Official 2020 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix **SPOILERS**

[Jasandjules]

Murghee said:

And awesome from gasly..get him into a merc

No I want to see Russel in the other Merc.

[ARFBY]

I'm jumping on the Pierre Gasly bandwagon.(I think it's getting quite full.)

For some reason I really want him to succeed. I guess I just want him to prove RBR shifted him out too soon.

My wife is a big Bottas fan, unfortunately she can't post a "Congratulations" on the MB Facebook page, without the toxic LH fans making horrible comments.

[Derek Smith]

ARFBY said:

I'm jumping on the Pierre Gasly bandwagon.(I think it's getting quite full.)

For some reason I really want him to succeed. I guess I just want him to prove RBR shifted him out too soon.

My wife is a big Bottas fan, unfortunately she can't post a "Congratulations" on the MB Facebook page, without the toxic LH fans making horrible comments.

Gasly has improved steadily this season as he's settled to the car. He's real quality. Makes you wonder why RB couldn't get the best out of him.

[Murghee]

Haha just heard croft say there is a loud commentator over there who wont shut up....i was thinking that other commentator probz thinks the same as you mate.

[TheDeuce]

Derek Smith said:

ARFBY said:

I'm jumping on the Pierre Gasly bandwagon.(I think it's getting quite full.)

For some reason I really want him to succeed. I guess I just want him to prove RBR shifted him out too soon.

My wife is a big Bottas fan, unfortunately she can't post a "Congratulations" on the MB Facebook page, without the toxic LH fans making horrible comments.

Gasly has improved steadily this season as he's settled to the car. He's real quality. Makes you wonder why RB couldn't get the best out of him.

How can we know if it's the case that the top team can't get the best out of him, or he can't get the best out of the top car? I don't think we can. He wouldn't be the first driver that is supremely competent in the midfield but simply can't get the results at the sharp end.

Nothing against Gasly, in fact I'm increasingly impressed. But at the same time mindful that he may have a limit that he can't exceed.

[768]

Derek Smith said:

Gasly has improved steadily this season as he's settled to the car. He's real quality. Makes you wonder why RB couldn't get the best out of him.

Or Albon, who initially showed some promise. Or even Kvyat who had that podium at Hockenheim last year and only managed one podium in a season at Red Bull. Ricciardo wasn't his usual jolly self at the end of his time there.

If Hulk is nowhere in it next year in I'm not sure what rock they turn over next. Hope the regs change fixes it? Run the second RBR car as a third Alpha Tauri spec car? It seems a very unusual situation to be so exacerbated.

[trackdemon]

TheDeuce said:

How can we know if it's the case that the top team can't get the best out of him, or he can't get the best out of the top car?

Do they even want to? It's pretty clear all their eggs are in Max' basket. I'm not convinced they'll give all they can to any no2, making the seat something of a poison chalice...

[TheDeuce]

trackdemon said:

TheDeuce said:

How can we know if it's the case that the top team can't get the best out of him, or he can't get the best out of the top car?

Do they even want to? It's pretty clear all their eggs are in Max' basket. I'm not convinced they'll give all they can to any no2, making the seat something of a poison chalice...

I think Max always comes first... But also common sense suggests they might like someone a bit closer to Max! In truth, as a marketing exercise I've no doubt that Max alone easily justifies RBR remaining in F1. The hard working team might want more but the board must be pretty chuffed that Max has an army of loyal fans all loving RBR and the endless press they get as a result.

If someone comes along that is similar enough to Max to get good results out of the car that would be great. but they won't sacrifice Max's car preference in order to make it easier for anyone else. Max is the money.

[anonymous-user]

Unless they give Max a winning car next year, he's gonna be off. He won't hang around forever.

Right now RB have no works engine from 2022 and Ferrari/Renault dont want to freeze engine development to allow RB to carry in using the Honda. You might go as far as to say that unless the FIA intervene and freeze engine dev or enforce supply from another manufacturer, Max is probably going to leave.

[vaud]

RonaldMcDonaldAteMyCat said:

Unless they give Max a winning car next year, he's gonna be off. He won't hang around forever.

Right now RB have no works engine from 2022 and Ferrari/Renault dont want to freeze engine development to allow RB to carry in using the Honda. You might go as far as to say that unless the FIA intervene and freeze engine dev or enforce supply from another manufacturer, Max is probably going to leave.

Off where?

[anonymous-user]

vaud said:

Off where?

Wherever has a works engine and a chance of winning a championship. He won't give Red Bull forever, nor should he.

[ARFBY]

TheDeuce said:

trackdemon said:

TheDeuce said:

How can we know if it's the case that the top team can't get the best out of him, or he can't get the best out of the top car?

Do they even want to? It's pretty clear all their eggs are in Max' basket. I'm not convinced they'll give all they can to any no2, making the seat something of a poison chalice...

