Daniel Ricciardo way overrated.

Honestly I don’t know why any team would take him unless he brought a bag of money. But at this point who’s going to fund him? Just time for him to go. He’d probably be ok in IndyCar.

 

I dont think so. He lives in LA, knows the USA - and would be good on TV - and for Indy & Sponsors. if Zack Brown is smart he'll move him to their Indy effort. and maybe give him a couple of F-1 races..

 

I've met him once very briefly, and I literally think what you see is what you get... I don't think it's an act. I think he's a good kid, who made a mistake leaving Red Bull.

 

I think he had no choice but leaving Red Bull.
He realized Verstappen with more experience was already very difficult to challenge.
Their last year as teammates tend to demonstrate this with a scathing 18-3 in quali for Verstappen.

 

He realized that Red Bull had become Team Max. Went to Renault for a cool $30 million though the results were not stellar.

 

Yep
But why Red Bull had become Team Max?
Because they knew he had a lot more potential than Dany.

 

The move to Renault was understandable. Flopping at McLaren is not.

 

Drivers alongide Max at RB were treated worse than #2: they were offered no support and quickly disposed off.

Kvyat, Gasly and Albon were dispended with in no time under the Fuhrer rule (Marko).

I think the management realised they went to far, and changed their methods.

 

Interesting hypothesis.
Another one :
Kvyat, Gasly and Albon weren’t ready to deal with a top team.
Perez is.

 

Uncle Rico?*

*Napoleon Dynamite ref.

 

There was a difference in experience level. Kvyat, Gasly and Albon came from the RB Junior team.

Perez had been through Sauber, McLaren, Force India, and Racing Point before coming at RB.

If anything teams are too quick to asset new drivers, who are not all Verstappen, Leclerc or Russell.

It's this excessive level of expectation that is alarming.

 

Not sure I agree with that.

Was Kvyat disposed off too soon? Yes and no. Yes as in his performance that year didn't warrant sacking, no as in his replacement Verstappen was clearly capable of better things, and Red Bull were already coming close to losing Max to Mercedes or Ferrari. Critics were silenced the very first race anyhow.

Gasly and Albon...I don't think they weren't given support. Management was very clear that they didn't expect them to beat Max. Gasly complained that the team didn't want to adapt the car to his driving style, which I found a ludicrous demand anyways. He was about a second down on Max on average, no amount of changing the car development to suit his driving style would get him near Verstappen's speed, let alone beat him.

Albon was given 1.5 seasons. He had a reasonable start and faired a little better in races, but was still very far of Max, and didn't really improve much. Red Bull's biggest problem with Albon was that he just wasn't near anyone enough so that Red Bull could use alternative strategies to get their slower car (to Mercedes) ahead. They lost several opportunities at wins because it was just Max at the front and Mercedes could easily out maneuver them using their 2 cars.

Perez provided that stability last year and this year the car really suits his driving style and he's much nearer to the front. Somewhat unexpectedly, Red Bull's ''weakest'' pairing of the 3 top teams (going by last year) has suddenly become the strongest, with neither Sainz or Lewis adapting to their cars, and keeping at topic, the top 4 teams, with Ricciardo not at all adapting to this years regulations.

Gasly has a habit of continuing to nibble at career suicide by biting the hand that feeds him. Especially this year where his performances have been quite bad, he continues to demand another shot at the top seat ''or else'' (though I guess by Perez' signing being made official today, he's got **** all to demand now and this may just be his last season at Toro Rosso). Albon has nothing but kind words for his former employer. I'm inclined to believe Albon more over Gasly. Gasly got given a Toro Rosso seat after his demotion (just like Kvyat), whilst Albon was sat there driving about DTM (which is now GT3 for some reason). If anyone had the right to be pissed and moan at Red Bull it would be Albon.

Albon understands that to drive in the top team. you have to perform. Can't hack it? They'll get someone else

 

Now, that's a surprise. You may like the Red Bull methods, I don't.

