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As far as I can make out this is a list of drivers whose contract ends in 2022:
[ ] Fernado Alonso
[ ] Pierre Gasly
[ ] Yuki Tsunoda
[ ] Nicholas Latifi
[ ] Alex Albon
[ ] Zhou Guanyu
[ ] Mick Schumacher
I’d guess Honda still own the IP and Red Bull Powertrains use it under licence?
The engines are still prepared in Japan, Honda did a bit of a backflip once they realized they had a world-beating engine. The only difference from before is that Honda don't get the marketing benefits of calling it a Red Bull-Honda.
No, hang on, Pierre Gasly signed an extension on the 24th June
[ ] Fernado Alonso
[ ] Pierre Gasly
[ ] Yuki Tsunoda
[ ] Nicholas Latifi
[ ] Alex Albon
[ ] Zhou Guanyu
[ ] Mick Schumacher
A warmed to Vettel as a person over the years. I hope he goes on to enjoy himself doing other, arguably better, motorsport events and classes.
Sad to see Seb go, hope he pops up as a pundit - hopefully alongside Mark Webber as I reckon they could swap a bit of banter. I've been through the full range with Seb - as a new driver he was great, then he became 'Finger Boi' when he was winning and I went off him and then in the twilight of his career he really mellowed. Think he's done well to be in F1 for so long and keep hold of his privacy and have a comparatively normal life away from the circus.
Seb to Ferrari LMH . . .
Oohhhh thats a good shout!
How many of the teams entering into endurance racing next year have announced their driver line up? Could be a good place for some of those F1 drivers out of contract.
Really sad to read about Vettel retiring from F1. I can't say that I always liked him during his time at Red Bull, but I've warmed to him over the years. His litter picking at Silverstone, his activism and his QT appearance went a long way to improving his image in my eyes.
It's also gratifying to see Hamilton's tribute to Seb here: https://twitter.com/LewisHamilton/status/1552622805556101120
As for Aston Martin I can't see Mick going anywhere (except for maybe Alfa Romeo) for '23 given his association with Ferrari. Realistically, it won't be Latifi or Tsunoda, IIRC Aston made a pitch to Alonso a while back, but Fernando is doing a stand up job at Alpine - which is a team that appears to be upwardly mobile - so I guess that leaves Albon or a negotiated port in a storm for Ricciardo.
It’s also gratifying to see Hamilton’s tribute to Seb here
That's a great tribute
TBH I liked Seb even in his Redbull days, moaned abit behind the wheel (dont they all) but always came across well in interviews and has a great sense of humour. Watched his IG post earlier and wish the guy luck in pasture new.
The peak of his career 🙂
The peak of his career
If qualifying is cancelled because of the weather, Latifi will start on pole.
George seems pleased.
Karen less so.
First pole for Russel!
Absolutely buzzing for George, incredible lap that came out of nowhere! Think his closest lap prior was half a second adrift?
Shame Lewis’s DRS failed, he was looking handy in qually too. Red Bull had a shocking Saturday 🙂
Was it a wet qualifying?
Bone dry
Oh wow, amazing! That was just pure pace from Russell then. Impressive!
Karen less so.
What's up with her now?
Any news what happened to RB? Perez seemed to be off the pace then got traffic. Max it sounded like they were trying to bypass sensors again, so something failed?
Great for George, looking forward to a mixed up grid tomorrow.
Karen less so.
What’s up with her now?
Well Perez had a lap removed cos of limits, but was then reinstated? Might have impacted their tyre strategy?
Just not very happy that his drivers were 10th and 11th, while his nearest rivals were up the sharp end. Had a whinge that checo was impeded to I think, but it wasn’t the sole cause.
Can't wait to see how Ferrari throw this advantage away...
Can’t wait to see how Ferrari throw this advantage away…
Yep. My guess for the podium is Russell, Norris, and Verstappen with Sainz in 4th and Leclerc retiring after a wheel falls off following his 4th pitstop.
Can’t wait to see how Ferrari throw this advantage away…
Yep. My guess for the podium is Russell, Norris, and Verstappen with Sainz in 4th and Leclerc retiring after a wheel falls off following his 4th pitstop
Haha! Yep, I can absolutely see it going this way. Except it will be after the 5th pitstop lol
This interview where Verstappen is saying he’s enjoying the rivalry with Leclerc/Ferrari and that he basically doesn’t like Hamilton/Merc. No shit! That’s because he’s winning comfortably this year whereas Hamilton was absolutely pushing him to the limit last season (well second half) and often over (e.g. the crash he had in Q3 in Saudi).
