Formula 1/Motorsports 2020

[evilwebby]

Fernando Alonso is taking part in the Dakar Rally:

Fernando Alonso: Dakar Rally challenge is 'biggest of my career'

Two-time Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso embarks on the Dakar Rally on Sunday - but can he make the “impossible look possible”?

www.bbc.co.uk

If he survives being eaten by the savages in Dakar, he will also participate in the "Top Gear to the South Pole" challenge, followed by a 24hr Mariokart Coconut Mall challenge later on in the year.

 

[B17BLG]

I miss his personality in F1!

 

[evilwebby]

Leclerc is with Ferrari until 2024, and now Verstappen extends with RBR until 2023.. hmm

Max Verstappen extends Red Bull deal until 2023

Dutchman Max Verstappen extends his deal with Red Bull until the end of the 2023 season.

www.bbc.co.uk

would kinda be hillarious if he couldn't manage to sew up a WDC by the end of 2023

 

[Philw]

Leclerc is with Ferrari until 2024, and now Verstappen extends with RBR until 2023.. hmm

Max Verstappen extends Red Bull deal until 2023

Dutchman Max Verstappen extends his deal with Red Bull until the end of the 2023 season.

www.bbc.co.uk

would kinda be hillarious if he couldn't manage to sew up a WDC by the end of 2023

Dunno about hilarious, but quite surprising imo. Although I do think RB have a strong chance this year, I'm sure he said before he was going to see how things panned out at the start of this season. Perhaps he's seen good things in what they doing with this years car.

Kind of disappointed that there aren't going to be as many top drivers entering the market in 2021 now though. Could have been a right merry-go-round! Now it seems it might be very much status quo, unless Lewis actually joins LeClerc at Ferrari.

 

[evilwebby]

Dunno about hilarious, but quite surprising imo. Although I do think RB have a strong chance this year, I'm sure he said before he was going to see how things panned out at the start of this season. Perhaps he's seen good things in what they doing with this years car.

Kind of disappointed that there aren't going to be as many top drivers entering the market in 2021 now though. Could have been a right merry-go-round! Now it seems it might be very much status quo, unless Lewis actually joins LeClerc at Ferrari.

F1 is a political sport, and he doesn't particularly strike me as a great political decision-maker. Red Bull have undoubtedly got the better end of the deal here, no matter how much much money they're paying him, I don't think he's wise to tie himself up to RBR for so long.
2023 will take him to 9 years in F1 with RBR - there's a very real danger that unless they can deliver a title winning car then his career will stagnate and he will be overtaken by younger luminaries currently on the grid.

 

[alvinh]

F1 is a political sport, and he doesn't particularly strike me as a great political decision-maker. Red Bull have undoubtedly got the better end of the deal here, no matter how much much money they're paying him, I don't think he's wise to tie himself up to RBR for so long.
2023 will take him to 9 years in F1 with RBR - there's a very real danger that unless they can deliver a title winning car then his career will stagnate and he will be overtaken by younger luminaries currently on the grid.

What was his alternative? Ferrari have clearly signalled that LeClerc will be their main guy. Hamilton is established at Mercedes for as long as he wants it. Would playing second fiddle to either man have been better than having RB fully behind him?

 

[evilwebby]

What was his alternative? Ferrari have clearly signalled that LeClerc will be their main guy. Hamilton is established at Mercedes for as long as he wants it. Would playing second fiddle to either man have been better than having RB fully behind him?

His alternative was simply to keep his options firmly open. Say Ferrari pull off a move for Hamilton in 2021, I've no doubt at all in that case that Verstappen could have engineered a move to Mercedes.

 

[alvinh]

His alternative was simply to keep his options firmly open. Say Ferrari pull off a move for Hamilton in 2021, I've no doubt at all in that case that Verstappen could have engineered a move to Mercedes.

Maybe there's an escape clause in his contract for that scenario?

 

[evilwebby]

There will certainly be escape clauses in the contract, but the are almost always related to performance, not one what other seats become available..

 

[Philw]

There will certainly be escape clauses in the contract, but the are almost always related to performance, not one what other seats become available..

Maybe he'll pull a 'Vettel' and just be dog **** all year, and get beat by his freshman teammate!!

On another note, Ferrari planning fairly large change in their car philosophy for this year: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/1...il&utm_term=0_baca91b9a7-84e718d083-114622171

 

[Dom1878]

Anyone getting to any races this year? I've just booked the Vietnam tickets - should be an experience!

 

[Archie Knox]

One of my good friends is the Race Engineer for one of the top drivers in Formula E. He shared some photos from their race in Chile last weekend, looked amazing. Hope he makes it to Formula 1 in the next couple of years. At this rate, he ought to.

 

[BNJ1878]

Anyone getting to any races this year? I've just booked the Vietnam tickets - should be an experience!

Vietnam should be great.
I'll do Yas as usual, and Singapore. Might try Baku as its a relatively short flight.
Most tempting is Spa, as a mate is getting married on the Saturday over the border in Maastricht.

 

[Chewbacca]

I’ll be in Melbourne. Not strictly for the F1 as I’m visiting my daughter and, to be honest, I’ll have more interest in the V8 Supercars on the undercard

 

[evilwebby]

Current WDC betting

Hamilton 5/7
Verstappen 6/1
Leclerc 7/1
Vettel 13/1
Bottas 13/1
Albon 80/1

I'd take Vettel out of that lot at those prices. It's not secret that he struggled with last year's car for most of the season. If the 2020 Ferrari suits him better and he gets a good start to the season then those odds will drop dramatically.