Where does Carlos go now?

[Chuffedmonkey]

Teams normally become the dominate force after rule changes. Mercedes after the introduction of battery technology. Red Bull since the change in the floor design of the car. Who knows who will get the engine change correct in 2026.

If we look at the recent past Ferrari were dominate, we then had a few teams winning such as Renault, McLaren, Braun etc (The best time in my opinion). Since then its been Red Bull, Mercedes, Red Bull for nearly 15 years.

Carlos has a potential big choice to make for 2025 so he can join a team he backs for the 2026 season. Red Bull, doubtful as if Max is there nobody else stands a chance. Merc in the hope they get it right or Sauber/Audi. Where ever he goes he will have a rubbish 2025 season as Red Bull will also dominate 2025.

[Leithen]

tele_lover said:

I hope he doesn't end up at Aston. I want them to do well but I'm not sure they have the engineering capability.

Are Aston hitting the full budget cap? I guess they must be as they also breached it with RBR?

New factory. New wind tunnel. No excuses now.

[thegreenhell]

tele_lover said:

I hope he doesn't end up at Aston. I want them to do well but I'm not sure they have the engineering capability.

Are Aston hitting the full budget cap? I guess they must be as they also breached it with RBR?

Aston had a 'procedural breach' not an overspend, for incorrect reporting, as did Williams. Only RBR had an overspend.

[WPA]

tele_lover said:

I hope he doesn't end up at Aston. I want them to do well but I'm not sure they have the engineering capability.

Are Aston hitting the full budget cap? I guess they must be as they also breached it with RBR?

They become a works team in 2026 with the Honda partnership, it why the rumours over Max joining them make some sense as he stays with Honda in effect.

[n3il123]

I'd hazard a guess that by 2026 stroll will have sold out to aramco so there could be 2 real seats available there.

[ArnageWRC]

Looks like he's left Audi, and joined BMW Mini (run by the same team as the Audi was).

For my generation Carlos Sainz is 'El Matador'......his son is Sainz Jr.

[thegreenhell]

ArnageWRC said:

Looks like he's left Audi, and joined BMW Mini (run by the same team as the Audi was).

For my generation Carlos Sainz is 'El Matador'......his son is Sainz Jr.

And this is my main worry about Audi coming into F1. They have a habit of just shutting down a motorsport project without warning as soon as they've had enough. They did it with WEC, they did it with DTM, and now they've done it with the Rally Raid team. Sooner or later they will get bored of F1 too, and just bail out of it to do something else.

[ralphrj]

thegreenhell said:

And this is my main worry about Audi coming into F1. They have a habit of just shutting down a motorsport project without warning as soon as they've had enough. They did it with WEC, they did it with DTM, and now they've done it with the Rally Raid team. Sooner or later they will get bored of F1 too, and just bail out of it to do something else.

I feel that this is a habit of all of the German big 3. BMW have come and gone before (ironically from the same team) and Mercedes have history for abandoning projects in and out of motorsport. However, the split ownership of the current team does mean that should Mercedes withdraw the team can be reasonably certain to continue.

I can recall back in the late 1990s/early 2000s Max Mosley urging caution about the influx of engine manufacturers to F1. 5 different manufacturers all having 3 year plans for glory was always going to end in failure and bailing out for some.

[entropy]

Leithen said:

tele_lover said:

I hope he doesn't end up at Aston. I want them to do well but I'm not sure they have the engineering capability.

Are Aston hitting the full budget cap? I guess they must be as they also breached it with RBR?

New factory. New wind tunnel. No excuses now.

Financial regs, cost cap. I don't think they work. All it does it keep the status quo. We are starting to see this in football.

[tele_lover]

WPA said:

tele_lover said:

I hope he doesn't end up at Aston. I want them to do well but I'm not sure they have the engineering capability.

Are Aston hitting the full budget cap? I guess they must be as they also breached it with RBR?

They become a works team in 2026 with the Honda partnership, it why the rumours over Max joining them make some sense as he stays with Honda in effect.

Could you elaborate? I've never understood why this matters.

[WPA]

tele_lover said:

WPA said:

tele_lover said:

I hope he doesn't end up at Aston. I want them to do well but I'm not sure they have the engineering capability.

Are Aston hitting the full budget cap? I guess they must be as they also breached it with RBR?

They become a works team in 2026 with the Honda partnership, it why the rumours over Max joining them make some sense as he stays with Honda in effect.

Could you elaborate? I've never understood why this matters.

He works with Honda now, he knows what they can deliver in 2026 with the new rules, RB for the new rules are an unknown.

[tele_lover]

WPA said:

tele_lover said:

WPA said:

tele_lover said:

I hope he doesn't end up at Aston. I want them to do well but I'm not sure they have the engineering capability.

