1480 replies to this topic

[Risil]

Not an entirely serious thread. But: nail your colours to the mast! What date will Lewis and Mercedes announce that they will in fact officially be #racingasone this season?

 

(I can only have 20 options per question so I had to exclude today and Sunday as options. If Lewis signs up tomorrow, I will only be able to say: LOL.)

[SophieB]

I’m going for February, I reckon this will be spun out all the way to the wire.

[fed up]

There should’ve be an “already signed, confirmation to be announced shortly” option.

[P123]

For the purposes of entertainment from the angst, theories and general wishful thinking.... I hope he strings it out for a while.

Edited by P123, 02 January 2021 - 17:46.

[jonpollak]

Is this going to end up like the Pennsylvania 1600 (Presented by Gazprom) or like a Dale Coyne driver TBA deal?

Cuz if so I’m not paying any attention at all.

Jp

[shure]

so according to a recent report, he wants 4 years with a 50m per year deal, while Daimler want 2 years plus a 1 year option (no figures from their side), with an eye on future talent.  No idea how accurate the report is

 

https://www.gpblog.c...h-mercedes.html

 

So I guess it's a question of who blinks first.  On Hamilton's side it's either a deal or retirement I guess, as I can't see him going anywhere else.  From Daimler's side it's how much risk they are prepared to take.  Problem for them is all the big names have been taken for 2021 already

 

So, Hulk for 2021 WDC.  You heard it here first 

[TomNokoe]

I voted 07 January because it's his birthday.

[jcbc3]

March. He's trolling us.

[MKSixer]

At some point in February to upstage all of the car launches...

[jjcale]

I voted 07 January because it's his birthday.

 

Agreed - plus its a Thursday so headlines on Friday and they get the whole weekend of publicity. 

[jjcale]

March. He's trolling us.

 

On one level its a massive flex.... Everyone knows its the most coveted seat in F1 which any other driver would kill to be in, but he isnt even bothered to sort out his contract ... so secure is he in his position.

 

Reminds me of one time in Jersey ... on the street just outside an Italian restaurant was a drop top Bentley whose occupants were inside, presumably enjoying a meal.... the roof of the car was down, the lady's handbag was on her seat, and all sorts of valuables were left unattended (I am pretty sure there was jewellery lying around - but its pushing 20 years ago so I cant remember perfectly) ...... what a way to show everyone that youre baddest **** in town.   

[Stephane]

I think we'll never know. These are not always announced the day they are signed

[CHIUNDA]

He has technically retired so I went for the last option. If he signs, it will be a come back.🤣🤣🤣

[SophieB]

Don’t call it a comeback, he’s been here for years, rocking his peers, putting suckers in fear.

[danmills]

Let's be realistic, who could take that seat? Magnusson, Kvyat or Hulk.

It's Hamilton's. He is most likely creating headlines with Toto by dragging out the announcement.

I doubt he is retiring, wants a sabbatical, or wants a lot more money. Has a car ever launched before drivers are confirmed?

[Squeed]

he will sign with Merc early in January, but he won't sign with Young Money for his Nicki Manaj collaboration until February. 

[OvDrone]

There's a New Moon on the 13th of January at the 23rd degree of Capricorn so I voted for that just because.

 

If not during the start of that lunation cycle, then it probably will get announced during Aquarius season actually. If it doesn't happen until Mercury's station on the 30th of Jan, then it can very well be way further down the line or the public finds out about it but the thing was signed before 2021.

[jjcale]

he will sign with Merc early in January, but he won't sign with Young Money for his Nicki Manaj collaboration until February. 

 

Who? 

 

Did she perform at Ross Brown's 65th birthday party

[Marklar]

two hours before the opening practice of the season in Bahrain

[jjcale]

Let's be realistic, who could take that seat? Magnusson, Kvyat or Hulk.

It's Hamilton's. He is most likely creating headlines with Toto by dragging out the announcement.

I doubt he is retiring, wants a sabbatical, or wants a lot more money. Has a car ever launched before drivers are confirmed?

 

Macca in '93 .... also best driver flexing .... but it was not the top seat in F1 - in fact that was the problem.

[jjcale]

There's a New Moon on the 13th of January at the 23rd degree of Capricorn so I voted for that just because.

 

If not during the start of that lunation cycle, then it probably will get announced during Aquarius season actually. If it doesn't happen until Mercury's station on the 30th of Jan, then it can very well be way further down the line or the public finds out about it but the thing was signed before 2021.

 

I see you have noticed the tatoos on his hands ... strongly suspect he definitely he will get a consultation to make sure he does his important business on the right dates. .... but will they override the PR team's strong recommendation to do it on his birthday.    

