[Autobacs]

Originally Posted by NickyC

I check Lewis' Twitter from time to time, still no tweets since the 11th (night before the race).

I hope the rumors of a retirement are just that and he's back as strong as ever next year. He doesn't owe me a darned thing obviously, but I'd be really bummed out if he pulls a Rosberg and bows out in the middle of a rivalry. I love Nico but can't ever forgive him for that, he screwed us all out of years of internal rivalry with milk toast Bottas taking his seat! He single handedly could have saved us a bunch of boring F1 years but nope hah!

Lewis has gotta comeback. If we get denied another rivalry right when it's heating up that would suck!

Agree. Max wants him back for sure.

[HypoxicWaiter]

If Lewis does retire, then will we see Ocon move to Merc and Gasly to Alpine?

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

2021 vs 2022

Adrian Newey came close to being a cropper, cycles are dangerous off-road even when wearing a helmet.His wife has given more details of Adrian (who belongs to no 'social media') saying he had a few skull fractures from his ride in a dangerous place but within 10 days of his treatment he was sitting on the pit wall again being extremely fortunate to survive.

[GuidoK]

Originally Posted by HypoxicWaiter

If Lewis does retire, then will we see Ocon move to Merc and Gasly to Alpine?

I think Nyck de Vries will fill HAM's seat in that case.

I don't think Ocon and Gasly will be cut loose from their contractual obligations.
If anyone from within the F1 drivers pool must fill HAM's seat for sure he'll be coming from a team that uses Merc's engines.

But HAM won't retire.

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by NickyC

I check Lewis' Twitter from time to time, still no tweets since the 11th (night before the race).
I hope the rumors of a retirement are just that and he's back as strong as ever next year. He doesn't owe me a darned thing obviously, but I'd be really bummed out if he pulls a Rosberg and bows out in the middle of a rivalry. I love Nico but can't ever forgive him for that, he screwed us all out of years of internal rivalry with milk toast Bottas taking his seat! He single handedly could have saved us a bunch of boring F1 years but nope hah!
Lewis has gotta comeback. If we get denied another rivalry right when it's heating up that would suck!

I do not see Hamilton retiring for various reasons (resilience, pride, possibility to beat Verstappen and get WDC #8, contractual commitments with Mercedes, money/damages, etc.). IMHO 2021 was just 'Game Of Thrones' season #1 of 3.

IMHO Hamilton is currently just having a complete time-out to process the 2021 defeat. He will recharge and get back. In general, it would be great if Hamilton sticks around in 2022 and 2023 to give Verstappen a run for his money in titanic race battles, giving a new shot at WDC #8 or to impede WDC #2 for Verstappen in 2022 or 2023, and in the meantime guide the very talented Russell on how to deal with Verstappen.

Mercedes does not want to experience again what Rosberg did late 2016. Russell needs an experienced team mate next to him.

Should Hamilton retire now (not gonna happen), I think that Mercedes will quickly pull Bottas back in. Toto Wollf has a very good relationship with Frédéric Vasseur (Alfa Romeo Racing team principal), Bottas is most familiar with the car and team, and Giovinazzi will gladly recover his lost seat. Or Mercedes could even offer Nyck De Vries or Stoffel Vandoorne to Vasseur as trade-off for getting Bottas back into the Mercedes seat. Rosberg has not raced for 5 years and has the same old age as Hamilton: unlikely that he's prepared to make the harsh physical sacrifices to get fit for March 2022.

F1 2021 drivers - Age:

• 01 | 17/10/1979 | Kimi Räikkönen
• 02 | 29/07/1981 | Fernando Alonso
• 03 | 07/01/1985 | Lewis Hamilton
• 04 | 03/07/1987 | Sebastian Vettel
• 05 | 01/07/1989 | Daniel Ricciardo
• 06 | 28/08/1989 | Valtteri Bottas
• 07 | 26/01/1990 | Sergio Perez
• 08 | 14/12/1993 | Antonio Giovinazzi
• 09 | 01/09/1994 | Carlos Sainz
• 10 | 29/06/1995 | Nicolas Latifi
• 11 | 07/02/1996 | Pierre Gasly
• 12 | 17/09/1996 | Esteban Ocon
• 13 | 30/09/1997 | Max Verstappen
• 14 | 16/10/1997 | Charles Leclerc
• 15 | 15/02/1998 | George Russell
• 16 | 29/10/1998 | Lance Stroll
• 17 | 02/03/1999 | Nikita Mazepin
• 18 | 22/03/1999 | Mick Schumacher
• 19 | 13/11/1999 | Lando Norris
• 20 | 11/05/2000 | Yuki Tsunoda

Also:

• 27/06/1985 | Nico Rosberg
• 19/08/1987 | Nico Hulkenberg
• 26/03/1992 | Stoffel Vandoorne
• 06/02/1995 | Nyck de Vries
• 23/03/1996 | Alex Albon
• 30/05/1999 | Guanyu Zhou
• 16/09/1999 | Robert Shwartzman
• 06/04/2001 | Oscar Piastri
• 20/08/2003 | Théo Pourchaire

See what Niki Lauda said back in 2017 about Rosberg's sudden departure after winning the F1 2016 WDC:

00:13 - 03:38:

[M5Rick]

Hamilton ''will'' retire says Ecclestone.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by NickyC

I check Lewis' Twitter from time to time, still no tweets since the 11th (night before the race).

