Exactly. F1 prides itself on being the best of the best. What they mean is, they are the best of the best (of those that paid their way through FIA systems, and aren't neccessarily the best, having deep pockets is as good a reason to enter F1) F1 is all too keen on taking US dollars but US drivers? Na. What a **** show.
The title of this thread is “Silly Season 2022”- when is it not silly season? It seems that season never ends…
Bye Mick lol Binotto says Shwartzman worthy of F1 race seat ahead of FP1 debut Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto believes that the team’s development driver Robert Shwartzman deserves a Formula 1 seat.
The Superlicense system via F3/F2 is the path most ambitious drivers chose to get to F1. It's not only an "European thing"; in F2 this year we had drivers from India, Australia, Japan, Estonia, Brazil, Israel, Turkey and Columbia, apart from Brits, Italian, Spaniard, etc ... There was even ONE American this season, and more in the past ! Sure, there may be some rich kids who got to F1 with parental money but they had to obtain their Superlicense on merit. Anyway, with a Superlicense you can buy a seat in F1, but you cannot buy success.
I find it strange that Binotto gets cold feet about Mick Schumacher, but is enthusiast about Robert Schwartzman.
Alpine could ditch its Driver Academy after Piastri affair https://f1i.com/news/454671-alpine-could-ditch-its-driver-academy-after-piastri-affair.html
It looks like they were very naive and amateurish regarding Piastri, then were caught off guard. They could just recruit a lawyer who knows about writting bulletproof contracts, and do some follow up as to their execution.
Sure they could and will have better contracts. The Driver Academy idea is a mess and even RedBull have moved out of it now as well. Its dead. Sure it looks nice. The driver and manager and the F2 and F3 teams can handle the day to day 'management' The F1 main teams have much better things to worry about. Such as the value of their precious teams now LOL I agree with him. The academy idea is not needed. The FIA has asked for teams to provide FP1 drives. That is enough.
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/f1-teams-in-race-to-use-up-rookie-fp1-sessions/10371439/ F1 teams in race to use up mandatory rookie FP1 sessions Formula 1 teams are in a race to fulfil their obligations to run a rookie in two FP1 sessions, with several yet to confirm their plans. Image Unavailable, Please Login By: Adam Cooper Sep 19, 2022, 4:00 PM Image Unavailable, Please Login Under a rule introduced for 2022, both race drivers have to give up a free practice session for a driver who has made two or fewer starts. Early in the season, most teams were in no hurry to field rookies as they felt their race drivers needed all the mileage they could get in the new cars. Latterly some have maintained that focus as they are in tight battles in the constructors' championship. In addition, the budget cap means that teams are warier than ever about a rookie generating expensive damage, as happened with Alfonso Celis Jr and Force India in Mexico in 2017. Teams now have only six races left in which to field a rookie on Friday, and of those Brazil – which as a sprint weekend sees FP1 followed by qualifying – is obviously off the table. That leaves just five other events, several of which also feature compromises. The risks associated with Singapore mean that the street venue won't be chosen, especially as race drivers haven't been there since 2019 and will have to adjust to cars that are expected to be tricky to handle. Traditionally Japan is rarely used for FP1 running, given how easy it is to go off and damage a car. Again it has been missing from the schedule since 2019 and race drivers will have to get up to speed, with bad weather also a threat. However, it is not impossible for a rookie to run at Suzuka, as Max Verstappen proved with Toro Rosso in 2014. An added complication for both Suzuka and Austin is that the venues have been chosen for 2023 Pirelli tyre testing in an extended 90-minute FP2 session. On the one hand that gives race drivers more track time if they miss FP1, but on the other, they are obliged to do tyre testing and thus the run plan for the day is more complicated than at other races. Mexico is being kept as a backup by Pirelli should one of the other tyre testing sessions be affected by rain, but otherwise it is likely to be a popular choice for rookie running. Abu Dhabi is certain to see a lot of rookies in FP1, simply because it's the last chance. Teams also regard it as relatively safe, given the extensive run-off, and in addition, there's less pressure on spare parts as there is no race to follow. The complication for those currently racing in F2 is that they also have to deal with the series finale, with a close battle for position behind the top two. Teams don't like rookies to have to jump from one car to the other on the same weekend, although