2020 Formula 1 Silly Season

With only a handful of the 2019 season's drivers to be officially confirmed, let's look at the 2020 silly season.  

The 2020 grid is set.

Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport
Mercedes F1 W11 EQ Power+ – Mercedes M11 EQ Power+
44. Lewis Hamilton (contracted for 2020)
77. Valtteri Bottas (option for 2020 taken up)

Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow
Ferrari SF20-H – Ferrari 064
5. Sebastian Vettel (contracted for 2020)
16. Charles Leclerc (on long-term deal)

Aston Martin Red Bull Racing

Red Bull Racing RB16 – Honda RA620H (last year of initial Honda deal)
33. Max Verstappen (contracted for 2020)
23. Alexander Albon (contracted for 2020)

McLaren F1 Team

McLaren MCL34 – Renault E-Tech 20 (last of 3-year deal)
55. Carlos Sainz, jr. (on multi-year deal)
4. Lando Norris (on multi-year deal)
 

Renault F1 Team
Renault R.S.20 – Renault R.E.20
3. Daniel Ricciardo (contracted for 2020)

31. Esteban Ocon (signed for 2020-21)

Scuderia Alpha Tauri
Alpha Tauri SAT15 – Honda RA620H

26. Daniil Kvyat (confirmed for 2020)

10. Pierre Gasly (confirmed for 2020)

SportPesa Racing Point F1 Team

Racing Point RP20 – BWT Mercedes
11. Sergio Pérez (stays on)
18. Lance Stroll (stays on)
 

Alfa Romeo Racing

Alfa Romeo C39 – Ferrari 064 ("multi-year agreement" with Ferrari)
7. Kimi Räikkönen (contracted for 2020)
99. Antonio Giovinazzi (staying on for 2020)

Haas F1 Team
Haas VF-20 – Ferrari 064
20. Kevin Magnussen (stated he has contract for 2020)

8. Romain Grosjean (confirmed for 2020)

ROKiT Williams Racing

Williams FW43 – Mercedes M11 EQ Power+

63. George Russell (second of two-year contract; Mercedes junior)

0. Nicolas Latifi (current reserve driver, confirmed to step up; starting number T.B.A.)

Bold+red = team
Bold+grey = car/engine brand, type designation
Bold+blue engine = rumored engine deal
Bold driver = confirmed driver
Bold+blue driver = driver contracted in 2018
Regular+blue driver = rumored driver

Edited by lustigson, 02 December 2019 - 12:36.

Leclerc is mentioned to be contracted to Ferrari till 2022, and Giovinazzi till 2021. Well, of course it doesn't necessarily mean they stay put all the way. But I expect them to have multi-year-deals with their respective teams at least into 2020.

Well one thing is for sure that 2020 silly season you have far less to talk about than in 2019 silly season thread ...I still cant believe how some prematurely thought that it was going to be just as stale and boring as 2018 after only Bottas was confirmed for another year( which imho was no brainer...)

Anyhow I dont think there is that much to talk about until 2021 silly season kicks off. The only thing that I could say for certain is that should Giovinazzi perform well over the next 2 years, he is ofc the prime candidate for Ferrari seat for 2021, should Vettel not continue/Ferrari want to continue with him, with Hamilton possibly as dark horse, should he want to still continue his career and end it at Ferrari...so far though there have been no hints for such ambitions.
 

Another big talking point will surely be will Red Bull continue in F1 or not if their Honda-partnership goes south....if they dont, that would have ofc big impact on the driver lineups. And ofc Kimi is very unlikely to continue beyond 2020, so after that Hamilton is sure to be the eldest driver on the grid with Vettel, should these two continue their careers. And I think both will until the end of 2022-2024.

Edited by Balnazzard, 02 October 2018 - 18:08.

Ferrari to buy out Max's contract to replace SV.