 

[Chillimeister]

I'd like to say he won't sign because then we'd have a much better idea about how much the car has contributed to his success. Which is precisely why he will sign at some point, because he's not daft and won't want his record to be undermined. Sometime in January.

[FNG]

Let's be realistic, who could take that seat? Magnusson, Kvyat or Hulk.

It's Hamilton's. He is most likely creating headlines with Toto by dragging out the announcement.

I doubt he is retiring, wants a sabbatical, or wants a lot more money. Has a car ever launched before drivers are confirmed?

 

They would put Russell in the car in a heart beat. What are Williams going to do? Say no? They would chuck a few million at Williams to release him. Williams don't care they are at the back of the grid anyways.

200 million is preposterous considering they are giving him championship cars year after year.

Edited by FNG, 02 January 2021 - 19:57.

[Risil]

I'd like to say he won't sign because then we'd have a much better idea about how much the car has contributed to his success. Which is precisely why he will sign at some point, because he's not daft and won't want his record to be undermined. Sometime in January.

Hamilton's unprecedented success has created an immediate problem: how to quantify precisely how good he is when all existing benchmarks are insufficient. The research panel hereby recommends the expedient of removing Lewis from F1, followed by close observation of the consequences.

[OvDrone]

Of course I have JJ. Lewis is my fav F1 driver for a reason. He's the closest dude in Motorsport that aligns with my worldview that I know of. There's been a shift in his tone and approach to things since like '16 onwards. Nico wasn't the only one that meditated that's for sure.

 

I don't know how much Lewis knows of specific traditions but that 6-pointed star tattoo on his left hands ( without going into a novel ) is an omage to the Sun and it basically means 'Success'.

 

He also has the Astrological glyph for Capricorn on his right hand, an hourglass and the 3 ov Swords piercing an all-seeing eye instead of a heart. Dude knows something at least.

 

I remember when he won at Catalunya this year last year and he nearly said that he went into a meditative trance inside the car but stopped short of. I guess the sight of a senseless Martin Brundle reminded him to not say anything too out-there for the paddock so he won't be hastled too much by the media after. I know I would.

 

But sometimes I wouldn't...

[FLB]

 

I remember when he won at Catalunya this year last year and he nearly said that he went into a meditative trance inside the car but stopped short of. I guess the sight of a senseless Martin Brundle reminded him to not say anything too out-there for the paddock so he won't be hastled too much by the media after. I know I would.

 

 

Senna tried to talk about racing from a mystical point of view. It didn't go down very well.

 

FORMULA ONE : 10 years on, Senna's legend still hard-driving - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

 

 

About the date when a new contract could be announced, I'm not sure, but from what I've read... sometime in February.

Edited by FLB, 02 January 2021 - 19:55.

[OvDrone]

Senna tried to talk about racing from a mystical point of view. It didn't go down very well...

 

FORMULA ONE : 10 years on, Senna's legend still hard-driving - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

 

Yes, exactly.

 

Driving so good and hard that you reach a heightened altered state of consciousness and out of body bliss might still shamefully sound really dangerous to the vast majority but it's actually Goat-tier in my neck of the woods.

Edited by OvDrone, 02 January 2021 - 19:58.

[baddog]

It would be outright hilarious if he either quit or went elsewhere. However he will not do so of course. 

[SophieB]

Hamilton's unprecedented success has created an immediate problem: how to quantify precisely how good he is when all existing benchmarks are insufficient. The research panel hereby recommends the expedient of removing Lewis from F1, followed by close observation of the consequences.

 

I propose adding instead a second Hamilton, possibly an Evil Hamilton, to battle him.

 

e. I say this with the greatest of affection for him but we once kind of had this in the form of Alonso and, as a sport, effed it up.

[PayasYouRace]

He'll find something else to do.

[FLB]

He'll find something else to do.

 

Lewis Hamilton is 'much prouder' of his push for equality than his fight for a seventh F1 title | CTV News

 

But. at the same time, in the same article...

 

 

"Nothing is set in stone -- it is just about talking about it. I don't feel I'm finished.

"I love racing and the challenge and I don't think that is going to change any time soon."

Edited by FLB, 02 January 2021 - 20:50.

[danmills]

Imagine what 200m thrown at Williams could do, and bring Russell to Mercedes.

[MKSixer]

I propose adding instead a second Hamilton, possibly an Evil Hamilton, to battle him.

 

e. I say this with the greatest of affection for him but we once kind of had this in the form of Alonso and, as a sport, effed it up.

I'm liking this doppelgänger Hamilton idea...

 

How do we make this happen?  It could be like our very own Spy vs. Spy in Formula One.  The possibilities are ENDLESS!!

