Associate
The driver lineup change I want to see next season is David Croft being replaced by someone less annoying.
silly season 2018 - F1 driver line up
- Thread starter lunarwolf
- Start date
Soldato
I can agree with that.
off topic and pointless...
anyway.
I guess Williams have decided that Sergey is a better benchmark than Paul. Sirotkin would not be in the running for real if I had to guess.
anyway.
I guess Williams have decided that Sergey is a better benchmark than Paul. Sirotkin would not be in the running for real if I had to guess.
Associate
Unless something silly happens it'll be Kubica.
now official: The Alfa Romeo name will return to Formula 1 in 2018 in partnership with Sauber and Ferrari.
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/sauber-alfa-romeo-returns-partnership-983901/?s=1
this makes it more likely that Leclerc and Giovinazzi will be the drivers
PS seems Kubica did well in the tyre test, making him likely driver @ Williams
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/sauber-alfa-romeo-returns-partnership-983901/?s=1
this makes it more likely that Leclerc and Giovinazzi will be the drivers
PS seems Kubica did well in the tyre test, making him likely driver @ Williams
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Not sure the times and tyre choices make Kubica's times all that representative.
I am sure he did a great job, but it does not look like a slam dunk speed wise....
I don't think it's anywhere near certain he will get the drive.
I am sure he did a great job, but it does not look like a slam dunk speed wise....
I don't think it's anywhere near certain he will get the drive.
Soldato
At the Q&A last night, Button said that the biggest issue Kubica will face is being able to get out of the car with Halo fitted as part of the safety test, saying that they're both relatively tall drivers and that he himself struggled with full use of both hands.
Soldato
Ericsson and Leclerc for Alfa Romeo Sauber! What did Marcus do to keep that seat?
Andi.
Andi.
Soldato
IIRC his sponsors are family friends with the new owners of Sauber. He may not be fast but he doesn't crash often, which seems important to a financially struggling team. All Gio did in his couple of races were spin or ding it.
Sauber have also released a sneak peak at next year's livery with Alfa sponsorship:
Sauber have also released a sneak peak at next year's livery with Alfa sponsorship:
Clearly not deserved, but money had the final say. To be fair it's not like Giovinazzi deserved the drive either, but being Italian was an advantage with Ferrari the puppet master. However it is unfortunate for Wehrlein who gets left out in the cold.
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Soldato
And it seems that Wehrlein is no longer favoured at Mercedes, and so is unlikely to he parachuted into Williams.
I think a lot of teams fell out of love with Wehrlein after he continued to race the Manor car when the team told him to shut the engine off. he never really got rid of that stigma. a bit hypocritical, considering Vettel and Hamilton never really suffered from not listening to team orders.
He still has a bit of a stigma around the paddock as a bit of a prima Donna, but that appears to be softening.
The BBC did a good article on Williams decision and why Robert didn' eexactly set the track alight.
Robert Kubica: Did he do enough to earn F1 return? - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/42199674
The BBC did a good article on Williams decision and why Robert didn' eexactly set the track alight.
Robert Kubica: Did he do enough to earn F1 return? - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/42199674
Even the general team people don't really know what is happening. Paddy and Co are keeping their cards very close to their chests. There is a lot of warm feeling for Kubica though.
I would expect a decision shortly though, probably by end of next week.
I do think it is relevant that Kubica has been at the factory a lot though. I expect he has been spending a lot of time in the Sim. He is very much in the running.
I think he testing results have to be taken with a heavy dose of realism. It will take time to get used to the car, the tyres and also the procedures/menus. So to be even close to the pace is a positive.
I would expect a decision shortly though, probably by end of next week.
I do think it is relevant that Kubica has been at the factory a lot though. I expect he has been spending a lot of time in the Sim. He is very much in the running.
I think he testing results have to be taken with a heavy dose of realism. It will take time to get used to the car, the tyres and also the procedures/menus. So to be even close to the pace is a positive.
Soldato
I'm just repeating what Button said. Due to his height, he found it a challenge to get out in the time required (5 seconds?) and that was with the full use of both hands.
As I sit and think about things. If I were Williams, I would have tested him with a heavy car, fully fueled, on the premise that it would be the hardest possible test. With that in mind, his testing times would be very competitive. If they were as good as I think, then he will be a sure-fire signing.
Delays in announcing will probably be purely contractual/marketing and simply milking the exposure it is giving Williams at the moment. Unless, perhaps, they have to wait for a Halo test with the FIA before they announce?
Sky Sports' latest from Paddy is clearly hinting at the fuel loads and times meaning it's hard to see his true performance outside of the crew.
Delays in announcing will probably be purely contractual/marketing and simply milking the exposure it is giving Williams at the moment. Unless, perhaps, they have to wait for a Halo test with the FIA before they announce?
Sky Sports' latest from Paddy is clearly hinting at the fuel loads and times meaning it's hard to see his true performance outside of the crew.
Because it was a tyre test Pirelli would likely have mandated the fuel loads for each run so they can test as many permutations as possible.
A wild Rowland appears...
That came out of left field, and very odd that Williams initially claimed it was not true. Not sure how much stock there is in it? Development driver role perhaps?
That came out of left field, and very odd that Williams initially claimed it was not true. Not sure how much stock there is in it? Development driver role perhaps?