2021 Driver Speculation

[Penfold]

I thought Blur (is that my joke name for him? It's been so long since we've had any racing I'm starting to forget them...) had a strong showing last year.  Obviously if he's miles off Max this year or next then he could be jettisoned from the good ship Red Bull, but I don't imagine Valerie (I won't forget that one!) would bet his career on Blur's demise.  Like you said, quite a far-fetched piece of journalism... but then never say never in F1.

[Chrill]

If someone said Prost was returning for Renault in 2021 alongside Hakkinen, I'd not rule it out. F1 is a never-say-never industry.

[Chrill]

Bottas claims that Vettel is not an option for Mercedes:
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/mercedes-sebastian-vettel-bottas-2021/4804802/

[Penfold]

My level of surprise could not be any lower....

[Penfold]

And he's back... Alonso agrees two-year deal to race for Renault: https://www.racefans.net/2020/07/08/official-alonso-to-return-to-formula-1-with-renault-next-year/

[Chrill]

Quite. I wonder why he thinks Renault of today could deliver what McLaren of just a few seasons back couldn't.

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Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team:
5. Sebastian Vettel (link)
44. Lewis Hamilton
63. George Russell
77. Valtteri Bottas

McLaren F1 Team:
3. Daniel Ricciardo (link)
4. Lando Norris (link)

Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow:
16. Charles Leclerc (link)
55. Carlos Sainz (link)

Aston Martin F1 Team:
11. Sergio Perez (link)
5. Sebastian Vettel (link)
18. Lance Stroll

Scuderia AlphaTauri Honda:
10. Pierre Gasly
26. Daniil Kvyat
?. Jüri Vips (link)
?. Yuki Tsunoda (link)

Renault DP World F1 Team:
14. Fernando Alonso (link)
31. Esteban Ocon (link)

Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN:
7. Kimi Räikkönen
99. Antonio Giovinazzi

Williams Racing:
63. George Russell (link)
6. Nicolas Latifi

Red Bull Racing:
33. Max Verstappen (link)
23. Alexander Albon
77. Valtteri Bottas (link) ^(Swedish)

Haas F1 Team:
8. Romain Grosjean
20. Kevin Magnussen

[Penfold]

He leapt off the McLaren ship too soon and was rapidly drifting away from the F1 flotilla, the only life ring within reach bearing the Renault colours....

[Chrill]

Well, he left McLaren because he did not want to fight in the midfield. We know he'll be in the midfield for 2021, since cars carry over, but what has Renault said to make him think 2022 is their year? That's what I wonder.

He may overtake Barrichello (and Raikkonen) as most GPs entered, assuming Kimi stops after 2020.

[Penfold]

Hmm, what did Renault say to convince Alonso that ahead lies only glorious, sunlit uplands... I assume the exact same guff they sold to Ricciardo a few years back!

[Chrill]

https://www.maximumf1.com/formula-1/297500/marko-was-instructed-by-mateschitz-to-bring-vettel-back-to-red-bull
Vettel is wanted at Red Bull? I don't see a Max-Sebastian tieup in the future, but who knows.

[Penfold]

They thought about it, but decided not to bother: https://www.racefans.net/2020/07/10/red-bull-has-discussed-and-rejected-vettel-for-2021-horner/

[Chrill]

He's definitely looking likelier to leave F1 for next season. Nobody with a fast enough car is interested.

[Chrill]

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/bottas-mercedes-contract-2021/4833817/

Bottas will remain at Mercedes. I'll not move him to confirmed just yet, because we are lacking an official Mercedes announcement.

https://www.autoweek.com/racing/formula-1/a33296033/vettel-haas-f1-team-happy-talk/
Steiner says Haas would take Vettel.

[Penfold]

How could Seb resist such an offer....

[Chrill]

Allow us to confirm Williams retaining their 2020 lineup for next season.
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.russell-and-latifi-to-stay-on-at-williams-in-unchanged-2021-driver-line-up.2buMT250BE0Ef8Q2bUBDFE.html

I've also added Mick Schumacher as a potential Alfa Romeo driver, together with Perez. Perez also connected to Haas.



Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team:
5. Sebastian Vettel (link)
44. Lewis Hamilton
77. Valtteri Bottas (link)

McLaren F1 Team:
3. Daniel Ricciardo (link)
4. Lando Norris (link)

Red Bull Racing:
33. Max Verstappen (link)
5. Sebastian Vettel (link)
23. Alexander Albon
77. Valtteri Bottas (link) ^(Swedish)

Aston Martin F1 Team:
11. Sergio Perez (link)
18. Lance Stroll (link)
5. Sebastian Vettel (link)

Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow:
16. Charles Leclerc (link)
55. Carlos Sainz (link)

Renault DP World F1 Team:
14. Fernando Alonso (link)
31. Esteban Ocon (link)

Scuderia AlphaTauri Honda:
10. Pierre Gasly (link)
26. Daniil Kvyat
?. Jüri Vips (link)
?. Yuki Tsunoda (link)

Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN:
7. Kimi Räikkönen (link)
11. Sergio Perez (link)
99. Antonio Giovinazzi (link)
?. Mick Schumacher (link)

Williams Racing:
6. Nicolas Latifi (link)
63. George Russell (link)

Haas F1 Team:
5. Sebastian Vettel (link)
8. Romain Grosjean (link)
11. Sergio Perez (link)
20. Kevin Magnussen (link)