Some excellent defending from Russell there
Leclerc on the hard tyre!! Has he just thrown away the lead again?
This interview where Verstappen is saying he’s enjoying the rivalry with Leclerc/Ferrari and that he basically doesn’t like Hamilton/Merc.
The press are trying hard to keep this Max vs. Lewis story alive IMO.
Yup, there it goes. That didn't take long!!
Has he just thrown away the lead again
Ferrari had to go soft or hard.
Hard tyres have been the story of the race
I’d hope for a real safety car for some payback for Lewis. Shame.
Yep. I was screaming at the telly “FULL FULL FULL!” Sadly not to be.
Ferrari 2-3 after qually not even on the podium. Oh dear. They’re handing this championship to RB. In fact Merc probs not far behind in the constructors!
Yep. I was screaming at the telly “FULL FULL FULL!” Sadly not to be
Unfortunately if it had been full safety car it would have finished behind it. Unless they make a random decision to tear up the rule book at the last minute of course, but who could imagine F1 ever doing that?!?
There weren’t enough laps for full safety - it would have just ended behind the safety car.
Ferrari - don’t know what to say. Throwing so many points away when they should be commanding races.
Yep, hard to deny that Red Bull and Verstappen deserve the titles this year. Hopefully Merc have sorted out their car and will be competitive from now on. I'm a big Danny Ric fan but I hope he moves to Indycar if he can't get on top of that McL. Sad to see him struggle like this.
Genuinely impressive stuff from Verstappen and Red Bull today. They deserved that win. Having said that, all of sudden the other places on the podium are Mercedes for the second race in a row must take the shine off a bit!
In fact Merc probs not far behind in the constructors
Very much so- only 30 points behind.
The other interesting thing is that Perez is only 5 points behind Leclerc- unless Ferrari get there shit together over the summer break it's looking like Leclerc won't even be finishing 2nd
Russell is above Sainz again in the driver's champs. Impressive stuff!
So are they still tightening up the checking of plank flex after the break? Another variable if so. I think Merc will be pretty strong for the rest of the year.
Russell
Amazing drive from him today, great racing, no stupidity a very mature and skilled effort.
From 2nd to 6th for LeClerc. that's going to make for a uncomfortable conversation for the boss and the strategist
Karen less so.
What’s up with her now?
Well, he seems quite cheerful now.
So, on C4, Karen just mentioned that Red Bull swapped tyres on the grid. Is that a change to regulations?
I thought the Top 10 had to start the race on the tyre they qualified on (or was it the exact tyre they got the fastest time in Q2?)
Ferrari strategists pictured earlier:
I thought the Top 10 had to start the race on the tyre they qualified on (or was it the exact tyre they got the fastest time in Q2?)
Yep, changed at the start of this season
Ferrari are really ruining this for all of us. Just as well for them that there aren’t any seat options elsewhere for Leclerc
Just as well for them that there aren’t any seat options elsewhere for Leclerc
Well, Seb's just handed in his notice at AM.....
I’ve been watching F1 for knocking on 40 years now and I think apart from the Ross and Michael years it’s been pretty much a given that Ferrari will shoot themselves in the foot at any opportunity, to the point where I’ve genuinely never understood why drivers want to drive for them.
Well, Seb’s just handed in his notice at AM…..
Same chance of winning the championship I suppose
it’s been pretty much a given that Ferrari will shoot themselves in the foot at any opportunity, to the point where I’ve genuinely never understood why drivers want to drive for them.
Yes, I was just thinking about Alonso's decision to quit Ferrari for McLaren. As I recall, he realized that Ferrari were never going to change and a McLaren-Honda must have seemed like the best option given that Merc and Red Bull weren't interested in him. Sainz and Leclerc must be having similar thoughts right now.
Ferrari have always been a strange team, yes they have the prestige, but they haven't got the records for the prestige.
It must be like earning enough money to do your weekly shopping at Fortnum and Mason and then continually being delivered hampers of Spam and Pot Noodle.