Are Aston hitting the full budget cap? I guess they must be as they also breached it with RBR?

They become a works team in 2026 with the Honda partnership, it why the rumours over Max joining them make some sense as he stays with Honda in effect.

Could you elaborate? I've never understood why this matters.

He works with Honda now, he knows what they can deliver in 2026 with the new rules, RB for the new rules are an unknown.

But a car's performance isn't just down to the engine? Aero's kinda important?

[WPA]

tele_lover said:

WPA said:

tele_lover said:

WPA said:

tele_lover said:

I hope he doesn't end up at Aston. I want them to do well but I'm not sure they have the engineering capability.

Are Aston hitting the full budget cap? I guess they must be as they also breached it with RBR?

They become a works team in 2026 with the Honda partnership, it why the rumours over Max joining them make some sense as he stays with Honda in effect.

Could you elaborate? I've never understood why this matters.

He works with Honda now, he knows what they can deliver in 2026 with the new rules, RB for the new rules are an unknown.

But a car's performance isn't just down to the engine? Aero's kinda important?

From what I understand 2026 is more engine based.

[FourWheelDrift]

Newey or Honda, you decide what's more important.


I'd stick with Newey. Since Honda have history of packing up and leaving.

[thegreenhell]

But even Newey can't compensate if the new RBPT motor turns out to be an unreliable boat anchor. Just like all those early years of the hybrids with Renault and then Honda before they got it sorted. RB were just picking up scraps then.

RBPT have undoubtedly hired some very good engineers, but they've never collectively or as a company designed an F1 motor together. I'm sure they'll do a great job eventually, but it might take them a few years to get there. The same goes for Audi.

Of course there's no guarantee that Honda won't have problems of their own with the new regs, but having recently been through everything they have with McLaren and then RB, you'd think they'd have learnt a few lessons and will be on top of things quickly.

[Bluequay]

All of this discussion about new\unproven engine manufacturers, just makes it clearer that either Merc or Ferrari is the safest place to be in 2026. Ferrari being the favourite as they haven't lost as many engineers as Merc. Maybe Lewis has played a blinder.

[thegreenhell]

WPA said:

tele_lover said:

WPA said:

tele_lover said:

I hope he doesn't end up at Aston. I want them to do well but I'm not sure they have the engineering capability.

Are Aston hitting the full budget cap? I guess they must be as they also breached it with RBR?

They become a works team in 2026 with the Honda partnership, it why the rumours over Max joining them make some sense as he stays with Honda in effect.

Could you elaborate? I've never understood why this matters.

He works with Honda now, he knows what they can deliver in 2026 with the new rules, RB for the new rules are an unknown.

There are rumours that Stroll has also made a big money offer to Newey to move to Aston.

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/aston-martin-ma...

[Hustle_]

maz8062 said:

FourWheelDrift said:

Bluequay said:

I can’t agree with that at all, if Mercedes want him then it’s a no brainer over Audi. Audi will likely be nowhere for a few years, they have no experience building an F1 engine and the existing technical team are nowhere near top level. His attitude would be I’ll beat George and take his seat.

Agreed, it took Mercedes 3 seasons to win a race and 5 to win the championship when they re-entered F1 in 2010 even when buying the previous Championship winning Brawn team and with years in F1 as an engine supplier. Sauber have only won one race (as BMW-Sauber) 16 years ago, their last podium was in 2012.

Mercedes are in a death spiral, it’s obvious. Soon the Merc board will want shot and Inneos will demand changes. I don’t think they’ve recovered since that engine chap left, his name escapes me, but they’re not in a good place unlike RBR, Ferrari, AM and even McLaren.

They may be a force in the future but LH leaving at the end of the season will upset the apple cart and their current performance will not attract the best engineers thinking of leaving RBR or Ferrari.

I could be wrong but I’ve been watching F1 too long not to recognise when teams are on a downward existential trajectory.

This the soon-to-be Audi team which is currently 9th in the constructors and has an average pit-stop time in the double figures?

[tele_lover]

RE Aston and Honda, can anyone quantify, or explain just how much a big deal it is for a team to be a works team? Will this really propel Aston forwards?

I presume the main benefit is controlling the engine integratelion with the chassis but just how beneficial is this? Obviously McLaren have not had this advantage. And Alpine obviously have it but they are crap.

[Leithen]

tele_lover said:

RE Aston and Honda, can anyone quantify, or explain just how much a big deal it is for a team to be a works team? Will this really propel Aston forwards?

I presume the main benefit is controlling the engine integratelion with the chassis but just how beneficial is this? Obviously McLaren have not had this advantage. And Alpine obviously have it but they are crap.

First you have to have a quick engine....