[as65p]

I would actually like to see him take a one-year sabbatical. It would surely make 2021 AND 2022 onwards a lot more interesting than it looks now. I mean really, what's to expect from next season if Hamilton is again in the Merc? The most exciting question would be if Verstappen can finally achieve his long-time goal of beating Bottas to 2nd in the WDC.

[MKSixer]

On a more serious note, I sincerely wonder why so many want 7ewis to take a sabbatical or some other break?

 

Would anyone want the best rock band, rap group, symphony, etc., to stop playing because they were so proficient at their craft?

 

I truly wish the other teams would step up their games or their fans spend as much time shellacking their chosen teams and drivers as much as they spend doing the same with 7ewis and AMG.  

[Beri]

Can't see him leaving. Doesn't mean that I wouldn't like to see him leave.

Edited by Beri, 02 January 2021 - 21:43.

[Ivanhoe]

4 years would make sense to me, also for Mercedes. Drop Bottas after 2021, have Lewis as a mentor for Russel from 2022-2024 who will be ready for the WDC in 2025 after Lewis took his 11th.

 

edit and on topic: I’ll go with Tom, announcement on his birthday.

Edited by Ivanhoe, 02 January 2021 - 21:48.

[as65p]

On a more serious note, I sincerely wonder why so many want 7ewis to take a sabbatical or some other break?

 

Would anyone want the best rock band, rap group, symphony, etc., to stop playing because they were so proficient at their craft?

Music performers and racing drivers as an analogy?

 

Try again after one band has won like 5 "band WDCs" in a row with equipment only one other (and much worse) band on the planet had access to.

[Sash1]

2 years, 50m/y. After that, Daimler sells the team. Mercedes as engine manufacturer out after another 2 years.

[OvDrone]

I hope there's a vote for every single January day in the OP, so we can give like a virtual SIR-Lewis-something-Croydon trophy and vegan champagne to the winner.

[garoidb]

I propose adding instead a second Hamilton, possibly an Evil Hamilton, to battle him.

 

e. I say this with the greatest of affection for him but we once kind of had this in the form of Alonso and, as a sport, effed it up.

 

Yes. I don't think that had really happened before to that degree. Anyway, the evil twin will be back next year and I think he will make his presence felt. 

 

On the main topic, perhaps Lewis would like to do what Ayrton did in 1993 and race without a year long contract in place.  When did Ayrton actually commit to McLaren through to the end of 1993?

[masa90]

I hope he won't. Would be great for the sport to get a new champion and closer battle for the wdc.

[as65p]

4 years would make sense to me, also for Mercedes. Drop Bottas after 2021, have Lewis as a mentor for Russel from 2022-2024 who will be ready for the WDC in 2025 after Lewis took his 11th.

 

edit and on topic: I’ll go with Tom, announcement on his birthday.

Yeah, I'm sure Russel would love to be mentored for 3 years straight, patiently waiting for Lewis to let him have a shot. For sure.

[Ivanhoe]

Yeah, I'm sure Russel would love to be mentored for 3 years straight, patiently waiting for Lewis to let him have a shot. For sure.

He should be happy to drive with one of the greats in the best team of the last decade. He may challenge Lewis of course,  but I doubt he’ll be up to the job the first couple of years.

Edited by Ivanhoe, 02 January 2021 - 22:05.

[masa90]

Wow some people actually seem to want Lewis winning the next 4 or 5 titles in the row aswell. That would be crushing for the whole sport. Even the current domination is byfar the biggest in the history and you guys want to see it almost fully redone even when the first one is ongoing. Ok, you must #44 fans but i wonder f1 would survive one driver winning 10/11 titles and merc winning them all on the row.

[MKSixer]

Music performers and racing drivers as an analogy?

 

Try again after one band has won like 5 "band WDCs" in a row with equipment only one other (and much worse) band on the planet had access to.

Sure. Because there is no such thing as different quality instruments. 

[as65p]

He should be happy to drive with one of the greats in the best team of the last decade.

As happy as Lewis himself was when he came in, or more?

 

You describe how Massa/Bottas/Barrichello type drivers might approach things, not future champions.

[garoidb]

He should be happy to drive with one of the greats in the best team of the last decade. He may challenge Lewis of course,  but I doubt he’ll be up to the job the first couple of years.

 

It is either immediate or not at all. Jenson and Nico were able to challenge Lewis so we are not talking about something impossible here.

[Ivanhoe]

As happy as Lewis himself was when he came in, or more?

 

You describe how Massa/Bottas/Barrichello type drivers might approach things, not future champions.

Oh, I’m not saying that would be Russell’s approach, but I think it will work out that way. And whether he admits it or not, there is still a lot to learn for George from Lewis.

[as65p]

It is either immediate or not at all.
 

Precisely. As, among others, Lewis has proved himself back in the day.