I hope the rumors of a retirement are just that and he's back as strong as ever next year. He doesn't owe me a darned thing obviously, but I'd be really bummed out if he pulls a Rosberg and bows out in the middle of a rivalry. I love Nico but can't ever forgive him for that, he screwed us all out of years of internal rivalry with milk toast Bottas taking his seat! He single handedly could have saved us a bunch of boring F1 years but nope hah!

Lewis has gotta comeback. If we get denied another rivalry right when it's heating up that would suck!

*****

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

*****

This could be the reason he has switched off phones, social media and gone 'underground'.

[Killed by Death]

I just can't see HAM retiring because he lost one championship to bad luck. There is no reason to think MB won't comeback strong and give him a chance for several more titles!

Then again, he has many more interests & opportunities. I'm sure beating MSC's 7 WDCs would be nice but he has nothing else to prove.

Of course I'm no HAM fan but he would be sorely missed.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

This could be the reason he has switched off phones, social media and gone 'underground'.

Indeed , that's why I posted the video . It is a possibility .But Wolff won't say that , as we know the WCC title is always been extremely important for Mercedes .
The WCC title is where the big money speaks .
In other words : "Financial Speculation"

Useless to say that HAM is aware of the whole nasty situation...

#BlitzKrieg

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by Killed by Death

I just can't see HAM retiring because he lost one championship to bad luck. There is no reason to think MB won't comeback strong and give him a chance for several more titles!

Then again, he has many more interests & opportunities. I'm sure beating MSC's 7 WDCs would be nice but he has nothing else to prove.

Of course I'm no HAM fan but he would be sorely missed.

He was born 35 miles from me at the time and over here the disrespect between someone to another in that community or 'diss' for short means a lot more than would meet the casual eye.

[Killed by Death]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

He was born 35 miles from me at the time and over here the disrespect between someone to another in that community or 'diss' for short means a lot more than would meet the casual eye.

Quit because of disrespect from the team if true? It's a team sport and I'm sure HAM understands that. Disappointed? Sure. Quit over it no way. HAM can't be that fragile. I'd come back stronger and more dangerous.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by Killed by Death

Quit because of disrespect from the team if true? It's a team sport and I'm sure HAM understands that. Disappointed? Sure. Quit over it no way. HAM can't be that fragile. I'd come back stronger and more dangerous.

At 36 if he has tons of cash then why would he remain, he has many other interests with music and vegetarian cooking being a couple of them.
Lauda did say he's like no other driver character wise though not impossible to get on with but if there's writing on the wall then maybe it's a sign.

[Killed by Death]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

At 36 if he has tons of cash then why would he remain, he has many other interests with music and vegetarian cooking being a couple of them.
Lauda did say he's like no other driver character wise though not impossible to get on with but if there's writing on the wall then maybe it's a sign.

Yep, that was the other part of my original post...But, if he was entertaining idea's of retirement why sulk and have a twitter meltdown

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by Killed by Death

Yep, that was the other part of my original post...But, if he was entertaining idea's of retirement why sulk and have a twitter meltdown

It's a mystery.

[fiveohwblow]

Originally Posted by Killed by Death

Yep, that was the other part of my original post...But, if he was entertaining idea's of retirement why sulk and have a twitter meltdown

Lack of sportsmanship if it is in fact a meltdown. I perceive it to be more strategic.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by Killed by Death

Yep, that was the other part of my original post...But, if he was entertaining idea's of retirement why sulk and have a twitter meltdown

The latest rumors : J.Todt returns at Ferrari !

[M5Rick]

^ From what I read a 'super consultant' role may be in the offing.

[Killed by Death]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

The latest rumors : J.Todt returns at Ferrari !

Originally Posted by M5Rick

^ From what I read a 'super consultant' role may be in the offing.

Somebody needs to supervise Binotto!!! Thinking Ferrari could find somebody better

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by Killed by Death

Somebody needs to supervise Binotto!!! Thinking Ferrari could find somebody better

I think that Binotto is aware that Todt knows what HAM got under his Rocket PU cover. Ferrari would buy that with pleasure

I'm pretty sure that Ferrari in '22 will speak on track again ..

In other words : Todt's underwear is always been red !

[Killed by Death]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

I think that Binotto is aware that Todt knows what HAM got under his Rocket PU cover. Ferrari would buy that with pleasure

I'm pretty sure that Ferrari in '22 will speak on track again ..

In other words : Todt's underwear is always been red !

If true, Ferrari would have had to plan this LONG AGO. Plus they are too far along with the next generation engine

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by Killed by Death

If true, Ferrari would have had to plan this LONG AGO. Plus they are too far along with the next generation engine

As much as the excitement goes with Todt maybe going back to Maranello I don't see how it will actually help them a lot with that engine whatever he tells them about what Ham had under the engine covers and probably won't suit Ferrari PU with different config and too far in with it.
Having said that McLarens Seidl has said the Merc PU was nothing special in Hams car but I think he's just stirring after losing out to Ferrari in the points.