Terrible take. A rookie making a mistake isn’t like purposely driving in to someone.
The mental gymnastics red bull fans are going to have to do when Linblad gets in the team will be amazing to watch.
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2025 Formula One Season Thread
- Thread starter The-Real-Deal82
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Terrible take. A rookie making a mistake isn’t like purposely driving in to someone.
The mental gymnastics red bull fans are going to have to do when Linblad gets in the team will be amazing to watch.
Max to be announced as a Mercedes driver in the coming days according to rumours. Tough on George if true, he's having a really good season and really stepped up. Potentially a great move for Max as the Merc is being talked about as being the 2026 spec car to be in. He might well get to step into a championship capable car with minimal input.
Would you drop George over Antoni? I would have thought George and Max with the Rookie as number 3 for a season would be a better call.
If George does get dropped is there a better seat open other than RBR? Maybe if Alonso retires, but where else could he go? Would RBR entertain him as a driver?
You have to drop George. Toto believes Antonelli is the next Verstappen so having the "real thing" train his "replacement" is just an opportunity you do not pass up. Plus Toto had to push the Mercedes BoD to sign Kimi directly so for him to send Kimi off to, say, Alpine for a year or two would make the Board question his judgement.
I also do not see George and Max playing nice together and Toto is not going to want a repeat of the friction of Lewis and Rosberg.
PlanetF1 says Red Bull could extra up to GBP100 million if Max breaks his contract, though if he is fourth or lower in the WDC after the Hungarian Grand Prix on 3 August, that penalty would be waived under his exit clause.
I am sure Red Bull would jump on getting George, as he would be a good team leader for Hadjar when he gets promoted (as he almost certainly will to open a seat for Lindblad). If for some reason Red Bull does not want him, Alpine would certainly take him.
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Then we should not have rookies on the grid, you are a professional, you have a super licence, 1 title, 7 titles, 1st race, you have graduated from F2 to F1, behave as F1... Age, experience, should not curry favour for lack of punishment..
That is saying it is ok for a 1st year post graduation medical doctor from cutting off the wrong limb or prescribing the wrong medication, they will only pay $25 fine, but a 20 yr doc will serve 5 yrs in the local hotel for the crim class..
Sigh... This new math, or something failed in education... Do I need to explain?? OK, rookies or 1st year drivers should not expect any lessor punishment, by the time you reach Formula 1 grid you are a professional, you are at the same level as someone like max, Lewis, Alonso, you are a F1 driver.. Rookie status should have no bearing.. I guess I failed in my sarcasm..but I assumed it was understood.. I am not an educator.. I have no skills in teaching how to understand "reading between the lines" please consult a trained professional..
Last time I posted in here you suggested moving all the teams to Saudi Arabia for no specified reason so who knows what to think.
If you’re going to insult over maths perhaps learn how to use full stops first.
Teach me, so I can promptly forget this new style....Really you have issues with the Saudi Arabia.. again.. read between the lines..
Actually I made the suggestion as it seems that is where F1 wants to be.. F1 is very oil baron, mid east funded.. So it makes sense to move all the teams to the Arab section of the rock, that is where the money is.. Sarcasm...
Looks like George has rejected a 1+1 offer from Mercedes. With Max in play I didn’t see how Toto could offer more. Let’s not forget all the 1yr deals Toto offered Bottas with respect …….
The larger question now is if Mercedes is willing to buy out Max’s contract. The buyout is rumored to be $100 million USD.
Alonso has made comments this week that he is willing to take up a consultant position in AMR next year “if the money is there.” This could be a potential route.
