Where will Max and Alex go if Honda pull out?

[Zico]

I don't see Honda pulling out, especially with their recent improvements xombined with Red Bulls great chassis allowing them to be competative... but if they do... and RedBull then withdraw, what are Max and Alex's options for 2020/21?

Are Bottas and Vet under contract?

[zako85]

When the nuclear war stars, are you going to escape to Australia or Myanmar?

[Zico]

When the nuclear war stars, are you going to escape to Australia or Myanmar?


I'll probably just get frazzled.. why?

[jimclark]

Because we don't know what can of Coke costs in Mozambique.

[zako85]

The answer seems pretty obvious. Max already established himself as a top Formula 1 talent, and so the top teams like Mercedes and Ferrari would love to have him (and by translation, any other team would love to have him). It's only a matter of seat availability.

However, Alex still has ways to go to establish himself as someone worthy of a top team seat. The race in Brazil was a good step in that direction, but he still has ways to go.

[Zico]

The answer seems pretty obvious. Max already established himself as a top Formula 1 talent, and so the top teams like Mercedes and Ferrari would love to have him (and by translation, any other team would love to have him). It's only a matter of seat availability.

However, Alex still has ways to go to establish himself as someone worthy of a top team seat. The race in Brazil was a good step in that direction, but he still has ways to go.


After Max winning in Sau Paulo I'd be amazed if Honda pulled the plug now.. but yeah of course Max could go anywhere. He is a clear No1 driver though and whilst Vettel looks to be on the way out at Ferrari, would LeClerc accept a No2 role if Max went there?

Similar at Merc.. Lewis and Max fighting tooth and nail for supremacy would cost them WCC points dearly, so cant see that either.

Regardless... Honda have slowly become a force to be reckoned with and I think they will stay now.

[gm99]

Honda isn't going to make the same mistake twice and pull out just before becoming a championship contender like they did in 2008.

Max and Charles in one team would be crazy.

[jimclark]

Similar at Merc.. Lewis and Max fighting tooth and nail for supremacy would cost them WCC points dearly, so cant see that either.
How so? http://forums.pelicanparts.com/support/smileys/loki16.gif

'You mean like what it did to the WCC points for Merc during the Rosberg vs Hamilton fight in '16??? http://forums.pelicanparts.com/support/smileys/cool_shades.gif

Oh, wait........... http://forums.pelicanparts.com/support/smileys/nono.gif

1. Mercedes................... 43 40 31 43 --- 31 35 35 37 40 43 37 40 43 40 15 40 43 43 43 43 765
2. Red Bull TAG Heuer.....12 18 27 --- 37 18 18 10 28 30 25 33 18 16 26 43 26 15 27 19 22 468
3. Ferrari.......................15 18 28 15 33 12 26 30 15 12 20 18 10 27 22 12 22 12 18 10 23 398


:)

[Zico]

How so? http://forums.pelicanparts.com/support/smileys/loki16.gif

'You mean like what it did to the WCC points for Merc during the Rosberg vs Hamilton fight in '16??? http://forums.pelicanparts.com/support/smileys/cool_shades.gif

Oh, wait........... http://forums.pelicanparts.com/support/smileys/nono.gif

1. Mercedes................... 43 40 31 43 --- 31 35 35 37 40 43 37 40 43 40 15 40 43 43 43 43 765
2. Red Bull TAG Heuer.....12 18 27 --- 37 18 18 10 28 30 25 33 18 16 26 43 26 15 27 19 22 468
3. Ferrari.......................15 18 28 15 33 12 26 30 15 12 20 18 10 27 22 12 22 12 18 10 23 398


:)

:D

I think Merc were so far ahead back then, they had the luxury of allowing a no team orders duel between their drivers.

There is very little overall difference in performance between the big three now. I also think Max would be a more consistant and superior opponent to Lewis than Rosberg was..

It would be exciting, real drama, fireworks and on/off track clashes between both of them... but I think it would cost Merc a lot of points.... and same at Ferrari.

[jimclark]

I hear ya' and that's why I posted the WCC points. Let go as they were, notice they only lost points once in the last 16 races, they both scored every one of those races 'cept for 6th from the end (Malaysia) when Lewis had an engine failure. ;)

[Jag_Warrior]

Uh, they'd drive for the Penske F1 team. He'll buy the Red Bull team and Honda's F1 engine operations - he'll rebrand them as Toyotas. For a nominal fee, Bernie Ecclestone will arrange the financing from (mysterious) Middle East and South American sources. :D

Jokes aside, it looks like both companies will be around for awhile. And if they do eventually exit, I figure by that time there'll be some open seats at whatever the top teams are at that point... for Max anyway (if he can learn when to keep his mouth shut - learn from Alonso). I agree that Alex still has to prove himself a little more. He's good and I like him. But he's one of those that could get lost if there was a big storm.

[zako85]

One thing to keep in mind is that if one of the top teams pulls out of sport, then not only drivers but also inevitably its sponsors, engineers, and others will start looking for another team. So not only the drivers but lots of other talent and money could start flowing into a team like McLaren or Renault, hopefully helping to lift it into a higher tier.