2021 F1 Driver ThreadFormula 1

[SlowGrayAudi]

The best thing Gasly can do is get out of the RB family and try to get in at McLaren or Renault

 

[DesertPenguin]

The best thing Gasly can do is get out of the RB family and try to get in at McLaren or Renault

If Alonso wasn't coming back or maybe doesn't stick around could you imagine an all French lineup (Gasly/Ocon) at a French based team? When was the last time that happened?

 

[Liquid]

When was the last time that happened?

1994 when Equipe Ligier had Olivier Panis and Eric Bernard as their drivers.

 

[Northstar]

1994 when Equipe Ligier had Olivier Panis and Eric Bernard as their drivers.

Larrousse as well for a few races that year.

 

[Liquid]

Larrousse as well for a few races that year.

Now that I think about it, both teams had two different all-French teams across that season.

Ligier had Olivier Panis and Eric Bernard for 13 races, then Olivier Panis and Frank Lagorce for 2 races.

Larrousse had Erik Comas and Philippe Alliot for 1 race and Erik Comas and Yannick Dalmas for 2 races.

 

[BrainsBush]

Message from Segio Perez:

 

[TenEightyOne]

That's a real shame, the lack of a Plan B makes it sound like the team have failed to re-employ him. Adds weight to the Vettel rumours of course, but I can still imagine Vettel just walking away this year and enjoying some Swiss air with his young family.

 

[mustafur]

If Perez is gone that would be a Perfect Seat for Gasly.

 

[EngieDiesel]

That's a real shame, the lack of a Plan B makes it sound like the team have failed to re-employ him. Adds weight to the Vettel rumours of course, but I can still imagine Vettel just walking away this year and enjoying some Swiss air with his young family.

I figure he would do that after next year, if the change in scenery doesn't work out for him. I can't see him being okay with ending his career on such an incredibly sour note like this season has become. If nothing else, he must want to at least have the opportunity to give Ferrari a kick in the pants as a farewell.

I'm sure there are going to be at least a couple doors open for Perez for next year, not every seat has been committed just yet after all.

 

[mastretta_mx]

I figure he would do that after next year, if the change in scenery doesn't work out for him. I can't see him being okay with ending his career on such an incredibly sour note like this season has become. If nothing else, he must want to at least have the opportunity to give Ferrari a kick in the pants as a farewell.

I'm sure there are going to be at least a couple doors open for Perez for next year, not every seat has been committed just yet after all.

Yes, but I am feeling his letter as a goodbye of F1, he sounds disappointed on RP management (at least that is the impression I have from a couple of his lines)

 

[PeterJB]

If we assume Vettel's retiring then Russell could be a possibility since Bottas is sticking around at Mercedes.

 

[SlowGrayAudi]

Bottas should get his ass canned. God he sucks compared to Hamilton.

Give Russell bottas' seat
Give perez Russel's seat
Vettel to Aston

Bottas can take a hike

 

[-Fred-]

He could always try his hand in the ex-F1 talent graveyards that are Formula E and Indycar.

 

[NotThePrez]

On one hand, I'm pretty sad for Checo. He's a good lad a solid driver, and literally the main reason Racing Point exists today. He was one of the main investors when Force India went under after all. I'm hoping for some positive contract for him next year, be it in F1 or maybe even Indycar.

On the other hand, I am honestly a bit surprised. While the chances of Lance being dropped by RP were already pretty low, at one point it was sounding like it could've happened. Even Lance mentioned to the media on a few occasions that he was unsure if he would be retained next year. Plus, Checo not being renewed means that RP will be losing out on a decent bit of sponsor cash. I know that they'll be a works team in 2021, but given that Aston Martin (from what I understand) still isn't in the best financial straits overall, even with Lawrence's and Toto's investments, I doubt they'll have the cash to completely cover the loss in Checo's sponsorship. Also, if they truly are signing Vettel, I imagine that would cost a pretty penny as well, and Vettel has no personal sponsorships (besides Red Bull?). Most of this is just speculation, however.

All that being said, if Vettel is indeed being brought in next year, I kinda want him to announce it at Mugello this weekend. It would take a substantial amount of attention off of Mugello being Ferrari's 1000th GP, and it would be a legendary and hilarious display of concentrated disrespect.

 

[SlowGrayAudi]

With Lawrence stroll being a billionaire, im sure he can cover the millions they'll lose with Perez sponsors.

Remember, 1 billion = 1000 million

If Perez doesn't get an F1 seat he should literally go to WEC. FE and Indy both suck, he could do well in WEC for Rebellion i think

 

[Northstar]

do well in WEC for Rebellion i think

Rebellion is finished as a team after this season. I could see him going to Glickenhouse or Peugeot though as both will need drivers to help test their cars.

 

[SlowGrayAudi]

Rebellion is finished as a team after this season. I could see him going to Glickenhouse or Peugeot though as both will need drivers to help test their cars.

I hadn't heard. Im sure he'd do well considering hes easy on tires.

 

[AshenGraey]

I thought Perez had a 3 year contract with RP that he signed last year which would have him in that seat until 2022? I guess in the world of F1, the world "contract" doesn't means 🤬 ....Maybe it's just me but it feels as though he got forced out. If that's truly the case, that is really messed up. Especially after what he did to save the team and the jobs for all those people. At this point, I'm guessing we will see Vettel in that seat next?

