The big twist holding up F1’s driver market again
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 ก.ค. 2024
- A big twist in the race to sign Carlos Sainz has thrown things wide open again and stopped the 2025 Formula 1 driver market puzzle pieces finally falling into place.
The revelation that Renault’s works team Alpine has told Sainz it could ditch its own engine for a possible Mercedes deal in 2026 is a big development for him, the teams that want to sign him, and the other drivers his decision impacts.
00:00 Intro
02:08 Alpine-Mercedes talks
03:57 Lack of ambition?
05:25 Running out of time
07:52 Where everyone else stands
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Kimi as team principal. Wins races against their own beliefs. Leaves when they don't pay him for the wins, despite betting to do so.
EXACTLY what I was thinking
@@someguy8955 Kimi would bankrupt the team again through buying too much ice cream
We the fans need this.
I was about to say this lmao. Also, it looks like Mick is going there, what do you think?
I don't understand how a Mercedes engine helps Alpine's case for Sainz at all. Williams will have the same engine but a more developed and long-term-focused team structure, plus won't have to go through integration issues with a new engine program.
How though? Alpine is already quicker than Williams despite having an inferior engine
Alpine are the most competitive in the short term, depends on how much value sainz places in the short vs long term, if I were him I would just take the Audi deal for the money, but 🤷♂️
(Edit, grammar)
If I understood this video correctly :
- Alpine carries on with its engine : it looks bad for Alpine because they'll cock it up
- Alpine purchases another engine : it looks bad for Alpine because they have to pay for it.
So I guess The Race wants Alpine to go engineless for 2026. Unless it looks bad for Alpine.
This year shows how. Starting at the very back of the grid, and alpine is already faster than Williams. Despite all the joke, the resources alpine got as a "works" team is still no match from Williams.
Realistically, switching to a Mercedes engine is probably the best idea alpine has had since signing gasly. Mercedes track record (no pun intended) with engine performance is top tier, alpine won’t have to dump money into engine development giving them finances for other areas, and the pressure of being a works team is off their backs. Williams is obviously a long time customer of Mercedes, but money makes the difference. Look at Aston Martin, a much better comparison. They joined F1 fairly recently and already outperform Williams by leaps and bounds.
I thought the idea was weird at first but it’s actually pretty smart.
I think the most astonishing thing here to me is that Ocon is still being considered by some teams.
He’s good man, and has that killer instinct. It’s a unique intangible.
In fairness, Ocon behaves like a child and is a bad teammate. That said he's a decent driver and capable of podiums if in the right car.
@@Solairethedarksoulyeah and that's gonna end up actually killing someone eventually. It would only required him to tangle at the top of Eau Rouge or brake test someone while going under the bridge at Monza or tangling at 130r at Suzuka
@@jacobmassey3897 he’s fearless, F around and find out.
Ocon is a solid driver despite his attitude problem. At a new team he will be more careful with that I'm sure.
Alpine's biggest problem isn't their PU, it's their upper management. And don't be fooled here they actually don't want to give up their engine program, the MB supply deal if it happens is just a money saving stop gap while they work on the proposed 2030 engine regs in the background IMHO.
Alpine shows in WEC that they only care to have Alpine-branded cars. Nothing there has been developed in-house. Engine is Mecachrome crap. Last season they even were content running a customer LMP2 Oreca-Gibson car.
Or it shows they are looking to sell the team. It would be a better proposition to sell it clean rather than still tied to Renault by an engine
Flav will fix it!
Their 2nd biggest problem however, is DEFINITELY their PU
Damn, this Sainz saga is getting old now. If I were Vowles I'd sign Bottas and be done with it
I'd go for Liam laws on personally. Could sign him up cheapish for a long term contract and I would say he's proven himself in his short period in f1.
@@lankon1991 nah for a team like williams trying to get back on track, a driver like bottas who could content hamilton on his good weekends is a no brainer over laim. Besides rb wont let him go that easy when they are on the brink of getting rid of danny ric
@@KappaDoge forgot about Danny ric potentially getting the boot. I'm not sold on bottas vs Hamilton personally. I think a lot of drivers would've had their day in the car it was an absolute weapon.
