Daniel Ricciardo way overrated.

Personally I find it offensive for a journalist to question a driver about his job.

Journalists have to be put back in their place sometimes.

 

95% of them are hacks that would sell their own mother for a story.

 

Why? They are just asking what everybody is thinking and talking about - we can agree that it's not an intelligent question and that the potential answers are very limited in variety, but it is part of their job. If a driver is surprised when asked a question like that, then they shouldn't be there in the first place. All drivers have a personal media advisor, so they should be way better prepared and have meaningful and well articulated answers to these types of questions.

In my opinion it is a missed opportunity when they do not handle these types of questions well. They have the spotlight, they are the person people are talking about. Us the attention to work your brand and broaden your fan base. Everybody can relate to the stress of not performing, not being able to identify what little thing needs to be corrected and having people questioning if your are the right person. Admitting that your are not performing to the level you are expected to is not quitting or giving up. Handling it the way they do is almost like comical Ali from Bagdad.

 

I say "Personally", so that's my own opinion. If it's not an intelligent question, why ask it then?
If it's only to say later that you didn't get a "meaningful and well articulated answer" ?
Why is it a "missed opportunity when they do not handle these types of questions well" ?
What's this business about "working your brand and broadening your fan base", It's hilarious.
No everybody is comfortable working to the media, and that should be respected.
Some of the journalists try to trick their interviewee to say something compromising against their team, another driver, etc ...
Many drivers have to correct and denounce statements made by the media maliciously attributed to them.
Cooperating with the media is a lose lose situation.
As for the Comical Ali from Bagdad attitude, it's the best. Never let an interviewer dominates you, keep answering outside the topic !
A politician told me his method was to stop talking and stare at the journalist. If interrupted once, he would also stop talking.
I think the best to deal with the media in F1 was Kimi, but I remember that Denny Hulme didn't suffer fools gladly either.
I saw him physically throw out a journalist from his caravan among a bunch of expletives , and everyone was taking cover.
The other journos waiting their turn outside scampered away. The "Bear" had spoken !!

 

I guess my feelings regarding media is that part of your salary as a sportsman/celebrity ... whatever, is at least somewhat tied to your popularity. I've yet to see Ric shy away from any media attention and I think it seems he very much seeks it out and works hard to portray himself in the way he does. You can argue if it's genuine or not but that doesn't really matter. So to me, if you're going to gain from the upside, you should be willing to accept the downsides of it. So if your future is in question in the sport that made you what you are, i don't think it's rude to ask the question to get a driver's thoughts.

Your relevance is tied to your performance at the end of the day... how likeable you might be, how popular and/or attention seeking you are all becomes second chair when you're not performing and not meeting expectations. When the excuses run out, you're shiny star begins to fade, and you look like an "also ran" next to your teammate... I think the questions are fair as long as theyre done in a respectful way. Hopefully it's a wake up call.

 

That's a big part of their job, so not being comfortable is not an excuse. Find the way that works for you, Raikkonen did.

Not anymore ... you look like a fool, while the one giving you that advice thinks he looks like a boss

 

He acts pretty goofy and smiles an awful lot for a driver who hasn't achieved much. I would seriously question his dedication if I was a team principal looking to hire.

 

Jacques Villeneuve is always ready with an opinion

"Ultimately, he has been a highly-paid driver who has cost the team a lot of money," added the 1997 F1 world champion.

"He doesn't bring in any points and he doesn't have the speed the team needs to develop the car. So he's just costing them money.

"It would be cheaper for them to continue paying Ricciardo's salary, let him sit on the couch at home, and put another driver in the car. It's a harsh reality, but that's Formula 1."

https://f1i.com/news/443548-villeneuve-believes-ricciardos-time-at-mclaren-is-over.html

 

He has 8 GP wins and was denied a 9th(Monaco) by a team blunder.

 

That’s true but Vettel has 53 Gp wins and 4 world championships
Guess no top teams would choose him as a driver now.

 

Yes, it's very true that past from doesn't garantee performance today. We are aware of that (Vettel, Alonso, Raikkonen, Hamilton maybe?).

McLaren must certainly be thinking about replacing Ricciardo, and he probably knows about this.

Nothing wrong with that. But I think he will be let to finish his contract, rather than having a messy divorce.

 

If he continues to underperform like that, i don't see him ending this year at McLaren ..

 

That seems sensible to me.

 

We will see. I don't believe Zak Brown will be that impulsive. There are implications in breaking a contract, and finding a replacement driver is not that easy.

 

Surely but having a competitive car unable to score points is a bigger problem for Brown believe me !

 

Both parties should work out a compromise where Ricciardo leaves at the end of this seaso, one year short of his contract.

That would give McLaren plenty of time to try alternative drivers during practice sessions.

 

Perhaps Alfa is an option for Ric? Or, if he wants to stay in the Mclaren family, perhaps he's happy to move to Indycar. If these current cars don't suit his driving style at all and he can't adapt (what it looks like to me), at the very least a test session in an indycar will be easy to arrange. If he's happy there...could revitalize his career.

 

In place of Zhou ?

 

Well, Gasly is out of a RedBull seat till 2024.

How bout Gasly get a seat with Mclaren???

 

Or Mercedes ?

 

If the 7x WDC title holder quits ar the end of 2022......sure, why not.

 

I would assume Zhou brings money. Also, would Alfa want two aging drivers?

 

Just an hypothesis but I can’t imagine Hamilton accept to be defeated by Russell on a regular basis..