Liam Lawson did it in Belgium last month. Here's what the teams have done up to now, and what they are planning: Mercedes Nyck de Vries stood in for Lewis Hamilton in France, and the Dutchman is set to do one more session for the team. The complication is that if he signs a 2023 race deal his new team may want him to do some FP1 running. Image Unavailable, Please Login Nyck de Vries, Mercedes W13 Photo by: Alastair Staley / Motorsport Images Red Bull Racing Juri Vips had an outing for Red Bull in Spain, before being dropped by the drinks company a few weeks later. Liam Lawson is likely to do the second run in place of Verstappen, although he's also scheduled to fit in an AlphaTauri outing. Ferrari Robert Shwartzman has been working hard in the simulator for Ferrari, and he gets his reward with FP1 runs in Austin and Abu Dhabi. It's the first time that the Italian team has ever used an FP1 session for a third driver. Alpine Oscar Piastri was supposed to undertake the FP1 running for Alpine, but for obvious reasons plans are now in flux. Jack Doohan, who is set to drive the 2021 car in Budapest this week, is the logical choice for the two sessions, and he remains a candidate for the race drive. However, if de Vries gets the nod for the seat there could be a push to get him in the car. McLaren McLaren's plans are also not clear. The team would love to get Piastri in the car if Alpine agrees to release him early. However, it also has IndyCar races Colton Herta, Pato O'Ward and Alex Palou lined up, all of whom have driven the 2021 car and are qualified to run in FP1s. Zak Brown had hinted that O'Ward will drive in Mexico, but none of the three has been guaranteed a run. Image Unavailable, Please Login Alex Palou, McLaren F1 testing at Barcelona Photo by: Monaco Increase Management AlphaTauri Liam Lawson drove for the team at Spa and is set to do another session. However, plans could change if the team signs de Vries and it becomes logical to give him some mileage. Aston Martin The team had no junior programme of its own and so agreed to use shared Mercedes reserve de Vries at Monza. However that weekend the team agreed on a driver development deal with F2 champion Felipe Drugovich, and the Brazilian will drive in Abu Dhabi. Williams Like Aston Martin Williams was happy to give de Vries a run in Spain, and that extra preparation paid off when he was called in to race at Monza. The team confirmed some weeks ago that Logan Sargeant will drive at his home race in Austin. Alfa Romeo The Swiss team read the rules properly and the FIA agreed that Zhou Guanyu's debut weekend in Bahrain could count as a rookie session. Theo Pourchaire will be with the team in the USA and Mexico and is set to deputise for Valtteri Bottas in one of those races – Mexico is more likely as the team is reluctant to combine rookie running with a Pirelli test. Image Unavailable, Please Login Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo C42 Photo by: Alessio Morgese Haas Haas has yet to confirm its plans, but unless there's a pressing reason to field another driver then Pietro Fittipaldi will undertake the rookie running. However he won't be able to do Austin as Antonio Giovinazzi will be driving there, and leaving both drivers out of FP1 would be challenging for the team at its home race.
Honda = retained seat. Yuki looks good in anime but is not a good F1 driver overall AlphaTauri retains Tsunoda for 2023 Formula 1 season Tsunoda has failed to score any points since the Spanish Grand Prix back in May as AlphaTauri finds itself struggling to compete with the leading midfield teams on a regular basis.
I was looking forward to Alpha Tauri having a more competitive car this year, to allow Gasly to keep fighting at the front, but we're stuck with a not so hot car. Not sure Tsunoda is showing great improvement in his 2nd year, but I imagine Red Bull has a big influence with the team.
Tsunoda is more proof the driver academy of RedBull has no wings. They are actively looking outside now. They wanted Piastri, no luck. They took Perez over Gasly and now wanted an American and are looking for a new replacement for Gasly in De Vries possibly. Vettel and FA completely mixed up the driver market lol. Mick is a lame duck with no drive unless Haas. Williams dont need him and have other options. Ferrari are letting him go in favor of the Israeli passport holding Russian Schwartzmann. Messy it all is lol. Even Hulk might have more life in F1 - all so silly lol
"I"m feeling a little VERKLEMPT!!!" "Talk amongst yourselves!!" "I'll give you a topic..........The Prince of Tides was niether about a Prince or a tide......discuss!!"
William, in all seriousness, with Latifi, Vettel and Ricci gone who is the worst driver on the grid? I don't consider Lance a bad driver at all- in fact I think he has gotten much better the last two years.
Mick Schumacher perhaps? Guenther Steiner seems to think so, he even contemplates giving the seat to Giovinazzi instead.