Well one thing is for sure that 2020 silly season you have far less to talk about than in 2019 silly season thread ...I still cant believe how some prematurely thought that it was going to be just as stale and boring as 2018 after only Bottas was confirmed for another year( which imho was no brainer...)

Anyhow I dont think there is that much to talk about until 2021 silly season kicks off. The only thing that I could say for certain is that should Giovinazzi perform well over the next 2 years, he is ofc the prime candidate for Ferrari seat for 2021, should Vettel not continue/Ferrari want to continue with him, with Hamilton possibly as dark horse, should he want to still continue his career and end it at Ferrari...so far though there have been no hints for such ambitions.
 

Another big talking point will surely be will Red Bull continue in F1 or not if their Honda-partnership goes south....if they dont, that would have ofc big impact on the driver lineups. And ofc Kimi is very unlikely to continue beyond 2020, so after that Hamilton is sure to be the eldest driver on the grid with Vettel, should these two continue their careers. And I think both will until the end of 2022-2024.

I actually expect a lot of moving in 2020

Bottas in his 30ies is he the Mercedes future?

Grosjean mid 30ies, time for someone else?

Hulkenburg mid 30ies, time for someone else?

And then the young guns knocking on the door

Mick Schumacher

George Russel

Tadasuke Makino

Mazepin

Hubert

Ticktum

Not all will have points enough for a Super license, but at least one of them will get a seat. 

I do not see ALonso in that list? Is he going to return in 2021 soonest?

In top teams there will be likely no changes in 2020 as rules changes heavily on 2021.

I will be very surprised if Ocon gets a Mercedes seat after one year without a drive. 

Fearless prediction:  As soon as Newgarden wins the Indy 500, he heads to Europe--(but not until then.)

Ocon in consideration for a Renault seat if ties with Mercedes are cut

https://www.nicemati...ban-ocon-265667

 

Another big talking point will surely be will Red Bull continue in F1 or not if their Honda-partnership goes south....if they dont, that would have ofc big impact on the driver lineups.

Perhaps as a total outside surprise could be that maybe there is a performance clause in Verstappen's contract that if Red Bull-Honda sucks badly, he can exit Red Bull a year early. A bit like Red Bull was surprisngly struggling in 2014, which triggered Vettel's exit one year early.

Nobody knows these details except for a handful of people in the know.

In top teams there will be likely no changes in 2020 as rules changes heavily on 2021.

Except it's becoming more and more likely that the rule change will be postponed a few years. 

Fearless prediction:  As soon as Newgarden wins the Indy 500, he heads to Europe--(but not until then.)

I think he needs to do more than that. Enthusiastic as I was about Newgarden when he raced in the UK, he did fall off the ladder quite early. He needs to prove he's better than Dixon, Rossi and Power, which looks doubtful based on this season.

Why Kvyatt? He's failed twice - Nothing against him personally, just that it's not Red Bull's style, but then, I was puzzled by Hartley.

I think 2020 is set for not as many changes as 2019 as two consecutive years packed full of changes seems unlikely, contracts are set etc, also there's not as many kids in the waiting for promotions like there was this year.

*However* the sheer amount of new team-mate pairings around can lead to surprises and therefore unpredictable scenarios if things don't go along as expected. For example a scenario in which Leclerc/Gasly shock their more established team-mates and they want out could happen (particularly in the case of Vettel - there's pressure building up against him for the last couple of years, Ferrari are always eager for a scapegoat driver); also a scenario in which the kids turn out so poor they are unable to hold their top seat for more than 1 season, and need to be replaced again.

A Mercedes switch seems less likely with Ocon sitting out, unless Russell still makes it to a Williams and then is amazing or something, but Mercedes will be too wary of going already for him.

I suspect the most likely scenario is dominos will only start falling from the midfield with nothing changing at the top.

Edited by noikeee, 02 October 2018 - 23:02.

