Next driver to lose F1 seat?

I know. It's really quite unfair and shortsighted in my opinion. That's what I was implying in my first post on the subject.

I'd love to see him at Haas, a perfect setup....American team, and in the orbit of Ferrari.

 

Vandoorne

 

He was defeated by Stoffel Vandoorne.

 

Hardly a fair comparison based on how they've developed. I think Rossi has improved immensely, while SVD has atrophied.

 

Staying too long in a team that doesn't perform can destroy the most promising career.

Vandoorne should have left long time ago rather than staying at McLaren, IMO.

The guy had won the GP2/F2 championship, but it's all forgotten now.

What people remember is Vandoorne dragging a car at the back of the field for 3 years.

That doesn't look good on your résumé.

 

He only got to the team last year. Doubt he had an offer from a team in the meantime. And leaving when mclaren was receiving Renault engines? Bold move.

 

Vandoorne: These two years at McLaren the worst I ever had

http://www.gptoday.com/full_story/view/651947/Vandoorne_These_two_years_at_McLaren_the_worst_I_ever_had/

Stoffel Vandoorne believes that at this stage of his career he is in the wrong place at the wrong time while admitting that his past two years with McLaren have been the worst in his life, but he is adamant that he wants to be on the grid with them next year

With Fernando Alonso quitting Formula 1 at the end of the season and Carlos Sainz stepping in to replace his fellow Spaniard, one seat remains available with the squad for 2019.

Rumours churning through the paddock have under-performing Vandoorne being ditched, possibly before the end of this season with a queue of candidates hankering for his seat on the grid, including Lando Norris, Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon.

Vandoorne admitted to reporters at Monza, “I read everything you write and so far it is quite entertaining.”

“That’s how Formula One is. It’s about being in the right place at the right time. These two years at McLaren were probably the worst I ever had to go through.”

Statistics show that Alonso is trouncing the young Belgian, once one of the most highly rated up-and-coming young drivers, in qualifying and in races.

But Vandoorne feels that the stats do not tell the full story, “It was very, very close between us but because we are so uncompetitive, everything is exaggerated.”

“I think I proved in the past that I’m able to win races and championships. I haven’t forgotten how to drive. Everyone knows that it’s a difficult situation at the moment but we can only improve,” added Vandoorne.

McLaren team chief Zak Brown admitted that there are a number of drivers they are considering to partner Sainz next year, but insisted that the 26-year-old Belgian could be the man.

“Vandoorne is very much [a contender]. Ocon is someone we like. Perez is a good race-car driver. If he’s a driver we decide to go after, there are ways to make that happen,” explained Brown.

Meanwhile, suggestions that Vandoorne could find refuge with Sauber where his former F2 team chief, and mentor of sorts, Frederic Vasseur now runs the show, but the Frenchman denied such an option, “Stoffel is not part of our plans for 2019.”

 

Haas would benefit from a driver with the skills and ambition to drag the car up the grid two places in front of where it belongs. I think their current drivers are so gun shy of making mistakes (because of the mistakes they've already made) that they wait for the car to improve them and not the other way around. If you had to keep one I'd be hard put to say which would stay. But they could certainly use a new driver in one of the cars. Same with Williams...I only hope Stroll leaves before the end of the season and that Williams gives Kubica at least a few full race weekends to see what he can do. As for Sauber, I think the crash really shook Erricson up. And he hasn't been that strong to begin with. After two seasons I think Erricson has shown all he's got. Whatever happens to Leclerc, I feel that Sauber needs a new driver with the skills and passion to either challenge Leclerc or replace him. I've never cared for McLaren so I don't care what they do. Sainz seems to be a fading flower so they deserve each other. McLaren seems to be the last stop on the way out the door. Ocon at Haas makes sense...going to McLaren seems like a mistake.

 

This guy.....

http://youtu.be/83FrJdDAhyU

 

Vandoorne's saving grace might be that Norris is just not doing good enough in F2 to warrant an F1 drive.

That said it really depends on what several drivers are doing now, seeing as Mclaren has expressed their interest in Perez reunion even.

 

Is Kimi about to lose his seat now ?

 

Confirmed.

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

 

General consensus so far seems that Ferrari has to honour the contract Marchionne signed with Leclerc, Lawyers couldn't do anything (or Leclerc demanded too much money to have the contract delayed by a season, which is a very ballsy move). So looks like Leclerc to Ferrari, Gio in at Sauber, question mark at Grosjean. I hope Ocon gets that seat instead of the basterd Williams, but given his Mercedes connections he'll likely end up in the slow car...

 

Yes Ocon very likely to end at Williams. Too fast for Stroll at Force. Perez likely to stay at Force due to him forcing the administration issue saving Papa Stroll a massive chunk of money.

Toro Rosso might get George Russell. Also Mercedes money.

 

Kvyat the Torpedo, that would make potentially 4 Russian drivers in F1. Collusion? Hmmmmm.

 

That did not take long...

http://www.f1i.com/news/316223-bold-mclaren-hands-race-seat-to-norris-for-2019.html

 

No loss. Vandorne was useless.

 

His car was useless.

What do you expect?

Even the "great" Alonso couldn't do anything on it, with plenty of experience.

 

He really was and invisible...I can’t even remember the last time he was broadcasted in-race...in qualy too he’s almost always the 1st to go in Q1.

Made absolutely zero impression. His interviews cling so much onto the “I’m very close to Alonso” angle, but the poor kid doesn’t seem to understand that as new blood he needs to establish himself as an equal or better to the old dog in order to leave any lasting impression...”close” isn’t going to convince a donkey.