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Abu Dhabi is pretty much always a humdrum race. Proper calendars finish in Brazil or Japan 🙂
Anyway… bets on who’s in the Red Bull next year? Close call… I’d probably put a few pennies on Albon but not much more.
Other than that, I’m looking forward to seeing what McLaren come out of the blocks with next year. If they integrate the new engine well and get the aero right, could they be mixing with Mercedes and Red Bull? Three way title fight between Hamilton, Verstappen and Ricciardo? That would be something to look forward to 🙂
If they integrate the new engine well and play the aero right, could they be mixing with Mercedes and Red Bull?
I'd say unlikely as they have to use their tokens on the engine integration which will limit development elsewhere. Be nice if I'm wrong though.
Aero is free development, though, I think?
Aero is free development, though, I think?
Yup, but aero works in conjunction with things like suspension and if you can't change that then it impacts what you can do.
Ted Kravitz on the 'notebook' after the race seemed to think Perez is going to RB, and Albon will be benched
Anyway… bets on who’s in the Red Bull next year? Close call… I’d probably put a few pennies on Albon but not much more.
According to Kravitz on his Notebook show on youtube we can expect an announcement from Red Bull over Albon being demoted to test driver and Perez in the seat. Presumably if Perez has the same problem with the Red Bull as Albon it gives them a chance to bring him back and keep the Thai backer happy.
Just went back to the first page of this thread to see how predictions worked out. Highly selective quotes follow:
bombjack
If Red Bull keeps Albon then expect him to beat Verstappen soundly, and many toys to be thrown out of the pram.... Renault to walk rather than spend cubic dollars developing tech that keeps getting banned.... But hey, theres 25 races!
scotroutes
Full Member
Would 2021 be the first season there are more races than cars?
andytherocketeer
I can see Max outscoring Albon in races where they both finish, but Albon outscoring overall due to consistency, and not getting involved in stupid mistakes that lead to DNFs.
hols2
Ferrari seem to have an excellent engine, two good drivers, and have sorted out their aerodynamic problems, but they just keep dropping the ball. I think they’ll improve next year, but it’s hard to see LeClerk and Vettel not having a falling out if the car is competitive.... Haas are so unpredictable that they could finish anywhere from fourth to last.
richmtb
It also puts Vettel in an interesting position.Surely the guy with a 5 year contract in his pocket is the defacto No 1 driver.
shermer75
Free Member
I’d be surprised if they sign Vettel again
shermer75
Free Member
There’s a fair few drivers that could put in a considerably more consistent drive (the kind of consistency that they’ll need to win a constructors championship) at a whopping 90% discount as compared to Vettel including Raikkonen, Hulkenberg, Ricciardo, Sainz and maybe even Perez. That said though, the day Ferrari start making rational decisions will also be the day when Formula 1 becomes a lot less interesting to watch lol
retro83
Free Member
Yep. Seb seems to need a very stable rear axle.
Bikingcatastrophe
Free Member
I suspect this will be a much closer, tighter season. It will depend on how competitive the cars are. I still maintain that Ferrari had the better (certainly faster) car for the first half of last season and Vettel messed it up.
Free Member
Verstappen’s contract for 2020-23 is indicative that Honda will commit to Red Bull beyond 2021.
Those predictions should be relabelled as mad guesses 🙂
Nah, just space out a variety of predictions through the first few pages- Hamilton will win; Verstappen will win, Albon stays; Albon goes.....then this time next year quote the accurate post.
Nah, just space out a variety of predictions through the first few pages- Hamilton will win; Verstappen will win, Albon stays; Albon goes…..then this time next year quote the accurate post.
Hamilton will win seems like a safe prediction.
Hamilton will win seems like a safe prediction.
Assuming he isn’t too badly affected by long COVID over the off-season...
long COVID
I know everyone is different, but I was positive 2 weeks ago. Had sniffles, cough, headache and occasional trouble getting a full lungful when breathing. He’s a lot younger and fitter than me so I doubt it was that bad. If it was o can’t see him being let near the car.
If it was o can’t see him being let near the car.
He looked knackered after the race, and said he wasn’t back to 100% and that it had really knocked him for six, sounds like he’s had a much tougher time of it than the Racing Point pair.
That's brilliant, but isn't it Aston Martin mocking themselves!?
Aston Martin Honda mocking Aston Martin Mercedes?
Well red bull have been known to burn their bridges in the past (Renault, for example) so I don't see them worrying too much about annoying a sponsor who is leaving to become a direct competitor...
.
Someone spotted I had missed Hill/Prost at Williams in 1993, doh!
Turns out I had also missed Villeneurve and Alonso doing three races together at Renault in 2004.
Anyone else spot any others?