The F1 driver transfer discussion/speculation archiveFormula 1

[prisonermonkeys]

His problem is that he angered the management at Red bull.

Based on one bad kilometre of racing. And as I have said, you can make the case that Vettel was equally at fault for the second contact, the one that put him out of the race - after all, he slowed on the racing line. I think that this says far more about Red Bull's management than Kvyat's aptitude as a driver, since they appear to have moved to appease a former driver racing for a rival team than support their own driver.

Is everybody in agreement that Kimi is not doing well enough to warrant retention? I'm not so sure.

I think that it will be a case of too little, too late. Sure, he's having a good season now, but of all the drivers on the grid, he's probably the most sensitive to changes in the car. Remember when Lotus sunk all that time, effort and money into a new steering system, only for Räikkönen to discard it after a single installation lap? Likewise his crash at Silverstone; he reportedly didn't bother to do a trackwalk, so he had no idea that the culvert he hit when rejoining was even there. Those aren't the sorts of things that go unnoticed.

Ferrari are a team that like long-term stability. They tend to take drivers on long-term deals. I suspect that they're doing to Räikkönen what they did to Massa - keeping him on a rolling contract until a more viable prodpect comes up. That time appears to be now. One of the biggest mistakes Ferrari has ever made was their failure to invest in young talent wheb everyone else did. They wrongly assumed that everyone would ultimately want to drive for them and that they would be competitive year on year. And while drivers do want to race for Ferrari, they're equally happy to stay with the teams that brought them in. Even now, the Ferrari Driver Academy isn't great - Lance Stoll left because there was no support, whereas with Williams he could get simulator time.

His contract does end this year...
Sainz to Ferrari?

It wouldn't surprise me. Curiously enough, we would then have #3 and #33 ar Red Bull, and #5 and #55 at Ferrari.

 

[Dotini]

Sainz is very impressive. He is rapid and makes few mistakes. He matches well with Verstappen. Seems very stable and mature for his age and has a very bright future.

On the other hand, suppose Kimi finishes 2nd in the '16 championship standings? Not entirely unlikely given the poor run of luck for Vettel and Hamilton.

At the end of the day, Ferrari values results. Give the driver the best car and he delivers.

 

[TenEightyOne]

Based on one bad kilometre of racing. And as I have said, you can make the case that Vettel was equally at fault for the second contact, the one that put him out of the race - after all, he slowed on the racing line. I think that this says far more about Red Bull's management than Kvyat's aptitude as a driver, since they appear to have moved to appease a former driver racing for a rival team than support their own driver.

I highly doubt that Vettel's word in Horner's ear on the pit wall has led directly to this. We don't know what Kvyat's attitude has been like behind the scenes and we don't know what the relationship with Ricciardo is now like.

 

[Jimlaad43]

Is everybody in agreement that Kimi is not doing well enough to warrant retention? I'm not so sure.

Pretty much, he's not exactly performed fantastically since moving to Ferrari. That said, Ferrari kept Massa for a long time when he was under-performing, so be prepared for 4 more years of Kimi in the Ferrari.
Nah, I don't think he'll stay.

 

[A2K78]

Verstappen promotion had more to closing the door on Ferrari, Kyvat just provided the motive and rational for RB.

 

[twitcher]

Not a fan of this move. At this point, I kind of want to see Max leave RB at the end of the year. I also hope RB has a crap motor next year and DR leaves them as well.

Edit: also, in regards to the RB juniors, don't forget about Harrison Newey. They're making room for him already, and you know he won't be dropped, otherwise RB might lose their winning ticket

 

[Dennisch]

Verstappen promotion had more to closing the door on Ferrari, Kyvat just provided the motive and rational for RB.

Possible temporarily closure.

Vettel is now at Ferrari. Why can't Max go the same way, unless he likes it so much at RBR and they keep building potential world champion cars.

 

[mustafur]

We know they are still masters of the chassis.

Engines are either way at this point, guess we will see what happens at Canada.

 

[TenEightyOne]

Possible temporarily closure.

Vettel is now at Ferrari. Why can't Max go the same way...

I suspect that the trade-off for promotion was his signing a new contract. RB would be mad to keep him on the existing contract length.

 

[Dennisch]

I suspect that the trade-off for promotion was his signing a new contract. RB would be mad to keep him on the existing contract length.

Of course. First he will win a couple of WDC's and then make the move to Ferrari.

I will jump a hole in my ceiling if/when he wins his first race.

 

[TenEightyOne]

I will jump a hole in my ceiling if he wins his first race.

Not going to happen, I'll clean up your floor.

I will jump a hole in my ceiling when he wins his first race.

If he ever wins a race for RB? Buy a hoover, that's my advice

 

[Dennisch]

Not going to happen, I'll clean up your floor.



If he ever wins a race for RB? Buy a hoover, that's my advice

You will use that hoover in my house.

 

[Dennisch]

Turns out that the relationship between Sainz and Max was also part of the decision to move Max upwards.

 

[Jimlaad43]

Turns out that the relationship between Sainz and Max was also part of the decision to move Max upwards.

Sauce?

 

[mustafur]

Sauce?

Barbecue.

 

[Dennisch]

Sauce?