More like having hampers of lovely food but delivered by Yodel throwing it your neighbour's fence.
Alonso to Aston! Wasn't really expecting that...
https://the-race.com/formula-1/alonso-to-make-shock-switch-to-aston-martin-for-2023-f1-season/
...Piastri in at Alpine then.
This seems to be real. Don't see why he would, maybe they offered a huge salary.
Edit. Damn. 30 seconds too slow. Alpine now guaranteed to be a title contender next year.
https://twitter.com/AstonMartinF1/status/1554014220643143680
Heh, I was half wondering whether that might happen. I think Alonso just wants a go on all the rides.
Yep...yet another poor career choice by Alonso
Lewis to replace him in a couple of years.
You heard it here first…
…and last 🙂
I guess he doesn't like being beaten by Ocon
Blimey, that seems like Alonso made a considered and measured decision, speaking with many trusted advisors and getting a range of views, and not at all like a snap call in the heat of the moment when offered a vacant seat.
what on earth are Aston thinking? There are any number of talented future F1 stars desperate for a seat. Weird
…and last
Lozza wants to get all the ex WDC’s in to teach the boy how to do it 😉
what on earth are Aston thinking?
They have aspirations to be a front-running team and are spending serious money on improving their engineering facilities. Vettel, despite his weaknesses, was a top-level driver with four world titles, that's why they hired him. Alonso is, in my opinion, a better driver than Vettel and he seems to be able to adapt to difficult cars and wring every last bit of performance out of them. With Alonso there, they will know exactly how good or bad their car is.
what on earth are Aston thinking? There are any number of talented future F1 stars desperate for a seat. Weird
Takes the pressure off while they restructure. No one expects them to do anything with an old guy and a daddies boy at the wheel.
It'll be 3 to 4 years before their new factory produces any meaningful results.
I think Aston wanted a headline name to draw money in from other sponsors.
I think Aston wanted a headline name to draw money in from other sponsors.
sure, I’m not certain that hiring Fernando sends that message does it? - ie looking to the future to build a dominating team - here’s a has been and the team owners son…. It’s not the marketing coup that I’d be hoping for if I was head of sponsors at AM.
Not hugely surprised about Alonso, him and Otmar had been bickering for a few weeks.
Hopefully they're in the mix next year, as much as I think he's a bit of a cabeza de pene, he is a quick and canny racer.
Piastri to Alpine then?
My understanding is that Alonso wanted a 2 year deal (as 2024 is more likely to be a competitive year for them), Alpine were offering a 1 year (because Piastri), therefore it does kind of make sense if Aston are offering a multi year deal..
AM's car next year will be Dan Fallow's (formerly Red Bull's head of aerodynamics) so it'll be interesting to see how it does
[i]cabeza de pene[/i] I had to google it but I will be using this phrase where required from now on
Is Alonso the driver equivalent of the Ferrari team - Massive respect and awe from the fans but no actual results or reason for this in recent memory?
AM’s car next year will be
Dan Fallow’Adrian Newey's (formerlycurrently Red Bull’s headof aerodynamicsdesigner) so it’ll be interesting to see how it does
FTFY.
This also opens up a seat at Williams as it was widely expected Piastri would replace Latifi.
Logan Sargeant for that one?
I thought the minute Vettel retired that Alonso would go to AM. When you look at it Renault seem to basically be in F1 on the cheap at the minute and have been for a number of years, saving the millions they pay Alonso for the cheaper Piastri will be seen as a win for the bean counters.
Logan Sargeant for that one?
I reckon, he's part of the Williams driver program and he's been doing well recently
The following link has fascinating information on stuff happening in the background
A few thoughts on @alo_oficial, a tug of love over @OscarPiastri, how @AlpineF1Team has been wrong-footed - and former Enstone boss Flavio Briatore's role in it all...: https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/why-alonsos-mega-money-aston-martin-deal-has-turned-f1-driver-market-upside-down
https://twitter.com/adamcooperF1/status/1554072648673595392
That's a great article! A genuinely interesting silly season this time around
So, off the top of my head, by next year, Alonso will have driven for 5 of the 10 teams on the grid (Minardi/AT, Renault/Alpine, McLaren, Ferrari, and Aston Marton/Jordan) and all of the current engine suppliers, plus Cosworth. I don't think any current driver comes close to that, what about retired drivers?