean how do you not have 4 wheels to stick on the car O.o, Ive never seen anything like that since eh and I wanted Irvine as champ as hes from Northern Ireland like me.
@daffy 🙂 I'm a Lewis fan as well but I still dont think he'd have gone for Ferrari *shrug* I'd also say Lewis isnt arrogant in that way..... at least I dont get that impression.
Ricciardo (Monaco '16), Truero (Argentina '98), Barrichello (Malaysia '01), all similar, and I'm sure there are more. I'm equally sure Irvine wouldn't have won three quarters of his GP wins with a team that didn't want him to win.
Jeez though can you imagine Irvine if he'd actually got the WDC. He was pretty insufferable as it was, with the #1 on his car they'd have had to build a new motorhome just for his ego.
@thepurist 😀 I know! can you imagine lol I will never forget his response to how did the car drive? it drove like a brick
can you imagine Irvine if he’d actually got the WDC. He was pretty insufferable as it was, with the #1 on his car they’d have had to build a new motorhome just for his ego.
Well, he was hired to make Schumacher look good. Seems to have worked.
So Mercedes have a new principal partner in Ineos
Livery will be unveiled soon (although car is scheduled for Friday)
Update: wow that livery is erm..... the same but with a few bits of red.... not a huge amount of ineos presence
Sebs last chance?
the william morris fag mobile
All a bit vanilla so far - interested to see what Renault come up with later as they really need some big improvements.
I see Jim Ratcliffe has said he fully expects Lewis to stay at Merc. Such a statement suggests to me that his sponsorship is contingent on that.
Coupled with the fact the rumours are that he’s going to be offered £180m to stay and no doubt some of that will come from Ineos I think it’s a fairly safe bet he’ll stay at Merc.
I think it’s a fairly safe bet he’ll stay at Merc.
It always was.
Sidepods look tiny on this image but otherwise it's a bit meh.
3 out of 3 so far going to compromised cooling-MAX - woot
There's a thought....... active aero isn't allowed (fair enough), but what if they opened that up a bit to allow variable sidepod intakes? Aero folk are happy as they get to pick the fastest shapes, engine people are happy as they can open up for more air as required? Seems like there'd be little downside?
Sad to see China postponed.
Managed to stumble across the live coverage on sky of the Ferrari unveiling. I was bored after 5 minutes and gave up waiting for the car.
What's going on with the nose on the RB? Looks like it's got a bunch of holes running through it.
Sad to see China postponed.
It is most likely it will be cancelled though - they will struggle to reschedule it now.
What’s going on with the nose on the RB? Looks like it’s got a bunch of holes running through it.
Drilium, innit
Certainly a lot going on there
what if they opened that up a bit to allow variable sidepod intakes? Aero folk are happy as they get to pick the fastest shapes, engine people are happy as they can open up for more air as required? Seems like there’d be little downside?
Very expensive because it will require lots of windtunnel time, won't improve the racing because it'll give the teams with bigger budgets an even bigger advantage.
When I wasa kid I used to love watching F1, then was less into it for many years. I now have loads of time sitting around (medical reasons) and I've got into following it again, I particularly like reading the Secret Aerodynamicist.
Hamilton is clearly an immensely talented driver, but the vitriol he gets, especially on the BBC Have Your Say, is astonishing. Is it just racism or is there something about him that riles stuffy old Bufton-Tuffton types.
Is it just racism or is there something about him that riles stuffy old Bufton-Tuffton types.
Probably racism. They also probably have extremely unfulfilling lives, tiny and semi-functioning genitalia and like to get angry about things, especially if they involve people of colour turning up and doing rather well.
Hamilton is clearly an immensely talented driver, but the vitriol he gets, especially on the BBC Have Your Say, is astonishing
Never understood it. He seems to be very open with his thoughts and says what he is thinking but gets flak for it. I genuinely think that he gets nowhere near the amount of credit he is due. He is a absolute legend and it is sad that more people don't recognise his talent for what it is.