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RBR should just stuff a bag of flour into a racing helmet and put that in their second car. Given that they built the entire team around one person, it'd probably post the same results as anyone else who's not named Max.
2021 F1 Driver ThreadFormula 1
- Thread starter TenEightyOne
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- mustafur
Redbull have to hire a driver outside their program for that second seat, Perez being gone from RP honestly is the perfect Sceniaro driver for Redbull, he can be their Webber untill they give their driver program time to bring a natural replacement.
For Alfa Romeo I would be picking Shwartzman even if he doesn't win the title, this is his first season of F2 straight from winning the F3 title, he looks to have the most raw talent given how much of an advantage experience is in F2.
For Alfa Romeo I would be picking Shwartzman even if he doesn't win the title, this is his first season of F2 straight from winning the F3 title, he looks to have the most raw talent given how much of an advantage experience is in F2.
McLaren
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I read last month Hamilton has every intent to move forward with the team, but made a statement that now wasn't the time to discuss a big contract with the current state of the world's economy. Seemed like he was concerned about his image looking poorly in relation to being such a big activist.
MagpieRacer
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I'm inclined to agree, but his qualifying form isn't that good and that would hurt him in F1. Ilot has excellent qualifying pace and extremely consistent race pace, plus he's very good on his tyres. But when he isn't on a good day he's very anonymous.
It's interesting to see how it will pan out.
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When it comes to those Alfa seat, the top 3 drivers in F2 are all Ferrari young drivers and are starting to perform well enough that they can be classed as "ready for F1". IMO, it should be pretty simple. "Win the title and you get Kimi's seat. Come second and you get Giovinazzi's seat". The car may be awful this year, but neither are really performing great in it this year. Kimi has only had flashes of speed in the last few rounds, while Giovinazzi keeps crashing. if Illot and Shwartzmann beat Schumacher, so be it. They're ready and he missed out. If Tsunoda somehow comes alive in these last rounds and wins the title, then Alfa take just one of the drivers and Kimi/Antonio keeps their seat.
I don't see Alfa needing to get someone like Hulkenberg, Perez or Magnussen into a seat because the F2 challengers have looked really good this season.
I don't see Alfa needing to get someone like Hulkenberg, Perez or Magnussen into a seat because the F2 challengers have looked really good this season.
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https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/152014/haas-looking-at-close-to-10-drivers-for-21-seats
That's Romain and K-Mag confirmed for next year, then.
/S
That's Romain and K-Mag confirmed for next year, then.
/S
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If you read the headline improperly, it sounds like they will have 1 driver for every 2.5 seats. No wonder the team is struggling.https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/152014/haas-looking-at-close-to-10-drivers-for-21-seats
That's Romain and K-Mag confirmed for next year, then.
ROAD_DOGG33J
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I hope Vettel does this move justice. It will look pretty bad if he continues with sloppy racing and spin-outs.
MagpieRacer
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Alfa need someone to help move the car forwards wjole simultaneously being able to drive it hard. Hulkenberg can do that, he's a very good technical driver. Then alongside him, it makes sense for it to be the F2 champion as it will likely be an FDA driver and they wouldn't be able to defend the title anyway.
He isn’t that special, he doesn't really deserve a top seat, he had one. He also can't be picky, if he is going to wait for a competitive seat then he's never racing in F1 again. Way I see it is its Haas or nothing for him. Outside shot at Alfa but he's been there before. After months of saying he would stay at Sauber and cooled off Ferrari interest (as he was an FDA driver) he then jacked them both in and went to Mclaren, so I dont recall it ending on particularly good terms.
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Horner claiming that Minardi Toro Rosso Alpha Tauri are now "a sister team rather than a junior team" and that "it wouldn't make sense" to swap Gasly and Albon.
