Interesting. The FIA has published the driver and penalty guidelines for the first time.
Motorsport Off Topic Thread
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I'm not sure it's going to help stop arguments really. They're still guidelines, so open to a whole bunch of variables and personal intepretation, like not black flagging a driver for deliberately ramming another
^ From the first line. Someone needs to tell MBS that the fact you're a volunteer isn't something to hide behind. Why on earth we don't have full time professionals in F1, honestly...
Man of Honour
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Will get the GP thread up later, sorry work is a nightmare at the moment!
Given his link to F1 i guess this is as good as any place to share this: Amazing collection of Mclarens The F1 looks amazing in that colour.
So Max to Merc is gaining traction, sky italia are saying it’s on and they broke Lewis to Ferrari apparently.
Interesting to consider the difference in his potential reaction to being hit by Russell rather than Kimi.
So where does Russell go?
Interesting to consider the difference in his potential reaction to being hit by Russell rather than Kimi.
So where does Russell go?
Red Bull seems to be the rumour again circulating.
Although one of the rumours I saw earlier had Christian Horner stating that Max is under contract and that there is nothing more to discuss
(Based on past experience that more or less confirms Verstappen is leaving then
)
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It's at times like this I miss EJ 
A part of me is thinking that Max knows that RB have lost a lot of key staff, the Honda engines and is looking to jump ship ASAP, no matter what the financial cost is to buy out his remaining RB contract.
Another part of me is thinking he's not really considering Merc at all and is doing this out of spite to destabilise Russell, because we know how much they get on.
I guess we'll find out eventually which it is.
A part of me is thinking that Max knows that RB have lost a lot of key staff, the Honda engines and is looking to jump ship ASAP, no matter what the financial cost is to buy out his remaining RB contract.
Another part of me is thinking he's not really considering Merc at all and is doing this out of spite to destabilise Russell, because we know how much they get on.
I guess we'll find out eventually which it is.
Soldato
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Maybe Max will do a few years at Mercedes and then call it a day.
I don't want him to leave Red Bull but maybe he's seen enough already to put doubts in his head about them being competitive in 2026, especially when he has no wingman at all.
I can see Toto's POV, George is good but he's not WDC winning good and getting Max would secure that expertise whilst Kimi is getting to grips in the sport and being a reasonably confident number two.
I think its very clear now though that Merc and Max have been talking for a long time and its probably going to happen eventually.
I don't want him to leave Red Bull but maybe he's seen enough already to put doubts in his head about them being competitive in 2026, especially when he has no wingman at all.
I can see Toto's POV, George is good but he's not WDC winning good and getting Max would secure that expertise whilst Kimi is getting to grips in the sport and being a reasonably confident number two.
I think its very clear now though that Merc and Max have been talking for a long time and its probably going to happen eventually.
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Tough on Woody as he's been very solid this year but the lure of signing the best driver in the grid is too much of an opportunity to miss for Toto. Think the engine will make a big difference for the first couple of years could see Max winning again a couple of times and then shoot off to do WEC stuff.
Max was definitely more chill with Kimi than I expected him to be (although he probably has matured from punching other drivers in the pitlane).
I think he also knows he's not winning the title this year and he's already won enough races to not be too annoyed about being out on lap 1.
I do wonder how he'd have reacted if it was Russell that took him out though...
He had no chance of winning the championship last time he punched a driver either though
So plenty of Max fans were criticising Lewis for 'jumping ship' to Ferrari as soon as he wasn't winning races, saying he just wasn't loyal. Now Max is angling for a move when Red Bull are struggling and have lost key staff over the past 18-24 months, I wonder what their reaction will be. I also wonder what George's reaction will be as well as he's the one with the expiring contract which, if he was really wanted by Mercedes, would have been signed probably even last season, never mind nearly halfway through this one. George has apparently said he will be on the grid next season, will that be with Red Bull I wonder? Perhaps he will take a chance on Andretti, sorry, Cadillac? I can't see it though.
BTW Cadillac are still looking for dozens of staff, 49 in the UK alone. I will be shocked if they're in any way competitive next season. Part of me is expecting a delay until 2027 to be announced shortly.
BTW Cadillac are still looking for dozens of staff, 49 in the UK alone. I will be shocked if they're in any way competitive next season. Part of me is expecting a delay until 2027 to be announced shortly.
That sounds a bit made up - he suffered with Merc for 3 years before moving and he likely wouldn't have received better offers elsewhere. The main criticism, which I still agree with, is that it wasn't worth replacing Carlos. Unless something changes next year, this is going to be a huge waste of money for Ferrari.
Almost in a similar tone, I don't really agree on replacing either of the Merc drivers until they've had a competitive car. While Max is undoubtably better, Merc have no idea whether they're sitting with 2 future WDC, or another Lando situation. Guess if you have the opportunity to sign the current WDC then you might as well.
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Source? I don't recall this. Who are these Max fans saying Lewis wasn't loyal? Lewis had to endure a rubbish Mercedes for 2022, 2023, and a likely poor 2024 before he was to move to Ferrari. Whilst some might say it was a pointless side move. I'm not sure how any 'max fans' would say it's disloyal??
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I think you have literally made that up.
It also makes no sense since Max was with Red Bull for five years before he won a WDC.
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Lol he has made that up and thats coming from a massive LH fan and a person that dislikes Max!
If Max did move to Mercedes, why would it be Russell that gets the chop. As much as Kimi has shown potential, currently Russell is the much better driver.
Russell and Max in the same team would be a great spectacle to watch.
Russell and Max in the same team would be a great spectacle to watch.
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Because Toto is heavily wedded to Kimi as Mercedes' future and has invested in making that happen. And because if they're putting Max in then Max is their lead driver and it makes more sense to be developing his replacement in the second seat than a driver you've already decided isn't as good as Max.
I still think Max->Mercedes isn't going to happen.