As for the source, it's Dutch.

It states that Marko has said that their relationship has cooled quite a bit, and this situation made the decision easier for them.

 

[TenEightyOne]

And, outlinked from the above, Verstroppen travels to Milton Keynes (the only downside of F1 life) for a seat fitting. I wonder if he'd ever seen a concrete cow before?

 

[Dennisch]

Verstroppen

Verstop that.

 

[Dotini]

@Dennisch Verstroppen Sauce on your popcorn?

 

[Bram Turismo]

I think that Max and mostly his dad are sober enough to keep both feet on the ground, even if he beats Ricciardo.

Judging by his performance in Melbourne, I'd just hold on to that thought a little longer.

I will admit Max is an outright F1 talent, but he still has a lot to learn. For his sake I hope he doesn't try to run before he can walk at Red Bull.

If RBR didn't put Max in the seat, I bet you my left testicle Ferrari would snatch him away at the Italian GP.

 

[A2K78]

For RB the move was strategic and with Verstappen being a hot ticket added the we're moving close to the silly season the move had to be made to cut off any potential move from Ferrari. If anything this probably just bought Kimi another year.

 

[FutureF1]

I don't see Verstappen going to Ferrari any time soon. They don't like young drivers so they're more likely to look at Ricciardo if Kimi loses his seat

 

[Ryk]

The 2016 Curse of finishing in 3rd place on the podium
Vettel 3rd in Australia - BOOM engine detonates quite early in Bahrain.
Lewis 3rd in Bahrain - Wham a bam bam back of the grid start and a first lap crunch in China.
Kyvat 3rd in China - First lap Bang bang in Russia (£1 in the swear box please Sebastian) - Demoted to Torro Rosso

Looking ominous for Kimi, 3rd place finisher in Russia (Who put this Aussie lager in my Vodka fridge?)

 

[Roger the Horse]

I was personally expecting Kimi to retire at the end of this season anyway. If he does well this season though and Ferrari hang onto him? Maybe he wont.

If Ferrari do replace Raikkonen then Grosjean would be top of my list of drivers I'd expect to replace him. After that? All of the Red Bull drivers apart from Ricciardo are possibilities, particularly Sainz. Beyond that, Magnussen, maybe? Bottas is a possibility, although after all the hype in 2014 he seems to have faded from view. Massa seems unlikely, and I'm not sure how interested Ferrari would be in Button at this point. Hiring a rookie seems unlikely, all though I wouldn't write it off as a possibility. Maybe one of the top line LMP1 drivers, but honestly I can't see any of them wanting to leave unless they were offered a great big wad of cash.

The current goings on at Red Bull do seem as if they're an attempt to lead Ferrari off of Verstappen's trail though. I think it'll backfire. Throwing a young driver into a top team halfway through a season doesn't seem like a recipe for success to me.

 

[TenEightyOne]

The current goings on at Red Bull do seem as if they're an attempt to lead Ferrari off of Verstappen's trail though. I think it'll backfire. Throwing a young driver into a top team halfway through a season doesn't seem like a recipe for success to me.

A cynic might ask how keeping Kvyat in the car has worked out for them so far...

 

[mikeerfol]

The 2016 Curse of finishing in 3rd place on the podium
Vettel 3rd in Australia - BOOM engine detonates quite early in Bahrain.
Lewis 3rd in Bahrain - Wham a bam bam back of the grid start and a first lap crunch in China.
Kyvat 3rd in China - First lap Bang bang in Russia (£1 in the swear box please Sebastian) - Demoted to Torro Rosso

Looking ominous for Kimi, 3rd place finisher in Russia (Who put this Aussie lager in my Vodka fridge?)

Btw, Kimi finished 3rd in Abu Dhabi last year, turbo went kaboom in Australia

 

[GOTMAXPOWER]

I don't see Verstappen going to Ferrari any time soon. They don't like young drivers so they're more likely to look at Ricciardo if Kimi loses his seat

I think Romain Grosjean makes more sense for Ferrari. He is a good driver that they are presumably working very closely with. He'll be a lot cheaper too since his contract will allow the move.

 

[TenEightyOne]

Btw, Kimi finished 3rd in Abu Dhabi last year, turbo went kaboom in Australia

Incredible! Third place man in the previous race (Brazil, Vettel) was P16 in quali after a strategic error from the team, not quite the same thing I guess

I think Romain Grosjean makes more sense for Ferrari.

Definitely. I expect to see him in a Ferrari in 2017.

 

[FutureF1]

I think Romain Grosjean makes more sense for Ferrari. He is a good driver that they are presumably working very closely with. He'll be a lot cheaper too since his contract will allow the move.

Sorry I forgot to say, of the Red Bull drivers, Ricci is most likely. Grosjean is probably getting the 2017 seat though I agree

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Turns out that the relationship between Sainz and Max was also part of the decision to move Max upwards.

That's somewhat disappointing because Verstappen has been the aggressor. On a certain level, they're rewarding bad behaviour.

If RBR didn't put Max in the seat, I bet you my left testicle Ferrari would snatch him away at the Italian GP.

Can't we just say $10 and leave it at that? I don't know what I am going to do with an extra left testicle.