Yes folks, we are back in the Benetton-Playlife era.

 

Seriously, might just call them Minardi from now on.

Shades of Mastercard Lola there too.

Leclerc has signed an extension with Ferrari for 'several seasons'

@1750883186828067165

Andretti's bid to become Formula 1's 11th team in 2025 or 2026 has been rejected by Formula One Management.

I'm baffled about why Andretti have been rejected.

 

 

It's a complete joke. And shame on all of the other teams, especially Haas.

I'm baffled about why Andretti have been rejected.

Money. No one wants to dilute their share of the financial pot.

 

To the point of shortsightedness

 

 

The excuse they've come up with is because Andretti wouldn't be providing their own power unit at first. Pathetic

Edited January 31, 20241 yr by Severin

The existing teams have too much collective power. I'm not fully up to date with the story, but as long as they have the influence they do, no team will ever be successful:

 

1) Teams don't want an extra team to beat them

2) Teams don't want a reduced price pot

3) FOM don't want an uncompetitive team

 

So you end up with FOM rejecting the teams they want, just to keep the existing ones happy...

Only 3 teams on the grid bring their own power unit with them. I will lightly tolerate an argument for RB-Honda being a 4th. But that leaves 6/7 teams on the grid bringing the square root of f*** all on that metric. AND worst of all is that two of them are actually car manufacturers.. who don’t build their own engines

 

 

 

It’s absolute bullshit. And I hope that Andretti go after them under anti-cartel laws

Can Andretti appeal the decision?

Hamilton joining Ferrari in 2025 WOW!!!

What a shocker!

truly shocking! guess Sanz is out then

Sainz Jr to......

Mercedes have a team meeting at 2pm today, so that might be followed by an official announcement.

 

I'm not entirely surprised by this.

 

Lewis has been increasingly unhappy at Merc and his body language has too often given that away despite the statements, and he has a history of working with Vasseur. Sainz has never been Ferrari's long term hope and it was always likely he'd be out.

 

Ferrari can not reasonably expect either of the grids other strong prospects (Max, Lando, Oscar, maybe George) to join any time soon and lets be honest, every driver would love to race for Ferrari (except Stirling Moss, who hated the man, but even he agreed to for 1962).

 

 

It'll be really interesting to see how fast he looks next to Leclerc.

 

It also suggest Lewis has taken one look at this years' Merc and gone 'Nope'

Edited February 1, 20241 yr by Severin

Oh holy shit I did NOT see that one coming

 

 

Silly season for 2025 gonna be more exciting than the 2024 calendar

Who goes to Mercedes?

 

Vettel? Wishful thinking

 

Schumacher? Very possible

 

Alonso? Who wouldn't love that?

 

Sainz? More likely at Red Bull

 

Piastri? Costly but possible

 

Norris? Very pricey

 

Perez? Not likely

 

 

Sainz will move to Stake or whatever they're called ahead of the 2026 Audi takeover then be their lead driver that's my guess.

 

Albon goes to Merc (tasty pairing with Russell there).

It also suggest Lewis has taken one look at this years' Merc and gone 'Nope'

 

Yep I think that's exactly it. And yes a reunion with Vasseur who of course he was winning his 2006 GP2 title with at ART!

 

Oh holy shit I did NOT see that one coming

Silly season for 2025 gonna be more exciting than the 2024 calendar

 

Yeah I think 13 of the current drivers are out of contract (not even including Lewis) after this season so for sure there'll be some more shocks on the way.