2018/2019 Silly season

Very sorry to massively disappoint you.

https://www.planetf1.com/news/hamilton-signs-new-two-year-deal-with-mercedes/?utm_source=Dijest&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=PF1-Email-19-07-2018&shChannel=Email&shCampaign=PF1-Email-19-07-2018

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/137515/hamilton-completes-new-mercedes-deal

 

Good for him.

 

So Stroll's can now ruin Force India?? https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/137526/stroll-linked-with-force-india-switch

Lance Stroll has been strongly linked with a move to Force India next season, with the Canadian admitting his Formula 1 future may not be with Williams.

On the back of Williams's struggles this season, Stroll has been evaluating his options in order to secure himself the most competitive seat possible for 2019.

Sources have now suggested that Force India has emerged as Stroll's leading option, should the Canadian decide his F1 future is better served away from Williams.

A move to the Silverstone-based team should give him a more competitive seat than he has had this year, while Force India could benefit from any financial injection that Stroll's family can offer.

A cash boost may also coincide with a move by Force India to try to firm up closer ties with Mercedes, in a similar way to Sauber's partnership with Ferrari on the technical front and with its junior drivers.

Speaking ahead of the German Grand Prix, Stroll said his future was currently uncertain, but hinted his place at Williams would likely depend on the outfit making a recovery soon.

"I would like to see us improve and get to where we want to get to as a team," he said, when asked if he wanted to stay at Williams next year.

 

This story is sooo multi-faceted on soooo many levels.......I'm at a loss for words.

 

I have no doubt that Stroll Jr could well buy himself a seat at Force India,.

I am just wondering who Force India would get rid off to make room for the Canadian: Ocon or Perez?

I think Ocon shows more potential than Sergio, who could end up being the victim of that move.

I like Sergio.

 

Bottas just confirmed on one year deal plus one option

 

He deserves better than that. 2 years would not have been a problem for Mercedes. With performance clauses they could have structured it in a way to provide release if he fails to produce results.

 

yep, 1 +1 (option).....

 

Force India have a strong driver line up, which is one of their keys to their high point scoring with a low budget. Sticking Stroll in there would take that away...and could well be the end for Force India/Jordan as we know it. The battle in the midfield is extremely tight, 3 pts between 5th and 7th, 22 between 4th and 7th...One good result could swing it either way, on the same way, 1 bad one. 20 average (I'm being generous) results...well you do the math. Force India would basically make the choice of taking 30 million up front a year early at the expense of results. IMO they'll be betting the house. And not just on black or red...no they're putting all their money on rolling double zero. With Vijay still selling his team, a strong performer on a low budget is key to getting a decent price.

I agree with you on both their drivers, I like both and both would be a big loss to the team. Sergio is also pretty popular.

 

Sorry, but to me that looks very much like they keep him under control... so every single season he has to drive for a new contract and he will never do anything against the will of Toto. So he will never really attack Lewis and take points aways from him. Looks like Mercedes learned their lesson from Nico-Lewis but then they should please stop playing the gentlemen making us believe they race without a clear No.1....not to mention asking customer teams to get out of the way
They are not an inch better than Ferrari when it comes to No 1. - No.2 !!!

 

Sadly the only way to run when 2 teams are vying for the championship, each with their own lap dog.

Red Bull has the luxury of having a **** car (relative to the Merc/Ferrari) and not being regular contenders, so they can run 2 top dogs as whatever happens, it won't really affect their championship running all that much. If Red Bull was a contender they'd have to make the choice who to back. I wouldn't like to make that choice I'll tell you that much.

 

Problems for Force India?

We hear rumours Force India might go into administration as early as this week, but will be sold & rescued soon after. Driver market on hold until team future is secured. Looks like Renault already got an option on Ocon.

AMuS (in German): https://t.co/Zyz9Sh6yPt

— Tobi Grüner (@tgruener) July 23, 2018

 

Someone or some entity needs to buy this team.