Surely Max becoming World Champion in 2019 with Red Bull Honda would place him at te top of each list at any team? [/sarcasm]

Surely Max becoming World Champion in 2019 with Red Bull Honda would place him at te top of each list at any team? [/sarcasm]

You might be sarcastic but that is exactly what the sport needs!

I think we'll see a boring silly-seaon for 2020.

Vettel, Hamilton and Verstappen still on contract.

Leclerc will stay, I think Bottas and Gasly as well. Because Red Bull hasn't an option to replace Gasly. Bottas could have to leave for Ocon, but I doubt that.

Renault will stay with the same line-up as well.

Haas should replace at least one driver, but who should come? Pérez?

I can imagine that Pérez has to leave Force India at the end of 2019, perhaps Ocon is coming back.

Williams depends on who will drive for them in 2019.

Sauber could stay with Räikkönen and Giovinazzi.

Toro Rosso could have Ticktum in it.

McLaren will stay with both drivers, Alonso ruled out coming back.
 

I think we'll see a boring silly-seaon for 2020.

Vettel, Hamilton and Verstappen still on contract.
Leclerc will stay, I think Bottas and Gasly as well. Because Red Bull hasn't an option to replace Gasly. Bottas could have to leave for Ocon, but I doubt that.

Renault will stay with the same line-up as well.

Haas should replace at least one driver, but who should come? Pérez?
I can imagine that Pérez has to leave Force India at the end of 2019, perhaps Ocon is coming back.

Williams depends on who will drive for them in 2019.

Sauber could stay with Räikkönen and Giovinazzi.

Toro Rosso could have Ticktum in it.

McLaren will stay with both drivers, Alonso ruled out coming back.

Hulk doesn't have a contract yet for 2020, so it's possible Renault will go for Ocon. In that case Hulk could maybe go back to Force India or maybe even Haas

Edited by taz, 03 October 2018 - 16:57.

...

 

Alonso ruled out coming back.

 

 

For 2020? When/where?

Hulk doesn't have a contract yet for 2020, so it's possible Renault will go for Ocon. In that case Hulk could maybe go back to Force India or maybe even Haas

Alonso will have offers from Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes...according to him.

Kubica at Williams, 

Ocon in Williams

Saints in Renault

Kubica at Williams, 
Ocon in Williams
 
Saints in Renault
 
McLaren... I donno...

https://www.express....s-US-Grand-Prix

https://www.express....s-US-Grand-Prix

Mercedes: Hamilton/Ocon
Ferrari: Leclerc/Verstappen
Red Bull: Gasly/Vettel
Renault: Ricciardo/Bottas
McLaren: Norris/Hulkenberg
Williams: Russell/Perez
Racing Point: Stroll/Latifi
Haas: Magnussen/Grosjean
Sauber: Raikkonen/Giovinazzi
Toro Rosso: Albon/Schumacher

Autobild had an overview of contracts. According to them:

Hamilton (Contract until the end of 2020)

Bottas (Contract until the end of 2019, Option for 2020)

Vettel (Contract until the end of 2020)

Leclerc (Contract until the end of 2022)

Verstappen (Contract until the end of 2020)

Gasly (Contract until the end of 2019)

Hulkenberg (Contract until the end of 2019)

Ricciardo (Contract until the end of 2020)

Magnussen (Contract until the end of 2019)

Grosjean (Contract until the end of 2019)

Sainz (Contract until the end of 2020)

Norris (Contract until the end of 2020)

Raikkonen (Contract until the end of 2020)

Giovinazzi (Contract until the end of 2019)

Kvyat (Contract until the end of 2019)

Russell (Contract until the end of 2020)

Perez (Contract until the end of 2019)

The Express isn’t worth the paper it’s written on. I would take everything you read from it with a pinch of salt.

With Russell more younger and with more potential than Ocon i see him first in line for that mercedes seat as for Ocon i guess formula E or nascar

Ocon hasn't impressed me so far in F1, Russell was great in F2 though, if he pulls something out and gets hype behind him next season who knows.

