McLaren New Drivers 2019

McLaren New Drivers 2019

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allsop83

Original Poster:

113 posts

190 months

Wednesday 4th April 2018
quotequote all
So guys I have read this today:

https://www.gpguide.com/news.aspx?articleid=MXwwNC...

[i]Apr.3 (GMM) McLaren is tangling a tantalising carrot in front of its junior drivers in 2018.

According to Dutchman Nick de Vries, McLaren executive Zak Brown has promised that if he or Lando Norris wins the Formula 2 title this year, the prize will be an F1 seat.

"If I become the Formula 2 champion in 2018, then I will get a seat in formula one. It's spelled out in my contract in black and white and that's what Zak told me," de Vries told the Dutch publication Hp De Tijd.

He added: "The same conditions apply to Norris. Lando has some advantage, as his father has a good relationship with Zak and he pays for his career, but if I meet expectations in 2018, then I will be in formula one next season.

"Everything is in my hands," de Vries added.[/i]

Seems to read that if either of these guys does a good job and meets targets set upon them in 2018 then they will be in a McLaren race seat next season. I haven't heard any speculation about either of the current drivers moving on? How would you read this if you were Vandorne or Alonso?

Dr Z

3,396 posts

171 months

Wednesday 4th April 2018
quotequote all
Think Vandoorne is in danger.

Can't count on Alonso not jumping ship to Renault either.

thegreenhell

15,255 posts

219 months

Wednesday 4th April 2018
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It doesn't specify that it's a McLaren race seat, just "a seat in F1", which could mean many things.

Andy S15

399 posts

127 months

Wednesday 4th April 2018
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Could quite easily just be a test seat. Or Nando is on his way out soon. I'd be surprised if Vandoorne is under the hammer - he's proven to match or best Nando on a number of occasions now.

Jon39

12,812 posts

143 months

Wednesday 4th April 2018
quotequote all

allsop83 said:
"If I become the Formula 2 champion in 2018, then I will get a seat in formula one.
It's spelled out in my contract in black and white and that's what Zak told me," de Vries told the Dutch publication Hp De Tijd.

I hope the contract does not also include a clause, not to reveal contract information. That could blow his dream.




EDLT

15,421 posts

206 months

Wednesday 4th April 2018
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Does McLaren's marketing scheme still require a current or former champion? If so Vandoorne is buggered.

rev-erend

21,406 posts

284 months

Wednesday 4th April 2018
quotequote all
I agree, it could just be the test driver / 3rd and reserve driver.

DanielSan

18,771 posts

167 months

Wednesday 4th April 2018
quotequote all
Mclaren to set up a (Honda powered) team with Andretti in Indycar and Alonso off over the pond for next year.

I’m willing to bet money that will be the case

StevieBee

12,849 posts

255 months

Wednesday 4th April 2018
quotequote all
EDLT said:
Does McLaren's marketing scheme still require a current or former champion? If so Vandoorne is buggered.
Steady on there. The season's only one race in and much can happen :-)

(Though Vandoorne scooping the WDC is not one of them)

FourWheelDrift

88,477 posts

284 months

Wednesday 4th April 2018
quotequote all
"the prize will be an F1 seat"

There you go, enjoy it, put in in your study and make brrm brrm noises all day to your hearts content.

https://www.suite-world.co.uk/details/Chair_Centre...

kambites

67,543 posts

221 months

Wednesday 4th April 2018
quotequote all
Watch the F2 championship be a dead tie between them now so Mclaren have to ditch both their current drivers. biggrin

anonymous-user

54 months

Wednesday 4th April 2018
quotequote all
Andy S15 said:
Could quite easily just be a test seat. Or Nando is on his way out soon. I'd be surprised if Vandoorne is under the hammer - he's proven to match or best Nando on a number of occasions now.
Really???

thegreenhell

15,255 posts

219 months

Friday 6th April 2018
quotequote all
Zak Brown flat out denied any such contract clause or promise to any junior drivers, during the team principals press conference today.

https://www.fia.com/news/f1-bahrain-grand-prix-fri...

said:
Q: (Arjan Schouten – Ad SportWorld) Zak, Formula Two is also starting this weekend. Last week, Nyck de Vries told on Dutch television that you said to him that he will definitely get a chance with McLaren in Formula One in 2019 when he wins the championship. Two questions: is that true and what does a chance mean?

ZB: That is not an accurate reflection of the conversation but Nyck’s a very good driver. McLaren will always look to put the two best drivers that it can in the car and no one has any promises from McLaren verbally or contractually as to who is going to be in our car in 2019... We won’t comment on our contracts but I can tell you that no one has a guarantee to be in our seat for 2019, regardless of any race results.

Jacobyte

4,723 posts

242 months

Friday 6th April 2018
quotequote all
thegreenhell said:
Zak Brown flat out denied any such contract clause or promise to any junior drivers, during the team principals press conference today.

https://www.fia.com/news/f1-bahrain-grand-prix-fri...

said:
Q: (Arjan Schouten – Ad SportWorld) Zak, Formula Two is also starting this weekend. Last week, Nyck de Vries told on Dutch television that you said to him that he will definitely get a chance with McLaren in Formula One in 2019 when he wins the championship. Two questions: is that true and what does a chance mean?

ZB: That is not an accurate reflection of the conversation but Nyck’s a very good driver. McLaren will always look to put the two best drivers that it can in the car and no one has any promises from McLaren verbally or contractually as to who is going to be in our car in 2019... We won’t comment on our contracts but I can tell you that no one has a guarantee to be in our seat for 2019, regardless of any race results.
ZB might be being clever; the TV wording was "...in Formula One". Not "...in a McLaren".

It could simply be a one-off test with another team, under contract.

keithcollantine

9 posts

72 months

Monday 9th April 2018
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Think Dr Vries needs to raise his game massively to be in with a chance. McLaren's drivers next year will be two out of Nando, Vando* and Lando.

  • as no one ever calls him.

rubystone

11,252 posts

259 months

Tuesday 10th April 2018
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Vandoorne, to my knowledge, only has a one year contract. Whilst he was bankrolled by Whitmarsh in GP2, his manager is actually Richard Goddard, Button’s manager. I don’t think Zak will be as easy for Richard to deal with as Martin or Ron were though. His seat is very much up for grabs next year.

suffolk009

5,367 posts

165 months

Tuesday 10th April 2018
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It strikes me as a stupid, immature and inexperienced thing of de Vries to say publicly. What did he expect Zak Brown to do, say "yup, that's right, either Alonso or Vandoorne will be fired to make a place for you son". Very stupid.

At best I think the offer might have been for a couple of P1 sessions, but more likely a test role with a backmarker team.

glazbagun

14,274 posts

197 months

Saturday 21st April 2018
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Spanish (google translate it) mag thinks Alonso is leaving.

https://www.diariogol.com/motor/fernando-alonso-es...

PhillipM

6,517 posts

189 months

Sunday 22nd April 2018
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Unless Vandoorne gets his ass in gear fast he wants to be out of the door anyway.

Vaud

50,391 posts

155 months

Monday 23rd April 2018
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suffolk009 said:
At best I think the offer might have been for a couple of P1 sessions, but more likely a test role with a backmarker team.
Like McLaren?