Is Lewis Hamilton leaving Ford?

graniteharbor502 said:A quick interview from the official site—it basically hints that he’s likely moving to Ferrari:
http://www.formula1.com/news/intervi.../10/16431.html

I have to point out this specific answer from Button regarding his future at McLaren: McLaren : There ara always other options in Life

Look, that is some pretty massive speculation right there. 👏

Though, if they brought back Kimi, I don't see why they wouldn't bring back Button too.

vividlynx68 said:It's funny how everyone insists Fernando is getting old and running out of time. They seem to forget that Prost, for instance, managed to grab two more titles after his 33rd birthday and even secured runner-up spots in two subsequent seasons...

Buddy, how could you leave Fagioli out of this one?

vividlynx68 said:Look, isn't this just pure speculation at this point? :slap:

Though, if they really did bring Kimi back, I can't see why they wouldn't consider bringing Button back as well.

Well, I wasn't actually referring to Button, but rather to Lewis Hamilton—assuming he might be making a move over to McLaren.🙂

steelmaker83 said:The fact he’s actually going back there proves the public perception of his exit was totally off. Even back when withmarsh was running the show, he admitted he regretted how things went down with Hamilton and would've loved to have him back on the team.

So, looking back, his departure was really just about personal friction with Dennis and landing that Ferrari deal. It makes sense why he left given the circumstances at the time.

If McLaren has any lingering grudges, they need to bury them. They're getting one of the best drivers on the grid—Hamilton still has a season or two at this level in him. He's the perfect bridge for those next couple of years while they hunt for the next big thing.

Doesn't matter who did what to whom... heading back to the team you walked out on is 👎
Even if you left on great terms, going back is basically admitting you screwed up by leaving. If you left because of beef on either side? Then it's even worse.

gentlecobra23 said:Anyway, what happened to that Vettel - Hamilton swap? Why is everyone so sure he's heading to McLaren when there's potentially a spot at Red Bull too...

I think that's a total non-starter...
RB is all about pushing young talent and they basically always pull from their own ranks; their whole program has been built on that since day one...
They passed on Kimi even though Vettel was clearly gunning for him, opting for Ricc instead (mostly because he's their guy and they want to protect the academy/young driver pipeline...),
and considering Ricc is looking way better than Kimi right now—who would suddenly need this kid to jump ahead of Kvyat, Verstappen, Costa, Sainz, etc., just to bring in some veteran on the decline? 🤷

I get why Ferrari might want someone younger like Vettel, but I don't see a single reason why RB would want someone like Hamilton, regardless of how good he is...
Maybe Hamilton, though I don't buy that either, but Hamilton isn't ending up at RB. Not in my book.

stormybadger8 said:It doesn't really matter who left whom or why... going back to the team you walked away from is 👎
Even if you left on perfectly good terms, returning to the old setup feels like admitting you screwed up by leaving... let alone if there were grievances on either side to begin with...

Well, honestly, the dissatisfaction was mutual. They split up because things weren't working, and now they suddenly want to work together again. Why? Because they have no one else left...
Out of five champions on the grid, only two are actually available. Vettel doesn't look like a fit for McLaren, and they clearly think Button is washed up—which I think is a mistake. As far as the young guns go, McLaren tried their luck with Perez and Magnussen, but neither delivered what the team expected. So, looking at it one way, it makes sense that they want Lewis Hamilton, especially since it looks like Ron might be heading out the door...
And Lewis wants them just as much, since he hasn't won anything over at Ferrari, and at McLaren, he might find a better car and more $$...

It isn't necessarily an admission that leaving was a mistake; it's more like a new reshuffling of the deck where you try to play your strongest remaining cards...

gentlecobra23 said:Look, honestly, the dissatisfaction went both ways. They didn't part ways because everyone was happy about it; now they suddenly want to work together again. Why? Because they have no one else left.
Out of five championship winners on the grid, only two are even available. Vettel doesn't look like a McLaren candidate, and they clearly think Button is washed up (which I think is a mistake). As for the young guns, McLaren tried Perez and Magnussen, and neither delivered what they wanted. So, logically, they want Fernando Alonso—especially since it looks like Ron is heading out.
And Alonso wants them just as much. He hasn't won anything at Ferrari, so maybe McLaren offers a better car and more $$ .

This isn't some necessary "you screwed up by leaving" shoutout; it's just a reality check where you try to play your strongest cards.

It doesn't matter who did what or why, but going back to the old way is proof someone totally blew it...
Take Ferrari and Kimi Raikkonen as an example. You're left wondering: did Kimi mess up and cause the split, or is Ferrari the problem? Either way, someone's at fault. 😉
And in marriages like that, it’s never a good idea to point fingers publicly...

To me makes zero sense—Alonso seeing more potential in McLaren Honda than in Ferrari.

