2015 Silly Season Thread

[Salamander]

In case they do, would that mean the FIA could effectively veto Max's debut, forcing Toro Rosso to delay it with a stop-gap driver?

You know, there's this driver dominating FR3.5 I think Toro Rosso might be interested in, he's the son of some rally guy I think...

[RonDenisDeletraz]

In case they do, would that mean the FIA could effectively veto Max's debut, forcing Toro Rosso to delay it with a stop-gap driver?

You know, there's this driver dominating FR3.5 I think Toro Rosso might be interested in, he's the son of some rally guy I think...

I've heard about that guy, not too sure about him considering his comparison to Kvyat in GP3

[Salamander]

In case they do, would that mean the FIA could effectively veto Max's debut, forcing Toro Rosso to delay it with a stop-gap driver?

You know, there's this driver dominating FR3.5 I think Toro Rosso might be interested in, he's the son of some rally guy I think...

I've heard about that guy, not too sure about him considering his comparison to Kvyat in GP3

Well, in the case, there's this other driver who's dominating GP3, something that Kvyat couldn't do at this stage last year.

[roblo97]

You know, there's this driver dominating FR3.5 I think Toro Rosso might be interested in, he's the son of some rally guy I think...

I've heard about that guy, not too sure about him considering his comparison to Kvyat in GP3

Well, in the case, there's this other driver who's dominating GP3, something that Kvyat couldn't do at this stage last year.

I've heard about this guy in F3 who is only 10 ish points behind Max

[Ataxia]

I've heard about that guy, not too sure about him considering his comparison to Kvyat in GP3

Well, in the case, there's this other driver who's dominating GP3, something that Kvyat couldn't do at this stage last year.

I've heard about this guy in F3 who is only 10 ish points behind Max

Nobody ever mentions the guy who's 77 points ahead of Verstappen. I guess it's not how talented you are, it's how quick the sperm donor is...

[roblo97]

Well, in the case, there's this other driver who's dominating GP3, something that Kvyat couldn't do at this stage last year.

I've heard about this guy in F3 who is only 10 ish points behind Max

Nobody ever mentions the guy who's 77 points ahead of Verstappen. I guess it's not how talented you are, it's how quick the sperm donor is...

Him? He seems like the real deal to me.

[GwilymJJames]

Reports that Sauber have signed Sutil for 2015.

[noiceinmydrink]

Reports that Sauber have signed Sutil for 2015.

I don't really see why they should, honestly. Sutil's performace has been underwhelming and I'm not really sure if he brings a lot of sacks o' cash. Better off sticking Giedo or Simona (or Sergey if they really need the money) in there if you ask me.

[Shizuka]

Reports that Sauber have signed Sutil for 2015.

GutSquared is recently having the better of him. What is Kaltenborn doing?

[Cynon]

Reports that Sauber have signed Sutil for 2015.

I don't really see why they should, honestly. Sutil's performace has been underwhelming and I'm not really sure if he brings a lot of sacks o' cash. Better off sticking Giedo or Simona (or Sergey if they really need the money) in there if you ask me.

Agreed. That Medion cash must talk a lot louder than we think it does...

Dammit, Sauber, stop signing boring drivers!!

[mario]

Reports that Sauber have signed Sutil for 2015.

I don't really see why they should, honestly. Sutil's performace has been underwhelming and I'm not really sure if he brings a lot of sacks o' cash. Better off sticking Giedo or Simona (or Sergey if they really need the money) in there if you ask me.

Agreed. That Medion cash must talk a lot louder than we think it does...

Dammit, Sauber, stop signing boring drivers!!

Talk? That Medion cash must bellow like Brian Blessed stepping on a carpet tack.

I have to agree that, from the outside at least, Sutil does not seem to have done much for Sauber - no sense of leadership, no signs of providing technical feedback that can help develop the car and no signs that he could actually score points for the team if offered the opportunity.
OK, perhaps that last comment is a touch harsh when you consider that he could have possibly scored one point in Hungary - however, he was also being beaten by Gutierrez in adverse conditions that should have favoured Sutil, not Gutierrez (who'd climbed up to 8th before the car failed), so even then he was not delivering what his team mate, hardly the most highly regarded driver on the grid, was capable of doing.

[Zergon]

Reports that Sauber have signed Sutil for 2015.

Huh, didn´t really see that one coming, I was sure this would have been his last year and that Sauber would had two pay drivers next year...

