ELM327 wrote: » Hope not, really think Kimi has done enough to keep that seat. What do they gain by bringing leclerc up? Someone to challenge vettel ala Ricciardo? And Vettel moves on? Maybe this will prompt the vettel to mercedes/lewis to ferrari swap in a year or 2.
El_Duderino 09 wrote: » Well I wonder if jules Bianchi has had an affect on Ferrari promotion policy. Ferrari has always had a young driver program but they almost never employ drivers from it. They tend to go with headline stars at the peak of their career like Kimi, Rubins, Vettel, Alonso. They rarely take a punt on a young driver but they had earmarked Jules even though they never had the chance to promote him. I wouldn’t be surprised if they have become impatient to use someone from the program and try to find a max Verstappen. The last time they employed a relatively young driver was probably Schumacher who was double world champion. Kimi isn’t getting any faster so why not give the seat to Leclerc?
vectra wrote: » Not that I am a fan of Kimi's or anything. But what if Leclerc fails to perform as expected next year? Think about it. Vettel will do to him what Alonso did the Vandourne. I think another year for Kimi would allow Leclerc a second season with a decent enough midfield team to see how he gets on.
vectra wrote: » Not that I am a fan of Kimi's or anything.
ELM327 wrote: » If - as expected now - Leclerc goes to ferrari next year one of two things will happen:He'll bomb out and have a career as a mediocre driver in mediocre teams, Ala perez He'll do well, ignore team orders and upset vettel and vettel will leave - ala Ricciardo. There's no benefit for ferrari to oust Kimi. It's a mad decision IMO. Leclerc if he's truly worthy of the drive will be better served with another year in a mid table team away from the scrutiny of the big red car.
muckwarrior wrote: » :D:D That's akin to Hitler saying "Not that I dislike jews or anything..."
Addyson Gray Glue wrote: » I hope one of 2 things happen next year: Leclerc blows Vettel away in the same way Ricciardo did to him Or Leclerc is an utter flop when it comes to the big time.
El_Duderino 09 wrote: » There’s a third option. He could be very good AND obey team orders. He’s young and could have a long and successful (not to mention lucrative) career at Ferrari if he plays his cards right. They can easily offer a future #1 role in exchange for doing his apprenticeship as Vettel’s no2. Its such a huge step up for Leclerc that I’d say it’s on the expressed condition that he’s a no2 from the outset.
eviltimeban wrote: » Being a Ferrari number 2 doesn't necessarily mean promotion to number 1 - didn't happen for Irvine (besides when MS broke his leg), didn't happen for Massa, and probably won't happen for Leclerc either. When Vettel does move on, Ferrari will sign another "big name", whoever that is. Probably Hamilton, or Ricciardo.
ELM327 wrote: » I cant see it being Ricciardo unless he wins a WDC.Most likely Hamilton. That would be strange, I've never watched an F1 race and not supported ferrari.
eviltimeban wrote: » Being a Ferrari number 2 doesn't necessarily mean promotion to number 1 - didn't happen for Irvine (besides when MS broke his leg), didn't happen for Massa,
skipper_G wrote: Kimi has had an impressive career, won 20 races and a world title but his time is up, I'm excited to see the next generation start moving to the front. Leclerc is a special talent, better than Verstappen in my opinion with the added bonus of not being an arrogant prat
chicorytip wrote: » Verstappen achieved better results with Toro Rosso than Leclerc has, to date, with Sauber and has fully vindicated Red Bull's decision to promote him to the senior team. Based on performances alone Grosjean would be more deserving of the Ferrari drive. Leclerc had the backing of the late Sergio Marchionne - not a Kimi fan - and is managed by the son of Jean Todt so, presumably, if he has already been offered a contract the agreement is unlikely to be broken.
ELM327 wrote: » Grosjean should consider himself lucky to be on the grid still.
flazio wrote: » I see there's still no word on Lance moving out of Williams.
Addyson Gray Glue wrote: » flazio wrote: » I see there's still no word on Lance moving out of Williams. Some sort of contractual issue there I think, naturally contracts can be bought out, but is it legally binding?
pjohnson wrote: » Lance moving now would force Ocon off the grid until next year? Unless Vandoorne is removed from his McLaren immediately?
ELM327 wrote: » I'm sure mclaren would boot vandoorne in a heartbeat if Ocon was available.
Haas had him last year as a test driver, they knew what he can do. They had the option of promoting him this year, they opted for Magnussen and Grosjean. Charles was sent to Sauber. Reports have it that Ferrari's new management tried to send him for next year to Haas as well, Gene said no again. They had him in their backyard and know what he can do, why would they say no (twice)?
The reason this switch feels akward and questionable is because of Kimi's form and driving this season. Had this discussion happened last season (beaten by Bottas by 100 points) or two years ago (worst of the six best) then it would have been a no-brainer for basicly everyone but now it feels strange. I mean, out of the 11 races he has finished this season he's been on the podium 9 times, and it's not just podiums, as in scrapping along for 3rd place, because there are three 2nd places as well in these results. The three DNF:s have been out of his control. He might have been on podium in Bahrain had he not been released erroneously. But let's say he would have been 4th, that's 12 points. Barcelona? Let's say 5th behind Seb, that's 10 points. Spa, without the fuel error during quali? Most likely 2nd behind Seb or at least 3rd behind Lewis. That's 15 points. Basicly in a worst-case scenario he has dropped 37 points and adding it to his points tally would bring it to 201 points now, 25 behind Seb. He hasn't made a costly driving error in the races this year. How would the discussion go now if that was the case? Still out the door? I haven't placed him above Lewis or Seb in any of these three races so the gap to them would still be same. Lewis 256, Seb 226, Kimi 201. He would just have removed those points from drivers behind in the standings. The fact is, he wouldn't have been out of the WDC race and having in mind he went out of PU sequence because of Barcelona he might have scored higher having the same power as Seb during the summer, maybe even a win. This is what it boils down to.