If you look at the current landscape—Ferrari's car is easily half a second ahead, especially considering how much Mercedes' engine leads Ferrari. With no major rule changes on the horizon, we should see Alison's first car on track next year, though God knows what kind of engine Honda will actually deliver. 🤷

Even if we account for Ferrari's typical incompetence, they seem like a better choice for the next three years than McLaren. To me, the logic behind choosing McLaren feels more like a "maybe we'll get lucky and land someone like Lewis..." type of gamble.

On the flip side, perhaps Sebastian Vettel just wants to head to Ferrari to silence everyone calling him a fraud 😁, which would leave a vacancy at Red Bull Racing for Alonso to jump into.

There isn't much logic for leaving Red Bull Racing for Ferrari either, but pure ego and the desire to prove himself where everyone wants to be is a valid enough argument. If I were in Vettel's shoes and Ferrari wanted me, I'd take the deal.

It makes no sense that

If LT isn't lying, then today's top speeds in S2 during Free Practice 2 were...
Williams 195 miles/h
McLaren 191 miles/h
Ferrari 189 miles/h
Red Bull Racing 184 miles/h
Honda might not be the absolute best, but I doubt they're any worse than Renault...

I mean, who in their right mind would trade Ferrari for Red Bull Racing?

Plus, you've got engineers and all those key big shots behind the scenes jumping ship from Red Bull Racing day after day, while Ferrari keeps pulling in all these flashy new names...
Red Bull Racing is basically a winning team that's slowly falling apart, whereas Ferrari and McLaren are building momentum and climbing toward the top.
It’s just how things go. When you have a powerhouse team for years, everyone starts getting massive offers from direct competitors. Of course people leave for better pay and bigger opportunities...
Honestly, for Fernando Alonso, Red Bull Racing is a worse bet than Ferrari or McLaren (a couple of years ago, sure, it was a great move, but definitely not anymore),
and there's no way Red Bull Racing would spit on their own homegrown talent just to pick someone from the outside, even if that someone is Fernando Alonso...

graniteharbor502 said:I really want to highlight Button's response when he was asked about his future at McLaren: "There are always other options in life."

In Button's case, there's really only one move left after McLaren: a triathlon.

vividlynx68 said:Logic isn't exactly on Ferrari's side either if you're looking to escape Red Bull Racing. But honestly? It comes down to pure ego and that drive to prove yourself on the biggest stage imaginable. If I were in Sebastian Vettel's shoes and Ferrari came calling, would I stay? No. I'd be gone.

stormybadger8 said:If LT isn't lying, then what was that top speed in Sector 2 during Free Practice 2 today?
Williams. 195 miles/h
McLaren: There are always other options in life. 191 milesI don't quite follow. What seems to be the issue?
Ferrari. Is there anything else? 189 miles/h
Red Bull Racing. 184 milesI'm ready. Send over the posts.
Honda might not be the absolute best, but it’s hard to imagine them being any worse than Renault...

Would any sane person actually trade a Ferrari seat for one at Red Bull Racing?

Leslie Eldridge's car ranking method?
Red Bull Racing has been a total joke all these years. Always have been.

Regarding that first Ferrari driver...

The final three—Michael Schumacher, Kimi Raikkonen, and Fernando Alonso.
Does a driver like Nico Rosberg or Hulk fit into that trio?

It’s either Lewis Hamilton or Sebastian Vettel.
There isn't a third one at the moment.
Focusing on what’s happening right now.

Between those two, Vettel is the far more realistic choice.

vividlynx68 said:To me, there’s zero logic in thinking Fernando Alonso sees more potential in McLaren Honda than in Ferrari.

If you look at where things stand right now—Ferrari's car is at least half a second ahead, especially considering how much Mercedes' engine leads Ferrari. There aren't any massive rule changes on the horizon, so next year should be when Alison's first car hits the track... and who knows what kind of engine Honda will actually bring... 🤷

Even if we factor in Ferrari's usual messiness, they still look like a better bet for the next three years than McLaren. To me, the logic behind choosing McLaren feels more like "maybe if I get lucky like Lewis..."

On the flip side, maybe Sebastian Vettel really wants to go to Ferrari just to shut up everyone calling him a fraud 😁 and leave an open seat at Red Bull Racing for Fernando Alonso to jump into.

There isn't much sense in leaving Red Bull Racing for Ferrari either, but pure ego and the drive to prove yourself where everyone wants to be most... that's enough of an argument. If I were in Vettel's shoes and Ferrari wanted me, I'd go.

It makes no sense that

I think Fernando Alonso is mostly afraid of the leadership changes at Ferrari... he's worried he won't be pampered and protected the way he has been until now. People fear change. They like the status quo, but the waters at Ferrari have been stirred up, so he's looking for calmer seas. Whether McLaren is a stroke of luck or not... I guess we'll see.

