So it turns out everyone except Toto has to apologise to Checo. The car was a dud and Max just drove around it.
So, Lawson to RB and Ricciardo to Nascar?
I wonder if the removal of their recently-banned braking system has changed the car balance a lot. It’s hard to believe it hasn’t. Verstappen needs an oversteery car. Maybe the braking system helped with that somehow?
You would assume so. It was “investigated” around June wasn’t it? The last time Verstappen lost a race and the point at which Perez started to drive significantly better.
That’s what’s being reported. The only question will be whether Audi take a punt with Daniel. He’s the last driver with a bit of experience apart from Botas. He’s definitely gone the most points scored at the very least of the drivers left. The question is whether Audi would risk going with someone inexperienced. Daniel would, at the very least, give them some publicity boost, he’s definitely very marketable
It’s a bad sad when you’ve all got left to offer is “marketability”.
He’s still showing glimpses of good driving though. The whole reason he got the second seat was because he was outperforming Perez in simulations. He’s definitely been unlucky at certain points with his car and tyres as well. It would be interesting to see how he’d go one last time in a decent sized team.
I don’t see any chance of Ricciardo retaining his seat, given he hasn’t exactly made a case for taking Perez’s seat, and that Red Bull probably want Lawson in that seat next year.
Ricciardo has had a pretty good F1 career but there’s no real future there. Audi might go for experience but they’d also be wise to not get him for more than a year.
He has beaten Yuki in 7 of the last 9 races, and is seemingly much more confident since the tub change.
But the RB just seems to be going backwards relatively with upgrades, and some poor strategy calls, so not up there in the Top 10.
Equally you could say Perez hasn’t done enough to retain his seat either.
Suspect lots of sponsor politics going on.
RB will want Dan in the seat for the two US races and equally Checo with RBR for Mexico
Ricciardo can at least help them develop the car. Not the worst choice to make.
If Lawson isn’t offered a contract in September though, he is allowed to seek out contracts with competitors. Can’t see RB willing to let Lawson go
The floor upgrade that messed RB’s progress and stuffed Checo was last year when Checo’s performance nose dived. Nothing to do with the braking system IMO.
Yuki has a contract. Ricciardo doesn’t. Lawson is waiting. The trend at the moment is youth. Ricciardo doesn’t fit it. He’s done his dash.
You either retain Bottas or you sign Colapinto. Taking Ricciardo over Bottas would be … weird. Bottas already knows the car, has more career wins, more podiums and more points. Two thirds and two seconds in the world championship against two thirds. And Bottas was at Merc whilst they were wining. Ricciardo joined Red Bull after Vettel’s championships and left before Max’s run.
I’d take Bottas everyday of the week in that choice.
Toyota is going to Supercars.
I’m pretty sure that Lawson will get a RBR/RB contract in the next couple of weeks. It will just remain open as to who he is replacing.
Riccardo doesn’t have a contract and Perez’s can be cancelled any moment.
So apparently Lawson’s contract guarantees him a minimum of 6 races this year
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Yep. Verstappen let the cat out of the bag earlier, without actually saying it.
Oh well, 8 GP wins and a truckload of monies.
He did ok. I guess Max just wanted it more.
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Agreed, he’s set for many lifetimes money wise and you can’t fault that much. But it’s kinda like the Aussies who go to football backwaters for the money instead of what is best for their career success.
Instead of backing himself talent wise and fighting Max in what was a title winning car or thereabouts, he took another path. Love the guy, he’s given me some great moments of joy over the years but I think this weekend will be the end of his f1 journey
It softens the blow I guess that we are somewhat in the middle of a golden age for Australian f1 fans. We will most likely lose ricciardo from the grid but will still be spoilt to have a potential world champion piastri and soon doohan also
Drive to Survive will not be the same without his smiling irreverence.
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Seen an interesting quote from Rossi today about Stoner. Somthing like, “he’s the best I raced but he just didn’t want it as much”. Ricciardo gives me that vibe.
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