Unfortunately I did. I told them all, that in light of me not finding any single team with a 100% positive set of attributes, I simply could not accept an offer of driving for any of them. They seemed to be ok with that honesty and hid their disappointment well. Ferrari: Not giving me the feels with strategy calls. RB: I'm not a #2. They seem to be keen on their #1. He's even got it on his car. He knows. Alpine: Doing Great, Heard they had an opening....or not...seem to not know what's going on internally. Maclaren: Seem like children...I cited Ricciardo smashing Lando with the hoppy ball. Haas: International relations issues, seem to have a tough time picking good sponsors. I'm a paid driver, anyway. AlphaTauri: Redbull Jr? pass. Alfa: There's already team with Alpha in their name. They were a frontrunner becasue they seemed to make better strategy calls than those other italians. Aston: I don't know if I trust rich canadians... Williams: It's not the 80's... Mercedes: Too whiny, seems to be run by that micromanging boss who's too good for everyone else. Ever notice he's the only one NOT on pitwall? It's really about him, even if he makes it feel like it's about you. sjd
OK...to be slightly less silly.... Who are YOUR picks? Ferrari: LEC and SAI RB: MAX and PER Alpine: OCON and... Mclaren: Hiring pretty much everyone. Haas: AlphaTauri: Alfa: BOT Aston: Stroll and ALO Williams: Mercedes: RUS and HAM dragging things out to the 11th hour...
Alonso’s age a factor in why Alpine would not commit to long-term F1 deal Alpine says that uncertainty about the impact of age on Fernando Alonso’s performances in Formula 1 was why it didn’t want to offer him a guaranteed long-term contract. Image Unavailable, Please Login By:Jonathan Noble Aug 4, 2022, 11:19 AM Image Unavailable, Please Login The Enstone-based squad had been on the verge of a fresh deal with the two-time F1 world champion before the Spaniard made a shock call to join Aston Martin earlier this week. One of the key factors at the heart of Alonso’s decision to move teams was that Aston Martin was willing to offer him a much longer-term commitment – which is believed to be as long as three years including options.
Haas has called off contract talks with Schumacher according to German broadcasters RTL, speculating that the moves in the 'silly season' have diminished Schumacher's alternatives "Haas can now rely on the time factor knowing the team is the only way for him to secure his place"
Oscar Piastri has agreed a deal to race for McLaren in 2023. bye-bye Ricciardo. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Expensive pay off for Ricciardo then...Zack Brown let know a little while ago that the clause is basically up to Ric to leave.
Maybe Alpine and McLaren will make a deal to smooth things over ? Like Alpine taking Ricciardo with McLaren's compensation as part of his salary for 2023 perhaps ? Also Alpine making no financial claim about what they already spent on Piastri ?
I think Dan will go back to Renault, it was a better fit for him and he was silly to move .... McLaren are rubbish
Yeah, it does seem Zac Brown doesn't know what he's doing at times especially with driver contracts. But Danny had to know that the team was all about Lando, not him.
The atmosphere in the Alpine pit will be electrifying once F1 returns to racing after the Summer break. On one side you will have teflon Alonso who has still 9 or 10 GPs to race with them, after "betraying" and humiliating the team. On the other you wille have Alpine "wonder boy" Piastri heralded at tomorrow's saviour, but who don't want to drive with them next year. I understand that as Alpine's "reserve driver" (do you get the irony?); Piastri has to attend all the GPs up to end of season. I guess there will be a lots of "dirty looks" exchanged between the parties, and not much conversation. Piastri has better come with a bodyguard, I think ! The journos will have a field day getting Szafnauer and Rossi to give their impressions. You couldn't make it up !
He has 2 problems at Mclaren: This car doesn't suit his driving style at all (largely down to the rules) and they suit the very talented Norris very well. This amplifies the problems he's having. Add a dabble of British press in there and the story is already written.
Some are great in cars that suit their style (vettel the perfect example of this) but look a bit ordinary in cars they don't like. Few can drive any car they're given fast (Alonso, Max, Michael, lewis). The ones that can do the latter are the great ones
Some drivers with limited technical knowledge don't give much feedback, but adapt to any car and overcome its flaws, because they are naturally gifted. They can jump in ANY car and drive fast. Ronnie Peterson and Gilles Villeneuve come to mind. Drivers with good technical knowledge can help engineers to improve their car to a level acceptable. John Surtees, Niki Lauda, Alain Prost, Michael Schumacher, etc ... And then you have those who are unable to perform in a car that doesn't suit their style. Vettel and Ricciardo are examples of that.