He should just sign with Audi. Unless Williams is somehow going to get Newey, I think that's the best long term bet.
@@KappaDoge ric isn’t going anywhere
Haas has become THE team-effort driven team, so having Ocon there could undo the spirit they have achieved this year, with somehow mythical performances by KMag protecting Nico's positions.
They should keep hulkenberg eh?
@@SolairethedarksoulHulk signed to sauber
They need to get Zhou. I've got a gut feeling he will be a great addition for KMag, another kid to protect.
@@kohikappuBearman is getting that second seat and Magnussen is definitely getting sacked.
haas has been cooking since the new regs and I want them to keep going like this
The other drivers must hate Sainz’s slow decision making atm
One big, indecisive cork in the bottle
Sainz should just take a sabbatical for two seasons. He clearly doesn’t want to drive for any of the available teams. Plus 2026, all the seats will be locked for 2026 like in 2024. Maybe two years out will make Sainz try to get on the grid at all costs. Sainz is obviously only worthy of the midfield apparently
If he takes too long the only seat he'll have is on his sofa
@@gillb9222 maybe that’s the seat he should take
@@gillb9222 That might be better than driving for Alpine or Williams.
Sainz to Mercedes is the only move that makes sense🤔 Antonelli not ready for top team yet, clearly.
And how many years would they give Sainz? Antonelli won't be left hanging for 3 or 4 seasons.
Sainz is the best available driver and Mercedes is the best available team. It would be a logical choice for both, at least for one year. Because lets be honest Antonelli is not ready for F1 yet.
Yeah you must have ALL the data CLEARLY on Antonelli doing tests with the 24 and 23 Benz F1. Mercedes is obviously seeeing something we’re not.
Max wasn't ready for F1 as well. Mercedes missed the chance to take him, RBR nurtured him through his rookie years and now a multiple WDC.
Kimi is ready or not.. Mercedes has to bet on future and groom it
This 100%. Who cares about antonelli. Put him in the development teams for now. Let him prove himself. He’s too young. They make it seem like he’s the next max verstappen. He’s clearly not.
Bottas is unbelievably underrated and he should absolutely get that Williams seat. Great connections with Vowles and with Williams.
Valtteri, it’s James.
What I don't quite understand is why Sainz isn't considered for the Mercedes seat. I just don't see them putting a rookie in that seat, just look at Russell for all those Williams years. Antonelli is currently 9th in F2 and from what i've seen from him, I'm not very much convinced of his mega talent.
I agree. Maybe Toto knows some magic info but watching him at the moment I'm not seeing anything that makes it look like he can manage an F1 car yet
Because the Merc deal was probably "You get one year and we bring in Antonelli to replace you." It wouldn't have mattered if Sainz won the WDC with Merc, he was just the stopgap for Antonelli
@@stefanstenroos6344Sainz should take it though. No way Red Bull keeps Perez for 2026z
Right? I’m not convinced Kimi Antonelli is worth taking a risk for. Too young. Not proven at all. Sainz in that seat makes the most sense to me.
@@98MTBiker Anyone not named Stroll will almost definitely out of seat in 2026 if they taking 1 year deal now. Most teams wouldn't want to replace driver alongside major regulation change for the critical consistency in the feedback. That's why everyone asking for at least 2 year deal, or at worst 1+option like presumably what Perez got with Red Bull. This is why not many drivers are rumored to coveting the Mercedes seat as they has very publicly made known that anyone not named Antonelli will only get 1 year deal.
Hoping Sainz and Mercedes can work out a deal for 2025!
There's absolutely no indication Mercedes wants Sainz. Russell/Antonelli will be their lineup if not already for 2025 at least 2026.
