Tired Tyres
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The 2018 F1 driver transfer discussion/speculation threadFormula 1
- Thread starter EngieDiesel
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- pezzarinho17
I don't think it is a hate for Kimi, but more a disdain towards him occupying a seat at Ferrari and not delivering the results expected with the best car on the grid. It can be argued he is fighting upstream with a definitive number 2 role imposed by the team, but the fact is that when Vettel is relying on Raikkonen to back him up and take points away from Hamilton, he just isn't up to the job. Bottas has shown that he is capable of taking points from Vettel and even giving Hamilton a difficult race when he isn't quite on the pace. That's vital both for Mercedes and Hamilton in their respective Championship battles, and of course in Bottas' own challenge if he can maintain form across the season.
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- LemonCyro
But Kimi doesn't take points off from Vettel. It's clear if Ferrari wants to win the championship, it has to be Vettel.
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- pezzarinho17
Which will likely be the case whoever joins as the number 2 driver. But in the races where Vettel is struggling or has an incident, they also need that driver to take wins and minimise the points deficit of Hamilton and the rest of Vettel's rivals. Kimi has only finished ahead of Hamilton at China, and even then he was 3rd to Hamilton's 4th. Remember Vettel was dominant all weekend until he got spun around, the Ferrari was again the best car and I think Raikkonen got the same strategy call as the Red Bull drivers. In Canada, Vettel was again dominant, but Raikkonen was beaten by both the Red Bull's and the Mercedes... It goes on long before 2018 as well, and the simple fact is that he has not won a race in 2017 or 2018 to Vettel's 8 race wins.
I don't disagree with anything you're saying, but I don't think Mclaren are doomed for all eternity.
I think that Mclaren offer a good opportunity for Riccy to build a team around him and for him, something he's not had the chance to do before. I don't think he would get the same treatment if he stayed at Red Bull, or moved to join either Lewis or Sebastian.
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- LemonCyro
It just avoids Seb/Webber situations. As a Ferrari fan, i prefer a low profile Kimi than a real contender
To be fair though, @Tired Tyres it does seem like the team have serious issues...
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- pezzarinho17
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- GTP_Liquid
Newey being semi-retired could explain their somewhat slip to third-best since Vettel's last title in 2013.
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Chikane_GTR
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So what's the deal with the halo thing over the cockpit of the car? looks kinda silly 
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- bramturismo
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How about a full time Indycar driver next year??
Completed by a seat swap with Dixon???
https://racer.com/2018/06/21/dixon-to-mclaren-the-2019-indycar-silly-season-is-ramping-up/
Seems like just media noise, something to talk about......but I’d definitely be interested to see Dixon in F1.
Completed by a seat swap with Dixon???
https://racer.com/2018/06/21/dixon-to-mclaren-the-2019-indycar-silly-season-is-ramping-up/
Seems like just media noise, something to talk about......but I’d definitely be interested to see Dixon in F1.
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IIRC he got called back in after bad start to 2017, not sure if that's correct though. But if he was semi-retired I think the last thing he would care about would be sitting at the pit wall...
Regarding Ricciardo, it's between RBR and Renault. RBR is obvious, Renault will be getting bigger budget next year and there's always a chance they come good with 2019 rules, or they do so naturally by 2020. Mclaren would be a career suicide for Dan
Nah he’ll move to Indy next year. No reason for him to stay in F1. Triple crown is something he can easily achieve
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Alonso already won the Le Mans. He clearly still has a heart for F1, but also wants to be a contender, wherever it is. He seems to only be interested in getting the Triple Crown. I can't blame him, he hasn't won in F1 in 5 years, and hasn't been on the podium in 4. A driver of his calibre will miss the champagne.
I think he wants at least one more title before he gives up on F1 for good. McLaren won't do that if they can't even touch Renault, much less Red Bull. Renault are still far away from competing in the top 6, Red Bull is Verstappen's team to be, Mercedes are seemingly happy with Hamilton and Bottas. That is the only reason why I don't see him staying very long, because he won't have a clear path to contention anytime soon and he's already the wrong side of his 30's.