One thing you have to realise is that Verstappen is a cut above the rest. I don't like him, but that's irrelevant, I think he is the fastest driver of the moment. RB strategy is based on him, and they expect his #2 to follow him close, to cover his back and gather points for the team.
Most drivers cannot do that ! Mostly if they are not given enough time to adapt, and a year 1/2 is nothing, IMO. So they will always be disappointed promoting young drivers from TR, or AT. Helmut Marko has always acted as the demoralising agent to put pressure on new drivers. Which means the atmoshere at RB is rather different than at Alpha Tauri with Todz.
They recruited Perez, a good driver, but no challenge to Max, and seem happy the way he fullfil his duties.
Perez is a far more experienced driver: I am happy for him.

The irony is that, according from the reports, Jos Verstappen is now spitting blood and feathers at Red Bull for not having favoured his son in their strategy at Monaco. Poor old Jos is to used to hovvering over Horner and influencing him what to do, that is is incensed his offspring wasn't capable to win !
Watching Checo signing his extended contract in great pomps and publicity must have been like a dagger to his heart !
Never a dull moment in F1 ...

 

Not sure you quite got my post.

Regarding the last point, Perez already signed in Miami. If I knew it, Jos certainly would have.

 

Jos is putting bad pressure on Red Bull management which is a very bad move I think.

 

Jos Verstappen is a bully who thinks his son is entitled to a preferential treatment.
He expected RB to instruct Checo to let him through.

 

He'll be told to shut up by Marko. Jos has nothing to say at Red Bull, he has no influence. All he is now is a blogger whose son happens to drive in F1.

 

Red Bull has always been the strongest drivers team, not a named drivers team. In 2008 Vettel took it from Webber on the track, in 2014 Ricciardo was taking it from Vettel on the track and in 2018 Verstappen took it from Ricciardo on the track. Horner and Marko celebrates the winner, but they have proven again and again that they will give anybody the chance to show they are the fastest. But they expect results almost immediately or the only thing you have proven is that you were not ready. They have Alpha Tauri for those who need more time to develop, Red Bull is there to win championships. Perez is in the fight now and will have equal opportunity this year, but will most likely be 'put back in his place' by Verstappens performance later this year or next year.

 

I agree about Jos... he's an "also ran" who seems to be reliving the glory days of his driving career through Max. Unlike Stroll at Williams, he likely has zero influence. I may be wrong, but I thought there was also a time where Max or maybe Max and the team thought it'd be better for Jos not to attend the races. I'm not sure if that's accurate.

Back to Max and his teammates, it's one thing to be a couple places behind it's quite another to be lapped. You can argue all day about the reasons... to much pressure... car not right for their style... etc. but that's the team dynamic and it's your job to fit within it's constructs. For Albon, I think Lewis crashing him out of at least a solid podium if not a win, took a toll. After the second time Lewis crashed him out the season after... I think Albon was just shattered emotionally and was never going to recover in that environment.

Of note here... I don't know if I saw it here or elsewhere, but there was video put together of all the time "someone turned in" on Lewis. I found it somewhat remarkable that one driver has the same type of repeated incident.

Regarding Ric, he may be a "what you see is what you get" but still, the lack of seriousness about his performance has gotten old. The antics are all old. Every interview is the same old story... " a bit tricky...not sure what happened... not where we want to be... the car this... the car that." He shouldn't be paid anything close to what he's making. He's on the same par as Magnussen, Ocon, etc... just a lot more annoying.

 

Maybe this is unfair but i always found people smilling all the time very suspect..

 

I would go further and say that both Magnussen and Ocon would do significantly better in the car that Ricciardo is driving. Right now, Schumacher, Zhou and Latifi should loose their seats in F1 and Ricciardo should at minimum loose his seat at McLarens.

 

I think that the team didn't want Jos to attend.

+1 agree

That's dangerous man.

 

Whenever a suspect driver responds to questions about their seat and begins with "Well I have a contract through next year" you know the grim reaper is quietly waiting in the paddock.

 

I think you are a bit severe here !

I read that smiling is a natural defence against a potential attack. It's an offering of peace in any discussion.

I say that as someone who hardly ever smile, but I do snarl sometimes !