F1 2024 Season

Of course he’ll be second fiddle at both.

Leclerc is Ferrari’s poster boy and he will be dominant in qualifying anyway.

Alonso would be second fiddle to Leclerc or max as well. That’s why he’s been at Renault and AM

There is zero chance that Ferrari are getting Hamilton in to be number two driver. Mercedes may move towards a car that suits Russell more this season though, as that would make sense.
 
Not really. Giovinazzi and Stroll beat Russell in F3. Russell finished 1st ahead of Norris and Albon in F2. Some of F1's biggest flops have finished 1st and 2nd in recent F2 championships. It's no predictor of F1 success.

It’s absolutely a false equivalence in the context of a discussion about Albon. Of the trio of that year, Russell was leaps and bounds ahead of Norris and Albon.

Albon has done very little to even suggest he would outperform Russell in the same car. Even when he’s been in a race winning car, Albon hasn’t shown he’s got it. He’s at best a number one driver for a midfield team, and he’s found his level with Williams.
 
Ferrari dont really operate with distinct 1 and 2 drivers, as we've seen the last two seasons. But Leclerc will outqualify him and he will not get any priority.

In that sense, I agree. Leclerc has been pretty underwhelming in races though which is where Hamilton has historically excelled. It'll be fun to see how it plays out, I can see a bit of tension if Hamilton can keep his race form high.
 
There is zero chance that Ferrari are getting Hamilton in to be number two driver. Mercedes may move towards a car that suits Russell more this season though, as that would make sense.
This is the one part I have no trouble believing. Toto is clearly a huge George fan, perhaps almost more than Lewis' if you just look at the body language and amount of things they seem to be in each other's in vicinity.

George clearly rates himself well above Lando and Albon when you saw an interview with the 3 of them (not blaming him, some arrogant confidence is needed to win in that sport), and he's only 5 months younger than Max who obv has 3 titles and many more race wins and poles under him already.

George (or perhaps even Toto) and his folks probably put a lot of pressure on Merc to decide who their future is.
 
2020 was a long time ago in F1 terms. I wrote him off as well when he lost his drive but I would say he has shown a lot of growth since moving to Williams and I think he is certainly deserving of another shot in a decent car.

He was very young driving a notoriously difficult to drive car. To sum up I would think the 2024 albon does a lot better than the 2020 albon did in the 2020 red bull.
 
with sainz it’s usually the rear mirrors.
 
With it being all but official now one has to say it's great news for Ferrari, but they'll need to get to work hard to be at the top of grid in 2025. Mercedes needed to move on at some point too, they'll have enough time to figure out what to do now.
 
it’s poor carlos i feel sorry for. with his general speed it’ll be at least april before he realises this will mean he doesn’t have a drive for next year.
 
Think I'd like to see Ocon to Merc, to complete an unlikable driver pairing for the most unlikable team on the grid.

Sainz to Audi. Albon to Alpine. Pellistri to RB. Alonso back to Mclaren once they're competitive.

Sorted.

:lol:

that will forever be red bull whilst horner and marko are there. the rest of the team could solve world hunger and bring about world peace and those two would still make the whole outfit cnuts.
 
Honestly, don't know what to make of this. Hamilton is a great driver and he is gunning for No 8 to beat Schumi, who is my favourite driver. I guess if he does it in a Ferrari it will soften the blow. But I've never really liked Hamilton. Will have to support him now that he is in a Ferrari. Feels weird to me. But in a way exciting. I guess this is like the RvP move. If he comes to Ferrari and makes it win, I'll claim I always liked him :lol:
 
Definitely didn’t see that one coming. Was sure he’d see out his days with Merc, especially with all the other side/long term projects he has with them.

He must have found out that the new Merc concept is as far away from winning as it has been for the past couple of years or Freddy has guaranteed that the Ferrari will be at the top in 26.
 
Think I'd like to see Ocon to Merc, to complete an unlikable driver pairing for the most unlikable team on the grid.

Sainz to Audi. Albon to Alpine. Pellistri to RB. Alonso back to Mclaren once they're competitive.

Sorted.
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Huge news today. Was shocked I saw it. Thought the moment had passed for him to do this ans that he'd just retire at Mercedes at this point.

A legacy move for sure. I can see why he'd want to see if he can get them winning again to add to his already massive legacy. He doesn't have much to lose if he thinks the Mercedes is going nowhere fast.
 
The two biggest fanbases in the sport finally come together, what a beautiful thing. As a tifoso, I’m buzzing, the best driver pairing on the grid by a country mile and we know that they get on well, what could go wrong? Oh wait…
 
The two biggest fanbases in the sport finally come together, what a beautiful thing. As a tifoso, I’m buzzing, the best driver pairing on the grid by a country mile and we know that they get on well, what could go wrong? Oh wait…
Until one becomes the favourite child.
 
I want to see someone ask Toto if this means Lewis thinks the 2024 car is crap.

This was my thought straight away. Seems Lewis has lost all confidence in Mercedes.

I don’t like him (namely because I’m a mad Schumacher fan) but I appreciate he’s a winner and he wouldn’t be leaving if he thought Merc could give him a title winning car.

Wouldnt be surprised if he leaves Mercedes half way through the season if they’re not competitive… return of the Schumacher
 
This was my thought straight away. Seems Lewis has lost all confidence in Mercedes.

I don’t like him (namely because I’m a mad Schumacher fan) but I appreciate he’s a winner and he wouldn’t be leaving if he thought Merc could give him a title winning car.

Wouldnt be surprised if he leaves Mercedes half way through the season if they’re not competitive… return of the Schumacher
Ironically that may be motivation Merc needed to step it up again. Even Toto acknowledged their success made them complacent, and when the driver you gave so much to turns his back on you what more motivation does the team need than to show he made the wrong decision?
 
I can't see him tolerating the shenanigans Ferrari usually ends up causing for themselves during the race - messing up strategy etc, he moans enough at Mercedes, so I can imagine his reactions if Ferrari go down their usual route of self sabotage
 
Wow, I did not see that coming. Is it pretty much a foregone conclusion that Sainz is going to make way, or will it depend on how they both do this year? Him and Chuck Leclerc were neck and neck in 2023, with Sainz actually winning a race.
 
Wow, I did not see that coming. Is it pretty much a foregone conclusion that Sainz is going to make way, or will it depend on how they both do this year? Him and Chuck Leclerc were neck and neck in 2023, with Sainz actually winning a race.

Very interesting didn't consider that just assumed it would be Sainz leaving. I don't think it's for Leclerc but wonder where he'd go if it was - Perez RB seat?

I think Sainz has been linked to a new team so it's probably him however

Ok ignore that - the sky article says Charles signed a new contract with Ferrari last week