West Ham Online

One Sunny Day" wrote: ↑11 Jul 2025, 07:48 It'll be funny is Ferrari pick up Whinger Spice and Max goes to Mercedes anyway. Imagine a battle of Hamilton backed up by Horner vs Verstappen backed up by Wolff.

El Scorchio" wrote: ↑10 Jul 2025, 13:55

Russ of the BML" wrote: ↑10 Jul 2025, 12:06

El Scorchio" wrote: ↑10 Jul 2025, 09:19

Almost certain Jos gave them an ultimatum. Yeah they could still go but I think now they basically run the team and will make all the calls- car design, second driver team orders etc. and over two teams rather than one. 

So I do think he stays, because simply he won’t get that to the same extent anywhere else. There’s only so much a team will put up with. Toto Wolff won’t just fold to everything, although that seems the most likely destination if anywhere. McLaren don’t need him at this point in time- they can win easily with what they have- and I think he would want both drivers gone TBH which I don’t think they’d be prepared to do. In addition they could be nowhere next season with the new regs. 

They probably see who has the best car next season and angle for a move to that team if Red Bull is shit. Then he spends 2026 just driving angry with nothing to lose and punting people off track making silly moves because the sport doesn’t have the bollocks -and never has- to deal with him properly and now it’s simply too late for that. 

Maybe Aston in 2027 actually if Newey makes a good one. He’d be ok with Lance Stroll as a teammate as he will be so far behind him in every race and Alonso will be ancient so that might be a good fit. 

Well put. And all perfectly plausible. 

Although, I am not so sure that Max is not as averse to a competitive team-mate as people may think. I know he has the reputation as being a spoilt brat - And alot of the time, rightly so - But I do think that if he could be guaranteed a genuine championship winning car (which McLaren is at this time although you are right to point to changing regs) then I don't think he would be too bothered if his team-mate had the same. Bottom line, Max is a 100% racer and I think would relish the challenge. 

I mean, at the end of the day, him and his old man know that of he has a championship car, then its all down to him to deliver. 

 

Cheers!
Yeah TBH it's nice just to have a conversation about something (and about F1 which almost everyone on here hates)
Yes, I'll rephrase it. He will want a 'compliant' team mate- undoubtedly he'll demand a Schumacher type situation and to be fair he's probably entitled to- but that will by definition rule out any of the decent drivers with aspirations wanting to go there knowing they'll get the treatment Whatever team he's in it won't be an even fight, contractually. However he's much more likely to get that at Red Bull than Mercedes. They as a car company and like most teams prioritise the WCC and the WDC is the feather in the cap and they need two drivers at the sharp end. Red Bull have always been the other way round wanting a WDC to sell drinks as they don't have a car to try and sell and couldn't really care less where the second driver finishes. I think they just went too far developing the car to Verstappen's specific demands so he alone could get the maximum out of it to the point where his teammates aren't even in the position to play spoiler to the other contenders any more- like Perez did in his first season. That's what they want. A second driver who will mess up other people's races to support him and not take any points off him whatsoever. (I remember Verstappen's hissy fit when the team asked him to let Perez by, at no cost to Verstappen in terms of his WDC standing but to help Perez get a higher WDC position)
I think that just got too embarrassing for the team optics when the car is so skewed to Verstappen's tastes that the other drivers couldn't get a tune out of it at all- added to the fact they are putting shit in the second seat, quite frankly this season. 

Anyway, it will be very interesting!

Russ of the BML" wrote: ↑01 Mar 2024, 14:45 Always had a thing for Ginger Spice. Great norks. And I reckon a few wines in and she goes like a fucking steam train. Up for anything. My mate's uncle used to work on the Spice Girl tours and allegedly she was a bit of a goer and her thing was to sit on blokes faces. She demanded it. I'd happily let her sit on my face.

