Motorsport Off Topic Thread

[AlphariusOmegan]

I hope Yuki gets Perez seat. Give him a chance. Unless Max is afraid he will shine and doesnt want him in the seat.

I can see Perez staying to be honest. He has had many chances now.

the vote will apparently be going to the shareholders. Considering RBR's past history of fairly dealing with driver contracts to me this smacks of outside (most likely FIA/Liberty Media) pressure to keep Perez so if the shareholders say no get rid of him then the team can turn round and say it was out of their hands.

Also it's rumoured that Yuki isn't being considered due to a lack of technical feedback

 

[Mr Jack]

the vote will apparently be going to the shareholders. Considering RBR's past history of fairly dealing with driver contracts to me this smacks of outside (most likely FIA/Liberty Media) pressure to keep Perez so if the shareholders say no get rid of him then the team can turn round and say it was out of their hands.

Letting shareholders vote on driver seems like a mad precedent to set!

Also it's rumoured that Yuki isn't being considered due to a lack of technical feedback

This doesn't seem to hold up to scrutiny though, when they were so keen on Dani Ric who openly admits he's bad at that side of things. The personality thing seems more likely. I think its mostly politics, but I also think that Yuki would struggle to cope with getting thrashed by Max. He's just too volatile. I've been impressed with his driving this season though, so I hope he can land a post-RB seat for 2026 or whenever.

 

[cuke2u]

Letting shareholders vote on driver seems like a mad precedent to set.

It does seem a strange thing to do for us who don't know the reasoning behind it. Perhaps Red Bull can't sack him without a severe financial penalty and maybe it is shareholders that have to fork out?

 

[Mr Jack]

Perhaps Red Bull can't sack him without a severe financial penalty and maybe it is shareholders that have to fork out?

Even if so, I'd still think that kind of decision is best left to the management of the F1 team to decide where they want to spend their money.

 

[cuke2u]

Even if so, I'd still think that kind of decision is best left to the management of the F1 team to decide where they want to spend their money.

I'm sure they'd want that as well, have we actual evidence this is going to take place? Shareholders also do have a say in the company they in part own but it does seem strange..

 

[koolpc]

Shareholders in no way should be able to vote on who drives for the team. That is utter garbage..

 

[cuke2u]

Shareholders in no way should be able to vote on who drives for the team. That is utter garbage..

This article states a meeting will involve the shareholders, it doesn't state they alone will be making a decision https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/d...25-f1-announcement-may-have-to-wait/10680903/ Someone possibly reading too much into this, lost in translation maybe?

 

[Kenai]

This article states a meeting will involve the shareholders, it doesn't state they alone will be making a decision https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/d...25-f1-announcement-may-have-to-wait/10680903/ Someone possibly reading too much into this, lost in translation maybe?

It's older reported comments from Helmut that has confused the issue:

"There will be a meeting after Abu Dhabi and the result of this meeting will be presented to the shareholders and they will then decide what the driver situation for both teams will look like for next year," team advisor Helmut Marko told ORF.

 

[chrismscotland]

Lets be honest here there are only two shareholders anyway, Mark Mateschitz & Chalerm Yoovidhya so its entirely feasible that those two along with Mintzlaff, Horner and Marko are involved in the discussion.

 

[Stu999]

 

[cuke2u]

Lets be honest here there are only two shareholders anyway, Mark Mateschitz & Chalerm Yoovidhya so its entirely feasible that those two along with Mintzlaff, Horner and Marko are involved in the discussion.

Doh, correct, just looked it up https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/f...n Horner has been,Austro-Thai company in 1984.

 

[cuke2u]

Today's testing..

Abu Dhabi test: First look at F1 2025 as Carlos Sainz for Williams among four drivers making debuts for new teams

A first look at some of the many driver moves for the 2025 season as Carlos Sainz, Nico Hulkenberg, Esteban Ocon and new F2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto all test for their new teams for the first time, with Lewis Hamiltons replacement Andrea Kimi Antonelli also back in action for Mercedes

www.skysports.com

 

[Mr Jack]

Today's testing..

Doubtless, it's really due to fuel loads or whatever but.... what if Sainz is showing the true pace of that Williams?

Glad Kimi was well enough to take the car out for at least part of the day, although I'm presuming he's still ill since they've cancelled his run out in Superformula testing at Suzuka (presumably intended to familiarise him with the circuit?) on Friday alongside Bearman.

 

[Mr Jack]

Andretti/Cadillac will be Ferrari engined in 2026.

 

[GravyMonster]

Why is Bottas on the test timesheet for Mercedes? I know there's rumours around him going back to Merc as a reserve/test driver, but nothing confirmed yet I thought? The article also mentions nothing about it.

 

[GravyMonster]

Doubtless, it's really due to fuel loads or whatever but.... what if Sainz is showing the true pace of that Williams?

I think Colapinto brought a similar idea to the fore at the end of last year. Ie. that Albon was only being made to look good because Latifi and Sargeant were slow. Colapinto seems to know what he's doing so is showing Albon up - when they're not throwing cars at the scenery - and putting him back in the performance level he seemed to be in when at Red Bull. Having him against a known quantity in Sainz, who's gone toe-to-toe with Verstappen and Leclerc will be interesting to see.

 

[Mad_Jay]

Why is Bottas on the test timesheet for Mercedes? I know there's rumours around him going back to Merc as a reserve/test driver, but nothing confirmed yet I thought? The article also mentions nothing about it.

Frederik Vesti drove for them today, no idea why it says Bottas.

 

[Kenai]

Doubtless, it's really due to fuel loads or whatever but.... what if Sainz is showing the true pace of that Williams?

Even if it was a qualifying run... it's 0.2s better than either of the incumbent drivers achieved in qualifying earlier in the weekend - obviously conditions are different, track evolution etc. and they may be running some sort of experimental equipment/engine mode but for a first run out in a new car, that'll make for a nervous teammate i'm sure

 

[GravyMonster]

Frederik Vesti drove for them today, no idea why it says Bottas.

It's Sky's attention to dotail that makes the cost worth it.

 

[Mr Jack]

Fernando getting in early with a bit of pot-stirring for next season: Alonso claims Bortoleto is F1's best rookie for 2025.

To be honest, I think he may well be right - at least for 2025. I think Antonelli has more innate talent, but he's a much more raw prospect, at just 18 and having skipped F3. But Bortoleto has also improved as he's moved through the ranks, getting a respectable but ordinary run in his first few years before smashing F3 and F2 in his rookie seasons. In contrast, Kimi rocked up and won the first four full single seater seasons he took part in but then only had a decent but not standout season in F2 having leapfrogged F3 altogether - still thoroughly outclassed Bearman in the other Prema though.

I'm looking forward to seeing so many rookies on track next year; it's going to be fascinating to see how well they compare to each other.