Actually to think of it, there has been quite lot of these "I didn´t see that one coming" news this week, with Vertappen driving on Toro Rosso next year and Kobayashi being replaced at least for next race by someone who appearantly isn´t even bringing money to Caterham...

Just makes me wonder if certain team bosses have lost a bet or two lately... "Oh, ok, if you lose, you have to sign Sutil for next year, oh and you have to replace Kobayashi with someone who haven´t have any F1 experience in last ten years"

[RonDenisDeletraz]

It is as if the whole F1 paddock has been on acid this week, so many baffling decisions

[Waris]

I guess my dream of a Barrichello / Sirotkin lineup at Sauber is never gonna come true.

[Backmarker]

I guess my dream of a Barrichello / Sirotkin lineup at Sauber is never gonna come true.

Maybe Eduardo Barrichello.

[fjackdaw]

Maybe Sutil has threatened to glass them?

[Shizuka]

Some Italian (tabloids I guess?) newspapers rumour that Vettel...

...signed to McLaren.

[takagi_for_the_win]

Some Italian (tabloids I guess?) newspapers rumour that Vettel...

...signed to McLaren.

Pahahahahahahaha when pork chops grow wings and take up casual aviation maybe. Until then, nope.

[mario]

Some Italian (tabloids I guess?) newspapers rumour that Vettel...

...signed to McLaren.

Pahahahahahahaha when pork chops grow wings and take up casual aviation maybe. Until then, nope.

I likewise think that the notion of Vettel to McLaren is unlikely - why would Vettel willingly Red Bull when his contract runs until 2015 and Red Bull have not only tended to produce better cars than McLaren over the past few years, but have also shown greater operational consistency as well? Surely it would make more sense to stick with a team that is going to still be pretty competitive in 2015 and to see whether or not the Honda powerplant is actually competitive before making overtures to McLaren?

[Dj_bereta]

Some Italian (tabloids I guess?) newspapers rumour that Vettel...

...signed to McLaren.

Pahahahahahahaha when pork chops grow wings and take up casual aviation maybe. Until then, nope.

I likewise think that the notion of Vettel to McLaren is unlikely - why would Vettel willingly Red Bull when his contract runs until 2015 and Red Bull have not only tended to produce better cars than McLaren over the past few years, but have also shown greater operational consistency as well? Surely it would make more sense to stick with a team that is going to still be pretty competitive in 2015 and to see whether or not the Honda powerplant is actually competitive before making overtures to McLaren?

Also Vettel said that he wants to drive for Ferrari in the future. I think its more likely Vettel going to Ferrari after Alonso retires. I can't imagine Vettel moving out of Red Bull now.

[GwilymJJames]

Alonso and Raikkonen confirmed for Ferrari 2015 say Sky Sports News HQ.

Also,

Spanish Renault 3.5 stars Carlos Sainz Jr and Roberto Merhi are both in the frame to make their F1 debuts with Caterham before the end of the season.

It’s believed that they are both likely to be given an opportunity to drive the car occupied by Andre Lotterer this weekend.

As noted here some time ago Sainz came into the frame around the time of the British GP when Red Bull discussed putting him in the Caterham for the rest of the season. Caterham uses a Red Bull gearbox, while team advisor Colin Kolles did a similar deal to put Daniel Ricciardo in an HRT in 2011. However it was decided to allow him to concentrate on Renault 3.5.

[RonDenisDeletraz]

Spanish Renault 3.5 stars Carlos Sainz Jr and Roberto Merhi are both in the frame to make their F1 debuts with Caterham before the end of the season.

It’s believed that they are both likely to be given an opportunity to drive the car occupied by Andre Lotterer this weekend.

As noted here some time ago Sainz came into the frame around the time of the British GP when Red Bull discussed putting him in the Caterham for the rest of the season. Caterham uses a Red Bull gearbox, while team advisor Colin Kolles did a similar deal to put Daniel Ricciardo in an HRT in 2011. However it was decided to allow him to concentrate on Renault 3.5.

Go home Colin Kolles

[The Dutch Bear]

Spanish Renault 3.5 stars Carlos Sainz Jr and Roberto Merhi are both in the frame to make their F1 debuts with Caterham before the end of the season.

It’s believed that they are both likely to be given an opportunity to drive the car occupied by Andre Lotterer this weekend.

As noted here some time ago Sainz came into the frame around the time of the British GP when Red Bull discussed putting him in the Caterham for the rest of the season. Caterham uses a Red Bull gearbox, while team advisor Colin Kolles did a similar deal to put Daniel Ricciardo in an HRT in 2011. However it was decided to allow him to concentrate on Renault 3.5.