@@soundscape26their obsession with kimi is crazy
None of the top teams want Sainz. He’s a midfield driver next year
Delusion folks
Valteri Bottas is currently 0.51s faster in quali and in race pace 0.53s which is bigger than Alex, Alonso and Max gaps to teammate and still they act like he is washed
Zhou is just incredibly mid and should never have been in F1 in the first place. He doesn't make a fool of himself by always crashing like Sargeant but is just as slow as him.
@@areebsiddiqui758 yes you should drive for saucer , you seem mor experienced in type racing
People forget that Bottas with a good car was consistently a podium finisher. A stark contrast to someone like Perez, who has a good car and constantly flounders.
@@sar4806yep
@@sar4806 He was consistently a podium finisher behind his team mate, largely regardless who that was, he is always the other driver
Renault being "willing to do whatever it takes to succeed in F1" should really be read as "willing to do whatever it takes to not have to leave F1 in a humiliating fashion".
Carlos Sainz should replace Perez if RedBull wasn't too busy to focus on Makss Verstapens
Carlos and Max had a bad relationship at Torro Rosso so I doubt that would happen. Jos and Sainz Sr. being together would likely end badly as well
@@tanner9449Carlos and Max didn't have a bad relationship and even get on well now, it was always Sainz Sr. and Jos going at it
@@NickthePobrecitoName one person Jos doesn't have a bad relationship with 😂
@@NickthePobrecitoyeah that’s why it will never work you muppet. Did you not see Jo’s blowing up in Austria this last weekend?
@@petouser : Max
Sainz is just unlucky. He never really scored a long term deal with a team.... He has switched a lot and I think the best bet for him is Williams and stay there long term. Williams isnt going to be a top team in '25 and maybe not in '26 but if they continue growing and investing it might pay off in '27 or '28... He is just in some awkward situation....
McLaren would've surely extended him alongside Lando.
Lmao.. Williams will NEVER be a top team again with their budget… The fuck you smoking??
It’s not just about luck. It also speaks a lot about how much the teams think he’s worth
madness to swap sainz for the has been hamilton
@@antiwokehuman his worth is obviously in the midfield. Why did no top teams want him?
I have a family friend who has a senior position at Williams and they told me yesterday James is keen to pick up Bottas over Sainz but Doriliton Capital (Owners) want Sainz.
nice pfp
Why don't you back it up with a source?
Yeah sure...
@Limegreenedragon they can't if the person works for the team
Source: just trust me bro
This situation is getting beyond tedious. I was really hoping Sainz would go to Williams, but now cheering for Bottas to get that seat.
crapy williams, as i sainz would go there
Williams has a Mercedes engine and has peroper management mean while Alpine may have a Mercedes engine, and it has terrible management. I can't understand why Sainz is even considering them 😔😔😔
Because Don Flavio might use his magic to bring this team back to the podiums?
maybe because alpine is way faster than any of the other teams. Carlos wants to stay in the fastest car so that he doesn't obscure into irrelevancy so that redbull can consider him for 2026 and boot perez. Carlos doesn't want a super long term deal so that he can get to redbull. He just wants long term enough so that his career in f1 is safe.
Ditching a works engine for Sainz is insane
after all the Le Mans blows? it's not only for Sainz
@@johart309it's a Mechachrome engine, not Alpine's own design. Judging by their F2 track record, I'd bet it was Mechachromes fault.
They are not doing this for Sainz ffs dude....
I don’t get why Renault would put millions on a team that advertises a brand that makes only a few thousand cars in a year. Alpine seems to be heading for a sale soon and who know what disaster comes
They do that to make a few more thousand cars a year. To establish the brand as a sports car brand and to eventually ask for much more money for one of their cars.
I hope Hyundai buys them
@@snarblox
Wtf. Buy who ? The Renault Group ? It would rather be the other way around. Alpine ?
Why would Renault sell it ?
I still think going to Williams-Mercedes would be less risky than Alpine-Mercedes, it could also be argued that Williams also have a program in place for development from the bottom of the grid, while Alpine are still in the phase of getting it's management in order... Making it's future even more unknown
Lawson to Sauber/Audi makes no sense. They already have Pourchaire, who flatly beat Lawson in F3 in 2020 and in F2 in 2021 and 2022.
