F1 - 2022

[MiniDave]

You're right, Piastri's option expired - they thought they had the deal sewn up with him going to Williams and Williams is not happy that they're not getting him. He'll be in orange jammies next season.

But here's the fun part, I hear Danny Ricky Bobby will be back at Renault next season....I would have thought he'd pretty much burned that bridge but Szafnauer says he would be happy to have him back. And I can guess why! I'm betting Big Mac is paying a bunch of money to get out of his contract and Renault will get him "cheap" - at least for one season, who knows after that?

So, Latifi and Schumi Jr are both on the bubble for next season, I really don't think Williams will keep Latifi despite the $$$$ he brings to the team, but I don't think Schumi is the answer for them either.

That part of the silly season has yet to be determined.....and American driver Sargeant will drive an FP1 when the season restarts.....

I would like to see Andretti buy either Sauber or Williams and jump into the fray!

I read Audi has interest in Schumi for their team once it all happens.....by then he'll have 5 years in F1.

[Brit_in_TX]

But here's the fun part, I hear Danny Ricky Bobby will be back at Renault next season....I would have thought he'd pretty much burned that bridge but Szafnauer says he would be happy to have him back. And I can guess why! I'm betting Big Mac is paying a bunch of money to get out of his contract and Renault will get him "cheap" - at least for one season, who knows after that?

The management has changed, so that is why Szafnauer is probably open to having him there.

So, Latifi and Schumi Jr are both on the bubble for next season, I really don't think Williams will keep Latifi despite the $$$$ he brings to the team, but I don't think Schumi is the answer for them either.

Latifi will be out, Williams no longer need the $$$$ he brings.  I think Schumi Jr has done enough to stay in F1, when the Haas works he has been keeping up with KMag honest. 

I would like to see Andretti buy either Sauber or Williams and jump into the fray!

Hasn't Andretti still got an application in to start a team?

I read Audi has interest in Schumi for their team once it all happens.....by then he'll have 5 years in F1.

Isn't that going to be with Red Bull, I don't think he has the talent to be there.

[MiniDave]

Porsche is buying 1/2 of Red bull F1 Racing, Audi is buying a team, either Sauber or Williams are the two top choices.

Andretti is trying to enter his own team, but the easier way for them would be to buy another team.....

[Brit_in_TX]

Interesting that Porsche and Audi are coming into F1 as they are both owned by the VW Group.

[MiniDave]

Yes, Porsche did it in the 80's with McLaren as just an engine supplier, so there's precedent for them - and they're only going to be the powertrain supplier again with Red Bull.

Audi OTOH is going full on, they'll start with their own engine and chassis and grow it from there....tho if they buy Sauber they'll be getting a good leg up.....

I think Porsche's efforts will be more effective at first because they already have experience with both this engine construction and the fuel that's they'll be using.

Audi does as well tho not as recent, but the chassis and aero will be new to them - it might take a while both from a power and performance standpoint and team development.

But - I like to see fresh ideas, I hope they allow some innovation as I think the sport has stagnated some in the last decade or so....

[BruceK]

Interesting that Porsche and Audi are coming into F1 as they are both owned by the VW Group.

I think it’s a little weird since they’re both hyper-focused on electric road cars and that’s not F1.  Seems like Formula E would make more sense.

[MiniDave]

I think it's the fuel......

Also, I hear Mercedes wants Nick DeVries in the Williams, and since they are the engine supplier they can throw some weight around, much like Ferrari does with HAAS and Alfa....I think Latifi's days are numbered. Truth is I wasn't sure he would finish this season. Still not sure he'll be back after the break.....

[Brit_in_TX]

I thought I read that Williams could be moving to Renault engines next year.

[MiniDave]

That's the rumor, that's why "loaning" Piastri to them in place of Latifi made sense - keeping him in the family so to speak - the Renault engine deal was part of that. But now that he's jumped ship (if he and the lawyers get that done) and he goes to Big Mac, I don't know if they'll still do it.

[MiniDave]

So, the other shoe has finally dropped - after signing Piastri as a "reserve" driver for 2023, Danny Ricky Bobby has been informed that he will not be driving for Big Mac next year. Once the terms of his release are finalized, Oscar's contract will be updated to full driver status.

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/mclaren-end-ricciardo-deal-piastri-2023/10349014/?fbclid=IwAR0B9Zg-Yc0JCqjx1EFv8z3aO3ayaNzr2O5I7P9OvAJuxC3HrF28Kl1q76Q

Now the only question is will Ricciardo go back to Renault or simply take his many, many, many millions and go home?