 

Is that true?
https://thesportsrush.com/lawrence-stroll-has-bought-force-india/

 

Oh boy!

 

Helps them out financially......not so much on the driver side.....if true.

 

The baby stroller will mess up another team.

 

F1 winter testing 2019 likely moved to Bahrain. Like Melbourne both testing weeks one week earlier (Feb18-21 & Feb26-Mar1). Liberty will help covering higher costs. But teams have to leave the garages open to provide better TV coverage. [ AMuS]

 

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/137594/force-india-would-consider-renault-ocon-deal

Force India admits it would be willing to consider allowing Esteban Ocon to sign for Renault for the 2019 Formula 1 season.

Ocon is contracted long term to Mercedes, and is currently on loan to Force India. It's understood that the agreement states that for next season he can only be called back by the Stuttgart manufacturer to drive for the works team.

However in recent weeks it's become increasingly clear that Mercedes is keen to place him at Renault for 2019, in order to enhance his career development, with some sources suggesting that an option has already been agreed.

However Ocon could only go to Renault if an accommodation is made with Force India, with a deal that would have to be brokered by Toto Wolff steering his junior driver away from one of his customers, and into a seat with a rival works team.

When asked by Autosport about Ocon's situation, Wolff said: "We don't know. We can't comment. It's tricky, the situation."

Force India has made it clear that a commercial deal would have to be done if Ocon was to go to any team other than Mercedes.

"We try not to disclose the details of our driver contracts, but it's safe to say that we would have to release him," team COO Otmar Szafnauer told Autosport.

"If circumstances made it the best thing for us to do, we'd have to look at it.

"We like Esteban and he's done a great job for us. At the end of the day, it's our call.

"If Renault want to pay a bunch of money, I'll consider it!"

 

Via SKY F1 - Silly season update - http://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/11443531/f1-2019-rounding-up-the-transfer-gossip-and-whos-moving-where

 

Both Wolff and Szafnauer confirm Force India is in court today, as we speak. Exact reason (administration / winding up) could not be given at the time. Szafnauer convinced whatever the outcome, result will be positive for the team and concluded in 2 weeks.

Szafnauer maintained that Force India’s greatest asset is its staff, none of whom should worry for their jobs.

 

Despite a last minute £30m cash injection from Rich Energy the court has today put Force India into administration. A tragic and avoidable outcome orchestrated by MercedesAMG F1, Sergio "Checo" Perez, Julian Jakobi and BWT.


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Force India driver Sergio Perez is behind the winding-up petition against the team over a $4m debt.


Perez behind legal proceedings to close Force India over $4m debt

A company linked to Sergio Perez is behind a winding-up petition against his Force India team over an unpaid debt, RaceFans has learned.

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The Silverstone Formula 1 team was the subject of a winding-up petition on Wednesday initiated by a Guernsey-based company known as Brockstone. According to a high-level source the company is linked to Perez and his manager Julian Jakobi.


Jakobi refused to comment on the development. Perez, who yesterday described Force India’s financial situation as “critical”, did not take part in a scheduled media session at the Hungaroring this afternoon.

Perez’s legal team told the court on Wednesday that Force India “is or is likely to become unable to pay its debt” and its parent company “are unlikely to be able to provide financial support”, according to documents seen by RaceFans. He is seeking payment of over $4 million (£3 million).

The winding-up petition was brought now to allow the team the opportunity to appoint administrators ahead of the F1 summer break and minimise disruption to the team.

Putting the team in administration and allowing it to continue operating will give it the best chance of being able to repay its creditors, the proposed administrators told the court.

The application was also supported by the Daimler/Mercedes group, which Force India owes over €10.5 million (£9 million), and sponsor BWT. The latter alleges its sponsorship deal with Force India was in the form of a loan.


https://www.racefans.net/2018/07/27/perez-behind-legal-proceedings-to-close-force-india-over-4m-debt/

 

So, now we know why Papa Stroll is holding things off for a few weeks . . . .