Formula 1 2018: General Discussion Thread

Harika · 16-08-2018 01:27PM

I am now curious what led to this. Was it RedBull that said no, or was it his decision to avoid more seasons with Verstappen, as from a sportive perspective RB makes more sense.

Jordan 199 · 16-08-2018 02:18PM

With all the driver changes happening, I hope Ocon doesn't lose a drive.

skipper_G · 16-08-2018 02:55PM

Harika wrote: »

I am now curious what led to this. Was it RedBull that said no, or was it his decision to avoid more seasons with Verstappen, as from a sportive perspective RB makes more sense.

I think it's safe to assume that Red Bull decided against putting him in the senior team, there's not a snowball's chance in hell Sainz turned down a Red Bull seat in favour of a Mclaren one

Charlie-Bravo · 16-08-2018 03:28PM

The seats for next year are nicely aligning....

I don't think RedBull will be quick to confirm their next driver to support Max in the senior team. I'd say the Force India Saga is next on everyone's attention.

mickdw · 16-08-2018 03:31PM

Is Sainz now free of his redbull contract - not just loaned out in some manner?
It looks like a good seat for him.
Mclaren will hopefully have all the management nonsense sorted for next season and hopefully be reasonable come next rule change.

Harika · 16-08-2018 03:32PM

skipper_G wrote: »

I think it's safe to assume that Red Bull decided against putting him in the senior team, there's not a snowball's chance in hell Sainz turned down a Red Bull seat in favour of a Mclaren one

There are options:
1. $$$ - We all love that
2. Alonso convinced him
3. Fear of Honda performance

Harika · 16-08-2018 03:33PM

mickdw wrote: »

Is Sainz now free of his redbull contract - not just loaned out in some manner?
It looks like a good seat for him.

Yes his contract ends end of the year.

AMKC · 16-08-2018 03:54PM

astrofluff wrote: »

The seats for next year are nicely aligning....

I don't think RedBull will be quick to confirm their next driver to support Max in the senior team. I'd say the Force India Saga is next on everyone's attention.

We also still have yet to find out the new name for the Force India team but I suppose they do not need to announce that until next year sometime so they have time to come up with a new name.

So where is Esteban Ocon going to end up? Hopefully he gets a drive for next year.
Options being he gets to stay at Force India or moves to either Williams, Sauber or possibly Haas.

Harika · 16-08-2018 04:00PM

AMKC wrote: »

So where is Esteban Ocon going to end up? Hopefully he gets a drive for next year.
Options being he gets to stay at Force India or moves to either Williams, Sauber or possibly Haas.

Ocon is Mercedes Junior, so FI or Williams. No chance that Mercedes will let his talent go to Ferrari.

Charlie-Bravo · 16-08-2018 05:02PM

So a potential for Stroll to go to FI, then Ocon to go to Williams (as in a straight swap)? It'd be such a step down for Ocon, and a huge step up for Stroll. It'd be completely wrong, and a sickly feeling for me knowing talent will be wasted.

GarIT · 16-08-2018 05:09PM

astrofluff wrote: »

So a potential for Stroll to go to FI, then Ocon to go to Williams (as in a straight swap)? It'd be such a step down for Ocon, and a huge step up for Stroll. It'd be completely wrong, and a sickly feeling for me knowing talent will be wasted.

There are a few other outside chances.
Perez to RBR, McLaren or HAAS, keeping a seat for Ocon.
If anyone Perez might just lost his seat, Mercedes is involved with the deal to buy FI, they may become Mercedes jr, so they would keep he Mercedes jr driver Ocon.

There are potentially two free seats at TR, if Gasly goes to RBR and they have said they will do anything they can to replace Hartley.

flazio · 16-08-2018 06:13PM

And let's not forget, if Red Bull promote from Toro Rosso that leaves an empty TR seat and do Red Bull have a young driver to come through?

skipper_G · 16-08-2018 06:46PM

flazio wrote: »

And let's not forget, if Red Bull promote from Toro Rosso that leaves an empty TR seat and do Red Bull have a young driver to come through?

They have no current juniors with a super licence so they have 2 options
1. former Red Bull program drivers (eg; Buemi/Vergne) or
2. current driver from another team (eg; Vandoorne)

I've been having a good think, and there's also an outside bet. Alex Albon is a former Red Bull junior driver, currently 3rd in F2. Previously he's done well in both Formula Renault & GP3 and all he needs for a super licence is a top 5 finish in the F2 championship

kksaints · 16-08-2018 07:13PM

flazio wrote: »

And let's not forget, if Red Bull promote from Toro Rosso that leaves an empty TR seat and do Red Bull have a young driver to come through?

And that's supposing they want to keep Hartley who has been unimpressive this season.

Harika · 16-08-2018 08:17PM

flazio wrote: »

And let's not forget, if Red Bull promote from Toro Rosso that leaves an empty TR seat and do Red Bull have a young driver to come through?

