Where does Carlos go now?

[asfault]

ralphrj said:

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.

Mercedes hve done very well from the recent era of f1.

my generation and id hazard a guess most on here 30 or older used to see mercedes as an "old man with money car" they were not desirable or asperational for younger folk.

With Lewis and Mercedes F1 success as well as the ability for younger folk to get finance they are very much a younger persons brand.

[Sandpit Steve]

Carlos in the press conference at Tokyo, in response to a question from Crofty, says that yes he’s been talking to pretty much everyone in the paddock about next year, because that’s what you do when you don’t have a job after this season!

[DeejRC]

I rather suspect he has a job offer from every team in the paddock apart from Ferrari.
And if Ferrari had any sense they would be asking him if he wants to win Le Mans next yr for them.

[Mark-C]

DeejRC said:

I rather suspect he has a job offer from every team in the paddock apart from Ferrari.
And if Ferrari had any sense they would be asking him if he wants to win Le Mans next yr for them.

I don't think Le Mans works for him at this stage of his career. Ferrari have made their decision about drivers and I can't see Sainz being in anyway ready for a WEC drive.

Need to throw Vettel into the mix as well - he's tested the Porsche 963 but is making noises about F1 - I think most teams would want Sainz over Vettel but he's another driver suddenly sniffing around good seats.

I reckon a two year Red Bull contract would be best for him but completely understand why he wouldn't want it with Max there.

[MustangGT]

Mark-C said:

DeejRC said:

I rather suspect he has a job offer from every team in the paddock apart from Ferrari.
And if Ferrari had any sense they would be asking him if he wants to win Le Mans next yr for them.

Need to throw Vettel into the mix as well - he's tested the Porsche 963 but is making noises about F1 - I think most teams would want Sainz over Vettel but he's another driver suddenly sniffing around good seats.

I think Seb should stay retired, rather than come back to prove he is mediocre. The car type that suited his driving is long gone.

[loquacious]

I have very recently found I have Netflix... I've been paying for it for a couple of years apparently! Drive to Survive has been watched constantly for three days so far.

My conclusions based solely on this exhausting (sic) research is; Carlos is a jolly good driver, he has speed, courage, skill and most importantly, brains. Ferrari have rid themselves of the wrong driver as I am sure (not really that sure...) that he is a better all-rounder than Charles.

[Stan the Bat]

I think it was a difficult decision to make.

[skwdenyer]

Stan the Bat said:

I think it was a difficult decision to make.

The very fact that, from what we father, Ferrari were quite intent on Hamilton suggests less than stellar confirmed in Leclerc’s true abilities.

I tend to agree the wrong driver has been ditched.

[thegreenhell]

I think they originally planned to keep both drivers, but you don't turn away a 7 time WDC when he tells your CEO that he's available and wants to drive for your team. I think the decision in Charles' favour was that he was there before Carlos and they'd already renewed his contract, rather than them actively deciding to replace Carlos.

[maz8062]

LeClerc is the best driver to be paired with LH. He is the naturally fastest driver in that team and just needs a guiding hand to make the next step to greatness. As good as Carlos is, he’s not a WDC in the making, he’s just a solid driver in the Berger, Alesi mold.

LH has already made men of many great driver in the past, Rosberg and Russell are names that come to mind. If Charles can learn off LH he can be the next best thing.

[Leithen]

Sainz is far better than Berger or Alesi. He’s every bit as good as Hill, Button, Villeneuve (J), Rosberg (both). Going back a bit further, he’s as good as Scheckter and even Piquet.

The problem of challenging for a WC in the current era is there only being two cars out of twenty each season that are capable of winning a WC.

[540TORQUES]

Sainz takes a bit of time to get going in a team, once he is fully integrated, he is very good. I would have ditched Charles, he bins it too much. It's going to be interesting to see how this pans out later in the year.

In the right car Carlos is certainly good enough to be a WDC.

[DeejRC]

Leithen said:

Sainz is far better than Berger or Alesi. He’s every bit as good as Hill, Button, Villeneuve (J), Rosberg (both). Going back a bit further, he’s as good as Scheckter and even Piquet.

The problem of challenging for a WC in the current era is there only being two cars out of twenty each season that are capable of winning a WC.

When one references Keke, is not about whether one is as good as him or not. It’s about how small your balls are compared to his because Keke is the undisputed king of ball size.

[Leithen]

DeejRC said:

When one references Keke, is not about whether one is as good as him or not. It’s about how small your balls are compared to his because Keke is the undisputed king of ball size.

I suspect Sainz Senior possesses cojones of similar dimensions. Whether genetics have been kind to Junior is impossible to tell with the current sanitised jalopies.

But yes, Keke was mighty.

[Misanthroper]

Surely Ferrari are regretting the Hamilton move somewhat? Russell better this season (apart from the crash) and Sainz performing superbly, Hamilton hasn’t been able to compete even against his teammate.

Sainz is giving himself a great chance at any team, I’d like to see him go to Mercedes and start beating the Ferrari’s.

[540TORQUES]

Misanthroper said:

Surely Ferrari are regretting the Hamilton move somewhat? Russell better this season (apart from the crash) and Sainz performing superbly, Hamilton hasn’t been able to compete even against his teammate.

Sainz is giving himself a great chance at any team, I’d like to see him go to Mercedes and start beating the Ferrari’s.

Hamilton out qualified Russell, had a poor handling car at race start so let his team mate through and received the poorer pit stop strategies as a result losing a big chunk of time through two undercut stops, yet caught him up at the end. He competed better in qualy and gained more time in the race taking into account the lost time from strategy, seemed a fair drive for what he was given to work with.

So long as Sainz doesn't go to Red Bull he will be fine.

[g4ry13]

Misanthroper said:

Surely Ferrari are regretting the Hamilton move somewhat? Russell better this season (apart from the crash) and Sainz performing superbly, Hamilton hasn’t been able to compete even against his teammate.

Sainz is giving himself a great chance at any team, I’d like to see him go to Mercedes and start beating the Ferrari’s.

I think moving to Mercedes is probably the best potential move for Sainz. But does Mercedes want to rock the boat with George? Only other available seat at a top team is Red Bull and why play second fiddle to Max?

Ferrari do appear to be getting rid of the wrong driver and I don't see Lewis bringing anything extra to the team.

[InformationSuperHighway]

Misanthroper said:

Surely Ferrari are regretting the Hamilton move somewhat? Russell better this season (apart from the crash) and Sainz performing superbly, Hamilton hasn’t been able to compete even against his teammate.

Sainz is giving himself a great chance at any team, I’d like to see him go to Mercedes and start beating the Ferrari’s.

He added $6bn to the value of the company over night. He’ll continue to add revenue over and above every other driver on the grid they could have snagged.

They are not regretting it what so ever.

[thegreenhell]

InformationSuperHighway said:

He added $6bn to the value of the company over night. He’ll continue to add revenue over and above every other driver on the grid they could have snagged.

They are not regretting it what so ever.

No he didn't.

The share price jumped because the annual accounts were published that day, revealing how much profit Ferrari had made last year. Hamilton's signing being announced on the same day was pure coincidence.

[540TORQUES]

InformationSuperHighway said:

He added $6bn to the value of the company over night. He’ll continue to add revenue over and above every other driver on the grid they could have snagged.

They are not regretting it what so ever.

He didn't, the Ferrari sales figures were released the same morning, that's what drove the stock market listing gain.

Lewis will be an asset to the team, if the car is good he will get the most out of it.