Carrera51

I agree they probably are trying to keep Max away from Ferrari. Would be ironic if he ends up there anyway.

500

I don't think running into Vettel is the actual reason, rather it is just the convenient excuse for Marko to make the move he wants.

There is a certain logic to this: By the end of the year, RB will have a very clear picture of the relative abilities of DK, CS, DR and MV. More importantly, it will keep MV in the fold. I am assuming that these moves are all within the parameters of the contracts.

The risk is that it is too much for MV and it negatively impacts his development.

enduro911

If I was a gambling man I would say that if Max and Ricciardo stay with RB for 3 years Ricciardo beats Max 60% of the time in quali and 85% in the races. Ricciardo needs some horsepower but with it I see him fighting for the championship.

CosmosMpower

Is Max so good that Ferrari wants him?

Eifeler

Bingo.

Kvyat likely could have hit 95% of the other cars on the grid and still have his RB seat, but:
1- Can't hit your team car, even by accident, and especially not as a rookie on the first F'ing lap.
2- Can't repeatedly hit a German that Marko would like to have back some day.

multi21

Agreed. Ricciardo is an incredible racer and is very aggressive when overtaking without taking himself or the other car out. I'm hoping that this engine upgrade they keep talking about coming for the Canadian GP is the real deal and he is able to take the fight not only for a podium but outright race win, but I know it'll still be track dependent like a street course, Hungaroring and Singapore.

StoogeMoe

I wouldn't count on it. Max is going to get the max (pun intended) out of this opportunity. Give him a race to acclimate to the new car, then look out.

StoogeMoe

Where are the Verstappen doubters now?

Do you still think the move was premature?

Victory came quicker than I would have guessed. That was awesome!

enduro911

Guessing this is directed at me. First, I never said the move shouldn't happen, just that I thought Ricciardo was the better driver and as I mentioned in the other thread, Max drove a flawless race. Genuinely, genuinely impressive. His maturity level very high.

That said, I also mentioned in that thread that when the pressure is not on you in the traditional sense of the phrase and you have both excellent equipment and a huge amount of talent, great things can happen. Look at Hamilton in 07. I would call his Chinese GP whale on the beach impression an implosion under added pressure compared to the beginning of the season. It took a few minor miracles for him to win in 08 after people started thinking of him as a championship contender and without the help of someone like Alonso to set up the car.

The second thing to consider is that Ricciardo was in a position to win that race had the team not botched the strategy. Max was beaten in qualifying and in the first parts of the race. Last, it's a single race. A phenomenal race, but one nonetheless. Some of the best major league batting averages are owned by guys who got a single major league at bat. Doesn't mean much in the long term. I stand by what I said but we'll see. No ill-will towards him, that's for sure, especially if he and Smiley take the fight to MB.

MarcD147

hindsight is 20/20

Ricardo as "fastest" driver was covering the fastest driver from Ferrari strategy wise. so when it was clear that Vettel was a 3 stopper that either confirmed or caused Ricardo to switch to a 3 stopper

also Pirelli had up front calculated that a 3 stopper was going to be faster...

multi21

Agreed. Great race by Max, but A LOT of things had to go right for him to win and they did not the least of which was a double Mercedes DNF and RBR cocking up the strategy on Ricciardo and Ric's puncture... As good as Max drove, his luck was even more impressive -- again, taking nothing away from the 18 year olds

Carrera51

Sure He caught some breaks. That's part of racing. To his credit, he didn't put a wheel wrong while under pressure from Raikonen for 20+laps. Heck of a drive.

perfectlap

Purely business. Max had the option on this contract coming up. It was sign him or lose him.
DK was really not getting along with his side of the team. So it was the perfect timing.

But mega points to DK for laughing in Vettel's face while getting yelled at and then spraying Champagne in his face.
I don't think DK has much respect for SB after getting beaten by Ricciardo so badly.

JustinL

I think first babies play a role in the quality of the season that F1 drivers have. Nico last year, Sebastian the year before, Grosjean the year before that. Once Max knocks up some groupie, then we'll see how bad he gets smoked by Ricciardo... or vice versa I suppose.

jlanka

^this. Showed something right there.