F1 2020 Predictions thread

Mr Jack · 1 Mar 2020 at 11:41

I guess it's time for our annual predictions thread.

My predicted top 3 drivers:

1. Lewis Hamilton
2. Max Verstappen
3. Valtteri Bottas

Top 3 constructors:

1. Mercedes
2. Red Bull
3. Ferrari

Other predictions:

1. Gasly impresses at AlphaTori, leading to...
2. Red Bull swap Albon and Gasly around again midseason. It doesn't help.
3. Max punches another driver and actually gets penalised this time.
4. Vettel leaves at the end of the season after getting spanked by Leclerc.
5. Ocon beats Ricciardo.

Mr Jack · 2 Mar 2020 at 10:03

The_Abyss said:
Agreed. For the constructors, the performance of the second drivers - Bottas, Albon and Vettel, is absolutely crucial.

Shots fired!

Mr Jack · 2 Mar 2020 at 11:21

Greboth said:
I don't think Red Bull will swap drivers again though, Albon did well at Red Bull. RBR has previously had the Alpha Tauri drivers in the team so they're somewhat of a known quantity. So I think RBR will keep Albon as long as he generally continues to finish in the top 6 (depending on the top 3's true performance).

Did Albon do well? Perhaps compared to Gasly, but he was still trotting round well behind the Mercedes and Ferraris whilst his teammate was competing for the front. Only at a chaotic Brazil did he come close to a podium until a tangle with Hamilton wrecked it for him, but there Gasly did even better. I dunno, I think Red Bull lack patience, and given how well Gasly performed after he got back to Toro Rosso I think he'll impress so much that they'll put him back in the top seat.

The driver who should be in that seat is Kvyat, IMO, but there seems no chance of that and he seems to let his head drop every time he gets badly treated by Red Bull which will count against him.

Can I predict the Haas drivers will crash in to each other? Though that may be more a certainty than a prediction on probability.

That's like predicting that the cars will have tyres. Come on!

I'll also predict Williams to score some genuine points this season (rather than being on luck of a manic race like Germany). I accept this may be based solely on hopes and dreams but I'd love to see it.

I hope you're right. They seemed closer in testing so *fingers crossed*.

Mr Jack · 2 Mar 2020 at 11:31

mohawk said:
i predict that most of the season is cancelled or postponed due to corona

Unfortunately, I think you're going to be correct.

Mr Jack · 2 Mar 2020 at 11:54

Greboth said:
Ok, maybe not well but wel enough. RBR are obviously focussing the team around Verstappen so they need a solid number 2 driver. With the teams as they are that means at minimum finishing top 6 which Gasly failed to do. Albon didn't set the field alight but at least he did that and if he continues to do so I can see RBR keeping him for the year. If Gasly performs well then maybe they will switch for 2021 but I don't see them doing it mid-season again unless Albon is dire.

Yeah, Max is their boy alright. It probably depends how close the fight with Ferrari is, I think. If they don't need the extra points they may be content to have Albon reliably picking up 6th rather than challenging for podiums, but if he's costing them second place in the constructors then I think their patience will wear thin quickly.

Mr Jack · 2 Mar 2020 at 13:50

this_is_gav said:
I doubt neither F1 nor the FIA will have much say about it. Any events cancelled will likely be due to countries either not allowing them in, not allowing them out or them being unable to travel back home.

Indeed. Or simply banning large gatherings as France has already done for indoor gatherings.