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2021 Formula 1 Season Thread

The-Real-Deal82 said:
Indeed. The way I see it is Stroll is an ok driver who is in F1 due to his billionaire father whereas Russell is there because he has earned a place through merit. He’s worked hard for Mercedes and is more deserving but F1 is a money sport and I wouldn’t be surprised.
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Absolutely, and the money along with the politics leading to #1 drivers not being pushed is not good for the sport regardless of the Team.

Obviously a 2016 or god forbid the Prost/Senna days are not desired, but I don’t see George that way. I guess we just sit back and hope competition is strong in 2022.
 
The-Real-Deal82 said:
It would make sense from Mercedes point of view but is Stroll consistent enough to finish on the podium often in order to bring home those constructors points?

I still think Russell would be a better choice and especially after he showed he’d sacrifice his race for the team.
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He is not.

He would be.
 
Glideslope said:
Strong rumors developing that Mercedes will make the call during the break.

Stroll to Mercedes, Bottas to Austin Martin.

Do some searching and offer an opinion. Logic behind what I’ve read seems very solid. F1 internal politics are alive and well.
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i think there is little chance of this happening. The only way he will move to a top team is if they need his Father's money. That is not the case at Mercedes. Don't know how you guys feel about it but I am getting bored and tired with Horner complaints. He needs to shut up for a while and focus on the cars.
 
nebo1ss said:
i think there is little chance of this happening. The only way he will move to a top team is if they need his Father's money. That is not the case at Mercedes.
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Toto and Lance's father are evidently tight so this is being portrayed as Mercedes feels Lance will not pressure Lewis like (many of us believe) Russel would and it would give Lance a chance to secure the occasional win if Lewis runs into issues.

Not sure how Russel will view this if it does happen. On the one hand, it could give him confidence if he believes Lewis is "scared" of him, but on the other, every year he spends in a Williams is another year for him risking fading into obscurity if some new hot young shoe enters the sport with a better team.
 
CWallace said:
Toto and Lance's father are evidently tight so this is being portrayed as Mercedes feels Lance will not pressure Lewis like (many of us believe) Russel would and it would give Lance a chance to secure the occasional win if Lewis runs into issues.

Not sure how Russel will view this if it does happen. On the one hand, it could give him confidence if he believes Lewis is "scared" of him, but on the other, every year he spends in a Williams is another year for him risking fading into obscurity if some new hot young shoe enters the sport with a better team.
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Unless they sell it to him as Lewis No1. Stroll No2. When Lewis retires, you can replace him as the No1. But that would need a fair amount of trust on his part. Lewis could go on for years yet.
 
Glideslope said:
Daddy‘s extremely close friendship with Toto, and (Don’t jump on me for this) allowing Lewis to finish out at Mercedes with a relatively mediocre young driver as a Teammate that will be even more compliant than Bottas over the next 2 years (Not implying Bottas always rolled over.)

In no way a swipe at Lewis. However, when Lewis makes those gushing “Best Teammate Ever” comments about Bottas one would have to be a little naive not to get it.
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Is this the source? Jacques Villeneuve isn’t the most reliable. I would still expect to see Russell in a Mercedes; suspect Lewis would’ve wanted reassurances George would work with him which last weeks radio message may have helped him with.

Planet F1 JV quote
 
In his career with AMG, Bottas has finished 3rd, 5th, 2nd and 2nd in the WDC. He's 4th now, but there is plenty of time to climb. So he does seem to be able to get the job done and he has been important in AMG winning the WCC each of those years. So I expect AMG is not disappointed with his performance as a driver, but I tend to feel that Bottas does not have the "drive" necessary to win the WDC in a competitive field (which we have now with RBR, at least) so I can see why they might want to replace him with someone who can pick up the mantle when Lewis hangs it up.

Frankly, I don't see Lance being any different and possibly worse since Bottas at least is familiar with the team and I believe he is a better driver than Lance. So if there is a driver swap between AMG and AM, it could work out worse for AMG, at least in terms of the WCC.

So the "smart money" in my eyes is sign Russel and have him support Lewis until Lewis is ready to retire. AMG has shown with Bottas they are loyal to a driver who follows orders so no real fear for Russel about not beating Lewis hurting his tenure with the team.
 
