The Official F1 2021 silly season *contains speculation*
Discussion
LaurasOtherHalf said:
I see George Russel is saying the rumours about him being replaced by Perez are simply tricks by the Mexicans trying to pressure Red Bull into signing him ASAP.
Yet Totos interview with AMUS yesterday indicates it’s likely he will be a test driver for Merc next yr..It would seem there is a loophole in the driver contract.
Mercedes have promised to honour the PU contract until 2025.
https://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/formel-1/willi...
Toto Wolff: "With George we will have a sensational reserve driver and give him as many test possibilities as possible to prepare him optimally for 2022 and beyond."
Stratovarious said:
I must admit I quite like the idea of sending Albon back to AT and replacing him with either Perez or Hulk.
It's not a given that he'll even end up back at AT if he gets dropped. Gasly is confirmed to continue there, but they still seem keen to give Tsunodo a try, even with Honda leaving. I think Albon will be kicked into touch completely.Deesee said:
LaurasOtherHalf said:
I see George Russel is saying the rumours about him being replaced by Perez are simply tricks by the Mexicans trying to pressure Red Bull into signing him ASAP.
Yet Totos interview with AMUS yesterday indicates it’s likely he will be a test driver for Merc next yr..It would seem there is a loophole in the driver contract.
Mercedes have promised to honour the PU contract until 2025.
https://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/formel-1/willi...
Toto Wolff: "With George we will have a sensational reserve driver and give him as many test possibilities as possible to prepare him optimally for 2022 and beyond."
Leithen said:
SmoothCriminal said:
Leithen said:
I feel for Albon. Thoroughly decent guy. Very quick.
Why do people say this?Deesee said:
LaurasOtherHalf said:
I see George Russel is saying the rumours about him being replaced by Perez are simply tricks by the Mexicans trying to pressure Red Bull into signing him ASAP.
Yet Totos interview with AMUS yesterday indicates it’s likely he will be a test driver for Merc next yr..It would seem there is a loophole in the driver contract.
Mercedes have promised to honour the PU contract until 2025.
https://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/formel-1/willi...
Toto Wolff: "With George we will have a sensational reserve driver and give him as many test possibilities as possible to prepare him optimally for 2022 and beyond."
The more I think about it, I think that being Merc's reserve in 2021 is the best option for George. He's worked wonders with an awful car the last couple of years and with VB secure for 2021 I can't see him in any other car than Williams if he was to drive next year. Being there to develop the 2022 Merc will put him in a superb position to learn from and, perhaps, eventually take over from LH. He's already proved himself as a racer in earlier formula and I'll be really disappointed if he doesn't get a chance in some decent machinery.
LaurasOtherHalf said:
You've cut off a word from that quote that makes it look worse than it is. Toto said if Williams break their contract they have a back-up plan, "Then with George we will have a sensational reserve driver and give him as many test possibilities as possible to prepare him optimally for 2022 and beyond."
That’s not the quote I was sent, if there has been anything missed off in translation, then my apologies..SmoothCriminal said:
Put Russell, Gasley, Hulk and Perez in that car and no way would they be 8 tenths off Verstappen.
Qualifying 2019Race 1 - Gasly 3 tenths off Max
Race 2 - Gasly 4 tenths off Max
Race 3 - Gasly 9 tenths off Max
Race 4 - Gasly disqualified from Qualifying
Race 5 - Gasly 4 tenths off Max
Race 6 - Gasly 4 tenths off Max
Race 7 - Gasly outqualifies Max for the only time they are in the same car.
Race 8 - Gasly 7 tenths off Max
Race 9 - Gasly 7 tenths off Max
Race 10 - Gasly 3 tenths off Max
Race 11 - Gasly 4 tenths off Max
Race 12 - Gasly 9 tenths off Max (who was on pole)
Race 13 - Gasly is demoted.
Seeing a theme here?
I'm not saying Albon is the new Fangio but the fact that he's kept the same half-second-ish gap to Verstappen says to me that it's more car than driver.
As for Perez/Hulkenburg, it might work, it might not.
North West Tom said:
What I think should happen:
Red Bull: Verstappen + Hulkenberg (rolling 1-year contract until a solid RB junior is ready)
Alpha Tauri: Albon + Tsunoda
Renault: Alonso + Gasly
Haas: Perez + Mazepin
Alfa Romeo: Kimi + Mick Schumacher
Time to go: Kvyat, Giovinazzi, Ocon
I can't help but agree with this, I think Tsunoda has some real talent! Pairing Schumacher with Mazepin if the rumour is be believed is a dumb move by Haas!Red Bull: Verstappen + Hulkenberg (rolling 1-year contract until a solid RB junior is ready)
Alpha Tauri: Albon + Tsunoda
Renault: Alonso + Gasly
Haas: Perez + Mazepin
Alfa Romeo: Kimi + Mick Schumacher
Time to go: Kvyat, Giovinazzi, Ocon
geeks said:
North West Tom said:
What I think should happen:
Red Bull: Verstappen + Hulkenberg (rolling 1-year contract until a solid RB junior is ready)
Alpha Tauri: Albon + Tsunoda
Renault: Alonso + Gasly
Haas: Perez + Mazepin
Alfa Romeo: Kimi + Mick Schumacher
Time to go: Kvyat, Giovinazzi, Ocon
I can't help but agree with this, I think Tsunoda has some real talent! Pairing Schumacher with Mazepin if the rumour is be believed is a dumb move by Haas!Red Bull: Verstappen + Hulkenberg (rolling 1-year contract until a solid RB junior is ready)
Alpha Tauri: Albon + Tsunoda
Renault: Alonso + Gasly
Haas: Perez + Mazepin
Alfa Romeo: Kimi + Mick Schumacher
Time to go: Kvyat, Giovinazzi, Ocon
The second RB seat will be the most interesting next year - it'd be great to have someone able to keep up ('ish) with Max.
