formula 1 maggots

[PNWbrit]

I think he thought that after pretty much deciding he was done and then being actually told by Mattiacci that he was done he thought any of the following would happen,

Honda would pay him huge $ to not go to Red Bull. Or better yet that Hamilton would have thrown all the toys out of his Mercedes pram and be going to Red Bull or Ferrari or back to Mclaren and that he could step into the Mercedes seat.

When Red Bull announced that A) Vettel was leaving and B) that he was joining Ferrari without Alonso apparently having sealed any particular deal and with Red Bull announcing Kvyat and also having told Mattiacci he was a son of a bitch it immediately reduced what Alonso can demand from Honda who can probably now just keep Button and Magnussen next season and sign Ricciardo or Hamilton for 2016 or force down Alonso's hand which had thought it had Honda paying him $50m a year (or driving the Merc).

Of course Hamilton may still throw his toys if he gets beaten by Rosberg although he does seem to have got the measure of him over the past few races. IF that happens Honda's position would be even stronger since they could play Alonso/Hamilton off against each other in contract negotiations.

I think it's very likely that he just won't be driving next year.

[ICEHOCEY77]

The track in Sochi looks pretty nice. They pretty much kept everything from the olympics. I was thinking they were only going to use the area around the torch, but there using pretty much the entire complex.

[hutash]

I think it's very likely that he just won't be driving next year.

That is rapidly becoming the likely outcome. Seems like Honda/McLaren are in a strong negotiating position.




Or I hear there is an open seat at Marussia.

[wooley12]

I'll try to keep you posted. Just realized that the Marussia F1 pictures my cousin was posting on FB related to the fact that her daughter was married to the team manager. Am I getting more core?

[PNWbrit]

And with Vettel and Ferrari still not confirming Red Bull's announcement that Vettel was going to Ferrari... any of the top 3 drivers going anywhere remains possible.

Except Alonso staying at Ferrari, that isn't happening

Probably.

[hutash]

^^^Do you have a problem with commitment?



















I think you do.
















Probably




















Maybe?

[hutash]

I can't imagine Vettel doesn't have a signed contract somewhere having announced his departure from Red Bull, the question is who did he sign with. I just don't see him going anywhere but Maranello.

[PNWbrit]

Charlie Whiting has exonerated himself in FIA report on Bianchi accident. That's a relief then.....

I can't imagine Vettel doesn't have a signed contract somewhere having announced his departure from Red Bull, the question is who did he sign with. I just don't see him going anywhere but Maranello.

It's bizarre I agree.

Maybe Hamilton is going to Ferrari and has been for some time? That might have pushed Alonso over the edge to go son of a bitch? From all reports Ferrari have made it quite clear they don't want Alonso to stay.

Red Bull could have made the rather odd Vettel to Ferrari press statement out of ignorance, or indeed just spite? Vettel and Alonso could have come up with the seat swap idea assuming both teams would just grab the chance to drive for them. Red Bull going for Kvyat and the ever over emotional Hamilton might have been fleas in the ointment.

So with Hamilton at Ferrari (and they'll keep Kimi rather than pay him off again) Vettel and now Alonso are low bidding over the unexpectedly vacant Mercedes seat with the loser getting the Mclaren/Honda drive?

Or Hamilton hasn't yetsigned for Ferrari (or even back to Mclaren? as IMG would like the big $ over emotion of the Scuderia) but Vettel and Alonso, both wanting a change of scene, are waiting out what they see as his near inevitable ship jumping?

[hutash]

I would be slightly, but not totaly surprised to see Hamilton leave Merc. Sure he and Roseberg may not be BFFs, but he is on the verge of a drivers championship. He clearly has the better of the two cars for the last few races, and if it weren't for a few DNFs the championship would be his to lose. I can imagine the draw of Maranello, but he would be leaving a constructors winning car for the unknown, and frankly currently shitty car that Ferrari is campaigning.

The Merc engine is killing it, all top six places in P2.

[PNWbrit]

If he isn't also somewhat in the mix with Alonso and Vettel for either of the Mclaren or Ferrari seats then I'm not sure I understand why Vettel to Ferrari and Alonso is out is taking so long to announce.

I can't imagine that Mattiacci is trying to smooth over the dust up with Alonso and keep him on board?

[hutash]

I have to assume Vettel is going to Ferrari. I can't imagine Horner would not know where Seb is heading, though he probably wasn't supposed to say anything. It is the move that makes the most since, since he is leaving a lackluster car for another lackluster car, but with a company with an obvious track record and budget to get results.

I think Alonso will end up at Mclaren after the Ferrari dust up, but Mclaren may be reconsidering there offer. Lotus could be interesting for next since they are dropping Renault, and who will fill the other seat (Maldonado is safe with his bucket of oil cash???)

This has been one of the better silly seasons in a while. Lots to still happen.

[Ski to Be]

Why would Vettel not announce where he was going if he had a deal? I can't believe that Hamilton would leave Merc for Ferrari? At least not till the end of next year. You guys seem more knowledgeable about this than me. Why wouldn't Hamilton go back home to Mclaren if they have a fast car next year? If they would be willing to sign Alonzo after the crap he pulled than why not sign Hamilton back. I love the Sochi track.
Edited. Sochi track was fun for qualifying but kind of sucked for racing

[Cross]

Alonso taking a year off? Audi to enter F1? This silly season is one of the best ever.
http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/20...e-in-the-works

[Ski to Be]

Exciting if it's true, especially if they can bring to the table what they did to endurance racing

[4matic]

Why would Vettel not announce where he was going if he had a deal?

Sponsor obligations

[4matic]

Does Texas get a refund? Perhaps some new teams can resurrect with used cars next year. F1 always cyclical.

LONDON -- The Marussia team's move into bankruptcy protection on Monday, four days after Formula One rival Caterham did the same, leaves only 18 cars on the grid for Sunday's United States Grand Prix, the smallest in nearly a decade.

High level sources have confirmed that, for the remainder of 2014, the FIA will not seek replacement cars on the grid to bolster numbers up to 20 in the event that entries fall.

[Hugh Conway]

16 cars is the magic number. Below that and he's in breach of various promoting agreements or something like that.

[Art Shirk]

[TomCrac]

The first pit change was painful to watch. Slow and that poor guy wacking away with a mallet to get the wheel off...ugh.... the second pit change = awesome...Of course they had 5x as many out there, but still...

[riser4]

Holy shit. That's fast. It didn't look like anything even happened. Car comes in, then it leaves a few seconds later.

I was in Austin for work the week leading up to the US GP. Lot's of teams staying at every hotel in town. Lots of Ferrari where I was. Not the drivers though. The Ferrari crew was cocky enough as it was. They thought they were all that. I could care less about F1 however the Germans that I was working with were definitely headed for the race.

[PNWbrit]

about the best explanation of the Alonso/Vettel Ferrari negotiations that I've seen.

http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/f1/ferrari-in-2014/

[hutash]

...but where is Alonso going?

[4matic]

...but where is Alonso going?

Sit out a year for test and develop with Audi?

[PNWbrit]

He's clearly going to Mclaren. There's actually video of him telling the King of Spain this at the last race.

Sounds like today should be day his team mate is announced or at least decided at Mcl board meeting.

Apparently Lego didn't put up cash for Magnussen's drive so my bet would be on them keeping Button... I hope.

[Bobby Finstock]

Is Flavio still banned from F1? He and Alonso should start their own team. They both have plenty of money.