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/152042/horner-swapping-gasly-and-albon-wouldnt-make-sense
Have to say that if Red Bull do take this approach (and honestly who knows with Red Bull) that would seem the most sensible. We've seen these past couple of seasons that Faenza can punch above their weight in F1's midfield and that Gasly is leading that charge. If Gasly can be a strong number 1 at that team and take the team up higher in the constructor's standings that will only mean more prize money for Red Bull.
The question, as it has been for some time now, is whether Red Bull want to focus solely on being "Team Verstappen" or if they want to put up a serious two car challenge in the constructors over the next couple of years. If it's the former then either they can stick with Albon or put Kvyat in the second car, but if it's the latter then Pérez to Red Bull would be a juicy prospect, while Gasly and Albon at Toro Rosso could be one of the most exciting young lineups in F1 and potentially make some waves in the F1 midfield.
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/152042/horner-swapping-gasly-and-albon-wouldnt-make-sense
Have to say that if Red Bull do take this approach (and honestly who knows with Red Bull) that would seem the most sensible. We've seen these past couple of seasons that Faenza can punch above their weight in F1's midfield and that Gasly is leading that charge. If Gasly can be a strong number 1 at that team and take the team up higher in the constructor's standings that will only mean more prize money for Red Bull.
The question, as it has been for some time now, is whether Red Bull want to focus solely on being "Team Verstappen" or if they want to put up a serious two car challenge in the constructors over the next couple of years. If it's the former then either they can stick with Albon or put Kvyat in the second car, but if it's the latter then Pérez to Red Bull would be a juicy prospect, while Gasly and Albon at Toro Rosso could be one of the most exciting young lineups in F1 and potentially make some waves in the F1 midfield.
MagpieRacer
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Stroll to Mercedes confirmed.
Jokes. But it was interesting to hear Stroll seeking out Wolff and then disappearing together.
Jokes. But it was interesting to hear Stroll seeking out Wolff and then disappearing together.
LeGeNd-1
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While I'd like Vettel to continue, I'm sad that it will be in the expense of Perez. It's so messed up that in 2 years we've lost probably 2 of the best midfield drivers in Hulk and Checo. I wouldn't want Perez in Haas or Alfa, it's just going to be a sad end to his career.
We need 1-2 more teams in F1, so that established drivers don't get pushed out so easily and also have some seats available for young drivers to graduate from F2. Maybe bring back 3 car teams???
On another note, next year's midfield battle is going to be absolutely legendary: VET vs ALO vs RIC and maybe GAS/LEC as well from time to time
We need 1-2 more teams in F1, so that established drivers don't get pushed out so easily and also have some seats available for young drivers to graduate from F2. Maybe bring back 3 car teams???
On another note, next year's midfield battle is going to be absolutely legendary: VET vs ALO vs RIC and maybe GAS/LEC as well from time to time
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I think going forward after seeing what RP have done with copying the Mercedes, I suspect the Alpha Tauri's going forward are going to be as much a Redbull Chassis as is legally possible under the regs making the car Similar in performance.
That's my guess, Redbull raised this at the start of the resumption that they have been wasting their time with the other team if Racing point can do what they did this season.
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Remember when the Toro Rosso was actually last seasons Red Bull car, and they got an earful + regulation changes as a result... This doesn't seem very far off that, but it does prove they could have been a lot closer had they chosen to be. They were probably just aware that the scrutiny would have been 10 times worse...
I'm really disappointed that Racing Point have not shown Perez the same loyalty he has shown them. He has been there since 2014 I think? To sign a 3 year contract last year showed again his commitment to the project, and now this... Oof.
At Alfa Romeo, I wonder if they will take 2 of the FDA drivers on. Probably Mick Schumacher alongside whoever does best in the F2 Championship. Schumacher probably doesn't deserve a seat over Shwartzmann, but the people making driver decisions are going to be heavily swayed by the surname and what it means to Ferrari...
I'm really disappointed that Racing Point have not shown Perez the same loyalty he has shown them. He has been there since 2014 I think? To sign a 3 year contract last year showed again his commitment to the project, and now this... Oof.
