The Official F1 2025 silly season *contains speculation*

[TheDeuce]

PRO5T said:

thegreenhell said:

Joe Saward thinks Williams will announce the signing of Sainz at the Spanish GP next week.

Jesus (or Jesùs), that's either a massive statement of intent for Williams or more likely a massive downer for a man of Carlos' talent. I'm absolutely gutted for him but if it's so-how bad do Audi look if this is the better alternative?

Sainz has kept Leclerc very honest for their entire time at Ferrari together hasn't he? And his reward is... Williams!? Not knocking Williams, they appear to have a decent trajectory, but they're not going to be rivalling Ferrari in terms of performance of prestige anytime soon, or likely... ever.

Tbh, if Ferrari had an all out winner of a car ala RBR and treated both drivers identically, I wouldn't be at all surprised if Sainz managed to beat Leclerc. Despite not being Monegasque..

[skwdenyer]

TheDeuce said:

PRO5T said:

thegreenhell said:

Joe Saward thinks Williams will announce the signing of Sainz at the Spanish GP next week.

Jesus (or Jesùs), that's either a massive statement of intent for Williams or more likely a massive downer for a man of Carlos' talent. I'm absolutely gutted for him but if it's so-how bad do Audi look if this is the better alternative?

Sainz has kept Leclerc very honest for their entire time at Ferrari together hasn't he? And his reward is... Williams!? Not knocking Williams, they appear to have a decent trajectory, but they're not going to be rivalling Ferrari in terms of performance of prestige anytime soon, or likely... ever.

Tbh, if Ferrari had an all out winner of a car ala RBR and treated both drivers identically, I wouldn't be at all surprised if Sainz managed to beat Leclerc. Despite not being Monegasque..

Either Sainz will trounce Albon (in which case he will be in-demand), or he won't (in which case his career will stall). Audi by all accounts were offering a *lot* of money; it is interesting to wonder why he might choose Williams (unless Audi understandably lost patience with him, and pulled their offer).

[TheDeuce]

skwdenyer said:

TheDeuce said:

PRO5T said:

thegreenhell said:

Joe Saward thinks Williams will announce the signing of Sainz at the Spanish GP next week.

Jesus (or Jesùs), that's either a massive statement of intent for Williams or more likely a massive downer for a man of Carlos' talent. I'm absolutely gutted for him but if it's so-how bad do Audi look if this is the better alternative?

Sainz has kept Leclerc very honest for their entire time at Ferrari together hasn't he? And his reward is... Williams!? Not knocking Williams, they appear to have a decent trajectory, but they're not going to be rivalling Ferrari in terms of performance of prestige anytime soon, or likely... ever.

Tbh, if Ferrari had an all out winner of a car ala RBR and treated both drivers identically, I wouldn't be at all surprised if Sainz managed to beat Leclerc. Despite not being Monegasque..

Either Sainz will trounce Albon (in which case he will be in-demand), or he won't (in which case his career will stall). Audi by all accounts were offering a *lot* of money; it is interesting to wonder why he might choose Williams (unless Audi understandably lost patience with him, and pulled their offer).

I suppose it's always reasonable to report that a driver has been offered 'a lot' of money, it would be true if it were £1m or £30m. Maybe Audi have better things to spend their money on in terms of developing potential than paying for expensive drivers from the off? Although tht still wouldn't explain what Williams intend to do with a very decent and surely high price tag driver..

If Sainz does go to Williams but fails to thrash Albon, my biggest question would be what that says about Leclerc! last season Sainz had the points advantage all season until the very end when Leclerc beat him by 6 points, or whatever marginal amount it ended up as, I can't be bothered to Google it, I know it was next to nothing though. Obviously this season Leclerc is no1 due to Sainz being the departing driver, so I expect he'll continue to have the upper hand this season.

[732NM]

Albon is a very good driver, being a similar pace to him is the expectation for Sainz should he decide to drive for Williams.

[TheDeuce]

732NM said:

Albon is a very good driver, being a similar pace to him is the expectation for Sainz should he decide to drive for Williams.

Exactly, so... That would mean that leclerc is no better than Albon. Which I think is probably accurate but also probably not what Ferrari or the F1 media machine wants to promote.

Leclerc is apparently supposed to be considered special. He did in fact show great promise early on but he hasn't managed consistency or great race craft, he's just an often fast, often flawed driver.

I'm probably being an ageing cynic. I saw Alonso, kimi and Hamilton arrive in F1 and be remarkable. I don't get wowed by young drivers just because they're 'remarkable' as a young talent, unless they continue to be remarkable once in a seat.

Is leclerc remarkable now? Or is he just another driver with a decent amount of experience that happens to be in one of the fastest cars? I just don't get the feeling he's that special in terms of performance tbh.. although he's a lovely guy and a great spokesman for the sport. I understand his popularity.

[PhilAsia]

732NM said:

Albon is a very good driver, being a similar pace to him is the expectation for Sainz should he decide to drive for Williams.

I feel that will be the case. Albon quicker initially obviously, but Sainz very marginally quicker over a season once he has found his feet.

[PhilAsia]

TheDeuce said:

732NM said:

Albon is a very good driver, being a similar pace to him is the expectation for Sainz should he decide to drive for Williams.

Exactly, so... That would mean that leclerc is no better than Albon. Which I think is probably accurate but also probably not what Ferrari or the F1 media machine wants to promote.

Leclerc is apparently supposed to be considered special. He did in fact show great promise early on but he hasn't managed consistency or great race craft, he's just an often fast, often flawed driver.

