[dumptruck]

Originally Posted by Artemis

Ferrari expected GP podium finishes from the get-go for the truckloads of money invested. He must deliver: a China Sprint medal is nice but they want GP trophies. If he fails to become a GP podium finish regular by the summer break, 2026 prospects will become clouded.

Respectfully, i dont see it this way for the same reasons i dont think Alonzo’s value to AM is in his finishes.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by Artemis

Merc-Merc...

Wile E. Coyote hardly takes precautions

[dfox]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

Two different drivers and Checo with his handsome payoff always had Caddy on his mind.

I don't agree that Checo was giving up on driving in 2024 because he was eyeing up Caddy in 2026. I think he fully wanted to be in the Redbull seat this year, but he was forced out, and I think Horner is probably kicking himself at this point. RedBull still paid Checo, and now they have a second seat that's doing nothing. Five races in last year, Checo had 85 points. The car sucks, we all know that, but Checo was able to get some results out of it. Yuki just ain't that guy.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

Agreed Max would stand out in any colour except green
Ferrari are Drivers Title starved since 2007 and you could forgive a layman for thinking that the Scuderia is thrashing around the bottom of the barrel.

My 2025 Ferrari prediction (!)

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by dumptruck

Respectfully, i dont see it this way for the same reasons i dont think Alonzo’s value to AM is in his finishes.

It was about adapting to a new work environment: new team and new car.

Alonso 2023 - 41 years - he had left Alpine and started racing for Aston Martin:
First 5 GP: 4 podium finishes (P3 - P3 - P3 - P4 - P3) = strong start



Hamilton 2025 - 40 years - he had left Mercedes and started racing for Ferrari
First 5 GP: 0 podium finishes (P10 - DQ - P7 - P5 - P7) = no strong start (apart from the encouraging China Sprint win - well done)



Currently, Alonso is drifting in F1 space at P17 without scoring any WDC point yet (DNF - DNF - P11 - P15 - P11). But his entrance at Aston Martin in 2023 was commendable.

[minn19]

Originally Posted by HeelToeShift

Dumping the most overrated driver of all time (really no good when he actually needs to race and his car isn’t light years ahead of all the others) for the best driver we have ever seen would be a smart move by Ferrari.
Hamilton reminds me of LeBron James - he’s won a bit but always needed a team of talent so good around him and even then he’s been embarrassed more times than not and never could carry the team on his back or make the big shot . Ham is the same - when the car was light years ahead and the money was flowing from MB to the FIA it was easy to win. So easy any driver from any series would have match his numbers and in many cases like a Max, would have dwarfed them. 2022 to present he’s had a great car (2nd best on the grid) and especially now, and can’t do much with it. He’s never been able to make a slow car fast, like Max. That is the difference between just having a car and being a driver who makes the car come alive.
Max literally took the 3rd or 4th best car last year and won with it. No other F1 driver would have even put the RB21 in the top 5 in the WDC, let alone win it.

Alonso is going to Ferrari next year!?!

[GuidoK]

So....guess who's apparently back at the FIA?

Shaila-Ann Rao!

Some of you will think...who?!?
But she was the lawyer working at the FIA that probably leaked confidential documents about costcaps to her former employer Toto Wolff, and later fell in bad standing with MBS and consequently didn't finish her assignment/contract at the FIA.
But apparently it's all right again between her and MBS and she's gonna work for him again. At least, that's what youtube's biggest F1 gossiper say's in his video:

(starts at about 11:00)

Who knows what's really going on behind the scenes....

[GuidoK]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

My 2025 Ferrari prediction (!)

That is more my McLaren prediction

I think Ferrari isn't gonna fight for the title this year (not by a long shot), and then it doesn't really matter who becomes 4th (if they're lucky ) or 5th or 6th in the WDC. So the rivalry at Ferrari won't be that strong in that case. (at least it won't be displayed that strong in the media, what happens internally might be a different story)

But at McLaren the stakes are of course who becomes 1st in the WDC, and I expect some very aggressive moves between NOR and PIA this year, maybe with Max in the mix

[Killed by Death]

Originally Posted by GuidoK

That is more my McLaren prediction

I think Ferrari isn't gonna fight for the title this year (not by a long shot), and then it doesn't really matter who becomes 4th (if they're lucky ) or 5th or 6th in the WDC. So the rivalry at Ferrari won't be that strong in that case.

