2020 driver 'silly season' kicking off
Six races into 2019, the driver 'silly season' looks set to kick off.
The most explosive rumour is that four time world champion Sebastian Vettel, under huge pressure at Ferrari this year, could be contemplating retirement at the end of the season.
In Monaco, he admitted his role in Ferrari's issues.
"Well, I'm part of the team so I don't put myself above," said the 31-year-old German.
"I've had some difficult moments this year where I'm fighting the car, but I think it's linked to the fact that we struggle to put our car in the right window."
If he does retire, the seat alongside Charles Leclerc would presumably be filled by a driver like Valtteri Bottas, Nico Hulkenberg, Kevin Magnussen or Sergio Pérez.
But Fernando Alonso is also being linked with it, especially as Ferrari's management has changed since he fell out with the Italian team in 2014.
Interestingly, there are also rumours that Hulkenberg - who currently drives for struggling Renault - opened talks with Red Bull in Monaco.
It has been said he might replace Pierre Gasly, but another rumour is that if a seat at Mercedes opens up - for instance, if Lewis Hamilton retires - Max Verstappen could head to the silver team.
"In 2014, the rift between Ferrari and Fernando Alonso had a domino effect on Red Bull, who then lost Vettel," an unnamed team source told Sky Italia.
"Let's say Hamilton or Sebastian decide to stop, which is admittedly unlikely, then teams like Ferrari or Mercedes must have a plan B at the ready.
"So we've heard rumours of something existing between Verstappen and Mercedes, as well as between Daniel Ricciardo and Ferrari.
"And what happens if Red Bull finds itself without Verstappen? In Monaco, I understand that they checked in with Nico Hulkenberg," the source added.
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Mercedes never Max dont lower your standards
Agreed!!!Mad Max definitely isnt a team player so Merc won't suit his obnoxious little boy who stamps his feet style!!!
Do not wish to see verstappen with Mercedes... if it happens, I shall drive my Benz's into the Atlantic Ocean.
Max at MERC ?? YES PLEASE ,that would put some kick arse into a lot of people,F1,boring ? yes so give the nutters a top car and see what happens,
Fully support the motion.
I was a solitary defender of Max this past season when everybody felt entitled to dump on him and pontificate wearing their Presbyterian skirts.
JV's and other comments about Max's drive this past weekend have taken some wind out of the Max bashers' sails.
It's funny how people se things differently. You talk about Max bashers as though they are individuals with a perverted view of his drives that in some way don't give him the respect that he deserves. That's not always the case, not even close to it.
I recall several of us last year being critical of Max and with good reason, especially up to this time last year but that was because he drove like a hothead, a talented one but a hothead nonetheless. If, as I believe you are, to be fair you will see that my comments on Max over the last twelve months have been very complimentary, to the point where I believe him to be within a hairs breath of Lewis and well ahead of other F1 drivers currently on the grid.
The thing is, I for one like to be as honest as I can be and say it as I see it at that moment in time, so when someone consistently over-drives and has incident after incident I bash him. When he drives superbly over a period I praise him, whether I like him as a person or not.
And what you need to be alive to Simon, if you forgive me for saying, is that your personality is rather pugnacious and your instinct is to defend the underdog, whether or not they deserve that support and not everyone agrees with that as a general position.
I'll attempt to be brief as I, as a rule, am not good at it.
I take exception to the pugnacious characterisation. I have made it clear, repeatedly, that the opinion one is unwilling to defend is not worth having. I do stand by my views.
I did not see the issue with people failing to recognise Max's driving qualities. That was not the issue, and people are entitled to their views.
I was referring to a number of individuals assailing Max on account of being young, lacking experience, and - foremostly! - complaining that he lacked humility and showed no respect to older drivers.
Such criticism of Max (or any other driver) I consider irrelevant. I stand by that.
It wasn't my intention to offend you; so I'm sorry that I have done. I was merely pointing out that probably more than most on this website you take the opportunity to challenge and even dare I say it argue with people. Not unlike myself I have to add but perhaps more so. Best Wishes
With Vettel's retirement, would love to see Daniel Riccardo driving for Ferrari. Just suits him well.
May be it suits him, but may be it doesn't. The question is more does he suit Ferrari?
Ricciardo is a good driver, but as mercurial as any. The best smile and the ugliest haircut on the grid. Good driver, but not the best. All his supporters keep repeating how he outdrove Vettel the season they were team-mates, but those same supporters are wondrously quiet about Daniil Kvyat outperforming him the year when they were team-mates at RB.
At any rate, now that the conventional wisdom that Ferrari hires only older drivers is over, Kvyat or Verstappen are better options for Ferrari if Vettel decides to retire.
It would be a new low if Mercedes took Max....Never Max
Red Bull will have Leclerc so Max can go to Merc. From what I understand talks with Charles (Nikolas Todt) started last Sunday night ..
Better to say nothing than the drivel in this report, might as well say that Ocon has been approached by NASA to pilot the Mars shot.