What if Bottas was to return to Mercedes? 😳
Sainz to Mercedes on a 2 year contract. Kimi to Williams 2 year contract. Then Sainz to Audi.
great vids!
Wait, why wouldn't Mercedes hire Sainz? Is this is not even a consideration? What am I missing?
Sainz wants a multi-year deal. Mercedes want a 1 year deal so they can try and poach Max.
@@adrianhjordan1981 Mercedes also wants to promote Antonelli as soon as possible. If Sainz is signed for 2025 he would only stay like 2 years before getting replaced.
@@adrianhjordan1981 That would only be possible with a direct swap with George... not seeing Mercedes parting ways with Antonelli.
@@soundscape26Maybe Antonelli to Williams, Sainz fills in for a year at Merc, then is shifted to make way for Antonelli once he's ready. Obviously, if they actually did poach Max, it would change a lot. Would defo give George problems since if Antonelli's all he's cracked up to be, they'll never drop him.
Because Carlos isn't managed by Toto.
Imagine joining Alpine and then the team gets sold this winter
He will announce he is joining Williams at Silverstone.
alpine seem to be going forward again williams backwards so sainz might be best for alpine
Williams is the best option, and Sainz messing them about is madness. Of the remaining seats, Williams is the team with major investment from Dorilton, Sauber is in a holding pattern waiting for an Audi takeover, and Alpine are a recurring shit show. For Sainz not to see the potential at Williams - especially under Vowles and partnered with Albon - says a lot about how he rates himself. If he really was that in demand, Mercedes would have signed him the moment Hamilton announced he was moving. I fear that he'll be left out in the cold if he doesn't get a shift on and make a decision soon, or he'll be left choosing a team that ultimately won't lead him forward.
So only 3 proper manufacturers merc, Ferrari and Honda(on n off)
Thanks for this video, filled in a lot for me
Why would he pick Alpine, even if it has a Mercedes engine?
they've been comfortably better than williams and sauber like every season as of late
Despite their rough start, Alpine now have a better car than Williams.
@@PG-20Yeah, and that's probably the best they'll be for a long time.
@@wasru.But if he's looking for a long term project, a team that never aims to be anywhere higher than 4th isn't what he's looking for. Williams and Audi are currently behind them, but far more ambitious. I doubt choosing between current 6th fastest car vs 8th is really a big deal for him, its more which team does he believe he can build back up to the top.
Also, if they're taking Merc engines there's no reason they would be any better - yes the engine would be better but they now have to learn how to build a car around an engine they don't control. Historically being an engine supplier is a massive upside and they've just thrown that away. It's pretty embarrassing for them tbh, they're basically admitting they know they don't know how to build a good enough engine, which doesn't bode well for the rest of the car, or the project as a whole.
Alpine is looking very good right now, consistently 5th fastest team. IN the beginning of the season Alpine was a joke, but now they are showing they can develop their car and even out-develope teams like Ason, Haas, and RB that were much faster in the beginning. It's similar to what McLaren did, changed their concept and they knew it would mean a slower car in the meaning with development in the future. Don't forget Alpine had multiple podiums in 2023, 2021, and years as Renault. They are not that bad of a team, and I actually think they can keep their Renault engines and still be the 5th or 6th fastest constructor.
At this point I wouldn't be surprised If Carlos didn't get a seat at all. Yes, it still is the least likely option of them all, but the longer he takes to make the decision, the more likely that option gets. And at some point the teams will have to shift their focus on getting a driver that is solid (like Bottas, Lawson etc.), rather than wait around for a pretty good driver in Sainz and with that risk getting no one. If any of the teams makes the decision to go with their 2nd option, that could impact other teams and they could just snatch the other options as opposed to Sainz.
Sainz should try something else for next season AND 2026.