 

BerlingtonBertie wrote: ↑10 Jul 2025, 13:05 Piastri and Verstappen would be fireworks.
Two fantastic drivers but they’ll never end up on the same team.
Norris makes too many mistakes and is mentally weak - I’d have him out, too many moles and mistakes for me. He’s generally been shown up this year. Piastri will win the title even though he has as much personality as Sven, another dull Aussie

Russ of the BML" wrote: ↑10 Jul 2025, 12:06

El Scorchio" wrote: ↑10 Jul 2025, 09:19

Russ of the BML" wrote: ↑10 Jul 2025, 08:51

Very likely. 

And as Berlington suggested, you know that Jos Verstappen has almost certainly played a big part in this. Seems more than a coincidence that the first season Max's car is clearly not good enough to win the championship, Horner is jettisoned. 

Didn't do himself any favours with the antics and also seemingly posturing in front of Newey.

Weird thing is, I still think Max will leave, and I am going to make a bold call that I think He could go to McLaren to replace Lando and partner Piastri. It will be contraversial but I think McLaren may well now see Lando as incapable of winning a championship. I just feel that Lando needs to win it this year. If he does I could see him and Piastri satying. If Piastri wins it then I think Lando could be off. Just a hunch. I may be miles off. 

Almost certain Jos gave them an ultimatum. Yeah they could still go but I think now they basically run the team and will make all the calls- car design, second driver team orders etc. and over two teams rather than one. 

So I do think he stays, because simply he won’t get that to the same extent anywhere else. There’s only so much a team will put up with. Toto Wolff won’t just fold to everything, although that seems the most likely destination if anywhere. McLaren don’t need him at this point in time- they can win easily with what they have- and I think he would want both drivers gone TBH which I don’t think they’d be prepared to do. In addition they could be nowhere next season with the new regs. 

They probably see who has the best car next season and angle for a move to that team if Red Bull is shit. Then he spends 2026 just driving angry with nothing to lose and punting people off track making silly moves because the sport doesn’t have the bollocks -and never has- to deal with him properly and now it’s simply too late for that. 

Maybe Aston in 2027 actually if Newey makes a good one. He’d be ok with Lance Stroll as a teammate as he will be so far behind him in every race and Alonso will be ancient so that might be a good fit. 

Well put. And all perfectly plausible. 

Although, I am not so sure that Max is not as averse to a competitive team-mate as people may think. I know he has the reputation as being a spoilt brat - And alot of the time, rightly so - But I do think that if he could be guaranteed a genuine championship winning car (which McLaren is at this time although you are right to point to changing regs) then I don't think he would be too bothered if his team-mate had the same. Bottom line, Max is a 100% racer and I think would relish the challenge. 

I mean, at the end of the day, him and his old man know that of he has a championship car, then its all down to him to deliver. 

El Scorchio" wrote: ↑10 Jul 2025, 09:19

Russ of the BML" wrote: ↑10 Jul 2025, 08:51

El Scorchio" wrote: ↑09 Jul 2025, 19:19

I reckon this move is to make Verstappen stay, TBH. They’ll have promised him and his dad pretty much control over what goes on and who gets hired or not. 

Very likely. 

And as Berlington suggested, you know that Jos Verstappen has almost certainly played a big part in this. Seems more than a coincidence that the first season Max's car is clearly not good enough to win the championship, Horner is jettisoned. 

Didn't do himself any favours with the antics and also seemingly posturing in front of Newey.

Weird thing is, I still think Max will leave, and I am going to make a bold call that I think He could go to McLaren to replace Lando and partner Piastri. It will be contraversial but I think McLaren may well now see Lando as incapable of winning a championship. I just feel that Lando needs to win it this year. If he does I could see him and Piastri satying. If Piastri wins it then I think Lando could be off. Just a hunch. I may be miles off. 

Almost certain Jos gave them an ultimatum. Yeah they could still go but I think now they basically run the team and will make all the calls- car design, second driver team orders etc. and over two teams rather than one. 

