Hulkenburg to leave Haas...
Discussion
vaud said:
Audi dont need a top driver right now, they wont have a top car for what 3-5 years? They need experience, development capacbility and reliability which he brings.
The wrong place at the wrong time career...( A sprint race podium would be a bit better than nothing...something to tell the grandkids).
Edited by Milkyway on Saturday 27th April 11:50
HocusPocus said:
Hulk's signing just shouts lack of ambition to me, a driver who has never won or podiumed despite a long career. Not exactly Audi coming into F1 with a bang.
True, but there probably aren't any top seats available to him, so might as well take the large amount of cash and grab the odd points.vaud said:
True, but there probably aren't any top seats available to him, so might as well take the large amount of cash and grab the odd points.
Agree with you that Audi don't need a superstar from the beginning. The carrot for Hulkenburg might be that Audi could produce a stonking engine/package for 2026 and he's in the right place at the right time.
vaud said:
HocusPocus said:
Hulk's signing just shouts lack of ambition to me, a driver who has never won or podiumed despite a long career. Not exactly Audi coming into F1 with a bang.
True, but there probably aren't any top seats available to him, so might as well take the large amount of cash and grab the odd points.HocusPocus said:
Hulk's signing just shouts lack of ambition to me, a driver who has never won or podiumed despite a long career. Not exactly Audi coming into F1 with a bang.
Steiner as Audi TP maybe their next announcement?
Well there are 20 seats on the Grid and many, many talented drivers not getting one. Soooo if you were him would you not take any opportunity? To remain in F1, getting paid to do that job?Steiner as Audi TP maybe their next announcement?
Jasandjules said:
HocusPocus said:
Hulk's signing just shouts lack of ambition to me, a driver who has never won or podiumed despite a long career. Not exactly Audi coming into F1 with a bang.
Steiner as Audi TP maybe their next announcement?
Well there are 20 seats on the Grid and many, many talented drivers not getting one. Soooo if you were him would you not take any opportunity? To remain in F1, getting paid to do that job?Steiner as Audi TP maybe their next announcement?
Kart16 said:
Drugovich wasn’t that good? Please, check his points difference to the second best driver.
| 2 | Callum Ilott | 205 |
| 9 | Felipe Drugovich | 121 |
No, can't be that one...
| 2 | Robert Shwartzman | 192 |
| 8 | Felipe Drugovich | 105 |
Maybe this one?
| 1 | Felipe Drugovich | 265 |
| 2 | Théo Pourchaire | 164 |
There we go, third time lucky, just like Nyck de Vries...
HocusPocus said:
Don't blame Hulk for opening the choccy bar with golden ticket, but Audi choosing Hulk is like Wonka picking Augustus Gloop and not Charlie.
They're currently the tenth best team in F1 so they don't get first pick of the best drivers, no matter how big their ambition and chequebook are.thegreenhell said:
Kart16 said:
Drugovich wasn’t that good? Please, check his points difference to the second best driver.
| 2 | Callum Ilott | 205 |
| 9 | Felipe Drugovich | 121 |
No, can't be that one...
| 2 | Robert Shwartzman | 192 |
| 8 | Felipe Drugovich | 105 |
Maybe this one?
| 1 | Felipe Drugovich | 265 |
| 2 | Théo Pourchaire | 164 |
There we go, third time lucky, just like Nyck de Vries...
MiniMan64 said:
Are older journeymen drivers sticking around longer than they used to? Feels like drivers like Bottas and Hulk have been around a lot longer than I would have expected.
The cost cap is partly to blame. Unless they bring significant funding nobody wants to take a punt on a new F1 driver in case they're another Mick Schumacher and make a habit of crashing. Having to call on known quantity that's solid, reliable and can bring home points becomes a no-brainer.
Kart16 said:
tele_lover said:
Drugovich wasn't that good. His competition were pretty bad. Callum Ilott had already left and Liam Lawson had a very odd season (he was winning the SA feature race and his pit crew didn't put the type on properly... out).