I'm probably being an ageing cynic. I saw Alonso, kimi and Hamilton arrive in F1 and be remarkable. I don't get wowed by young drivers just because they're 'remarkable' as a young talent, unless they continue to be remarkable once in a seat.

Is leclerc remarkable now? Or is he just another driver with a decent amount of experience that happens to be in one of the fastest cars? I just don't get the feeling he's that special in terms of performance tbh.. although he's a lovely guy and a great spokesman for the sport. I understand his popularity.

He can be remarkable over a lap, but those four syllables often end up in the parts bin if that "remarkable-ness" is used too often during the course of a race. Bit ambitious on the limit...

[tele_lover]

honda_exige said:

FIA have just adjusted the rules to let 17yr olds race F1 cars.

I'm sure it has nothing to do with Kimi Antonelli still being 17 and Sargeant having binned it again last weekend...

How does Sargeant feature in this?

The rumour is KA is going to Merc, not Williams?

Edited by tele_lover on Saturday 15th June 07:39

[tele_lover]

TheDeuce said:

Exactly, so... That would mean that leclerc is no better than Albon. Which I think is probably accurate but also probably not what Ferrari or the F1 media machine wants to promote.

Leclerc is apparently supposed to be considered special. He did in fact show great promise early on but he hasn't managed consistency or great race craft, he's just an often fast, often flawed driver.

I'm probably being an ageing cynic. I saw Alonso, kimi and Hamilton arrive in F1 and be remarkable. I don't get wowed by young drivers just because they're 'remarkable' as a young talent, unless they continue to be remarkable once in a seat.

Is leclerc remarkable now? Or is he just another driver with a decent amount of experience that happens to be in one of the fastest cars? I just don't get the feeling he's that special in terms of performance tbh.. although he's a lovely guy and a great spokesman for the sport. I understand his popularity.

To be fair Ferrari strategy screwed him up plenty of times...

[honda_exige]

tele_lover said:

honda_exige said:

FIA have just adjusted the rules to let 17yr olds race F1 cars.

I'm sure it has nothing to do with Kimi Antonelli still being 17 and Sargeant having binned it again last weekend...

How does Sargeant feature in this?

The rumour is KA is going to Merc, not Williams?

Edited by tele_lover on Saturday 15th June 07:39

It's a big jump going straight into a team like Merc for Kimi, I think all parties would benefit from KA replacing Sargeant for the rest of the season.

[tele_lover]

honda_exige said:

tele_lover said:

honda_exige said:

FIA have just adjusted the rules to let 17yr olds race F1 cars.

I'm sure it has nothing to do with Kimi Antonelli still being 17 and Sargeant having binned it again last weekend...

How does Sargeant feature in this?

The rumour is KA is going to Merc, not Williams?

Edited by tele_lover on Saturday 15th June 07:39

It's a big jump going straight into a team like Merc for Kimi, I think all parties would benefit from KA replacing Sargeant for the rest of the season.

Ahhhh

[ajprice]

honda_exige said:

tele_lover said:

honda_exige said:

FIA have just adjusted the rules to let 17yr olds race F1 cars.

I'm sure it has nothing to do with Kimi Antonelli still being 17 and Sargeant having binned it again last weekend...

How does Sargeant feature in this?

The rumour is KA is going to Merc, not Williams?

Edited by tele_lover on Saturday 15th June 07:39

It's a big jump going straight into a team like Merc for Kimi, I think all parties would benefit from KA replacing Sargeant for the rest of the season.

Kimi to Williams for the rest of the year. If it goes well, Kimi to Mercedes next year, Sainz to Williams. If it doesn't go well for Kimi in a Williams, then things get awkward between Kimi and Sainz. I don't think Sargeant will be in F1 next year (or later this year if the Kimi move is right).

[rallycross]

I can’t see why Mercedes a global brand putting millions into F1 would risk putting a 17 year old into their car next year when Carlos Sainz is available.

[tele_lover]

But how could KA have enough superlicence points given he never did F3 before?

The rule change is only about min age??

[Smollet]

tele_lover said:

But how could KA have enough superlicence points given he never did F3 before?

The rule change is only about min age??

There’s a lot of pressure on the lad. A more gentle approach would garner better rewards imgo

[vaud]

Smollet said:

There’s a lot of pressure on the lad. A more gentle approach would garner better rewards imgo

Mercedes have shielded him - no interviews etc and by all accounts he is a strong character.

The fact that Mercedes are mid field and not been champions for a few seasons will take the pressure off a little, he’s not back filling a current WDC.

[Sandpit Steve]

tele_lover said:

But how could KA have enough superlicence points given he never did F3 before?

The rule change is only about min age??

He does have his Super Licence points, from winning Formula Regional European Championship (25 points) last year (What we used to call Euro F3), and the Middle East FR (18 points) earlier in the year (that one is a winter championship).

I had to look it up, because I wasn’t sure either.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrea_Kimi_Antone...
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIA_Super_Licence

[the-norseman]

He's not doing that great in F2 though is he? At best on current form I'd say a Williams seat. Unless he wins F2 champ this season, let him have another season in F2.

[andburg]

the-norseman said:

He's not doing that great in F2 though is he? At best on current form I'd say a Williams seat. Unless he wins F2 champ this season, let him have another season in F2.

Team clearly haven’t got the hang of the new car yet, he’s ahead of his teammate who happens to be haas bound Bearman. If I recall he’s also the top rookie in the championship

[Hustle_]

Can we all unilaterally agree to shorten ‘Andrea Kimi Antonelli’ to something other than ‘Kimi’