So I do think he stays, because simply he won’t get that to the same extent anywhere else. There’s only so much a team will put up with. Toto Wolff won’t just fold to everything, although that seems the most likely destination if anywhere. McLaren don’t need him at this point in time- they can win easily with what they have- and I think he would want both drivers gone TBH which I don’t think they’d be prepared to do. In addition they could be nowhere next season with the new regs. 

They probably see who has the best car next season and angle for a move to that team if Red Bull is shit. Then he spends 2026 just driving angry with nothing to lose and punting people off track making silly moves because the sport doesn’t have the bollocks -and never has- to deal with him properly and now it’s simply too late for that. 

Maybe Aston in 2027 actually if Newey makes a good one. He’d be ok with Lance Stroll as a teammate as he will be so far behind him in every race and Alonso will be ancient so that might be a good fit. 

Russ of the BML" wrote: ↑10 Jul 2025, 08:51

El Scorchio" wrote: ↑09 Jul 2025, 19:19

zebthecat wrote: ↑09 Jul 2025, 16:24

It is not just Adrian Newey either. Their Technical Director and Head of Strategy have also left and, maybe, Max Verstappen as well shortly.

I reckon this move is to make Verstappen stay, TBH. They’ll have promised him and his dad pretty much control over what goes on and who gets hired or not. 

Very likely. 

And as Berlington suggested, you know that Jos Verstappen has almost certainly played a big part in this. Seems more than a coincidence that the first season Max's car is clearly not good enough to win the championship, Horner is jettisoned. 

Didn't do himself any favours with the antics and also seemingly posturing in front of Newey.

Weird thing is, I still think Max will leave, and I am going to make a bold call that I think He could go to McLaren to replace Lando and partner Piastri. It will be contraversial but I think McLaren may well now see Lando as incapable of winning a championship. I just feel that Lando needs to win it this year. If he does I could see him and Piastri satying. If Piastri wins it then I think Lando could be off. Just a hunch. I may be miles off. 

El Scorchio" wrote: ↑09 Jul 2025, 19:19

zebthecat wrote: ↑09 Jul 2025, 16:24

El Scorchio" wrote: ↑09 Jul 2025, 13:27

Lots of hubris. Thought he was more important than Adrian Newey.

It is not just Adrian Newey either. Their Technical Director and Head of Strategy have also left and, maybe, Max Verstappen as well shortly.

I reckon this move is to make Verstappen stay, TBH. They’ll have promised him and his dad pretty much control over what goes on and who gets hired or not. 

zebthecat wrote: ↑09 Jul 2025, 16:24

El Scorchio" wrote: ↑09 Jul 2025, 13:27

Russ of the BML" wrote: ↑09 Jul 2025, 13:13 Deserved to go despite all the antics. 

Has failed numerous partners to Verstappen with a second rate car, Tsunoda currently, Lawson, Perez, Gasly, Albon, Sainz, Ricciardo. And now they can't even get Verstappen's car to work properly....

The cards have fallen. Time to go. 

Lots of hubris. Thought he was more important than Adrian Newey.

It is not just Adrian Newey either. Their Technical Director and Head of Strategy have also left and, maybe, Max Verstappen as well shortly.

Swiss. wrote: ↑09 Jul 2025, 17:22 Poor guy sacked and maried to a ginger. 

El Scorchio" wrote: ↑09 Jul 2025, 13:27

Russ of the BML" wrote: ↑09 Jul 2025, 13:13 Deserved to go despite all the antics. 

Has failed numerous partners to Verstappen with a second rate car, Tsunoda currently, Lawson, Perez, Gasly, Albon, Sainz, Ricciardo. And now they can't even get Verstappen's car to work properly....

The cards have fallen. Time to go. 

Lots of hubris. Thought he was more important than Adrian Newey.

Russ of the BML" wrote: ↑09 Jul 2025, 13:13 Deserved to go despite all the antics. 

Has failed numerous partners to Verstappen with a second rate car, Tsunoda currently, Lawson, Perez, Gasly, Albon, Sainz, Ricciardo. And now they can't even get Verstappen's car to work properly....

The cards have fallen. Time to go.