Formula 1 2021 - General Discussion Thread (Read 1st post rules)

Joe saward is talking about the albon-williams connection. He said that last week Latifi had an uncertain covid test and Williams sounded out Albon over anyone else to replace him. Latifi was fine so it didn't come to anything.

But he reckons Albon is a good fit for Williams as they want a decent driver who is young and can stay around for a long time as the team improves from their new money.

He said Albon isn't the only good option for them but that's where the connection was made.

This should be a fun lap for the drivers.

That's a bit of a relief. Was a great racer but had a career of two halves. Clinging on by reputation for the last few years.

Now everyone can reflect on the good things he did as a driver instead of eagerly anticipating his retirement.

I wonder if Alfa will keep Gio. I presume not.

Liked having Kimi in F1 but the last year or 2 haven't been great. Great career all the same, probably should have had more than 1 championship.

Definitely should have had more than one championship if the Maclarens and there Merc engines had not let him down so much in the early 00s when he was with Mclaren.

Delighted he is retiring do. He was at nothing this late in his career in a midfield team. I always liked him but his time has come and gone. He had some good times and some great races but it's time for someone new to come in now.

That tight Turn 1 could see some chaos at the start — reminds me of Spa.

As a reserve driver, maybe. Kubica will depart as well, I presume.

Wasn't into F1 (unfortunately) when Kimi was peak but obviously his time at this level has been on the wane since I got into it, this year has had a particularly bad few couple of incidents (rear ending his team mate and crashing into vettel)

Did I hear alfa don't have to have a ferrari junior in one of their seats from next season? Or am I imagining things? Either way would they be too arsed if giovenazzi loses his seat next year? I mean sainz and leclerc are gonna be there for a few years to go and I think they may prefer a certain German driver with a certain second name to come in instead of gio in a few years time if they're looking for a new driver.

How could a Sauber look like Hybrid from Mercedes Benz and Red Bull since neither of them teams existed in F1 in the early 00s? Mercedes just supplied engines to Mclaren that was it. Sauber are older than both them teams.

Kimi really should have won the WDC with Mclaren Mercedes and if the cars had of been more reliable he probably would have.

Yeah they had red bull sponsorship and one year they had Mercedes stars all over the rear of the car like Mercedes has had in recent years.

Neither of them qualify for a super licence

Thinking of the Williams seat when George moves to Merc (imminently), would the Merc team still have influence on that vacated Williams seat? And I'm thinking that perhaps Nick DeVries being a Merc driver could jump into it easily.

Albon is a good contender too but doesn't have any direct ties with the Williams team. He'd bring his RB knowledge and simulator skills, and I'd think would be of benefit.

Yeah and gasley is a good case for comparison. I don't think gasley was miles better than Albon and Albon was probably going to win in Brazil until Hamilton crashed into him. That would have set a very different baseline if he had won a race.

I think if RB don't rate Albon then it's probably fair that they also don't rate Gasley, but I think neither is miles behind Perez and we've seen thst Gasley has great potential and probably lots more potential tial than Perez has. But perez is a pretty safe pair of hands for right now. I wonder if RB will keep an option on Albon or of they'll just cut him loose.

^ Have you tried the official Mercedes F1 shop?