The F1 Thread

[Hongbit]

Wasn’t super excited for this season of DTS.  The last few seasons have been just ok.   I’ve got to say the first three episodes this season have been fantastic.   

[Hongbit]

DTS shows how big of a gamble Toto is making giving Kimi Antonelli a seat at age 18.  Toto thinks he’s next great one and this will either turn out to be brilliant or a disaster.  I don’t see much middle ground seeing as he passed up on many more experienced drivers.

[Deleterious]

You have to wonder if that is Merc waiving the white flag until the new regulations in 2026.

I watched a little of the first episode and Lewis made comments that he felt Mercedes can't win this year.  

[Hongbit]

I think he’s getting behind George as his long term guy or at least wants to see how handles that role.   Putting a green Antonelli in makes Russell the unquestioned #1.  It wouldn’t have been quite as clear had he gone with a Sainz, Perez, or even back to Bottas. 

George’s car got better at the end last year while Lewis’s didnt.  I can see it going either way for Merc.  Either fighting 3-4 or dropping way down and white flagging it.  

Edited Saturday at 05:15 PM by Hongbit

[Archie]

On 3/8/2025 at 12:13 PM, Hongbit said:

I think he’s getting behind George as his long term guy or at least wants to see how handles that role.   Putting a green Antonelli in makes Russell the unquestioned #1.  It wouldn’t have been quite as clear had he gone with a Sainz, Perez, or even back to Bottas. 

George’s car got better at the end last year while Lewis’s didnt.  I can see it going either way for Merc.  Either fighting 3-4 or dropping way down and white flagging it.  

Sainz is the only one of that group you listed that would be a #1 driver.  Bottas has proven when he was with merc that he isn’t even a good second F1 driver.  Flailing away a Sauber didn’t do him any good.  I’m really surprised Merc picked him up as a reserve.  Checo’s performance the last couple years made his stock drop to about nothing.  I do agree that they are taking a chance with Antonelli but it might pay off and he could quickly jump over George and be the top driver on the team.

[Hongbit]

On 3/9/2025 at 9:47 PM, Archie said:

Sainz is the only one of that group you listed that would be a #1 driver.  Bottas has proven when he was with merc that he isn’t even a good second F1 driver.  Flailing away a Sauber didn’t do him any good.  I’m really surprised Merc picked him up as a reserve.  Checo’s performance the last couple years made his stock drop to about nothing.  I do agree that they are taking a chance with Antonelli but it might pay off and he could quickly jump over George and be the top driver on the team.

Bottas is definitely a #2 but he’s a veteran that may not fall in line as easily behind a younger, cockier George than a greenhorn like Kimi A.  

Checo lost his confidence last year.  It happens a lot.   He’s still a solid option and will definitely be back in F1 at some point (especially if Carlos Slim is backing him). 

End of the day,  as much as fans harp about drivers,  success is still 90% about the car. 

[Archie]

11 hours ago, Hongbit said:

Bottas is definitely a #2 but he’s a veteran that may not fall in line as easily behind a younger, cockier George than a greenhorn like Kimi A.  

Checo lost his confidence last year.  It happens a lot.   He’s still a solid option and will definitely be back in F1 at some point (especially if Carlos Slim is backing him). 

End of the day,  as much as fans harp about drivers,  success is still 90% about the car. 

Perez is one of the drivers talked about for the Cadillac team so he might be back.  Some people have said the Bulls are designed for Max and everyone else has a hard time driving them.  I don’t know if that is true or not but if it is I wonder what Max likes in a car that nobody else can get a handle on.  I’m looking forward to the first race to see how Lewis does in the red cars and what kind of battle he and Charles will have.