How is Guenther ever going to make it back to F1? He’ll need a massive raise just for the fines.
How Max Verstappen can clinch F1 title at the Las Vegas GP Verstappen has eight wins to Norris's three and with only three races left Verstappen can't be usurped on that front. So whatever happens, in the event of a points tie Verstappen would win. That means Verstappen needs a 60-point lead at the end of the Las Vegas weekend to guarantee the title, two points fewer than he has over Lando Norris right now. Put simply, if Verstappen finishes ahead of Norris in Vegas, he will seal the title. And he can afford to lose two points to Norris and still confirm the title too. The key numbers to have in mind are 59 and 60 - if the gap is 59 or lower, Norris still has a chance, if it's 60 or higher then it's all over. https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/how-max-verstappen-can-clinch-f1-title-at-the-las-vegas-gp/
Unless the FIA and Stewards say otherwise......I'm not holding my breath. I'll believe it when I see it is my attitude.
I am not oblivious to some of Verstappen's faults, but I hope he will clinch the title this year again. To me, he is the best driver on the grid at the moment, demonstrating enormous talent wih a car far from being the best. McLaren's resurgence in the second half of this season has been interesting to watch, but started too late. Also, neither Norris, nor Piastri are at Max level yet; maybe in future. Max thrives in adversity, and can overturn a handicap to his advantage; the sure sign of a great champ, IMO.
+1 Max is the benchmark on the F1 grid in the dry and in the wet. To go from P17 to P1 and lead by over 18 seconds in the wet with no DRS is truly a skill NO ONE has on the grid currently.....no one.
I'm no fan of what he did in Mexico either. Or even Austin and T4 Mexico...even though it's in the rules, he just used the rules to his advantage. Can't blame him for that. T7 was just stupid. Aside from that...the man is a lion. Reading the comments straight after quali people expected him to drive like a maniac and will end up taking someone out or off into the wall somewhere...He kept his head and moreover he used his anger to prove a point, the best way to shut down the critics and questionable treatment from FIA.
[RacingNews365.nl] When Christian Horner is asked how he views "one of the best drives of all time" to Verstappen come back in Brazil, he says: "I think it's hard to make those statements about generations. But Bernie (Ecclestone) called me after the race and said, 'I've seen all the greats, but this is one of the best I've ever seen'. He's a bit older than me and has seen a bit more, so that's a big credit to someone like him."
How to bring F1 to South Africa: - One part F1 car (RedBull RB7) - One part F1 driver (David Coulthard) - One part F1 pit crew (RedBull) - One part F1 track (Kyalami) - One part helicopter (DHL) Bringing Formula 1 BACK to South Africa!
Kyalami is cool track. Would love to see F1 cars race on it. I don't care for all the politics around going back to South Africa, but as a fan of seeing F1 cars go around great tracks, I support it.
Ben Hunt: Should Red Bull swap Perez for Lawson in 2025? OPINION: Despite having a contract in place for next year, could Sergio Perez find himself on the sidelines in 2025? And who would replace him at Red Bull? https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/ben-hunt-should-red-bull-swap-perez-for-lawson-in-2025/10671167/#comments-block-anchor This year, it was made clear that Perez needed to have a better season than he did in 2023, when he was steamrollered by Max Verstappen. However, he has not had a podium since the Chinese Grand Prix in April, and his last victory was in Azerbaijan in April 2023. Perez currently finds himself in eighth place in the drivers’ championship - a staggering 242 points behind his team-mate. As Red Bull turns its attention to the constructors’ championship, where it sits 49 points behind McLaren, there is a case to be made that Perez’s failures are costing not only team points but are also hitting its workforce in the pocket. The financial structure at Red Bull means that each member of staff will be denied a win bonus of at least £10,000 if they fail to secure the constructors’ title. Put crudely, looking at the results of the squad’s two drivers, it is easy where to point the finger of blame. There has long been a theory that Red Bull persisted with Perez due to the lucrative endorsements he brought. Yet money in the team’s coffers is no consolation to a disgruntled workforce who have missed out on a new kitchen or family holiday. Red Bull too cannot afford any disharmony within the organisation. We have already seen it ripped and torn throughout the investigation into Horner earlier this year, which strained working relationships across the operation. A sure way to repair that damage would be to have a strong 2025 season with its number one driver, Verstappen, winning the title and the second driver contributing enough to secure the constructors’ championship. It is quite clear that something needs to change for Red Bull to achieve that. So, who does Red Bull pick? Tongues started wagging in Sao Paulo when Horner went into the Williams hospitality as, amid all the fanfare of Franco Colapinto’s great start in F1, there was a quick assumption that Horner was checking out the Argentine’s availability. Whether he had any intention of signing him or not, Horner was doing his due diligence, as any team boss should do. He would have sought James Vowles’s opinions on Colapinto, and established an understanding of what terms Williams is seeking. Would the team allow him to leave permanently or effectively on loan, and crucially for how much? Horner could use the information to understand the market value for a hot commodity that comes with lucrative sponsorship. However, that came before the race in what was a miserable outcome for the Williams driver, who crashed out to cause the red flag. By contrast, Liam Lawson in the RB had a solid race and finished ninth after being turned around by Oscar Piastri. While rookies such as Oliver Bearman and Colapinto, and other more experienced drivers, had a torrid time, Lawson barely put a wheel wrong in what was only his eighth F1 race and added more points to those he scored on his 2024 debut in Austin. Yes, he tangled with Perez in Mexico, and had it not been another Red Bull driver, presumably would have been given a pat on the back by Horner for getting his elbows out. In the same way, he stood up for himself and against criticism from Fernando Alonso in Austin, which also did not dissuade Red Bull. In fact, it is understood that it was supporting Lawson’s rebuttal to the two-time F1 world champion. Colapinto is an exciting talent who brings sponsorship and a fan base, but he remains an unknown quantity as his race at Interlagos proved. But Red Bull knows all about Lawson. And then there is the Kiwi’s final asset – and arguably the most important factor that could see him replace Perez. It is the fact he is well-liked by the Verstappens, the significance of which cannot be understated. After Lawson’s drive in Sao Paulo, Jos Verstappen said on TV: "I think Lawson is doing very well. It seems logical to me that he is ready to step up. Let him finish this season and build confidence and then the team has to decide what they do for next year.” It was a ringing endorsement from someone who rarely has something positive to say.