Drugovich wasn’t that good? Please, check his points difference to the second best driver. All that driving a MP that is at best a “Toro Rosso”. And by the way, he very clearly beat Lawson, who was driving for a much better team. Anyway, both Drugovich and Lawson deserve much more a shot in F1 than Hulkenberg staying.
Drugovich was in his 3rd season, Lawson 2nd and Pourchaire his 1st.
Lawson looked the best, but was in the wrong place a few times, got taken out, pit crew messed up his stops etc.
Drugovich was consistent but you'd expect that after 3 years in F2.
He seems a great guy but it's not a surprise he hasn't been offered from another team.
HocusPocus said:
Don't blame Hulk for opening the choccy bar with golden ticket, but Audi choosing Hulk is like Wonka picking Augustus Gloop and not Charlie.
Well my understanding is that he is quite "sensitive" and good at feedback to develop a car. And also as others have said, he doesn't put it in the wall often at all. And actually not a bad peddler overall.
Not too sure why they go for Sainz to be frank but there we go (apart from he is another good driver but you know what I mean, not a WDC etc)
Jasandjules said:
Not too sure why they go for Sainz to be frank but there we go (apart from he is another good driver but you know what I mean, not a WDC etc)
Andreas Seidl is reportedly a big fan of his from their time together at McLaren. He's also probably the best available driver without a contract for next year.Let's be honest, they aren't going to get a WDC into that car next year for any amount of money, even if one was available.
I can understand why Hulk wants to race in F1 above anything else, but after his LM win first time out even he must surely think WEC would be a more successful career move results wise, and with how many teams are now in the top class a decent drive should be pretty lucrative financially still. He can't need the money now.
entropy said:
The cost cap is partly to blame.
Unless they bring significant funding nobody wants to take a punt on a new F1 driver in case they're another Mick Schumacher and make a habit of crashing. Having to call on known quantity that's solid, reliable and can bring home points becomes a no-brainer.
Exactly. I can’t see what all of the fuss is about.Unless they bring significant funding nobody wants to take a punt on a new F1 driver in case they're another Mick Schumacher and make a habit of crashing. Having to call on known quantity that's solid, reliable and can bring home points becomes a no-brainer.
Hulkenberg is solid, dependable, reliable and certainly quick enough. A modern day Ricardo Patrese or Ruben Barrichello perhaps?
I think it’s a pretty decent signing by Audi, (even excluding nationality). Sure, Hulkenberg sadly hasn’t lived up to expectations, (I had a £20 bet he’d get a podium in his first season), and he isn’t an Alonso, a Hamilton or a Verstappen, but very few are.
But he doesn’t crash, turns in decent performances, comes across as a decent chap and is quick enough.
Personally I’m happy for him and I think that Audi have made a good decision here.
thegreenhell said:
Andreas Seidl is reportedly a big fan of his from their time together at McLaren. He's also probably the best available driver without a contract for next year.
Let's be honest, they aren't going to get a WDC into that car next year for any amount of money, even if one was available.
Also they don't need one. They need at least 3 years of stability and incremental improvement from experienced (and new) drivers.Let's be honest, they aren't going to get a WDC into that car next year for any amount of money, even if one was available.
Jasandjules said:
Well my understanding is that he is quite "sensitive" and good at feedback to develop a car.
And also as others have said, he doesn't put it in the wall often at all. And actually not a bad peddler overall.
Not too sure why they go for Sainz to be frank but there we go (apart from he is another good driver but you know what I mean, not a WDC etc)
Sainz is a very good driver. Best of the best elite, wringing the very last ounce of performance? Nope, but probably the best of that second tier. Quick enough to keep Leclerc honest, rarely makes a mistake, excellent under pressure, and has the wily intelligence of Alonso at managing a race and maximising his opportunities. His race wins have all been demonstrations of the difference he can make, Singapore last year was one of the drives of the season.And also as others have said, he doesn't put it in the wall often at all. And actually not a bad peddler overall.
Not too sure why they go for Sainz to be frank but there we go (apart from he is another good driver but you know what I mean, not a WDC etc)
IMO a far better fit for a team with Audi's money and ambition than Hulk. No top tier driver is going to take that risk so it's very obvious that he's the best driver available.
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