When it happens at every race for four years, it's not luck.

That would have been the thing to do IMO, an on air thanks to Mick & family would have been appropriate too, pretty special gift. It would be nice to see both of their trophy rooms/memorabilia collections.

He had a DNF in 2018 as well, but it didn't lose him the WDC. One thing about the Merc power unit, is it is very reliable, especially with something like 1400 staff behind the team.

One of the few items that is truly interchangeable in all the cars is the tires. As Silverstone he wore the tires down to the point they exploded, yest still won. He never gets a puncture, and he sure hits the curbs as hard as the rest of the pack.

No one can argue he is NOT a supremely talented driver, but he has a very wide lucky streak.

A while back Mercedes changed the design of their wheels to make life easier on the tires., and to allow the tires to work within their operating window more often.

FWIW...

Multiple F1 websites are reporting that this Friday it will be announced that Kimi and Mich Schumacher will be the 2021 drivers for Alfa . If that is true then it just leaves Haas seats available along with maybe Albons and Kvyat if they are let go.

(I apologize if my mental map of this silly season contains an error.)

Maybe Haas can nab Perez AND Hulkenberg? They both certainly helped Force India/Racing Point/Aston Martin move up the grid...

Isn't Haas another "Ferrari Jr." team? While I like your idea, I would guess it would be either of those two, plus one of the other Ferrari Academy drivers.

That would be sweet for HAAS. The two drivers they have now are worthless.

Kimi took a lap on the Nordschleife in an Alfa road car. Video in link. He looks like he's having fun but Antonio was about to puke


https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.watch-raikkonen-and-giovinazzi-scare-each-other-on-the-nurburgrings.3guyXnlERhbrOfX6ZGlExS.html

Just read online that Williams is interested in signing Perez , it was implied to replace Russell .

Perez is a better driver than Russell? Or just a solid driver who is better-funded?

I agree, but thought Hamilton's move from McLaren to Mercedes for the 2013 season would've used up a careers-worth of luck right there. A competitive McLaren dropped off to near backmarker status as soon as Hamilton left, and a struggling Mercedes quickly rose to dominate the sport right after he joined.

Russel is doing a great job in the slow Williams and outperforming his teammate. I’d like to see Perez and Russel stay. I wouldn’t be sad to see Grosjean and Magnussen gone.

excuse the detour, but if you haven't seen this its well worth the time. The ultimate class act.

<iframe width="908" height="506" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iexpG25WWVc" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I remember at the time thinking that was possibly the worst career move in the history of F1. Like so many before him, he was betting on a team improving while leaving a team at the top of their game. Who knew he'd have another championship after two seasons with the team (and another six after 8 seasons)? Meanwhile, McLaren worked their way down the grid to backmarker status despite having two WDC's at the helm. Their results got so bad that Ron Dennis got fired! Who could have seen that coming?

Ruddell may have to take a year off, before replacing bottas at merc.

Latest silly season news in Euro-F1 press:

Russian Billionaire Dmitry Mazepin wants his son in F1 (remind you of another rich person buying his son a seat?), and he's paying Haas $35mil next year for a seat in 2021, with an eye on buying the team outright from an eager to get out Gene Haas in 2022. Grosjean -> Formula E or possibly WEC or both. Doesn't mean Magnussen is staying, as the team might have welcomed Callum Iliot (from the Ferrari driver academy - their engine supplier) or more likely Mick Schumacher in the junior Ferrari team (despite his recent Alfa connection he is rumored to have the seat over Iliot now).

On the alfa side, Perez+Hulk seem to be in favor, as Raikonnen has made mistakes lately and even Giovanazzi seems to get closer to his speed now. Vasseur likes Kimi though.

Williams is also courting Perez and his money - but Perez might be more tempted by Alfa's speed relative to williams (or Ferrari!!), and since Michael Latifi is funding them that would mean any newcomer would displace Russell, which would be a crying shame. Mind you he is still a Mercedes driver and could do an "Ocon" with a year at the mothership waiting for better days, a Hamilton retirement or an uninspired Bottas replacement.

Redbull is considering Yuki Tsunoda as a replacement for Kvyat at Alpha Tauri, that one is only a question of when (before the end of the year or next year). If Red Bull cannot find a good engine they are open to buying the intellectual property and tooling from Honda and giving Tsunoda a job would make things go smoother... Place your bets ;-)

I suspect Hamilton will stick around at least through next year as he want to smash any remaining records, and put the win count even higher to an unbreakable range. The Mercedes is simply THE best car on the track by a full second or more. Why retire when the car is so much better than the rest, and give those wins to someone else. I bet if the Mercedes was really struggling to be on the podium, he will retire.

Yes, Hammy will stick it out for all the reasons mentioned above, and why not. 2022 will be a different story, I doubt he will retire though, even switching teams doesn't seem likely either, I don't get a sense of any inner team turmoil or personality problems with VB or any member of the team. I think if Merc has a team he will be the #1 driver and with a new set of rules that hope to "even the field" a bit will be the challenge he wants.