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The Checkered Flag

@TheCheckerFlag

Independent motorsport news since 2009

 Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK
thecheckeredflag.co.uk
Joined August 2009
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Photo by The Checkered Flag (@TheCheckerFlag)Photo by The Checkered Flag (@TheCheckerFlag)Photo by The Checkered Flag (@TheCheckerFlag)Photo by The Checkered Flag (@TheCheckerFlag)Photo by The Checkered Flag (@TheCheckerFlag)Photo by The Checkered Flag (@TheCheckerFlag)Photo by The Checkered Flag (@TheCheckerFlag)Photo by The Checkered Flag (@TheCheckerFlag)Photo by The Checkered Flag (@TheCheckerFlag)Photo by The Checkered Flag (@TheCheckerFlag)
1989, my first Test in the yellow submarine F3000 with famous Jordan employees and Martin Donnelly Patron
Image from Heinz Harald Frentzen (@frentzen_hh)
Image from Heinz Harald Frentzen (@frentzen_hh)
Image from Heinz Harald Frentzen (@frentzen_hh)
Image from Heinz Harald Frentzen (@frentzen_hh)
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TCF F1 (@tcfF1News) profile picture
TCF F1@tcfF1News26 Mar 2024
🧵As always, we hope you enjoyed this thread and found it interesting. Retweets are appreciated! Follow @tcfF1News for more F1 content like this in the future!
Back of Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes garage. Credit: Sam Bloxham.

ALT Back of Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes garage. Credit: Sam Bloxham.

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TCF F1 (@tcfF1News) profile picture
TCF F1@tcfF1News26 Mar 2024
Our 2025 Mercedes driver We think Carlos Sainz is the best option for 2025 at Mercedes, although recency bias may come into that decision. There's plenty of drivers wanting that seat, so it'll certainly be interesting to see who is alongside Russell next year.
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TCF F1 (@tcfF1News) profile picture
TCF F1@tcfF1News26 Mar 2024
A surprise name? If Daniel Ricciardo keeps his seat at RB, why can't Liam Lawson sign for Mercedes. We saw Oscar Piastri do it with Alpine and McLaren, and we all know anything can happen in F1. Theo Pourchaire and Felipe Drugovich are F2 Champions without seats too...
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TCF F1 (@tcfF1News) profile picture
TCF F1@tcfF1News26 Mar 2024
Other options Mick Schumacher could be considered, but considering the options available, it's unlikely. The same could be said for Esteban Ocon and even Valtteri Bottas, who is without a seat in 2025.
Mick Schumacher. Photo: Jiri Krenek

ALT Mick Schumacher. Photo: Jiri Krenek

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TCF F1 (@tcfF1News) profile picture
TCF F1@tcfF1News26 Mar 2024
Option 4 - Carlos Sainz (cont.) He'd work well with George and it's very clear that he can win races. Can he win a WDC? Definitely, if given the right car to do so. Carlos would be a great option for Mercedes, and he's proven that so far this season.
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TCF F1 (@tcfF1News) profile picture
TCF F1@tcfF1News26 Mar 2024
Option 4 - Carlos Sainz Carlos Sainz making the list is no surprise after his win at Albert Park. He may not have been a candidate after the news of Lewis leaving Mercedes became public knowledge, but he'll certainly be on lots of team principal's lists for 2025.
Carlos Sainz. Photo: Scuderia Ferrari Press Office.

ALT Carlos Sainz. Photo: Scuderia Ferrari Press Office.

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TCF F1 (@tcfF1News) profile picture
TCF F1@tcfF1News26 Mar 2024
Option 3 - Fernando Alonso (cont.) George Russell may not like the idea though. He wants to be team leader and if it's very clear Mercedes see him as the future, so why undermine that by bringing in Fernando. Plenty to think about for Toto and Mercedes.
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TCF F1 (@tcfF1News) profile picture
TCF F1@tcfF1News26 Mar 2024
Option 3 - Fernando Alonso (cont.) He can win races if given the right car and many believe he could still fight for a WDC. If Mercedes are looking for a bit of short term success and a driver who can help them get to grips with the 2026 regs, then Fernando is the guy.
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TCF F1 (@tcfF1News) profile picture
TCF F1@tcfF1News26 Mar 2024
Option 3 - Fernando Alonso This one has been mentioned countless times by the media, and it certainly would spark much debate. It's not a long term option, but it is one that may give Antonelli a few years to growth further before taking an F1 seat full-time.
Fernando Alonso. Photo: Aston Martin Armaco F1 Team.

