The F1 thread

PC_Dave

Raikkonen is gone then.....

Cols

Looks like.  And just like that, the World Champion content of next year’s grid dropped by 50%.

Fretwired

PC_Dave said:

Raikkonen is gone then.....

Williams could do with his help in developing the car .. won't happen though.

Garthy

Fretwired said:

PC_Dave said:

Raikkonen is gone then.....

Williams could do with his help in developing the car .. won't happen though.

Williams could do with lots of things but they won't be paying anybody to drive their cars.

lewism

Fretwired said:

Cols said:

Latest rumour is that Kvyat and Buemi are being lined up for a return to Toro Rosso.  I guess the pickings from the Red Bull Young Driver Programme are looking a bit slim.

It's a shame as it looks like George Russell is going to miss out on an F1 seat next year. His links to Mercedes are putting teams off. Wolff isn't happy - he's trying Williams but Claire wants a paying driver as funds are low.

It’s a real shame, I saw him race in the F2 support race at the Silverstone GP where he started out of position and came through the pack. He was more impressive than Norris for me, and he was pretty good.

Cols

With LeClerc all but confirmed for Ferrari, the latest is that Kimi will switch to Sauber and acquire part ownership of the team.

Apparently he has too much money.

Fretwired

Cols said:

With LeClerc all but confirmed for Ferrari, the latest is that Kimi will switch to Sauber and acquire part ownership of the team.

Apparently he has too much money.

A paying driver ... ;-)

stickyfiddle

It's official. Hope he gets one last win before the end of the season.

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/raikkonen-to-step-down-ferrari-after-2018-f1-season/3174736/

Dodge

stickyfiddle said:

It's official. Hope he gets one last win before the end of the season.

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/raikkonen-to-step-down-ferrari-after-2018-f1-season/3174736/

+1.  He won't ever be getting one in a Sauber.

Heartfeltdawn

Thought: Kimi to Sauber. Easy exchange if Leclerc cocks up in the first half of the season? 

stickyfiddle

Heartfeltdawn said:

Thought: Kimi to Sauber. Easy exchange if Leclerc cocks up in the first half of the season? 

I guess so. That’s fucking dull though. 

I’m starting to wonder whether we’ve reached then end of teams taking risks on drivers. 

Just hope someone non-shit gets the other Sauber seat.

Cols

Heartfeltdawn said:

Thought: Kimi to Sauber. Easy exchange if Leclerc cocks up in the first half of the season? 

I was thinking the same.  Leclerc is seen as a bit of a gamble, and I suspect Ferrari want to keep Kimi in play in case it all goes tits up.

Fretwired

Cols said:

Heartfeltdawn said:

Thought: Kimi to Sauber. Easy exchange if Leclerc cocks up in the first half of the season? 

I was thinking the same.  Leclerc is seen as a bit of a gamble, and I suspect Ferrari want to keep Kimi in play in case it all goes tits up.

Maurizio Arrivabene had his hand forced as Leclerc had a contract to replace Kimi from former Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne who made the decision. The Ferrari board decided to honour the contract out of respect.

I think Leclerc is a risk and if he doesn't do well there could be a swap with Kimi.

sinbaadi

LeClerc isn't a risk, he's just green.  Nobody will expect him to beat Vettel any more than Kimi couldn't, but if you'd watched him in F2/GP2 whatever they call it now, you'd know why Ferrari are prepared to give him a chance.

This is what you want the big teams to do; not get some safe top 4 driver to be a dutiful number 2, but try to find the next Hamilton.  

Boromedic

I can't see Vettel being happy that LeClerc has been given the seat, he knows he usually has Kimi comfortably in his pocket most of the time. Last time he came up against a new young hot shot, Danny Ric, Danny beat him fair and square in the same car. There were some mitigating factors but Vettel wasn't happy. 

LeClerc could quite feasibly beat him as he has everything to prove.

stickyfiddle

LeClerc is clearly one of the bright lights of the next generation - he’s been smashing Ericsson all season. The only question is whether he’s the next Massa or the next Vettel

Boromedic

Well if Vettel has his way (which he might!) it'll be Massa all over again!! Although if that's the case all he has to do is look good and outpace Vettel occasionally, bide his time and then he'll be number one once Vettel gets bounced. 

rlw

Sad to say that i have got so bored with the whole F1 thing that I don't give a shit anymore.  Kimi and Ricciardo are the only two with any real personality and talent to thrill and they seem to be going backwards now.

Garthy

rlw said:

Sad to say that i have got so bored with the whole F1 thing that I don't give a shit anymore.  Kimi and Ricciardo are the only two with any real personality and talent to thrill and they seem to be going backwards now.

I'm the exact opposite. In 10-20 years time people will be talking about 2018 like they talk about 1986 now. Its a classic season in a new golden era.

simonk

Garthy said:

rlw said:

Sad to say that i have got so bored with the whole F1 thing that I don't give a shit anymore.  Kimi and Ricciardo are the only two with any real personality and talent to thrill and they seem to be going backwards now.

I'm the exact opposite. In 10-20 years time people will be talking about 2018 like they talk about 1986 now. Its a classic season in a new golden era.

Agreed. Best season for quite some time I think.