2022-2023 Silly Season Thread

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by Richard Casto

I like that Masi is in the running for one of the McLaren seats. That is some out of the box thinking there!

Richard

I liked the Racer comments of next announcement will be Kyle Busch has signed for McLaren for $5 bucks and a bag of M&Ms

[Greem]

My phone hasn't started ringing all afternoon over these shenanigans.

Honestly Otmar, I won't drive for you!

[Casper]

Originally Posted by peebee2

Strikes me most people are misunderstanding the OP situation.

If Alpine's option expired midnight on 31 July, and he then signed elsewhere on 1 August - then he isn't free to accept an Alpine offer on 2 August whether he wants to or not.

Give Alpine a call and tell them that.

[chillibowl]

cant exclude the possibility that Oscar's tweet was just a bargaining ploy aimed at extracting more money or more assurances from Alpine about the level of support he set to receive etc etc.

all of this has a Flavio Briatore school of talent management playbook feel to it.

of course dont know the full story and i was just getting back to liking Alonso again but it must be asked why is it always such a dumpster fire when Alonso leaves a team?

cant just all be a coincidence can it?

[Taxi645]

Alonso is just ruthless; If you screw me, I screw you harder.

[Dixie Flatline]

Seen a report from ESPN Brasil of all places that suggests Piastri has a reserve driver role with McLaren for 2023, and then takes Ricciardo's seat for 2024. None of the other ESPN sites seem to be running with this story, though.

https://www.espn.com.br/f1/artigo/_/...rra-bastidores

[Tourer]

With the compulsory mid-season break coming up, I guess we'll either see a minor flurry of announcements about 2023 drivers in the next couple of days, or nothing for a few weeks.
If there are legal arguments taking place, a few weeks (or even longer) seem more likely.

Last I heard, there were a couple of teams trying to find Greem's number - watch this space!!

[bathurst77]

I think the thing everyone needs to know is (Sorry to McLaren for leaking)

Mclaren are about to release the worlds first 7 seater hypercar (codename "program Rapid Transit!".
As part of the promotion they are building an F1 version and it will have 7 drivers in each car. So they have signed everyone! Pics to come

Remember I didnt tell you this, alright?

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by Dixie Flatline

Seen a report from ESPN Brasil of all places that suggests Piastri has a reserve driver role with McLaren for 2023, and then takes Ricciardo's seat for 2024. None of the other ESPN sites seem to be running with this story, though.

https://www.espn.com.br/f1/artigo/_/...rra-bastidores

I think it's been fairly obvious since DR's tweet saying he was staying for 2023 that there was really very little chance of him actually staying for 2023.

[Alan52]

Originally Posted by peebee2

I think it's been fairly obvious since DR's tweet saying he was staying for 2023 that there was really very little chance of him actually staying for 2023.

Yeah.They are the words out of every club officials mouth just before they sack the coach.

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

cant exclude the possibility that Oscar's tweet was just a bargaining ploy aimed at extracting more money or more assurances from Alpine about the level of support he set to receive etc etc.

all of this has a Flavio Briatore school of talent management playbook feel to it.

of course dont know the full story and i was just getting back to liking Alonso again but it must be asked why is it always such a dumpster fire when Alonso leaves a team?

cant just all be a coincidence can it?

Talking of Flav. Didn't he used to be Alonso's manager? (I wonder if he still has any involvement/influence?)

[S griffin]

Albon staying at Williams is a no brainer. He's been very good for them this season and the last thing he wants is to be back on the sidelines again

[Bcarr6]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Albon staying at Williams is a no brainer. He's been very good for them this season and the last thing he wants is to be back on the sidelines again

Shame to see Albon stuck in the rear of the field for another year honestly. He got a rough cut with RB, I'm not sure hes necessarily a Ferrari, RB, Merc level driver currently, but put him in an Alfa or Alpine and I'd think he'd match the likes of Bottas or Ocon in the same machinery.

