2020 silly season

Lewis Hamilton has tested positive for COVID-19.

 

Loowis got the Rona

 

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Vandoorne is the reserve driver for Mercedes.

It's possible he will take-over Lewis's place this weekend.

 

Vandoorne is training in Valencia today for Formula E.....then will possibly fly today to Bahrain to fill Lewis's seat.

Hulkenberg is another possibility.

 

Please put hulkenberg in this damn seat or Russel !

 

Would love to see George in it but I think it will be Vandoorne.

 

Image Vandoorne qualifying in front of Bottas !

 

This could have been interesting a few months ago, but now it's just another bad moment of this terrible 2020.

 

Nico please!! He drove the Cheat Clone Mercedes So no issues as fill for LH!

 

Autosport lists - Nico - Russel - Vandoorne as the potentials - https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/153868/who-could-replace-hamilton-for-sakhir-gp

--Mercedes has confirmed that Vandoorne will complete the final day of Formula E testing as planned in Valencia before travelling to Bahrain. However, as this does not waver from the original plan, it is no indication that he will be replacing Hamilton.

--Hulkenberg has no prior ties to Mercedes, meaning his appointment would be a step outside of the German marque's own driver pool.

But the fact he has three races worth of experience in 2020 machinery - all in the Racing Point RP20, which is based on the design of the 2019 Mercedes - may make Hulkenberg a more attractive option than Vandoorne.


--Russell has been tipped to succeed Hamilton at Mercedes in the future, but is contracted at Williams until the end of next season.
It means that if Mercedes wanted to draft him in for the race weekend, it would be reliant on clauses within his contract or gain permission from Williams.

Although Renault's Esteban Ocon is also on Mercedes' junior books, he is firmly contracted at the French team until the end of next year and it is understood that he cannot be recalled.


Should Russell be drafted in, then Williams would have to find its own replacement. F2 driver Jack Aitken serves as its appointed reserve. He holds a superlicence, and is in Bahrain for the F2 season finale, meaning he could theoretically step in.

 

Lewis not participating at the Sakhir GP will have devastating effects on ticket sales.

I bet the grandstands will be empty without him attending the race.

 

Yas Marina gettin ready.

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George Russell says he expects to remain with Williams F1 Team in 2021 after playing down his “throwaway remark” which hinted at a Mercedes drive for next season.

 

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/950393/1/hamilton-wants-get-2021-f1-mercedes-deal-done-christmas

 

Tsunoda to go to Toro Rosso. Kvyat out.

 

Yep, Kyvat admitted it on Spanish TV.....that's what I read.

 

Daimler the reason that Hamilton has not yet signed a new contract with Mercedes'
31-12-2020 13:00
by GPblog.com

It is a certainty that Mercedes wants to continue with Lewis Hamilton. After all, the Brit strings the championships together. According to the Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport, parent company Daimler on its own was not happy with the Brit's demands.

For the coming season, all but one seat has been forgiven, from a technical point of view. Lewis Hamilton still does not have a contract for next year, despite his seventh world title this year. The Brit has also made no secret of the fact that he would like to continue with the team for a few more years.

Negotiations are only going slow, according to the Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport. It is no longer a formal extension, as the various parties seem to disagree with the demands that are being put on the table. "In November, when Formula 1 went to Turkey, a contract was ready that meets Hamilton's requirements: a four-year contract with a salary of 50 million a year. Daimler however put a stop to that," says the newspaper.

Daimler doesn't want to go all-in
Despite Hamilton's strong performance, the parent company of Mercedes doesn't want to bet so much on the British driver. "Daimler wants to go for a two-year contract, with an option for three years". The company may keep an eye on Hamilton's age, which turns 36 in January, or on the progression of the younger and much cheaper George Russell.

As a result, Lewis Hamilton is still without a contract for next season. "It remains to be seen what the results of the talks will be. Now however a third party has a stake in the matter: Ineos. The new deadline for the contract extension is now at the end of February, just before the start of the winter tests in Barcelona," concludes the Italian medium.

 

Red Bull says George Russell's close ties to Mercedes meant he was never on its radar as a replacement for Alex Albon for the 2021 Formula 1 season.

With Red Bull having been open that it would look outside its current pool of drivers if Albon did not deliver what it wanted, Sergio Perez ultimately ended up landing the second Red Bull seat for 2021.

However, Russell would have been an obvious contender based on his pure speed after showing at the Sakhir Grand Prix he had the pace to win when he stood in for an ill Lewis Hamilton.

Reflecting on the candidates that Red Bull evaluated as it came to its decision on 2021 drivers, its motorsport advisor Helmut Marko said that Russell was never even considered.

"No," he said in an exclusive interview with Autosport.

"He has a ten-year contract with Toto Wolff. He is a Mercedes junior. We were looking for an interim solution for one year. Perez is the much better option there."

Marko says there was no doubt Russell is a good driver, but he questioned about making too much of his star showing in the Sakhir GP because he felt it was a weekend where Valtteri Bottas under performed.

"Russell is an intelligent and fast young man," added Marko.

"His Mercedes effort was great. But at the same time, it was marked by such uncertainty from Bottas that it wasn't really a valid comparison.

"Bottas put together such crap from the first lap on Friday, that he was way below his normal level."

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/154414/why-russell-was-never-on-red-bull-radar-for-21

 

If rumours are true, Hamilton may be pushing his luck trying to dictate the terms of his next contract.
His market value may be less now that Mercedes has met most of its target.
The drivers market is indicating that salaries thend to be lower, in line with reduced budgets.
Hamilton's enforced lay-off has shown that MB has already a very good replacement waiting in the wing: Russell.
Hamilton may also have upset the MB board by promoting his opinions into F1.
The negotiations may be tense, and an impredictible outcome is always possible.

 

He needs to remember the world is a very different place since COVID, and the fact that there was a very able replacement in Russell. Nothing can challenge this MBZ car at least until 2022 with the changes.

 

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Daimler is not blind lol - Stroll pays Vettel 15mil Euro.

 

Not sure if he is still worth that !

 

Based on his last 3 full year. Not at all. Others making half or less provide more in terms of points/wins/performance.

Otmar says they will provide more 'love' today in the press. A driver making such a salary needs nothing else other than what is normally provided. After 4 titles Vettel should know what is required and how to respond. Zero sympathy. His mental fragility cannot be overstated it appears lol