Sergio Perez in talks over Formula E seat if he loses Red Bull F1 drive Speaking to FOX Sports, Formula E co-founder Alberto Longo confirmed that he was holding talks with Perez over joining the series. He wants to recruit a Mexican driver for the sport. This is yet another sign that Perez may only be three races from the end of his F1 career. He publicly maintains that he’ll be on the grid in 2025 but he’s clearly putting contingency plans in place. Nestle may have withdrawn their backing for Perez, having agreed to make KitKat F1’s official chocolate bar. Journalist Joe Saward suspects they’re redistributing their marketing budget. https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/sergio-perez-in-talks-over-racing-in-another-category-if-he-loses-formula-1-seat-at-red-bull/
Red Bull bringing the wrong wing to Vegas is a surprise. As seen on Wednesday, the lower element was significantly larger than what Ferrari brought. Apparently RBR was losing 6-8 tenths on the straights so they went to the extreme and cut their upper element. Surprising they got that wrong.
Verstappen: Red Bull ‘throws away two races’ with rear wing decision Max Verstappen feels Red Bull has left itself exposed at races requiring low-downforce set-up without a dedicated rear wing In qualifying Verstappen’s top-speed deficit shrunk across the key splits, but the Dutch driver still felt his RB20 lacked performance to its direct rivals without a specific low-drag rear wing - something chief rival McLaren's Lando Norris has in his armoury. Verstappen, who qualified fifth and directly ahead of Norris, explained that Red Bull doesn’t have a low-drag rear wing that is suited to high-speed circuits like Las Vegas and Monza due to calls influenced by the budget cap – but feels it is a decision that needs revising. “We opted to not make one, we don't have one,” Verstappen said about a Red Bull low-drag rear wing. “So this is already from 2022, I think we just never thought we would run it that low. And then with the budget cap, you choose your priorities and we shifted that.
Red Bull shareholders to decide on Perez's future after Abu Dhabi GP Perez will be hoping to do enough in the season-ending races to keep his place on the grid next year Driver choice by shareholders...........OK lol.
Just get rid of him. He clearly struggles to adapt to the ground effect cars that make him look worse than he is. Pre GE cars he was decent enough but just like Ricciardo and I'd even include Lewis in this list (though to a lesser effect), adapting to the current cars is something he has completely failed to do. Max is champion, he has almost solely put the car 3rd in the WCC as well. Perez has to double his points AND add another 99 just to match Max. Do I think just any driver will do better? No. But I don't think Red Bull loses anything by trialing a driver like Lawson or Colapinto. I don't know what Sainz is moaning about now, he is crying that RB doesn't want him but he had a contract in front of his nose and he refused it . He would've been the best option IMO. I guess the Mexican pesos are the only motivating factor keeping Perez on.
I think this speaks volumes that Perez is only there to sell T-shirts. Helmut Marko seems to be going on a tour of how bad Perez has been this season, and he generally is the guy who has a major say of who gets a seat in the Red Bull big team. Yet the shareholders are deciding this one? Clearly all about money and not about results. Except now the results are costing the team money via positions in the WCC so now the shareholders care. Equation: Does Perez sell more merch and bring more sponsorship money to offset the tens of millions lost in WCC, or potential other sponsors or revenue streams bailing out due to poor results or bad reception from the fans who buy their drinks and merch?
Why Red Bull doesn't want Tsunoda as Perez's replacement https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/why-red-bull-doesnt-want-yuki-tsunoda-sergio-perez-replacement/
They could have fired him in August easily. Amazed they thought he was going to improve at all. Red Bull admits handing Perez early contract “didn't work”
Just reset the RB19. That had a super operating window. Red Bull eyes wider operating window for new RB21 F1 challenger Red Bull says it needs to adopt a different approach to extract more performance from its F1 car next year