But at McLaren the stakes are of course who becomes 1st in the WDC, and I expect some very aggressive moves between NOR and PIA this year, maybe with Max in the mix

As usual, Ferrari is done before it even gets started. Max is the man but Charlie has never driven anything better than a Ferrari

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by GuidoK

So....guess who's apparently back at the FIA?

(starts at about 11:00)

Who knows what's really going on behind the scenes....

---

I can't say I'm at all surprised and always suspected she was always lurking in the shadows, so it's a fresh shop bought payphone with TW's number on it
Russell is set to sign a new contract for Merc maybe not until September and it's understandable Wolff wants a signature asap as Russell has been rumoured talking with other teams but we all know talk is cheap

[M5Rick]

The next 3 races are set to be a game changer for MAX with upgrades for Miami and then the big one at Imola (with Spain set for Mclaren to lose their wing advantage) set to rein in the papayas and the correlation issues should be a thing of the past by now.
On a lighter note ''Fok smashed my door'' MBS is considering making changes in Appendix B column concerning mind my french.

[Artemis]

Sounds like Russell - winner of 3 GP - feels the increasing pressure of losing his seat to Verstappen in 2026.

I guess Toto Wolff won't be impressed. He's waiting to see what Verstappen decides the next couple of months. Otherwise Russell would have already gotten his contract extension.

[wizardofOz]

Originally Posted by Artemis

Sounds like Russell - winner of 3 GP - feels the increasing pressure of losing his seat to Verstappen in 2026.

I guess Toto Wolff won't be impressed. He's waiting to see what Verstappen decides the next couple of months. Otherwise Russell would have already gotten his contract extension.

Attachment 3723611

Well I mean Georgina has had a lot of time to compete with and against Lewis. As a manager who looks at the bottom line and dollar, Toto will do what is needed to bring the team over the line, even if it's not the most popular decision.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by GuidoK

So....guess who's apparently back at the FIA?

Shaila-Ann Rao!

Some of you will think...who?!?
But she was the lawyer working at the FIA that probably leaked confidential documents about costcaps to her former employer Toto Wolff, and later fell in bad standing with MBS and consequently didn't finish her assignment/contract at the FIA.
But apparently it's all right again between her and MBS and she's gonna work for him again. At least, that's what youtube's biggest F1 gossiper say's in his video:

Who knows what's really going on behind the scenes....

So....The Mercedes spy is back (!)

It's a true shame for motorsports (!)

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

The next 3 races are set to be a game changer for MAX with upgrades for Miami and then the big one at Imola (with Spain set for Mclaren to lose their wing advantage) set to rein in the papayas and the correlation issues should be a thing of the past by now.
On a lighter note ''Fok smashed my door'' MBS is considering making changes in Appendix B column concerning mind my french.

This ...While the Papaya cars still are allowed to run with their flexible wings ..
The FIA is a circus clown organisation (as usual)!

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by GuidoK

That is more my McLaren prediction

I think Ferrari isn't gonna fight for the title this year (not by a long shot), and then it doesn't really matter who becomes 4th (if they're lucky ) or 5th or 6th in the WDC. So the rivalry at Ferrari won't be that strong in that case. (at least it won't be displayed that strong in the media, what happens internally might be a different story)

But at McLaren the stakes are of course who becomes 1st in the WDC, and I expect some very aggressive moves between NOR and PIA this year, maybe with Max in the mix

Baby news (!)
MAX will not be present at the Miami media day. The baby girl could be born at any time now....

The Dutch-Flemish article => https://www.hln.be/formule-1/babynie...iami~aaf278c9/

[Killed by Death]

[Fillip]

Max's baby being born on media day so Max can skip it. A great present by the Junior for his dad.

[GuidoK]

Originally Posted by Killed by Death

I have no doubts about that one......It's competing with Stake for the ugliest special livery.....

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by Killed by Death

For American market? hmmm...no.

[Killed by Death]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

For American market? hmmm...no.

Ugly and hard to handle...just like my first wife

Well, she wasn't ugly when I first married her. But she is now

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by Killed by Death

This