Go home Colin Kolles

I think the FIA will veto that both Sainz Jr and Merhi will get the drive at Caterham, given that would mean 5 drivers in one year for one team with 4 being the limit. There is certainly no force majeure here, so the FIA will probably say no to this.

[Nuppiz]

I think the FIA will veto that both Sainz Jr and Merhi will get the drive at Caterham, given that would mean 5 drivers in one year for one team with 4 being the limit. There is certainly no force majeure here, so the FIA will probably say no to this.

Unless someone suddenly catches a nasty case of "food poisoning"...

[Ataxia]

I think the FIA will veto that both Sainz Jr and Merhi will get the drive at Caterham, given that would mean 5 drivers in one year for one team with 4 being the limit. There is certainly no force majeure here, so the FIA will probably say no to this.

Unless someone suddenly catches a nasty case of "food poisoning"...

Or something else hard to prove, like a wheat intolerance...

[tommykl]

I think the FIA will veto that both Sainz Jr and Merhi will get the drive at Caterham, given that would mean 5 drivers in one year for one team with 4 being the limit. There is certainly no force majeure here, so the FIA will probably say no to this.

Unless someone suddenly catches a nasty case of "food poisoning"...

Or something else hard to prove, like a wheat intolerance...

"I'm sorry, but I can't take part. Those bagels weren't gluten-free!"

[andrew2209]

Anyone else think a seat at Mercedes could become available next season? If this actually happened, who would get it?

[girry]

Possibly. Toto's boy Bottas.

[Salamander]

Anyone else think a seat at Mercedes could become available next season? If this actually happened, who would get it?

Sack both drivers, sign Ricciardo and Bottas. Never have another driver-related drama again.

[Nuppiz]

Possibly. Toto's boy Bottas.

Except Bottas has stated he isn't moving anywhere from Williams.

[Pacifics only fan]

Anyone else think a seat at Mercedes could become available next season? If this actually happened, who would get it?

I agree with you. I think it would be Bottas or Hulkenburg

[James1978]

I can see Hamilton going to Red Bull and Vettel to Mercedes.

[SgtPepper]

Anyone else think a seat at Mercedes could become available next season? If this actually happened, who would get it?

I agree with you. I think it would be Bottas or Hulkenburg

That would be absolutely glorious.

[dr-baker]

Toto's wife doesn't really stand a realistic chance at Mercedes, does she?

[mario]

Possibly. Toto's boy Bottas.

Except Bottas has stated he isn't moving anywhere from Williams.

And as others have pointed out, there is also the fact that Williams will probably be fighting pretty hard to hold onto Bottas given that he is spearheading their efforts to move back up the field.

[Klon]

Possibly. Toto's boy Bottas.

Except Bottas has stated he isn't moving anywhere from Williams.

And as others have pointed out, there is also the fact that Williams will probably be fighting pretty hard to hold onto Bottas given that he is spearheading their efforts to move back up the field.

People can say and want a lot. Money talks and something tells me Mercedes are perfectly fluent in this form of conversation.

[mario]

Possibly. Toto's boy Bottas.

Except Bottas has stated he isn't moving anywhere from Williams.

And as others have pointed out, there is also the fact that Williams will probably be fighting pretty hard to hold onto Bottas given that he is spearheading their efforts to move back up the field.

People can say and want a lot. Money talks and something tells me Mercedes are perfectly fluent in this form of conversation.

Well, I didn't say that it was going to be impossible for Bottas to move, merely that Williams would most likely fight as hard as possible to prevent him from leaving. Money may talk, but Williams's finances are looking much more robust than they have in the past thanks to new major sponsors (Martini this year and Petrobras for 2015) and are likely to improve further if they can secure a top four, or even a top 3, finish in the WCC.

[CoopsII]

If Mercedes have a disastrous run of luck and Ricciardo continues to win we may well start 2015 with our new favourite Aussie as world champion.

Golly.

[mrfakeboullier]

Rumour has it Giedo Van Der God is gonna be at Sauber next year. If that is the case I'd really like Simona to get the other drive instead of Esteban, who will probably end up at Caterham or something.

[Vassago]

Ferrari's at it's lowest since 1993. No way Vettel would even consider switching there right now. They have to pray for Alonso staying there until he retires or else they'd be spanked by Force India clean. I still reckon either Hulkenberg or Bianchi will replace Raikkonen after 2015.