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Albon or kvyat. I would like it to be Seb, but does he have the humility to be wingman to Max (or is he so arrogant to think he can displace him)?
It would seem odd for RB to take Hulk, after getting dumped by Renault. Ie a better team taking the reject of a lesser team.
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/145665/red-bull-could-turn-to-external-driver-for-2020 Red Bull will look at drivers outside its pool for its 2020 Formula 1 line-up if it feels none of the current contenders can "get the job done". Alex Albon has replaced Pierre Gasly at the team from this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix following Gasly's struggles over the first part of the season. Gasly has replaced Albon alongside Daniil Kvyat at Red Bull's junior team Toro Rosso, with Red Bull explaining that has taken place to assess who it should pair Max Verstappen with next season. Speaking for the first time since the driver swap, team principal Christian Horner said that "the ideal [option] is we will select the driver to be alongside Max next year from that pool of drivers that we have under contract". "If we feel that none of the drivers within the pool can get the job done then, of course, we will look external to that," continued Horner. "But I am confident that the talent we have within the group will be sufficient." By holding the seat for the rest of 2019, Albon is best-placed to stake his claim for the driver full-time next year. Image Unavailable, Please Login The list of options outside the Red Bull trio of Albon, Gasly and Kvyat is not expansive, with outgoing Renault driver Nico Hulkenberg arguably the most appealing of those available. Asked by Autosport if Hulkenberg was of interest, Horner replied: "Obviously we monitor the situation externally, but it is unlikely we will take a driver from outside our own development programme. "But as I said, [Red Bull will look elsewhere] if we feel we don't have a driver who can get the job done - as we did with Mark Webber, he was taken from externally." Former Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel has been linked with a Red Bull return as his attempts to win a championship with Ferrari continue to be foiled. Vettel won four titles with the team from 2010 to '13, pictured below, but is contracted to Ferrari until the end of '20. When Vettel left Red Bull to join Ferrari for 2015, he did so one year before his Red Bull contract was due to end. However, Horner insisted: "He is not available next year. "He is a Ferrari driver. He is contracted until the end of 2020." Image Unavailable, Please Login Red Bull has promoted Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo, Kvyat, Verstappen, Gasly and Albon to the senior team since it signed Webber from Williams for 2007. Horner believes that philosophy works, pointing to Charles Leclerc's strong debut season at Ferrari. "If we hadn't taken the risks on youngsters previously, they would have never come through and never delivered for us," said Horner. "Leclerc's doing a pretty decent job at Ferrari. I think Albon's done a very good job for Toro Rosso, they are higher in the constructors' than they've been for over 10 years. "It's very easy to be conservative. "You have to be a little braver, and a bit more ambitious sometimes, and take the risk with a youngster."
Ask again after a pair of races. If Albon stays alive, they'll keep him. If not... maybe Hulkenberg just because he's the only available and reasonibly priced veteran.
All this talk about drivers is futile - there are a few top drivers, and among them the one with the best car wins. Young drivers are interesting because it's a known fact that as time goes older drivers fade away, so young drivers (the like of Albon and Leclerc) are the future. Hamilton would win for any team having the best car, and so would Verstappen or Vettel, at least as of today.
Indeed, one of the best drivers could be beaten by his teammate who also has the best car - that's what happened to Hamilton in 2016
Sorry don't agree with that. Best car + best team + best metal attitude + best skills (Sid your not invited to this conversation! ) Vettel is making too many mistakes this year. As is Max, just look at the last race; what an idiot! He is quick for sure, but far to hot headed; still. Even if you gave them both the best car + best team, they are still lacking in best mental attitude and probably something on skills. The only one anywhere near all four is Hamilton. Coming up the rear, Leclerc, Lando, Albon and Russell. These guys are the future. Once the older drivers fade away (Hamilton, Vettel, Riccardo etc.), everybody else on the grid is just mid field fodder. Give those four a top car and top team...!
Avoiding spoilers, but Albon delivered a drive in Spa that definitely helps make him a / the top contender at the moment.