[GusGasfuss]

Originally Posted by Bcarr6

Shame to see Albon stuck in the rear of the field for another year honestly. He got a rough cut with RB, I'm not sure hes necessarily a Ferrari, RB, Merc level driver currently, but put him in an Alfa or Alpine and I'd think he'd match the likes of Bottas or Ocon in the same machinery.

Too many talents on fire, and too many "old" champions staying...


And i believe, most team bosses waiting for the ultimate driver available, as this doesn't contribute to teams budget limit. Maybe "cheapest" way to develop more speed.


And to be honest: Albon isn't the "real rocket" - but a definitely talented driver, who could help a team like williams.
Maybe even more, if there is a challenge for Albon in the second car...

[Born Racer]

I think Albon got as fair a deal as anyone has at Red Bull and quite a lot of time, but it was early in his career and he didn't quite deliver. Pérez is at least closer to the world champion and occasionally ahead.

[seanyb505]

Originally Posted by GusGasfuss

Maybe even more, if there is a challenge for Albon in the second car...

I can't remember, is Latifi mostly on the way out? What are the chances a McLaren contracted driver is placed in that seat?

[S griffin]

I did like Albon's cheeky tweet where he wrote what Piastri wrote, only with him confirming that, unlike Alpine, what Williams said was true!

[bathurst77]

Its pretty clear what happened

1 - Alpine had til 31 July to confirm a drive for Oscar or he was a free agent, and by that time they had not signed him up 100%

2 - McLaren had decided they wanted Oscar a few weeks ago and entered into negotiations on the quiet. Oscar feared Alpine would either not have a seat for him or loan him to backmarker team like Williams so signed a contract with McLaren from 1st August

3 - After McLaren had locked in Oscar, Alonso dropped his bombshell without any warning. Neither Oscar Webber nor Alpine expected that.
Suddenly there was a surprise empty seat at Alpine

4 - Alpine announce Oscar will take the seat, thinking it was a formality as they had no idea about McLaren

5 - As Oscar had already signed for McLaren, he couldnt take the Alpine seat even if he wanted it.

So Oscar had no choice but go to McLaren

#SlidingDoors

[peebee2]

Sounds like the CRB has now ruled Alpine's contractual rights lapsed.

[Alan52]

Originally Posted by peebee2

Sounds like the CRB has now ruled Alpine's contractual rights lapsed.

And this makes the Alpine management seem totally incompetent.

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by Alan52

And this makes the Alpine management seem totally incompetent.

Yes it does. I hope that all feel suitably embarrassed/ashamed!

[GusGasfuss]

Originally Posted by Alan52

And this makes the Alpine management seem totally incompetent.

Maybe they were not used to Alonsos behaviour....they had negotiations with him, and it looked good, no evidence of other contracts...
So they didn't speak with Oscar, as they were sure, that they couldn't offer more than a test driver seat.


In this field of options and exit rules, it might be not easy to open and close all doors at the right time...

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by GusGasfuss

Maybe they were not used to Alonsos behaviour....they had negotiations with him, and it looked good, no evidence of other contracts...
So they didn't speak with Oscar, as they were sure, that they couldn't offer more than a test driver seat.

If so, difficult to believe you would hire someone so incompetent and naive.

People are paid big bucks as they are supposed to know a lot better than that. Even if they promise to bring the Austrian sponsor.

[Alan52]

Originally Posted by GusGasfuss

Maybe they were not used to Alonsos behaviour....they had negotiations with him, and it looked good, no evidence of other contracts...
So they didn't speak with Oscar, as they were sure, that they couldn't offer more than a test driver seat.


In this field of options and exit rules, it might be not easy to open and close all doors at the right time...

They knew they could lose Piastri on 31 July.They should have known to protect themselves they had to sign Piastri or Alonso to a 2 year deal before that.
I would hope the post above talking about incompetent and naive is referring to Otto.

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by Alan52

They knew they could lose Piastri on 31 July.They should have known to protect themselves they had to sign Piastri or Alonso to a 2 year deal before that.
I would hope the post above talking about incompetent and naive is referring to Otto.

Agreed. Piastri just protected his position, understandably.