At Alfa Romeo, I wonder if they will take 2 of the FDA drivers on. Probably Mick Schumacher alongside whoever does best in the F2 Championship. Schumacher probably doesn't deserve a seat over Shwartzmann, but the people making driver decisions are going to be heavily swayed by the surname and what it means to Ferrari...
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Schumacher has taken the lead in F2 so far. If he wins the championship he deserves that seat, but so does any of the top guys in that championship who'd be worthy of a promotion.
- 20,681
- TenEightyOne
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Your driver needs to be monetisable, they need to be good for the sponsors, they need to generate press. That stands Mick Schumacher in good stead in exactly the same way as a fat sponsorship portfolio. If he can demonstrate that he's a genuine member of the top-pick group then I don't see why a team wouldn't want him.
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2020 less so than any other season given the change in the tyres, but it is normally telling how many seasons a driver needs in F2. The very best arrive and contend for the Championship from season 1. I haven't seen the actual F2 races from Mugello but I was aware that the lead of the Championship had swung. But even knowing Schumacher now leads the Championship, in his second season I would have expected him to put Shwartzmann more in the shade than he had done so far. Just my view - it is very difficult to tell.
Again so far the F2 season had seen Ilott competing with Shwartzmann for the Championship, which many who view current performances above all else would grant them the first and second options to any Ferrari favoured F1 seats. But as you say, Schumacher will bring a lot more to any team than his talent alone - and he has shown a lot of that too.
I think I should have been clear that I wasn't dismissing Schumacher from an F1 drive at all. Just that his signing an F1 contract will be based by a smaller percentage on performance alone - unlike any other FDA driver, he could tank the remainder of the year and still be the first signing picked up by Alfa Romeo.
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I think Schumacher will probably find his way to F1 but I just don't see the talent and would be very surprised if he does well in F1.
He has been in Prema equipment exclusively since F4(argubly the best single seater junior team there is), and it has taken him 2 seasons in F3 and 2 seasons in F2 to get going.
The first seasons are really bad as well, compared that to what people have doubed the golden rookie class of 2019, where Russel and Norris locked the top 2 positions of F2 in their first season(in 2018), Norris also came from F3 and Formula Renault where he won both on his first attempt.
Because the grids cycle every year it's much less impressive doing well on your 2nd season.
He has been in Prema equipment exclusively since F4(argubly the best single seater junior team there is), and it has taken him 2 seasons in F3 and 2 seasons in F2 to get going.
The first seasons are really bad as well, compared that to what people have doubed the golden rookie class of 2019, where Russel and Norris locked the top 2 positions of F2 in their first season(in 2018), Norris also came from F3 and Formula Renault where he won both on his first attempt.
Because the grids cycle every year it's much less impressive doing well on your 2nd season.
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MagpieRacer
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He's got potential for sure, no doubts there. Once he does get going he's generally very fast. Its easy to get hung up on championships sometimes when looking at young drivers, and yeah you could say his record is unspectacular, you could also say Verstappen has never won a senior racing championship and lost the F3 series to Ocon. So it doesnt always tell the whole story as Max is clearly WDC material and Ocon is not.
Mick will always be under more scrutiny because of his name and being on the Ferrari academy.
At the same time, this season is a make or break for him. The F2 champion can't remain in F2 to defend their crown. Obviously this is by no means a guarantee of getting an F1 seat, with 3 FDA drivers competing for the title, plus Lundgaard on the Renault program, and with Alfa and Haas potentially looking to freshen their lineups, if the F2 champion is an FDA driver then its highly likely that driver will be guaranteed progression to F1. If Mick doesn't win the championship this season, he runs the risk of being a competent F2 driver at best competing for the top 6-10 and nothing more. At that point it is his name that will get him to F1. So he really needs to start putting in some performances worthy of an F2 champion.
My money is on Callum Ilott.