Dan Ticktum will have the points after that season. Geleal maybe but if they want to keep it within the family hartley might be safe. Or shock returns of verge

GarIT · 16-08-2018 10:52PM

kksaints wrote: »

And that's supposing they want to keep Hartley who has been unimpressive this season.

They don't, they have admitted they are even looking for replacements that may be able to start within this season.

skipper_G · 16-08-2018 11:07PM

Harika wrote: »

Dan Ticktum will have the points after that season. Geleal maybe but if they want to keep it within the family hartley might be safe. Or shock returns of verge

Neither Ticktum or Gelael can qualify for a super licence. Even if Ticktum wins F3 he won't have enough points. And Gelael is 14th in F2, can't get the points he needs down there.

Charlie-Bravo · 17-08-2018 12:51AM

This is a wild assumption: Artem Markelov might get loaned out to RB. I know he's Renault, but with the whole Sainz thing going on in the last year, I'd be surprised if somewhere in Sainz's contact that he didn't get to leave so easy, and Renault/McLaren release deal may have something in it. So Gasly to RB, Artem Markelov to TR?! Mega silly stuff I know

PopePalpatine · 17-08-2018 10:39AM

What about McLaren's junior drivers, de Vries & Norris? Toro Rosso could be willing to cut James Key's gardening leave short for them.

ayux4rj6zql2ph · 17-08-2018 01:57PM

LIGHTNING wrote: »

Would love to see Vergne or Buemi given another shot.

Buemi is still the RBR test driver isn't he?

Vergne in FE was like a different man altogether from the F1 days, bring him back.

In fact I would like to see some F1 refugees return in general to see how they go.

ELM327 · 17-08-2018 02:07PM

Prisoner 6753 wrote: »

Buemi is still the RBR test driver isn't he?

Vergne in FE was like a different man altogether from the F1 days, bring him back.

In fact I would like to see some F1 refugees return in general to see how they go.

Crashtor....?

AMKC · 17-08-2018 02:08PM

Prisoner 6753 wrote: »

Buemi is still the RBR test driver isn't he?

Vergne in FE was like a different man altogether from the F1 days, bring him back.

In fact I would like to see some F1 refugees return in general to see how they go.

I think it was Vergne that said he would not come back to F1 now even if he was asked.

https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/formula-1/ferrari/news/vergne-doubts-he-would-accept-f1-return_325365.html

Maybe he is right. He has a secure job now but if he came back to F1 it would be less secure.

ayux4rj6zql2ph · 17-08-2018 02:12PM

ELM327 wrote: »

Crashtor....?

I retract my previous statement

ayux4rj6zql2ph · 17-08-2018 02:25PM

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/opinion/f1/mph-how-robert-kubica-could-return-williams-f1

Carlos Sainz’s signing for McLaren as Fernando Alonso’s replacement for 2019 puts another piece in the driver market jigsaw. But we may be about to see some pieces being moved by the very next race at Spa, with Lance Stroll quite possibly switching to Force India and his place being taken at Williams by Robert Kubica. Central to all this is Toto Wolff’s assistance to his young driver Esteban Ocon – and that dynamic almost resulted in an even more complex switch around of seats in Hungary.

flazio · 17-08-2018 04:38PM

Vergne is the Formula E champion isn't he? I wouldn't drop out of defending that just to fill up the numbers on an F1 grid.

Charlie-Bravo · 17-08-2018 05:28PM

Harika wrote: »

https://mobile.twitter.com/racefansdotnet/status/1030483751392960512

Wow what a look behind the scenes

That is too busy for me...how does any gallery operate effectively with so many voices?!

skipper_G · 17-08-2018 05:31PM

astrofluff wrote: »

That is too busy for me...how does any gallery operate effectively with so many voices?!

I know! It's total chaos, imagine that for 2 straight hours.

Great video Harika

mickdw · 17-08-2018 06:20PM

flazio wrote: »

Vergne is the Formula E champion isn't he? I wouldn't drop out of defending that just to fill up the numbers on an F1 grid.

True but a good solid f1 drive is surely better that sticking to formula E. It's almost childish in comparison.
I like Vergne and he should never have left f1. He was a quick as ricciardo if I remember right.

GarIT · 17-08-2018 07:46PM

mickdw wrote: »

True but a good solid f1 drive is surely better that sticking to formula E. It's almost childish in comparison.
I like Vergne and he should never have left f1. He was a quick as ricciardo if I remember right.

He didn't have a choice, he was kicked out. Helmut Marko (I think) decided he was too old to stay at Toro Rosso and there wasn't space for him at RBR and that season there weren't any other non-paid seats available.

There was a lot of speculation over who would get the RBR seat, nobody knew whether it would be Vergne or Ricciardo until it was announced, it was so close, there was literally only a couple of quali's and a race between them. I think it was actually looking likely to be Vergne but than Ricciardo out raced Vergne three races in a row and that decided it or something like that. There was really nothing between them.

flazio · 17-08-2018 07:49PM

So, in a shock move. Gasly stays at Toro Rosso and JEV gets the Red Bull seat.

Formula 1 2018: General Discussion Thread

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