Kvyat for the chop mid season?
Discussion
I wouldn't bet against it.
Red Bull are going to come up against some big names for Verstappen's signature later in the year and an early promotion to the senior team might help convince him to stay. Even if Ricciardo left at the end of the season would RB be upset to have Sainz as second driver instead of DK? I don't think so.
Kvyat has made some errors today, and not really done the business in the senior team, while Max is doing a fantastic job in the Torro Rosso. Red Bull have previous for ditching pilots mid season if they don't make the grade so I wonder how much longer he has left.
Red Bull are going to come up against some big names for Verstappen's signature later in the year and an early promotion to the senior team might help convince him to stay. Even if Ricciardo left at the end of the season would RB be upset to have Sainz as second driver instead of DK? I don't think so.
Kvyat has made some errors today, and not really done the business in the senior team, while Max is doing a fantastic job in the Torro Rosso. Red Bull have previous for ditching pilots mid season if they don't make the grade so I wonder how much longer he has left.
Jasandjules said:
A lot of drivers have a few errors in a season... I think was it ted asking Mr Horner who they called the Crash King at one point for example? And what about Romain?
It's not so much that his errors mean he deserves to be fired, more a combination of circumstances working against him.Red Bull REALLY want to hang on to Verstappen, it's inevitable he will be offered a promotion next season, the bigger question is if he will take that or head elsewhere. Helmut Marko has already said drivers at TR get two years to prove themselves, and promoting him earlier will help encourage him to stay as well as freeing up a seat at TR for the next new guy to step into on a 'trial' basis.
There won't be a seat for Kvyat next year at RB unless Ricciardo leaves (which looks unlikely) so why would Marko not decide to move early, tie in Verstappen for the longer term, and start bringing the next wave of drivers through?
LaurasOtherHalf said:
3/ Max might be the latest angle for TV due to his age, but he hasn't exactly made Sainz look silly has he?
What people seem to forget, is how little experience Verstappen has - before coming into F1 he contested 11 Formula 3 meetings. Sochi was his 23rd F1 start, he's finished in the points in 11 of his last 14 races but has less racing experience than anyone on the GP2 grid, let alone in F1.He hasn't made Sainz look silly, but he has outqualified and outraced him, in spite of Sainz having five years of pretty intensive racing behind him - four more than Max.
rubystone said:
There's no doubt Kvyat is driving for his seat. There's also no doubt that RBR have to promote Max to a race seat in order to keep him for 2017.
There's a every possibility that they would let Ricciardo go as a 'sacrifice' to Ferrari in order to keep Max, which means that there is still a chance for Kvyat to keep his seat if he impresses this year. He was promoted a year early to RBR largely because of the deal with Max.
I don't think Ferrari will take Ricciardo - it would upset Vettel and given what they have invested in him, he will have some say in the decision for sure. I think at the moment Grosjean is in pole position for that drive but who knows how the season will unfold and that could change everything again. There's a every possibility that they would let Ricciardo go as a 'sacrifice' to Ferrari in order to keep Max, which means that there is still a chance for Kvyat to keep his seat if he impresses this year. He was promoted a year early to RBR largely because of the deal with Max.
Derek Smith said:
barryrs said:
I would say Kvyat's seat is safe in F1 for the time being as Bernie is pushing F1 popularity in Russia and he needs a driver for them to support.
Indeed.Ecclestone want's Russia to remain. If it has no driver, the supporters will drift away. I'd suggest that out of the two Ecclestone will go first. The question remains as to how long Kyvat will outlast him. How much money does he bring to a team?
VolvoT5 said:
The depressing thing is everyone wants Kvyat out so Verstappen can be moved in............ but you just know if Max makes a couple of similar errors (quite likely given how he drives and his relative lack of experience) the same knee jerk commentators will be demanding he is kicked out as well.
One mistake... I think the reaction is totally OTT. So what if he has moaned about the car set up or team; I can't remember the last time a driver didn't try and deflect responsibility away from their own mistake.
He hasn't really shone in the RB team, that's the issue. He's now making mistakes and over-driving to try and compensate but fundamentally he doesn't seem to have the speed to beat his teammate.One mistake... I think the reaction is totally OTT. So what if he has moaned about the car set up or team; I can't remember the last time a driver didn't try and deflect responsibility away from their own mistake.
Yes, Verstappen might also struggle to find is feet at the senior team but that's just how F1 works - if you want a top drive you've got to be seriously good to win and keep it. There are plenty of seats out there if Kvyat can bring some budget to the table but on pure talent alone he isn't doing the business right now.
Dr Z said:
ETA: ^Beaten!
Red Bull could swap Verstappen-Kvyat as early as Spanish GP
Being reported now as a possibility. I think it will be a knee jerk reaction if Kvyat gets pushed back to TR.
IMO, the first hit was his own error and drivers with better spatial awareness would have avoided the second hit.
Certainly the onboards from some other drivers showed better awareness than Kvyat:
Russia's chaotic start - the unseen onboard angles
Actually, I think this is just a choreographed leak to put the fear of God into Kvyat and he'll still be in the car for Spain. It really is last chance time for him now though, he's got a couple of races to prove himself and I'm sure Verstappen will be in the RB for the test just in case. Red Bull could swap Verstappen-Kvyat as early as Spanish GP
Being reported now as a possibility. I think it will be a knee jerk reaction if Kvyat gets pushed back to TR.
IMO, the first hit was his own error and drivers with better spatial awareness would have avoided the second hit.
Certainly the onboards from some other drivers showed better awareness than Kvyat:
Russia's chaotic start - the unseen onboard angles
tyranical said:
shame they dropped Alex Lynn from their young driver programme as he is a future talent and Britain is a bit short of that right now in F1 once Lewis/Jenson retire we'll be left with Jolyon f
king Palmer if they don't get someone decent in.
Unfortunately most of the stand-out British young drivers have jumped into paid drives in sports cars, GTs and DTM leaving just the mediocre pilots with big budgets in single seaters. Sam Bird, Tom Blomqvist, James Calado and Harry Tincknell have all moved on, only Alex Lynn and Dean Stoneman are still in single seaters and are drivers who could reach the top level. The rest are unlikely to get a drive based on talent alone but are reliant on a big fat cheque book (Jordan King for example).king Palmer if they don't get someone decent in.There are some good drivers coming up through the junior ranks but I'm not as close to that as I used to be so I don't know of all of them, but in a few years I expect British F1 will be in a good place again.
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