Ocon hasn't impressed me so far in F1, Russell was great in F2 though, if he pulls something out and gets hype behind him next season who knows.

With Russell more younger and with more potential than Ocon i see him first in line for that mercedes seat as for Ocon i guess formula E or nascar

Depending on who leaves and who looks like becoming available for 2021 Ocon currently would be the better option.

- If Hamilton stays you want Ocon for the consistent number 2 and Ocon will be more compliant after missing out next year.

- If Bottas stays you're better off keeping Ocon for the consistency again and re-evaluating for 2021 when Verstappen possibly becomes available.

Either way, Ocon is a known consistent F1 quantity and will be less of a risk than Russel currently. Success in lower categories can be completely irrelevant as we've seen time and again most recently with Vandoorne and Mercedes as the most likely incumbent champion for 2019 will stick with safe choices.

With Russell more younger and with more potential than Ocon i see him first in line for that mercedes seat as for Ocon i guess formula E or nascar

If Ocon leaves single seater, he will either do GT3 or LMPs....

I don't think Mick will go for Formula in 2020. Because he will have a hard time in 2019 in F2 and will do a second season. And more likely than Renault would be Haas.

Ocon is old and a year lost is never a good sign, Ocon has more potential

He's 22.

A thing I wondered

Say for instance, what if Vettel retires at the end of 2019 after Leclerc outperforms him (or whatever other reason he might have). Who would take his place? Hamilton has contract, Verstappen has contract, Ricciardo has contract....can any of them be bough out? Opt-out options? Does Ferrari even want a super strong driver if Leclerc proves to be good enough?

Or Giovinazzi? Kimi coming back? Alonso coming back?

I'm just wondering because often when we think that a silly season will be super boring due to contracts someone makes one move which completely throws everything around and triggers the moves a year earlier than anticipated

Latin, Latifi, Latifi. Yes, his record up to mid-summer has been rather ummmm sketchy BUT he's definitely doing better now AND his dad is rather wealthy... like multiple times wealthier than Stroll. I see him in a McLaren on Fridays in 2020, full time in 2021. However, I know nothing!

A thing I wondered

Say for instance, what if Vettel retires at the end of 2019 after Leclerc outperforms him (or whatever other reason he might have). Who would take his place? Hamilton has contract, Verstappen has contract, Ricciardo has contract....can any of them be bough out? Opt-out options? Does Ferrari even want a super strong driver if Leclerc proves to be good enough?

Or Giovinazzi? Kimi coming back? Alonso coming back?

I'm just wondering because often when we think that a silly season will be super boring due to contracts someone makes one move which completely throws everything around and triggers the moves a year earlier than anticipated

Kevin Magnussen!!

A thing I wondered

Say for instance, what if Vettel retires at the end of 2019 after Leclerc outperforms him (or whatever other reason he might have). Who would take his place? Hamilton has contract, Verstappen has contract, Ricciardo has contract....can any of them be bough out? Opt-out options? Does Ferrari even want a super strong driver if Leclerc proves to be good enough?

Or Giovinazzi? Kimi coming back? Alonso coming back?

I'm just wondering because often when we think that a silly season will be super boring due to contracts someone makes one move which completely throws everything around and triggers the moves a year earlier than anticipated

If Vettel retires because he got beat by Leclerc, then Ferrari already has a good lead driver and it's a matter of hiring a #2. Giovinazzi if he also proves good enough, if not then we're back to the yearly regular conversation of who's a good #2 for Ferrari... Perez, Hulkenberg, Magnussen, Grosjean etc.

If Leclerc doesn't do well AND Vettel decides he's had enough of F1, they're ****ed, though.

If Red Bull are not strong next year, I see Verstappen at Ferrari - especially if Vettel has another 2018 season or decides to retire.

If Red Bull are not strong next year, I see Verstappen at Ferrari - especially if Vettel has another 2018 season or decides to retire.