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MOFS said:
Is this the source? Jacques Villeneuve isn’t the most reliable. I would still expect to see Russell in a Mercedes; suspect Lewis would’ve wanted reassurances George would work with him which last weeks radio message may have helped him with.

Planet F1 JV quote
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It’s going to be Lewis’s call. Lewis doesn’t want him as a Teammate from what I’ve read. We will see. Big test for Toto and Mercedes.

George and Lewis would be 2016 all over. Personally I’d like George. I‘d rather see Lando in there, but……….

Looking forward to the decision. ;)
 
Glideslope said:
It’s going to be Lewis’s call. Lewis doesn’t want him as a Teammate from what I’ve read. We will see. Big test for Toto and Mercedes.

George and Lewis would be 2016 all over. Personally I’d like George. I‘d rather see Lando in there, but……….

Looking forward to the decision. ;)
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Agree on Lando. I think he’d be brilliant. But can’t see Lewis wanting that. But then you’d imagine Toto has learnt from 2016 and would make sure it didn’t go down that road again. Either way I expect to see Bottas finish out the season in a Mercedes, with possibly some texting from George/Stroll.
 
Glideslope said:
George and Lewis would be 2016 all over.
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Only if Mercedes team management takes a "hands off" approach and I would think they would not do that.

And let's be honest, 2016 was a great year for Lewis (he won 10 races to Nico's 9) and AMG just dominated the field, winning 19 of 21 races and they arguably should have won them all if not for the collision in Spain and Lewis' engine letting go in Malaysia while he was leading.
 
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CWallace said:
Only if Mercedes team management takes a "hands off" approach and I would think they would not do that.

And let's be honest, 2016 was a great year for Lewis (he won 10 races to Nico's 9) and AMG just dominated the field, winning 19 of 21 races and they arguably should have won them all if not for the collision in Spain and Lewis' engine letting go in Malaysia while he was leading.
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I agree if George is in the W13 Mercedes initial strategy will be “Hands On.”

Allot can happen, just as it did in 2016. I still feel Lewis is strongly advocating for Stroll, and that he still has significant influence over decisions that effect his career. As he has earned the right to IMO.

I just don’t see him wanting a driver such as George racing him in the same chassis while he assimilates as well. So many unknowns for 2022.

Edit: “Such as George” is a reference to George‘s skill level. A highly competitive level.
 
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The-Real-Deal82 said:
That’s a race i’ll skip.
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I won't skip it for the shear potential of debacle ...

The Indycar "Music GP" was a mess! Track as way too thin in spots and man did it look bumpy! I couldn't take my eyes off it !

Possible repeat spoiler but, Former F1 driver Marcus Ericsson won ...
 
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pachyderm said:
they back this weekend?
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We're in the mandatory Summer Break.

Next race is Spa on 29 August, followed by Zandvoort the weekend after and then Monza the weekend after that.

After that comes a double header (Turkey and Japan). Then USA, Mexico and Brazil on successive weekends then another double header (Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi) to finish the season.

Australia was supposed to be on 21 November, but that has been cancelled.
 
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F1 should never have returned to Zandvoort in my opinion. That track just isn’t built for modern F1 cars but I appreciate The Netherlands want a race as they now have a driver in a team capable of winning a championship. It must be pretty rubbish so far for Max not having a home race.
 
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Michael Andretti is interested in buying a Formula One team. He's talked to Gene Haas, who appears to not be interested in selling Haas F1, so he is also looking at Williams and Alfa Romeo as they are owned by private equity firms who might want to either exit or accept a major Andretti equity stake.

racer.com

Andretti pursuing Formula 1 team takeover | RACER

The United States could have another team in Formula 1 if the efforts of a former driver prove to be successful.RACER has learned Andretti Autosport team owner Michael Andretti has been actively pursuing an F1 team to acquire, with multiple sources pointing towards the 1993 McLaren F1 pilot...
racer.com racer.com
 
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24 Hours of Le Mans is about to kick off and it is raining pretty hard so guess it will start behind the Safety Car.

In the USA on cable/satellite, the Motortrend Channel looks like it will be carrying the entire event.
 
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