I think Max always comes first... But also common sense suggests they might like someone a bit closer to Max! In truth, as a marketing exercise I've no doubt that Max alone easily justifies RBR remaining in F1. The hard working team might want more but the board must be pretty chuffed that Max has an army of loyal fans all loving RBR and the endless press they get as a result.

If someone comes along that is similar enough to Max to get good results out of the car that would be great. but they won't sacrifice Max's car preference in order to make it easier for anyone else. Max is the money.

Indeed Max is the one to develop for. I like the idea that has been mentioned regarding SV needing a planted rear end, which is why he is not able to get good results from his Ferrari. I wonder if this is the problem with PG & AA at Red Bull. May be they just don't have enough experience to change the driving style they have, that got them where they are right now.

[ARFBY]

RonaldMcDonaldAteMyCat said:

vaud said:

Off where?

Wherever has a works engine and a chance of winning a championship. He won't give Red Bull forever, nor should he.

Until LH leaves Mercedes, there is no seat for Max there.

Ferrari have their money on CLC.

No other team has a works engine AND a chance of winning a championship.

Maybe the new regs. will change things, but right now he's going nowhere.

[thegreenhell]

RonaldMcDonaldAteMyCat said:

vaud said:

Off where?

Wherever has a works engine and a chance of winning a championship. He won't give Red Bull forever, nor should he.

Alongside Alonso at Renault in 2022?

He has a contract until 2023, but I'm sure there are release clauses, possibly based engine supply since he will have known when he signed that Honda only had one more year after this.

[TheDeuce]

RonaldMcDonaldAteMyCat said:

Unless they give Max a winning car next year, he's gonna be off. He won't hang around forever.

Right now RB have no works engine from 2022 and Ferrari/Renault dont want to freeze engine development to allow RB to carry in using the Honda. You might go as far as to say that unless the FIA intervene and freeze engine dev or enforce supply from another manufacturer, Max is probably going to leave.

I would normally 100% agree. But 'where' he might go is a tricky question. Also stability ahead of the 2022 changes isn't a bad thing to cling to perhaps...

Granted, the PU problem is a BIG problem. In the end I think that will be a deciding factor in terms of his loyalty.

[Teddy Lop]

ARFBY said:

RonaldMcDonaldAteMyCat said:

vaud said:

Off where?

Wherever has a works engine and a chance of winning a championship. He won't give Red Bull forever, nor should he.

Until LH leaves Mercedes, there is no seat for Max there.

Ferrari have their money on CLC.

No other team has a works engine AND a chance of winning a championship.

Maybe the new regs. will change things, but right now he's going nowhere.

he needs to keep his options open IMO, even of that means taking less $ for not being locked into a multi year contract. He might not factor into merc/fez plans today but things change, sometimes more quickly than anyone's prepared for. And that goes for teams too, there's a shake up soon and remember how we all thought Lewis was gaga for signing to merc just before the last one?

[jimPH]

The camera angles look superb! Well done Bottas!

[HighwayStar]

trackdemon said:

TheDeuce said:

How can we know if it's the case that the top team can't get the best out of him, or he can't get the best out of the top car?

Do they even want to? It's pretty clear all their eggs are in Max' basket. I'm not convinced they'll give all they can to any no2, making the seat something of a poison chalice...

They didn’t give all they could to DRic.
Since they went with the belief that he wouldn’t leave as there was no where better and he left drivers have suffered in the second seat. I do like to seeIng Horner suffering a little pain. They all seem to have the same problem as Vettel. A car not to their liking.

[Sandpit Steve]

Teddy Lop said:

he needs to keep his options open IMO, even of that means taking less $ for not being locked into a multi year contract. He might not factor into merc/fez plans today but things change, sometimes more quickly than anyone's prepared for. And that goes for teams too, there's a shake up soon and remember how we all thought Lewis was gaga for signing to merc just before the last one?

In these days of mandated reliability the pecking order of the manufacturers is much easier to guess at the start of the season, which makes it a nightmare for drivers like Max and Charles to find their way to a car likely to win them a championship.

Their biggest bet is to hope that their teams can make the most of the new regulations, but as we heard this week Mercedes have already abandoned development on this years car and have everyone on next year’s - which buys them even more headroom to get people on the new ‘22 car as soon as it’s allowed next year.

But let’s not also forget what a monumental risk it was for Hamilton to leave the winning car he had at McLaren and sign for Mercedes in the first place. Taking that opportunity has made him the man he is today - will Max be prepared to take such a risk?

[JonChalk]

Sandpit Steve said:

Teddy Lop said:

But let’s not also forget what a monumental risk it was for Hamilton to leave the winning car he had at McLaren and sign for Mercedes in the first place. Taking that opportunity has made him the man he is today - will Max be prepared to take such a risk?

Especially as it hasn't worked out for the likes of Vettel and Alonso, who took similar risks that subsequently backfired (multiple times for Fernando!).