Every driver wants to drive for Ferrari, even if it's just for one season, even just for one race. Look at Giancarlo Fisichella... he had a decent run in FI, got the chance to drive for Ferrari a few times, and in the end, those were his final days in an F1 career. But he lived the dream and drove for Ferrari, even if the car was a total junk pile back then. It's the same with Sebastian Vettel, except he'll probably get a few more titles out of it at Ferrari.

gentlecobra23 said:I suspect Fernando Alonso is primarily wary of any shifts in Ferrari leadership. He’s likely unsettled by the realization that he might not receive the same level of preferential treatment he's grown accustomed to. People naturally fear change; they prefer the predictable cycle of things, yet the waters at the top have become turbulent, prompting a search for calmer seas. Whether McLaren represents a stroke of luck remains to be seen.

Every driver dreams of pulling a Ferrari seat for even a single season, if not just a solitary race. Take Giancarlo Fisichella, for instance; he had a decent run in FI and earned the chance to drive for Ferrari for a few races, which ultimately marked the final chapter of his F1 career. Still, he fulfilled the dream of driving for Ferrari, even if the team was essentially a backmarker at the time. It is a similar situation with Sebastian Vettel, though he will likely be granted several more championship opportunities while at Ferrari.

This sentiment is actually somewhat corroborated by certain reports. Specifically, there were rumors suggesting that Alonso was denied the right to select his own technical crew over his teammates, and that he secured a clause allowing him to terminate his contract annually, provided Ferrari commits to him through the end of 2017.

stormybadger8 said:It doesn't matter who, when, or why... returning to the team you left is 👎

Even if you left on perfect terms, going back is basically admitting you messed up by walking away. If you left because of grievances on either side, it's even worse...

LeBron James returned to Cleveland....

gentlecobra23 said:Every driver dreams of pulling a seat at Ferrari—even if it's just for a single season, or even just one race.

Where on earth did you get that idea from? 🤣

We might be in the dark regarding Fernando Alonso, but we certainly have the scoop on Sebastian Vettel

http://www.infiniti-redbullracing.co...iver-line-2015

So long, Red Bull Racing

EDIT: Word coming out of Red Bull Racing is that he's heading to Ferrari—which means Fernando Alonso is officially on his way out.

Jason Campbell70 said:Regarding that first Ferrari driver....

The last three were—Michael Schumacher, Kimi Raikkonen, Fernando Alonso.
Does someone like Nico Rosberg or Hulkenberg even fit those profiles?

It’s either Lewis Hamilton or Sebastian Vettel.
Right now, there isn't a third option.
And I mean *right now*.

Between those two, Vettel is definitely the more realistic pick.

Look, I'm not saying joining Ferrari is a bad move. I'm saying joining Red Bull Racing would be stupid. 😁
So, seeing Vettel at Ferrari seems plausible, but the idea of Alonso heading to Red Bull Racing? Yeah, that's impossible...

stormybadger8 said:Look, I’m not suggesting that jumping into a Ferrari seat would be a bad move—not at all—but moving to Red Bull Racing? That just seems a bit nonsensical to me. 😁
So, while seeing Vettel end up at Ferrari feels like a genuine possibility, the idea of Alonso joining Red Bull Racing feels almost entirely out of the question...

Ricciardo and Kvyat 2015 😁

It’s not like anyone missed it; people saw this coming ages ago...well before last season even kicked off, let alone this one 🤣
Of course they tried to build Richie into some kind of superstar 😉
Kvyat was a total given, the real question is who lands the seat at Red Bull Racing... Sainz 🤷

And just like I’ve been shouting for days, there's zero point in Lewis Hamilton looking at Red Bull Racing...😁

Now we're just left wondering if Lewis Hamilton jumps into Sebastian Vettel's old spot at McLaren-Honda, sending Sebastian Vettel over to Ford, or if he just stays put at Ford...

stormybadger8 said:It’s not like this hasn't been obvious for ages—actually, we saw it coming way before last season even kicked off, let alone this one 🤣
I mean, obviously, they should have built Richie into a total superstar from the jump 😉
Kvyat's move is pretty much a given at this point; the real mystery is who ends up in the Red Bull Racing seat... maybe Sainz? 🤷

And honestly, it's exactly what I've been preaching for days—there's really nothing left for Lewis Hamilton to find over at Red Bull Racing...😁

Now, the big question is whether Lewis Hamilton jumps into Sebastian Vettel's old spot at McLaren-Honda, potentially pushing Sebastian Vettel over to Ford, or if he just stays put at Ford...

Christian Horner accidentally let it slip on Sky that Sebastian Vettel is heading to Ford

jadeseal7 said:Christian Horner blurted out on Sky that Vettel is headed to Ferrari

Horner is messing with Ferrari🤣
It’s probably true since everyone knows Vettel wants to drive for Ferrari, plus he was spotted hanging around Detroit a while back...😉

Though nobody actually knows what's happening yet...
He could end up at McLaren, maybe even Mercedes... honestly, even that wild three-car lineup for Ferrari with Vettel-Alonso-Kimi isn't totally impossible🤣
Basically, the only thing we know for sure is that he's leaving Red Bull...