If it's another damp squib a la Albon and Gasley, then next seats of interest will be Sainz, seeing how he matches up to LeClerc and whether they can push that car into Q3 and race points, and then how DR does in the McLaren.
Of course, it will be interesting to see Alonso in the Renault too. Not forgetting seeing whether SV can get his mojo back in the Aston.
A lot to look forward to and still the remainder of this excellent season to go!
If it's another damp squib a la Albon and Gasley, then next seats of interest will be Sainz, seeing how he matches up to LeClerc and whether they can push that car into Q3 and race points, and then how DR does in the McLaren.
Of course, it will be interesting to see Alonso in the Renault too. Not forgetting seeing whether SV can get his mojo back in the Aston.
A lot to look forward to and still the remainder of this excellent season to go!
The second RB seat will be interesting if it's Perez or Hulk, whether they're treated the same way as the juniors brought into the team ("the car is set up for Max, keep up or you're out"), or whether they'll listen to them, they've both been around longer than Max, and can give decent feedback on the car and what's right or wrong with it.
Muzzer79 said:
SmoothCriminal said:
Put Russell, Gasley, Hulk and Perez in that car and no way would they be 8 tenths off Verstappen.
Qualifying 2019Race 1 - Gasly 3 tenths off Max
Race 2 - Gasly 4 tenths off Max
Race 3 - Gasly 9 tenths off Max
Race 4 - Gasly disqualified from Qualifying
Race 5 - Gasly 4 tenths off Max
Race 6 - Gasly 4 tenths off Max
Race 7 - Gasly outqualifies Max for the only time they are in the same car.
Race 8 - Gasly 7 tenths off Max
Race 9 - Gasly 7 tenths off Max
Race 10 - Gasly 3 tenths off Max
Race 11 - Gasly 4 tenths off Max
Race 12 - Gasly 9 tenths off Max (who was on pole)
Race 13 - Gasly is demoted.
Seeing a theme here?
I'm not saying Albon is the new Fangio but the fact that he's kept the same half-second-ish gap to Verstappen says to me that it's more car than driver.
As for Perez/Hulkenburg, it might work, it might not.
However, this year, he seems to be going backwards. So that suggests some changes to the car doesn't suit him but works well for Max.
Albon hasn't significantly bettered Gasly's pace but he has bettered him in other ways. Red Bull were frustrated by the way Gasly approached problems with the car. He has apparently ruffled some feathers within the team. Also he just wasn't generating and converting overtaking opportunities.
By comparison, the team seems to have preferred Albon's attitude and appreciated the way he got stuck in with overtakes.
It's not correct to say that the two drivers have achieved / failed in the same way as though they have performed identically.
I see no cause to believe that Hulkenberg or Perez will be significantly better than Gasly or Albon.
By comparison, the team seems to have preferred Albon's attitude and appreciated the way he got stuck in with overtakes.
It's not correct to say that the two drivers have achieved / failed in the same way as though they have performed identically.
I see no cause to believe that Hulkenberg or Perez will be significantly better than Gasly or Albon.
Perez always used to be famed for looking after his tyres if I recall correctly. I can't imagine a very twitchy car fits with that kind of driving style at all.
I get the impression Max has got the thing Vettel doesn't, but LeClerc does. Something about the specs for F1, and the teams aero philosophys, has led to these tricky cars suited to those drivers with x, and the drivers either have "x", or they're nowhere in that car.
The low rake Merc aero concept on Racing Point/Aston may suit Vettel next year if I'm on the right path. But if Albon is still at RedBull, he'll still be fighting to master "x".
I get the impression Max has got the thing Vettel doesn't, but LeClerc does. Something about the specs for F1, and the teams aero philosophys, has led to these tricky cars suited to those drivers with x, and the drivers either have "x", or they're nowhere in that car.
The low rake Merc aero concept on Racing Point/Aston may suit Vettel next year if I'm on the right path. But if Albon is still at RedBull, he'll still be fighting to master "x".
Not sure if this has been said already.
I would as of right now put hulk in the Redbull, he’s a free agent and it gives him a few races headstart than if they were to give him the drive next year.
I’d then plonk Albon in the 2nd A.T seat booting out kvvat, who has gone a little stale this year. Perfect head to head between gasly and Albon then.
I would be surprised if Redbull opt for Perez over hulk, Perez I feel would just cause grief for the team, I think if Perez does get the seat, then it would only be because it’s a lot of money to turn down in the current climate
I would as of right now put hulk in the Redbull, he’s a free agent and it gives him a few races headstart than if they were to give him the drive next year.
I’d then plonk Albon in the 2nd A.T seat booting out kvvat, who has gone a little stale this year. Perfect head to head between gasly and Albon then.
I would be surprised if Redbull opt for Perez over hulk, Perez I feel would just cause grief for the team, I think if Perez does get the seat, then it would only be because it’s a lot of money to turn down in the current climate
RonaldMcDonaldAteMyCat said:
There's a reason Hulk's been available to the top teams, if they wanted him, for a number of years. But nobody has. There must be a reason he is consistently overlooked?
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