 

[TenEightyOne]

I thought Perez had a 3 year contract with RP that he signed last year which would have him in that seat until 2022?

Indeed, but who knows what exit clauses and lawyerly activity are being excercised behing the scenes?

Here's how it's going to work out: Bottas to Racing Point Aston, Vettel to Mercedes. Woolff is leaving as Team Principal in protest. /ridiculousspeculation

 

[chromatic9]

Swapping Perez for Vettel seems a backward step at this moment as he's a shadow of what he was but maybe he can do well in a new project with a different handling car. I suppose the attention of a 4 time world champion is part of it.

Hope to see Perez get another team next year, I enjoy him in the field with drivers like Lando.

 

[MagpieRacer]

 

[Rossell2]

And there it is.

 

[TenEightyOne]

RPF1FIAMF1 celebrating with a crap number plate in their presser: https://www.racingpointf1.com/news/...-for-2021-and-beyond-bwt-racing-point-f1-team

 

[Frank McGank]

Rebellion is finished as a team after this season. I could see him going to Glickenhouse or Peugeot though as both will need drivers to help test their cars.

If he goes to Peugeot or SCG for LMPGT-1, he’ll never turn a wheel in anger again

 

[McLaren]

Announces it during a big, upcoming weekend for Ferrari.

 

[MagpieRacer]

I thought Perez had a 3 year contract with RP that he signed last year which would have him in that seat until 2022? I guess in the world of F1, the world "contract" doesn't means 🤬 ....Maybe it's just me but it feels as though he got forced out. If that's truly the case, that is really messed up. Especially after what he did to save the team and the jobs for all those people. At this point, I'm guessing we will see Vettel in that seat next?

What he did was exactly what he was asked to do by the team and was backed by Mercedes and BWT to do it. Yes it made him look like the hero with the headlines and stuff but all he did was initiate the steps to put them into administration to save the team at the request of the team. They owe him nothing in the sense that he simply did what was asked of him.

There's a bigger picture at play here. He will have known this was coming for a while and will have something lined up. I imagine he will go to Haas to replace Grosjean who will go to WEC or something while also being the reserve for Alpine.

 

[TenEightyOne]

Nicked this list from Sky... I hadn't realised how many TBCs there were on next year's grid. Hamilton at Mercedes seems a given, I'm not so sure about the RBR seat.

HAAS... if I were them I'd snap Perez up and get rid of Grosjean... but maybe that should go in Unpopular Opinions?

Mercedes: Valtteri Bottas and TBC
Red Bull: Max Verstappen and TBC
McLaren: Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris
Aston Martin (Racing Point): Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll
Alpine (Renault): Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon
Ferrari: Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz
AlphaTauri: TBC
Alfa Romeo: TBC
Haas: TBC:
Williams: George Russell and Nicholas Latifi

 

[Silver_Wolf]

Sad for Sergio Perez and hope he secures a seat with one of the other F1 teams for the coming seasons.

Pleased to see Seb has decided to continue with Aston Martin racing aka Racing Point, I hope he has better success there than his current
experiences with Ferrari.

I know Bottas is confirmed at Mercedes for next year but I do think that might be a mistake, he's just not showing any signs of being aggressive or a potential world champion driver.

Am expecting Kimi might retire at the end of this year but again shall see!

 

[TheCracker]

Unlikely due to Bottas already having a contract, but anyone else fancy seeing Perez partnering Hamilton at Merc?

 

[MagpieRacer]

What I would like to see.

Mercedes: Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton
Red Bull: Max Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda
McLaren: Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris
Aston Martin (Racing Point): Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll
Alpine (Renault): Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon
Ferrari: Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz
AlphaTauri: Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon
Alfa Romeo: Nico Hulkenberg and Mick Schumacher*
Haas: Sergio Perez and Kevin Magnusson
Williams: George Russell and Nicholas Latifi

Reasons. The Red Bull is a hard car to drive compared in particular to the AlphaTauri as it leans towards Verstappens aggressive driving style. Both Gasly and Albon have shown this and have said as much in talk about the 2 cars. So instead of jusr swapping them round again so the other guy can struggle in it, promote someone from F2 straight to the Red Bull so that their first experience and learning in F1 is in that Red Bull, rather than having something thats perceptably easier to drive first. Tsunoda is Red Bull and Honda backed, has won in F2 this season and seems to be the highest placed Red Bull junior on the ladder. Kvyat has had his chances and should go paving the way for Albon to partner Gasly.

*Mick Schumacher is my assumption based on his typical trend of being strong in the 2nd half of seasons. With such a tight F2 campaign, I can see this seat going to whichever of the 3 FDA drivers fighting for the F2 title, wins it. So could be Schumacher, Ilot or Schwartzmann. Remember, the F2 champion cannot defend their crown, so it would only make sense for this to happen. Raikkonen is past it and Giovanazzi hasn't really done much. But, he could easily stay alongside whoever gets promoted with Hulkenbergbthen replacing Magnusson at Haas alongside Perez.