Soldato
^ Will we hear those words by the end of 2019? 
And Lewis Hamilton wins his 6th championship!
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It is entirely possible. His current form is ridiculously good. First season he has won a race after wrapping up the championship with Mercedes. The new tyres should stop the Mercedes destroying its tyres. They seem to out develop everyone else throughout the season.
Will depend very much on Red Bull and Honda too.
Will depend very much on Red Bull and Honda too.
Soldato
I think Max has a decent chance of stiring things up next season, as long as he can keep his childish attitude in check
Soldato
I have my doubts over the performance and longevity of the Honda engine. RB are taking a massive gamble on it, especially given how they like to compromise engine life for aero performance. I think they're going to fall back further in to no man's land next year.
My money is on Vettel next year. I think Leclerc will push him harder to up his game, but will not quite be on his level. Having Leclerc closer in performance will also help take points off Merc, which Kimi wasn't able to for the majority of this season.
My money is on Vettel next year. I think Leclerc will push him harder to up his game, but will not quite be on his level. Having Leclerc closer in performance will also help take points off Merc, which Kimi wasn't able to for the majority of this season.
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Leclerc is very impressive, but he is also an unknown quantity. We haven't seen him up against the big boys yet or under any kind of pressure. In Ferrari, he will be under intense scrutiny both within the team, by the fans and the media.
It is all shaping up very nicely for next season.
Yes.
I hope not. The only thing that he needs is full and 100% support. Scrutiny will only ruin everything.
Soldato
Three for luck. I am just happy to see this because it just confirms what I think will happen next year.
Scrutiny means critical observation or examination
It all comes down to the Honda powerplant which i still think could go either way to be honest... Either still be at the back and relatively reliable or be a lot better but blow up more.
Deleted member 651465
D
Deleted member 651465
I believe the Honda engine will be decent, but nowhere near the Merc or Ferrari unit.
They've had a few years to get their act together with McLaren et al but I don't see the sort of gains needed (to beat the top 2) coming over the winter break. I may be wrong but I just don't see it.
Leclerc is going to be hounded by the Tifosi if he doesn't deliver a WCC, much like they seem to hate Vettel at the moment for squandering their best chance in years. I foresee Vettel leaving in 2020 if he has another bad season and I see Lewis wanting to go to Ferrari if he wins a 6th.
They've had a few years to get their act together with McLaren et al but I don't see the sort of gains needed (to beat the top 2) coming over the winter break. I may be wrong but I just don't see it.
Leclerc is going to be hounded by the Tifosi if he doesn't deliver a WCC, much like they seem to hate Vettel at the moment for squandering their best chance in years. I foresee Vettel leaving in 2020 if he has another bad season and I see Lewis wanting to go to Ferrari if he wins a 6th.
Soldato
I don't think the Tifosi will go after Leclerc straight away unless he's clearly at fault for some errors. Vettel's firmly in the firing line after his 2018 and subsequent admissions after the season.
Honda's really interesting. Ever since their re-entry into the sport they've had to play catch up, and it is the same for 2019. Except that everyone normally forgets that the frontrunners of Mercedes and Ferrari will have been doing more than a little development of their own and are expected to move ahead again. I'm just not sure that Honda have that ability to accelerate and advance their progress essentially twice as quickly as the others, who are developing through proven trusted and mature processes. Then again, that Red Bull chassis and aero package has been amazing towards the end of the season, especially in the hands of Verstappen. Perhaps Honda don't need to catch up, just close the gap enough.
The most interesting one for me is Renault. They half-lost Red Bull before, and now they're fully gone. The reputation is now sitting firmly on their works team and a McLaren that's so underperforming it is akin to someone spray painting a Williams orange. They need to take some huge steps forward if they're to break into the top six, let alone compete at that level.
Part of me really, really wants Sauber to find that magic aero loophole and 'do a Brawn'.
Honda's really interesting. Ever since their re-entry into the sport they've had to play catch up, and it is the same for 2019. Except that everyone normally forgets that the frontrunners of Mercedes and Ferrari will have been doing more than a little development of their own and are expected to move ahead again. I'm just not sure that Honda have that ability to accelerate and advance their progress essentially twice as quickly as the others, who are developing through proven trusted and mature processes. Then again, that Red Bull chassis and aero package has been amazing towards the end of the season, especially in the hands of Verstappen. Perhaps Honda don't need to catch up, just close the gap enough.
The most interesting one for me is Renault. They half-lost Red Bull before, and now they're fully gone. The reputation is now sitting firmly on their works team and a McLaren that's so underperforming it is akin to someone spray painting a Williams orange. They need to take some huge steps forward if they're to break into the top six, let alone compete at that level.
Part of me really, really wants Sauber to find that magic aero loophole and 'do a Brawn'.
Don
Hamilton wants to drive in red one day.
But he is under contract till 2020..
Will he be able to secure a drive there at the age of 35?
But he is under contract till 2020..
Will he be able to secure a drive there at the age of 35?
Soldato
They would welcome Hamilton like anyone else. They're generally a simple bunch in that most love Ferrari drivers like no-one else, but hate drivers who don't drive for Ferrari. That hasn't changed for decades.
I think the Tifosi would welcome Hamilton - The hype alone!
I would like to see Hamilton see out his career in a red car. However I do think the Tifosi will take to Leclerc if he meets expectations. Vettel will either make or break Leclerc. If the former and Leclerc and beats Vettel - will launch into super stardom (the Max factor).
I would like to see Hamilton see out his career in a red car. However I do think the Tifosi will take to Leclerc if he meets expectations. Vettel will either make or break Leclerc. If the former and Leclerc and beats Vettel - will launch into super stardom (the Max factor).
Associate
If Hamilton were to win the WDC
With Ferrari, would he be the first to win it with 3 teams? Or did Prost beat him to it?
With Ferrari, would he be the first to win it with 3 teams? Or did Prost beat him to it?
I would not. Hamilton is not a person for the Ferrari team.
I hope Vettel will not play dirty with number 1 / number 2 in the team nonsense.
Soldato
Prost won it three times for McLaren and once for Williams.
Only Fangio has won it in more than two teams (he did it in four different teams). Once for Alfa, two for Maserati, two for Mercedes (first season started the first two races with a Maserati) and once with Ferrari (who ran a Lancia-Ferrari hybrid).
It wasn't the loophole that allowed the double diffuser that gave the Brawn its edge, after all Williams and Toyota also had them and they weren't vying for wins. It was the use of multiple wind tunnels that produced the outwash front wing and the realisation that this was better than the inwash design that appeared to be the obvious solution to the wider front wing now being positioned directly infront of the wheels.