Mick will always be under more scrutiny because of his name and being on the Ferrari academy.
At the same time, this season is a make or break for him. The F2 champion can't remain in F2 to defend their crown. Obviously this is by no means a guarantee of getting an F1 seat, with 3 FDA drivers competing for the title, plus Lundgaard on the Renault program, and with Alfa and Haas potentially looking to freshen their lineups, if the F2 champion is an FDA driver then its highly likely that driver will be guaranteed progression to F1. If Mick doesn't win the championship this season, he runs the risk of being a competent F2 driver at best competing for the top 6-10 and nothing more. At that point it is his name that will get him to F1. So he really needs to start putting in some performances worthy of an F2 champion.
My money is on Callum Ilott.
Tired Tyres
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How do you know it's down to Racing Point? It may have been a Vettel requirement not to have someone in the team that could give him some problems.
MagpieRacer
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The team also don't owe him as much as people keep making out. Yes he instigated proceedings to save the team and staff but it was at the request of the team that he did it and was backed by his sponsors. It was a risk for him if it didn't play out as it did but it wasn't as heroic as people make put.
I do agree that Vettel probably wouldn't have been keen on partnering Perez given Perez' past inability to race a competitive teammate without incident
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The issue with RB and TR back then was that Red Bull were literally building Toro Rosso’s car for them. TR did nothing in the way of construction. The specific rule is that a team must BUILD the car themselves, not DESIGN it. This is an important distinction. The FIA clarified back then that Toro Rosso needed to build their car themselves, rather than have the parent team just give them a hand-me-down. It’s related to the 1982 Concorde agreement that forbade privateer teams. TR’s argument was that they were technically a part of Red Bull, so they should be allowed access to the parent’s info. The FIA told them that as a separately registered team, they were not considered a part of RB as far as the regulations concerned.
The issue with Racing Point this season was that many people up and down the paddock believed RP’s car this year was TOO close a copy of last year’s Merc to be a simple reverse-engineer job from photographs alone. Specifically because they used the same wind tunnel as Merc, so people were saying that Mercedes had granted them access to the W10’s technical blueprints. Teams are disallowed from sharing technical documents and personnel with each other (Which is why TR/AT’s cars aren’t direct 1:1 copies of RB’s anymore), so if it could be proven that RP had access to Mercedes documents rather than simple reverse engineering, they would fall afoul of the regulations regarding ‘building the car yourself’. The final catalyst was their brake ducts, which were practically identical to the W10s, despite RP having no realistic way to have been able to reverse engineer them without having direct access to their blueprints.
I don’t remember the exact situation, but I think it came to light that RP had used a technicality to buy the Merc brakes last year when it was still legal to do so, then designed their own variants of them for this year despite the fact that starting this season, it was no longer legal to buy brakes from another team. The ruling the FIA handed them is basically “You know you’re guilty, we know you’re guilty, but you didn’t actually violate the letter of the law. We’re giving you a slap on the wrist, so don’t do it again.” RP decided to not challenge it because it was more trouble than it was worth.
It were idiot fans that don’t understand the regulations who were saying things like “you can’t copy someone’s car! That’s not fair, it’s cheating! You have to design your own, otherwise everyone would just copy everyone else and the whole grid would just be Mercedes copies!” That was never the FIA or rival teams’ argument.
MagpieRacer
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A lot of teams also said they needed the appeal and case to happen to gain clarification on the current rules. The fact that the appeals have all been dropped suggests that there isn't more to this than just a question mark over certain parts which has been answered and covered off.
MagpieRacer
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https://www.planetf1.com/news/sergio-perez-preliminary-haas-deal/
Unconfirmed reports with few sources but its gathering traction that Haas will drop both current drivers and Perez has signed a contract for 2021.
Unconfirmed reports with few sources but its gathering traction that Haas will drop both current drivers and Perez has signed a contract for 2021.
MagpieRacer
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