FP1
| POS. | NO. | DRIVER | TEAM | TIME / GAP | LAPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 44 |
| 
| 1:26.892 | 26 |
| 2 | 4 | 
| 
| +0.023s | 26 |
| 3 | 81 | 
|
| +0.150s | 28 |
| 4 | 16 | 
|
| +0.203s | 26 |
| 5 | 63 | 
| 
| +0.271s | 25 |
| 6 | 6 | 
| 
| +0.325s | 28 |
| 7 | 23 | 
| 
| +0.412s | 30 |
| 8 | 30 | 
|
| +0.459s | 27 |
| 9 | 12 | 
|
| +0.475s | 25 |
| 10 | 1 | 
| 
| +0.540s | 26 |
| 11 | 14 | 
| 
| +0.786s | 24 |
| 12 | 18 | 
|
| +0.952s | 22 |
| 13 | 55 | 
|
| +1.017s | 26 |
| 14 | 36 | 
|
| +1.066s | 22 |
| 15 | 31 | 
| 
| +1.165s | 23 |
| 16 | 43 | 
| 
| +1.194s | 27 |
| 17 | 97 | 
| 
| +1.250s | 25 |
| 18 | 87 | 
|
| +1.255s | 24 |
| 19 | 10 | 
|
| +1.440s | 23 |
| 20 | 5 | 
|
| +1.505s | 23 |
OUR PARTNERS
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Shocked Max was able to make P10 in FP1 with the RB21 "Shopping Trolley with Broken Front Wheel Edition".
If Max is at 4th or lower in the WDC come Hungary, his exit clause triggers. With how bad the RB21 looked in FP1 today, that seems it could be a given. So maybe the sign a preliminary deal contingent on Max either being able to exercise his exit clause or Red Bull, seeing the writing on the wall, agree to a significantly lower buyout fee.
As for George, I presume his expectation is he takes Max's seat at Red Bull.
Guess he is hedging his bets on Adrian and Honda...or looking to make a fat payday if Honda really wants Max in the car.
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FP2
| POS. | NO. | DRIVER | TEAM | TIME / GAP | LAPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 |
|
| 1:25.816 | 26 |
| 2 | 16 |
|
| +0.222s | 29 |
| 3 | 44 |
|
| +0.301s | 29 |
| 4 | 81 |
|
| +0.470s | 27 |
| 5 | 1 |
|
| +0.498s | 23 |
| 6 | 12 |
|
| +0.567s | 28 |
| 7 | 18 |
|
| +0.614s | 24 |
| 8 | 63 |
|
| +0.707s | 27 |
| 9 | 6 |
|
| +0.708s | 27 |
| 10 | 30 |
|
| +0.808s | 28 |
| 11 | 23 |
|
| +1.024s | 30 |
| 12 | 14 |
|
| +1.060s | 24 |
| 13 | 5 |
|
| +1.088s | 27 |
| 14 | 31 |
|
| +1.125s | 26 |
| 15 | 22 | 
|
| +1.164s | 25 |
| 16 | 55 |
|
| +1.343s | 27 |
| 17 | 27 | 
|
| +1.349s | 29 |
| 18 | 10 |
|
| +1.358s | 24 |
| 19 | 87 |
|
| +1.410s | 27 |
| 20 | 43 |
|
| +1.473s | 29 |
OUR PARTNERS
And now LawVS posts a video suggesting AMG loans Kimi Antonelli to Alpine to make room for Max next year.
I’ll be honest. This makes the most sense to me. This protects Toto’s investment while continuing to grow. Max and George would be a great combination IMO. It gives George more time at Mercedes, and allows Max to continue in a car that by all accounts should be a contender in 2026. I think the deal is already done.
Definitely not sandbagging. You can see the over/under and hear the throttle on the in car. He’s spending most of his time catching it. Looks to me like the floor upgrade went backwards.
I think George & Max will be fireworks! But a fun watch. I think George thinks he'll have Max's number like he did with Lewis. Will be a fun watch, especially if the Mercedes turns out to be the car to be in, in 2026.
I’m not sure about that.
Trying to lose a few tenths would be really hard even for max in my opinion and it would be even more damning on Yuki if true.
I also believe the only way Max could choose to not win would be pure anger and fury. He’s just to much of a winner to sandbag in my opinion.