This is starting to get embarrassing for Checo. I thought people were exaggerating how precarious his position was but if he keeps performing like this RB might actually be forced to take action.
Imagine if RB had an actual competitor, Checo couldn't support Max at the front at all if he keeps going like this.
I also thought the "Checo washed" comments and discussion about his seat being in jeopardy were an overreaction a few weeks ago. At this point though, I'm expecting Redbull to drop him any moment.
Yeah..if he manages to keep his P2 in championship they are unlikely to drop him this year (and his race pace is good enough to get him into top 3) and i don't think they would go for Ricardo either...not sure who though.. Surely they are starting to think beyond Max, as Max stated he might not stick around in F1 and move to other series.
Fair, although some suggested aston is focusing on next year already as they want to be winning in a year or two...others think they are stuck like merc...
Yuki has matured a lot, and next year is as ready as he’s going to get. Either that or they put Lawson/Iwasa up against each other at AT and the winner gets promoted
Makes sense. I should really pay more attention to. Yuki, hard to judge his performance as de vries is absolutely no where... I am glad Piastri is doing well after the whole alpine fiasco.
Aside from Perez, they've only been dragging up drivers with very little experience to fill the seat. The rookies probably need a couple years in Formula 1.5 before graduating to Formula 1. I'd love to see Sainz come back, they way they treat him as second class at Ferrari for no reason is ridiculous.
I really don't think Yuki would be an improvement. He's been inconsistent and his highs haven't exactly been amazing. They'd be better going for Riccardo or the Hulk or Sainz imo.
No way RB puts another outside driver in the seat. Marko even said that Mateschitz threatened to pull funding for RB Junior if Perez gets the seat because all RB drivers are supposed to come in from RBJ (he gave in, obviously).
Sainz - He worked like hell to get out of RB. Even if it was an option, I can’t see him going back to be a second driver behind Max. We already see how much he hates being deprioritized behind Leclerc.
Hulk - He’s a Mercedes Jr, never had backing from Red Bull. I can’t see this happening.
Ricciardo - Maybe for a short stint to cover Perez if he gets dropped. I can’t see him staying long term.
Hulk isn't affiliated with Merc at all, are you thinking of someone else?
Also I don't remember Sainz fighting like hell to get out of RB, I thought Renault just needed a driver and RB let him go because it didn't look like an RBR seat would open up any time soon and they wanted a space for Gasly.
I thought he was a Mercedes Jr. during his F3 career… but maybe I’m remembering wrong.
Sainz got snubbed for the Red Bull seat even though he felt he out performed Max. Red Bull loaned him to Renault and once he was there, Sainz tried to make the move permanent. I just remembered that at the time, RB did not want to let Sainz off the RB team.
Ah I get you. He may have been, but I don't think that's a big deal now. Perez was a Ferrari junior who drove for McLaren & Red Bull, Sainz was a red bull junior who drives for Ferrari. Once you're graduated and move teams I don't think it really matters either way.
As odd as it sounds, Sainz is too good. RBR doesn't need another driver who can challenge for the win. That only creates friction. That means that Sainz is not a good option in my opinion.
Ricciardo is apparently too slow when driving the sim, much slower than Perez.
I think Hulk is decent enough, but also realistic enough not to start drama within the team.
Where was it said that Ricardo is slow on sim? Just never came across such info? (not doubting ur comment just want to see where to look for such info)
There was some bad blood between the Verstappen's and the Sainz's, wasn't there? From back in the Toro Rosso days, when the Sainz camp engaged in some pretty heavy politicking, from what I heard.
My hot take is that Yuki is pretty much set to take the second RB seat pending Perez’s overall performance. If Perez continues to be abysmal, I’m sure that RB will drop him using a performance clause in his contract.
Everyone likes to rag on Yuki but since Gasly has left, Yuki stepped out tremendously. Not to mention that he’s been dragging that shit box to mid-field a handful of times. Helmut Marko even commented on Yuki’s performance and Marko never compliments anyone unless you’re Max and Vettel.
De Vries is going to get dropped to make way for Liam Lawson.