The F1 thread

Dontgiveupyourdayjob

Pleased for Sainz. Quick, super-consistent, seems like a nice bloke from what I've seen on that Netflix docuseries. Will be interesting to see how close he can push Leclerc.

I first got into motorsport as a kid in the late 80s/early 90s, and Sainz Snr was always my favourite rally driver, back in the days when the BBC would have the old 'Lombard RAC Rally' on the telly each year. Happy memories...

Ricciardo/Norris looks a cracking driver line-up for McLaren, hope they can give them a quick enough car to challenge for podiums.

prowla

stickyfiddle said:

Yeah, I can't see Vettel carrying on if he can't win. He's a chilled guy who enjoys family life and rebuilding old motorbikes. I think he'll be ok with retirement. I hope he pops up on TV a bit though, I like him. 

I do too - his interviews were always pretty frank and he'd happily say what he felt like whilst in the car.

boogieman

stickyfiddle said:

Aaaand Sainz confirmed at Ferrari. Really pleased for him and I always thought he deserved a proper top drive. Only fractionally slower than Max but doesn't drive into people. Seems a top bloke as well.

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/ferrari-announces-sainz-vettel-replacement-2021/4792078/ 

So who goes to Renault?

• Vettel (Merc or retirement more likely)
• Bottas (if Seb goes to Merc)
• Alonso (because Enstone)
• a rookie?
• someone else? 

Dunno but I can’t see Alonso being tempted back by another second rate drive, will Renault be competitive enough by next season? 

Cols

Probably not; teams will need to use their 2020 chassis in 2021, and Renault didn’t look blisteringly fast in preseason testing.

Dontgiveupyourdayjob

I think there's more chance of Renault bailing on F1 altogether than re-signing Alonso. From next year they're losing another engine customer with McLaren switching to Merc engines so a loss of income there. Then factor in the massive financial hit to the parent company from a massive global recession/depression and the collapse in demand for new cars, the business case for funding a full works F1 team may no longer be there sadly.

Cols

Carlos Sainz’s ‘Thank you’ video message to McLaren, great example on how to avoid burning your bridges behind you.

https://youtu.be/GvJEmnHnG1U 

Dontgiveupyourdayjob

^^^Woe, touch of genuine class that. 

Majorscale

Carlos is such a nice guy, that was class.

not_the_dj

Brilliant. Genuinely pleased for the guy to get this opportunity, he came across great in the Netflix show and that video message is perfect. 

chillidoggy

My money's on Alonso going to Renault. Dunno why, but stranger things have happened.

stickyfiddle

chillidoggy said:

My money's on Alonso going to Renault. Dunno why, but stranger things have happened.

Yeah, I suspect he might. I don't think they'll want Hulk again, I don't think Vettel will want them, and Alonso obviously wants back into the sport. 

stickyfiddle

Just watched the Sainz video. What a fantastic gesture. I like him even more now. 

I'm gonna have to get both Ferrari #55 and Mclaren #3 hats next year

breakstuff

stickyfiddle said:

Just watched the Sainz video. What a fantastic gesture. I like him even more now. 

I'm gonna have to get both Ferrari #55 and Mclaren #3 hats next year

Me too. He's a class act. Top bloke. 

skullfunkerry

Cols said:

Carlos Sainz’s ‘Thank you’ video message to McLaren, great example on how to avoid burning your bridges behind you.

https://youtu.be/GvJEmnHnG1U 

Proper. Top bloke!

Fretwired

chillidoggy said:

My money's on Alonso going to Renault. Dunno why, but stranger things have happened.

Alonso has signed for Renault. Got next weekend's lottery numbers?

Dodge

Fretwired said:

chillidoggy said:

My money's on Alonso going to Renault. Dunno why, but stranger things have happened.

Alonso has signed for Renault. Got next weekend's lottery numbers?

Where is this published?

skullfunkerry

Dodge said:

Fretwired said:

chillidoggy said:

My money's on Alonso going to Renault. Dunno why, but stranger things have happened.

Alonso has signed for Renault. Got next weekend's lottery numbers?

Where is this published?

That's what I was going to ask. All I can find is lots of speculation, no actual announcement yet...

Cols

Haven’t seen this officially announced yet anywhere.

Rumour has it that Liberty are willing to subsidise Alonso’s wages at Renault.  This would be money well spent; the drop in F1 share price following Vettel’s announcement last week and the subsequent Sainz/Ricciardo news equated to a loss of £90 million to the business.

prowla

I don't understand the logic of Alonso going to Renault.

He's not particularly renowned as being a contributor to the development of a team.

They're not going to give him a platform to win races.

It seems like a lose/lose situation.

Cols

For Renault: 

1.  PR value.

2.  A driver who is _always_ quick.  I can’t remember seeing a race weekend where Alonso just phoned it in.

For Alonso:

1.  Not sure.