I think he wants at least one more title before he gives up on F1 for good. McLaren won't do that if they can't even touch Renault, much less Red Bull. Renault are still far away from competing in the top 6, Red Bull is Verstappen's team to be, Mercedes are seemingly happy with Hamilton and Bottas. That is the only reason why I don't see him staying very long, because he won't have a clear path to contention anytime soon and he's already the wrong side of his 30's.
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Not a bad two year deal for Lewis --> $50M !!
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Surely we must be seeing the end of Grosjean’s career in F1 this season? Unless he has an unbelievable turn around, I can’t see him having a drive next year (even if he has a contract).
Unless Sauber needs Ericsson’s money, is it likely he’ll have a drive next year?
Alonso might move on from F1.
Kimi might be booted out...I’ve no clue whether Kimi would accept a “demotion” to either Haas or Sauber next year. I suppose it’s possible.
Hartley still has a lot of work to do to justify a seat next year.
Vandoorne not really impressing at McLaren.
Sirotkin? Honestly I’ve barely noticed him this year.
There’s a lot of potential to have very different looking grid next year.
Unless Sauber needs Ericsson’s money, is it likely he’ll have a drive next year?
Alonso might move on from F1.
Kimi might be booted out...I’ve no clue whether Kimi would accept a “demotion” to either Haas or Sauber next year. I suppose it’s possible.
Hartley still has a lot of work to do to justify a seat next year.
Vandoorne not really impressing at McLaren.
Sirotkin? Honestly I’ve barely noticed him this year.
There’s a lot of potential to have very different looking grid next year.
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I didn’t actually realise how old Grosjean was. I just assumed he must’ve 27-28, I didn’t actually know he drove for Renault in some races in 2009, I thought Lotus was the start of his career.
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Nope he filled in for the race fixer and then had another round of GP2 before finally being picked up
Also for @twitcher I would be surprised if any of those changes outside of Hartley were to happen. Vandoorne is a 50/50 to me at this point, but if Alonso goes, then Vandoorne isn't going anywhere.
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I did say ‘some races’
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Yeah I know that, I'm just filling in the history for those who didn't know previously like yourself. You seem a bit defensive.
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I’d agree about Vandoorne....but Grosjean and Ericsson? I’d be surprised if they’re in, not if they’re out.
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- HamiltonMP427
Ericsson has the financial backing of Longbow to keep him there, unless Alfa decide to fully take over, Ericsson isn't going anywhere easily if at all. They had the chance to take both Ferrari academy drivers if you remember, and opted for the best of the two, even after Giovanazzi showed he was faster than Ericsson when filling in for an injured Pascal.
Grosjean talk to me again, seems based on this year alone, there was a person who tried to make an argument for his first year but that seemed so far fetched and was with a different organization anyways. Haas has been pressed by Ferrari to take on their drivers and continue to refuse and also continue to support their current drivers no matter what, almost to a do no wrong extend. I have no idea how long that will hold up with Steiner but since this is a driver he and Haas wanted, any improvement may validate he belongs there.
Despite losing it on the limit (other drivers have this weekend too), he did so at a time that wasn't great, which is why people are again calling for his head. However, he's done for the most part what he needed too, which is get the car where it belongs. However, his team mate also dropped the ball, which is why the two slower cars will start ahead on the grid of both Haas.
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- mustafur
Ericsson tends to get outperformed every year yet keeps his drive, Don't be surprised if he keeps his drive.
As much as I rate Leclerc that Sauber is much better this year and he probably has the worst driver on the grid as his team mate, hard to judge fully from that.
As much as I rate Leclerc that Sauber is much better this year and he probably has the worst driver on the grid as his team mate, hard to judge fully from that.
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- TenEightyOne
I think you're right to rate him, I do too and it seems that so do Ferrari. It's generally believed (read 'rumour') that he's agreed a deal for 2 years (not signed yet!) as Vettel's partner in the Scuderia. If so it's a new approach from Ferrari but one that I can't wait to see in action.
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