Silly Season 2014 - 2015

[MJawad12]

So it's Vettel to Ferrari, Kvyat to Redbull, Alonso possibly to Mclaren .. Maybe Carlos Sainz Jr 's chances to drive for Tororosso next year will return to life now .

[François]

w0w... alll happening.

Can't believe RBR are going with Kvyat. He's shown some promise and he may well be the most qualified from their development programme, but he's so young and there surely are better drivers available on the market. Gambling on home-bred talent has payed off with Vettel and seems to be headed for success with Ricciardo, but it seems to me that they're putting all their eggs in the same basket there.

This does indeed seem to pave the way for Sainz at STR. Good for him and the sport, I guess. I can't help feeling slightly disappointed that such a big move (Vettel's) doesn't seem to be about to trigger a major round of musical chairs in the drivers market.

[F1EA]

Can i say...
I. Told. You. So.

[iceman1]

Wow! What a season.

Brundle says Alonso could take a year off, then comes back in 2016

[donald29]

Was not expecting to wake up to that news this morning!

[phil1993]

Wow! What a season.

Brundle says Alonso could take a year off, then comes back in 2016

Just like Mika..?

[iceman1]

Wow! What a season.

Brundle says Alonso could take a year off, then comes back in 2016

Just like Mika..?

He's still coming back, isn't he?

Very nice article by Andrew Benson from BBC - http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/formula1/29487931

[sermilan]

Is Fernando going to quit F1 and dedicate his time to running his bicycle team?

[MJawad12]

Dietrich Mateschitz "To have an experienced driver next to a very young driver is quite a strong argument."

Maybe Vergne could keep his seat at STR for next year .

[KevC]

Fernando Alonso is leaving Ferrari at the end of this season, the company's outgoing president Luca Di Montezemolo has confirmed.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/29638594

[F1EA]

Fernando Alonso is leaving Ferrari at the end of this season, the company's outgoing president Luca Di Montezemolo has confirmed.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/29638594

Non-surprise #2

Now the real question is: Mclaren or Mercedes.

It seems Alonso knows... but nobody else does. He can't really say much until he's formally out of contract with Ferrari. People don't seem to understand this. Drivers are owned by their teams while under contract, and saying/doing anything out of place could be a breach of contract; and that would definitely not be pretty. Hence why the only people talking about Vet to Ferrari are 3rd parties....... if Ferrari breach their contract, Alonso nails them.

[KevC]

Force India have confirmed Nico Hulkenberg will remain with the team in 2015

[sermilan]

Now the real question is: Mclaren or Mercedes.

He said he won't be driving any of Mercedes powered cars, so...
But his statement "you will understand that it is very obvious what I will do" confuses me a bit... it's not that obvious that he'll go to McL, since he didn't have a good word for them since 2007, including the press conference a few weeks a go when he explained that he didn't have problems with Lewis, but with the McL management. Well, management is still more or less the same, so...

[MJawad12]

Force India have confirmed Nico Hulkenberg will remain with the team in 2015

Hulkenberg did everything possible to show his talent and prove that he is ready to drive for a top team since he started his career in F1 in 2010, but it's really unfortunate that it didn't happen till now, he is really fast and consistent .. But for now I think he needs stability with his team, it's the first time that he drives for the same team two years in a row .

[F1EA]

Now the real question is: Mclaren or Mercedes.

He said he won't be driving any of Mercedes powered cars, so...
But his statement "you will understand that it is very obvious what I will do" confuses me a bit... it's not that obvious that he'll go to McL, since he didn't have a good word for them since 2007, including the press conference a few weeks a go when he explained that he didn't have problems with Lewis, but with the McL management. Well, management is still more or less the same, so...

Where did he say "not a Mercedes engine"? I haven't seen this properly quoted or heard directly from him.

He's never had a bad word against Mclaren. And specially not Lewis. He said a few yrs ago he had a problem with the Mclaren management (ie Ron), and lately it was changed to Mc's management "philosophy".

So basically... he didn't agree with Ron's philosphy; which, has gotten proven wrong more than just that yr.

Ron Dennis openly said he had no qualms about the Spy-gate affair; and has NEVER been quoted as saying Alonso had any direct or relevant role in it. For the most part... the fans and media have made a picnic for the last 7yr out of what they have speculated about.

True fact seem to be: Alonso does not agree with Ron Dennis' philosophy/management in 2007.

Has anyone changed their mind, and are able to put it on paper (ie contract terms)?

I am almost 100% positive Alonso has never shared his setups since that fateful yr.; and i'm almost equally certain he'd go against ANY driver provided his contract ensure he does not have to share his data. I think this is where the road-blocks show up for his contracts.

Of course, that ^ is MY opinion and what i speculate about; but would love to hear it from Fernando himself. Maybe he can't reveal it if it is in a contract (contracts are confidential documents)...

The BIG surprise to me would be if he stays at Ferrari, which is still possible (not likely, but possible). But Mclaren or Merc are totally possible.

Another thing that has probably slowed down his contracts is the sudden and unexpected death of Emilio Botin (Mr. Santander).