Kvyat for the chop mid season?
Discussion
2fast748 said:
Dr Z said:
What about Bottas? The man is a machine, the way he puts in metronomic lap times.
Am I the only one who can't see something special in Bottas? If he was that special he'd be spanking Massa week in week out but he isn't.He reminds me a lot of Kimi in that regard, with a bit more of a fire in his belly. He's got tracks that he goes well in but what stands out for me is the way he drives every stint with these tyres. I don't think I've seen any of the current drivers who can drive with so small a deviation of lap time over a stint. Some times it looks so alien when you're eyeballing the plots. Maybe it's just a subjective feeling? I don't know if it's helpful for the engineers.
I think he'll be a perfect fit for Ferrari. He's fast, will push Vettel hard in the races but take team orders well too, and generally be a safe pair of hands. What Ferrari need is someone who's thereabouts every race, not just turn up for a few races only.
Leithen said:
I'm old as well and balk at the sight of fathers scheming in the background. It used to be a Men's sport. (I know it's a daft thing to think, but I can't help it.)
You're spot on.The continuing trend of ever-younger drivers in F1 is, IMO, undermining both F1 and the feeder formulae below it. A drive in F1 should be earned on proven merit and success at each key layer first. I know the adage that if your fast enough, you're old enough but there is so much more to it than that. Given that professional sportspeople can compete now, competitively well into their 40s, it's not like they have limited time anymore.
Just saw that Max is in at Red Bull. I feel sorry for Kvyat, yes he's made a couple of mistakes but they were hardly clangers deserving of being dropped so early in the season.
It will be interesting to see the relative performance of each driver vs their team-mates now. Will make it easier to gauge who is best which I guess is why Red Bull really made the change.
It will be interesting to see the relative performance of each driver vs their team-mates now. Will make it easier to gauge who is best which I guess is why Red Bull really made the change.
Tinfoil hat time :
Vettel was deeply pissed off with Kvyat in China in the race and his response to calling him out in the drivers room after the race with the 'it's racing, we're on the podium' reply, doubly so because Marchionne was there. Russia was Kvyat's home race, with Putin there, Vettel went full on D. Dastardly. He saw it was Kvyat behind him after the first shunt, eased off because he'thought he had a puncture' and let shunt two happen, then made the very fking vocal radio message, then went over to have a word in public with Horner. Sit back, let the fireworks happen at Red Bull, Kvyat's out, job done.
Vettel was deeply pissed off with Kvyat in China in the race and his response to calling him out in the drivers room after the race with the 'it's racing, we're on the podium' reply, doubly so because Marchionne was there. Russia was Kvyat's home race, with Putin there, Vettel went full on D. Dastardly. He saw it was Kvyat behind him after the first shunt, eased off because he'thought he had a puncture' and let shunt two happen, then made the very fking vocal radio message, then went over to have a word in public with Horner. Sit back, let the fireworks happen at Red Bull, Kvyat's out, job done.
FourWheelDrift said:
That Ferrari powered Torro Rosso is hardly a slouch.
It arguably looks like the easier of the two cars to drive but I expect the RedBull to eclipse the Toro Rosso soon. When they get their next engine upgrade they'll simply wind the downforce back up. The Redbulls are already looking good in mid-corner according to the competition and mid corner speed was always their forte. EnglishTony said:
What exactly are the rules for swopping drivers?
(assuming there are some)
This came up recently in a different context. They share an engine allocation and other associated component limits and obviously the points from both count towards the constructor's championship but they are separate as far as the driver's championship is concerned. (assuming there are some)
johnfm said:
Does Kvyat have sponsor money that he brings to the seat? I expect so at his age.
I'd be looking more into the money (i.e. have they run out or stopped paying) than any other factor.
Follow the money - it is F1 after all.
He's not a pay-driver but is Russian and therefore a big asset to Red Bull in a huge market for them - something that is unlikely to change for them with him in TR.I'd be looking more into the money (i.e. have they run out or stopped paying) than any other factor.
Follow the money - it is F1 after all.
Also Russia pays top dollar (the second highest fee after Abu Dhabi IIRC) for their GP and having a Russian driver on the grid is no doubt key to this being maintained.
If the was a Venezuelan Grand Prix, I've no doubt that Pastor Maldonado would be keeping armco painters in gainful employment this year too.
Dr Z said:
2fast748 said:
Dr Z said:
What about Bottas? The man is a machine, the way he puts in metronomic lap times.
Am I the only one who can't see something special in Bottas? If he was that special he'd be spanking Massa week in week out but he isn't.He reminds me a lot of Kimi in that regard, with a bit more of a fire in his belly. He's got tracks that he goes well in but what stands out for me is the way he drives every stint with these tyres. I don't think I've seen any of the current drivers who can drive with so small a deviation of lap time over a stint. Some times it looks so alien when you're eyeballing the plots. Maybe it's just a subjective feeling? I don't know if it's helpful for the engineers.
I think he'll be a perfect fit for Ferrari. He's fast, will push Vettel hard in the races but take team orders well too, and generally be a safe pair of hands. What Ferrari need is someone who's thereabouts every race, not just turn up for a few races only.
What we have not seen and may have been the final nail for Kvyat is how he reacts behind the scenes.
It's not impossible that after the Russian race RB gave him a talking to of which he may have reacted badly pushing the decision for a replacement. It feels to me that there is more to the story than he has had just a bad race or two. Perhaps he works badly with the team, or RB have been looking for an out for him asap since day one as he was a rush replacement after Seb left.
It's not impossible that after the Russian race RB gave him a talking to of which he may have reacted badly pushing the decision for a replacement. It feels to me that there is more to the story than he has had just a bad race or two. Perhaps he works badly with the team, or RB have been looking for an out for him asap since day one as he was a rush replacement after Seb left.
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