ALT Fernando Alonso. Photo: Aston Martin Armaco F1 Team.

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TCF F1 (@tcfF1News) profile picture
TCF F1@tcfF1News26 Mar 2024
Option 2 - Alex Albon (cont.) The question mark over Albon is his commitment to Williams. There's so much ambition at that team now with James Vowles in charge. Albon many want to stay a part of that as the lead driver in the team and reject any offers.
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TCF F1 (@tcfF1News) profile picture
TCF F1@tcfF1News26 Mar 2024
Option 2 - Alex Albon Alex Albon has been delivering above expectations for Williams over the past few years now and a move to a quicker team wouldn't be a surprise. He's already a top level driver, but he has room to grow and develop. He would be a very solid option.
Alex Albon. Photo: Williams Racing.

ALT Alex Albon. Photo: Williams Racing.

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TCF F1 (@tcfF1News) profile picture
TCF F1@tcfF1News26 Mar 2024
Option 1 - Kimi Antonelli (cont.) A move into F1 as an F2 champion would make sense for Antonelli too. Mercedes don't look like challengers for a title during these set of regs either, so a year of development in F1 ahead of 2026 could be the best way to fill that seat.
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TCF F1 (@tcfF1News) profile picture
TCF F1@tcfF1News26 Mar 2024
Option 1 - Kimi Antonelli (cont.) If Kimi wins the F2 Championship (currently 9th) though, then it's a completely different story. A win in F2 means he can't race in the series next year, and the next logical step would be F1.
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TCF F1 (@tcfF1News) profile picture
TCF F1@tcfF1News26 Mar 2024
Option 1 - Kimi Antonelli There has been lots of speculation about the 17-year-old since the Hamilton news and it's very clear he's a talented driver. What's not to like, he's quick, young and hungry. It would be similar to Verstappen's breakout and we all know how that went.
Kimi Antonelli.

ALT Kimi Antonelli.

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TCF F1 (@tcfF1News) profile picture
TCF F1@tcfF1News26 Mar 2024
🧵Potential options to replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes in 2025. Since Lewis' move to Ferrari in the summer, many have wondered how you can replace one of the greatest drivers of all time. We look at some options in this thread. Retweets appreciated! #TeamTCF | #F1
Lewis Hamilton. Photo: Steve Etherington.

ALT Lewis Hamilton. Photo: Steve Etherington.

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TCF F1 (@tcfF1News) profile picture
TCF F1@tcfF1News7 Mar 2024
？Problems for Mercedes? Lewis Hamilton was forced back into the pits late on during FP2 with a loss of power. Mercedes also had brake issues last weekend! Reliability could be a worry for the Silver Arrows. #TeamTCF | #SaudiArabianGP
Lewis Hamilton during Thursday Practice at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Photo: LAT Images.

ALT Lewis Hamilton during Thursday Practice at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Photo: LAT Images.

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TCF F1 (@tcfF1News) profile picture
TCF F1@tcfF1News7 Mar 2024
Thursday Practice ✅ #TeamTCF | #SaudiArabianGP
Photo: Andy Hone/Press Stake F1 Team. Zhou Guanyu during Thursday Practice for Stake F1 Team.

ALT Photo: Andy Hone/Press Stake F1 Team. Zhou Guanyu during Thursday Practice for Stake F1 Team.

Photo: LAT Images. Kevin Magnussen driving for Haas during Thursday Practice.

ALT Photo: LAT Images. Kevin Magnussen driving for Haas during Thursday Practice.

Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images. Max Verstappen during Practice on Thursday.

ALT Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images. Max Verstappen during Practice on Thursday.

Credit: LAT Images. George Russell driving during Thursday Practice.

ALT Credit: LAT Images. George Russell driving during Thursday Practice.

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TCF F1 (@tcfF1News) profile picture
TCF F1@tcfF1News7 Mar 2024
🗣️"Ferrari and Aston probably look like our biggest threats and rivals at the moment, but it looks like it’s going to go down to qualifying again." George Russell is predicting a close fight between Mercedes, Ferrari and Aston Martin this weekend! #TeamTCF | #SaudiArabianGP
George Russell speaks with the media. Photo: Sulay Kelly.

ALT George Russell speaks with the media. Photo: Sulay Kelly.

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Shaun Hollamby (@AmDessex) profile picture
Shaun Hollamby@AmDessex10 Jan 2024
Here’s a question- Do you think @BTCC should be on “pay to view”TV? Teams would have an extra income stream which enables them to run better drivers/survive. Yes it would cost money to watch it. What’s your thoughts?
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