skl

That joke of a Detroit "track" makes Monaco look wide open... that was hard to watch.

StoogeMoe

I’m afraid Herta demonstrated once again that he’s not an F1 level driver. Too many mistakes. He’s the one that called to switch to wet tires, which was the wrong way to go. He dug his own hole, which he desperately tried to get out of.

ParadiseGT3

I don't disagree. For the worse, F1 hangs onto marginal talent, over the hill drivers, pay drivers. But there also seems to be sort of an unearned momentum behind any drivers who have proven themselves reasonably capable in an F1 car, even if they're questionable characters. F1 drivers get replaced with the revolving door of F1 drivers. Ocon is in this last category. I'd just be surprised if he's out after this season.

Dennis C

I agree with you. I think Ocon’s status is being challenged by a particularly strong crop of new, young drivers, plus the prospect of Vettel making a return. Audi has already said that they’re going outside of the current roster of drivers to fill their second seat, although the offer to Sainz is apparently still in play. Honestly, I expect Sainz to land in either the open Mercedes seat or possibly the second Red Bull seat if Perez isn’t re-signed. So where does that leave Ocon? I don’t see Haas signing him. Haas is expected to announce the signing of Ollie Bearman to replace Nico Hulkenberg. I don’t see him in a VCARB car - the Red Bull organization wouldn’t put up with his antics. Aston Martin is locked up. His only option in my opinion is Williams. Would Williams gamble on him because of his experience, or would they prefer someone more even-keeled like Bottas or a development driver from the MB organization like Kimi Antonelli? To me the answer is pretty clear.

Dennis C

My son and I were chatting about that during the race. I don’t think a current F1 car would fit through the tight spots in Detroit.

It looked like bumper cars out there!

Ksdaoski

Proper track for Indycars this weekend!

multi21

I'm not going to say it's a travesty, because we don't know the details and it could very well all be his doing, but the fact that Carlos Sainz doesn't have a confirmed seat for next year after knowing for 4 months he would not be in a Ferrari for 2025 seems inconceivable to me.

Mercedes is seriously considering putting their 17 year old protege in their car for 2025.

Rumors are that Perez may be safe for 2025 because of the enormous amount of sponsorship funds he brings to Red Bull and those resources are needed for line items that are not included in the budget cap, ie salaries of drivers and consultants.

Aston Martin seem to be locked up unless Lawrence sells out his stake in the team this year.

Yuki has said he's willing to leave the RBR family if he doesn't get promoted, but Sainz has already driven for Toro Rosso back in the day and you don't want to take a step backwards.

HAAS and Williams are a huge step back.

Alpine is so bipolar, you don't know if they will have a competitive car or languish at the back.

Audi makes the most sense, but why announce Hulkenberg and not a true #1 to lead the team? (Sorry, not a fan of Hulkenberg. He's been in F1 since Mansell and still hasn't found a podium by luck or skill.)

The entire Sainz stagnation situation is puzzling to me.. what am I missing?

ParadiseGT3

I think it can only be explained by a delay on his side, he's waiting on 2 possible seats (RB and Merc) before he takes one of the also ran seats.

If he wanted the Audi drive as top priority, he would have already been signed & announced.

Dennis C

I think we’re going to see Vettel in the other Audi seat. He’s German. He has already publicly stated that he’s come back to F1 for the right opportunity. They want experience. They’re looking outside the current roster of drivers. Who else could it be? Maybe they look at Bottas if Vettel isn’t interested…

Carrera51

Love Seb. But is he the right guy to develop a car with a new team? I don't know. If they were really interested in Seb, then why bring in Hulk. I would go the route of a savy veteran paired with a young fast guy for the wiley veteran to mentor.

I think they should have thrown buckets of cash at Fernando. He has shown he can work well with engineers and get the most out of the car, even make it over perform.

ParadiseGT3

Bottas 34. Hulk 36. Seb 36.

Ocon 27

I just don't think it's as crazy a choice or as bad a driver lineup as you guys think. Hulk and Ocon is a strong pairing if there are no tantrums. Reference point being Zhou and Bottas... Come on.

Carlo_Carrera

For all his skill Alonso has burned way too many bridges in F1 for Audi to want him. Where he is now is perfect, nothing else works.

Several reporters have said Audi wants Sainz and has a very generous offer out there to him. Sainz is now waiting to see if a seat at RedBull or Mercedes is offered. Either way Sainz will have an F1 drive next season.

Dennis C

If Audi does choose someone older like Bottas or Vettel, then it would be a short term play to help them develop the car for the future. 2 - 3 years max. Bottas seems to have some promise in that regard and he has experience with Mercedes during their championship run. Vettel is a 4-time world champion with experience at Red Bull and Ferrari. I think a move like this could make sense.

Ocon is younger, but I fear that he’d put his own interests first and prioritize beating Hulkenberg (at any cost) over helping to develop the team. In my mind, Ocon is a risky pick. He has a proven history of taking out his teammates. He did it to Perez. He did it to Alonso. He did it to Gasly. He’ll do it again. There’s a clear pattern. Again, it’s not his driving skills. It’s other factors.

But… this is just my opinion. Sometimes the people who make decisions in F1 don’t agree with me.

multi21

This seems the most plausible. Even on a multi year contract, Audi is going to be nowhere for a very long time IMO and for someone with a recent race win and many podiums, it would effectively be the end of his F1 career.

Ksdaoski

Red Bull announcement in a few hours.


https://ig.me/j/AbY1Nl_qbLYnvSX7/