Curious what Haas does with Malzipin I think ultimately they keep a low profile over the break and tough it out because the amount of money he brings. But if they are looking for a pay driver Kyviat could be a option.
So since I started paying attention from what I can remember Still on the same team- Hamilton Bottas Changed teams- Max Ricc x2 Sainz x2 Vettel Leclerc Perez Kimi (I think lost a spot then came back) Alonso (lost a spot for 2 years now back) Gasly Ocon Stroll New drivers- Lando Schum Gio Latifi Mazipin Russell Tsunoda Gone or came and went- Albon Grosjean Magnussen Kviaat Niko Sirotkin Probably missing a few of those.
My guess is they’ll put Malzipin on the shortest leash imaginable. Not only is his off track stuff iffy, but it’s likely the FIA are going to carry over his dangerous driving points from F2 which he was 1 point away from being disqualified from his next race. If he doesn’t quickly get his act together my guess is mid season them/Ferrari will put Illot in the other seat and just go full on Ferrari second team for a couple of seasons. I’m also hopeful that with the new engine Ferrari is hyping, that Haas can get it more together moving forward. I’d like to see them battling in that midfield
I am so conflicted. I've been an Alonso fan since forever (I watched F1 a lot his first few seasons after watching all the 90s, then sorta took a break, then watched a few years, then took a break, then followed last three years). But Cyril....blech. Still, pretty cool to see him pin the marker on the other Renault/Alpine drivers at the test. (Also, I guess I'm eating my words from a week ago about him not having kept up, etc.)
It’ll be interesting to see what happens over there. They seem to really be hitting their stride. I do think if you asked Carlos today off the record he’d say he’d want to stay at McLaren. The drivers had the right mix of energy with each other and the team. That’s hard to put a value on. Danny Ric I think will do well there. Maybe slightly talented than Carlos, and likely will have them competing for 3rd again next season. I am very interested to see how the Merc engine will pair with their car. The battle for 3rd next year could be awesome again, when you figure that racing point will still be there, Renault should at worst maintain its competitiveness, and you’d like to think that Ferrari would be in that battle as well. This could be a wild season coming up
Hope so. As regards the drivers, the midpack this year is pretty fascinating. Seems like whoever wants it most will prevail. Sainz to Ferrari honestly is a bit of a mystery to me. Maybe he's a younger Checo, but not sure he's a greater talent. He's not a Leclerc, but few are (and of course they don't want two number ones).
Carlos only finished ahead of Lando in one more race this year than vice versa. This, despite Sainz having 6 yrs of experience in F1 and this was just Lando's 2nd year.
Sainz is a place holder. He's keeping a seat warm for either one of the Ferrari academy kids when they take over in 2023 Carlos isn't anything special. Danny is a step up in talent. If he outperforms Danny he's going to start being considered in the same group as Lewis, Max and Charles and Riccardo and Alonso as the best drivers in F1. If he doesn't he's gonna be the next Sainz, Bottas as a trusted #2 and nothing more on a top team
They chose him because they need money to develop the engine they no longer have a factory doing for them. That’s my cynical take.
He doesn’t bring that much money to the table. Yes he brings sponsors, but you’re talking big big money there. That’s Stroll Malzipin type funding which I’m pretty sure Checo doesn’t offer.
He brings those sponsors of course, but Red Bull didn’t bring him in for money. They brought him in because they needed someone to keep their second car within a pit stop on the mercs and Max. Also to qualify at or near the top of the grid.
His net worth is 30m + and his biggest sponsors are Claro, Telcel and Telmex. Telmex basically funded sauber during Checo’s rookie year. Red Bull have a money issue because they have a engine issue. If it was only about putting a top driver next to Max. That seat would’ve been filled by Hulkenberg.
I don’t think people understand how fucked RB are when it comes to the engine issue. Ferrari and Mercedes aren’t giving them a engine Renault and RB have a toxic relationship. I don’t see RB groveling back to Renault. Honda is gone after next year. At this point the plan is to develop the Honda engine post 2021 on there own. Good luck with that. Also why they are brining checo in over say Hulk imho. Same reason Malzpin is at Haas even with the sexual assault looming. Haas is broke. These teams need money and these drivers are paying for the seat. RB need another top engine manufacture to enter the sport in the worst way.
We can agree to disagree. In my eyes Checo is significantly better than Hulk. He did just get 4th in the championship, and he missed two races with covid, and had another end when his engine crapped out at the very end of the race. Red Bull’s engine issue isn’t a financial one, it’s a bad luck getting into bed with Honda issue and Covid causing Honda to revisit their investment into the sport. So with that said they brought Checo in to compete in the races, sure the money he brings doesn’t hurt, and it’ll put an extra few bucks in the coffers, but Red Bull isn’t Haas, or even Sauber. They’re far from poor. What Red Bull does have in its back pocket is the rules that require Renault to work with Red Bull if they can’t sort it out on their own. I agree they/F1 needs a new engine manufacturer, but with the huge changes taking place in 22’ it seems that no new supplier is willing to jump into the sport until after a season or two post 2022.
Yeah, Hulk and Checo aren't even comparable in a raceday scenario. Checo started out as someone who looked like a pay driver of the worst sort, but over his career has consistently shown that he is able to take care of tires and bring good results every race. I've changed in my thoughts of him over time.
Checo is amazing on his tires, probably the best in F1. I’m not sure how fast he is... we will find out next year.
I love Hulk. Sucks for him there isn't a spot. Of course his spot is really one of the Haas drives, or Stroll, etc. But $$$$
Mercedes did a bit of reshuffle. Totto got 3% more ownership and will stick on for 3 more years. Curious if Lewis signs for 2 or 3 years now
It's like a very complicated thing but to cut it down as simple as possible they set his car up and he's so good on the acceleration that he finds a good pace that doesn't crush the tires. It often allows him to go longer on stints or cut races from 2 stops to 1. But basically its in his feet
Is this a report saying he's being removed? Not a ton of options on the market. I guess you could go to Ferrari for Illiot or Hulk or some lower radar pay to drive talent
I think you make a call to Hulk, but I’m not sure they’d be willing to pay him what he’s asking for. In my eyes Ferrari would be willing to offer up Illiot with the quickness. I said it earlier but it’d help solidify Haas’s status as the Ferrari junior team in the near term.
Hell just go with Albon. Fuck it, have Gene call up Kevin Harvick There are dozens of drivers they could call up that are as qualified as Mazepin - they just don't have the same economic impact on the team. Lots of retreads out there with nothing to do. Hulk Albon Mags Grosjean Kvyat All just put there without a drive. None really come with money though
I’ve watched this 15 times now. The audible pause between when Lewis asks “who’s that” and the reporter saying that he’s the team principal of Alpha Tauri is gold.