Maybe two seasons in Formula E before trying to get back into F1 in 2027. Or even two IndyCar seasons
@@user-tv9xd1uo6l I have a feeling that If he leaves F1, and especially for more than one year, his F1 career may be over. Shit moves quickly, especially on the drivers market, and If he leaves (whether willingly or not), there will be a few contenders for his place
Would’ve pick Williams because of Newey alone tbh. Not to mention, the clusterf***ery that is alpine upper management.
Williams would be foolish to look past Carlos out of impatience
But they would also be foolish in hindsight to wait for him if he ends up going elsewhere and end up with no other options.
@@chiefbeef9905 there are 20 seats in F1 and plenty of sensible options. Carlos is simply pick of the litter. Remember they still need to deliver a better car no matter who drives for them.
It’s not like he is senna just sign wherever and get on with it
Time is running out
If Alpine buys an Engine from Mercedes, they will never be fighting at the front again, they will just fight with Haas and Williams at the back and watch as RB beats them every race.
Hmmm I see your point, McLaren really are slumbering at the back with the merc engine aren’t they….
Seams like alot of people have forgotten that Mercedes required permission from FIA to take on Mclaren as a customer team from when they ditched Honda a couple of years ago and seams less likely that they get it again when there is new engine manufacturers in 2026.
As the rules state
"Unless agreed otherwise by the FIA, each of the PU Manufacturers of an homologated PU
may not directly or indirectly supply PUs for more than (T+1) teams, with T as defined in
Article 1.2.2." (T=works team basically)
If Renault stop using their own engine Honda seams the most likely manufacturer to be forced to supply Alpine as they have probably the capacity, but the rules says that if multiple suppliers are on the same level the decision might end up on a simple pull of ballot if required.
...I fail to see how an engine suddenly changes everything though!?
Are there not engine rules about lowest number of engine suppliers preventing Renault from choosing which supplier they get...
Or is that only for new teams
No Renault can take Mercedes if Mercedes are willing to supply them. The problem with Red Bull not getting Mercedes in 2016 was because Mercedes refused to supply them. If there are no willing suppliers, only then are Honda compelled to supply Alpine.
Would love to see Bottas back at Williams.
"they need a driver and an engine!" Cyril, 2018
It’s crazy, Sainz is 100x better than many drivers on the grid - Sargeant, Stroll, tsunoda, gasly, Ocon, Zhou
Next video. Redbull break Perez contract making sainz available.
IMO, I think slowing down the pace and seeing how things align with certain teams is a benefit to all drivers. I've seen plenty of drivers sign early, only to see other key team personnel poached by other teams, and poor decisions made after a drivers signs to make me wonder why they haven't slowed down to make this decision. Look at quali lately, teams are closer toneach other than ever. There is no hurry to make the descision.
A bit embarrassing for Alpine though, and why Mercedes. Why not Honda engine? At least they couldve justified it as a new endeavour, rather than going back to begging mercedes, which they already dumped previously.
Isn't Ocon meant to be quite devicive
Sainz's problem is that he's running out of time, quickly. While he's the rare top line driver with big backing available to a back of the field team, he's only desirable if teams see him as a realistic option. Williams and Audi both need a solid driver, and have options already, but they won't wait. Williams is leaning toward Bottas, with good reason. He's a known quantity, has worked with Williams and Mercedes before, and will get along with Albon. Sauber's options are Lawson (either he gets the RB seat, or he will walk), Porchere, or keeping Zhou and waiting for next year to scoop up someone. Haas will take anyone who keeps the car between the fences and not damage it; RB if it doesn't pick up Lawson keeps Riccardo for PR value
This makes little sense to me. Why wait on that as a reason? Williams already have the Merc engine and will have it in 2026. Sainz is stalling and it could cost him. He is way better of joining Williams with a get out clause if they dont perform or just joining Audi directly. All this sitting on the sidelines waiting for the best seat available to join Alpine / Renault?
What's a works team?
At this point if i was Audi, Williams, Haas and Alpine I'd find someone else tell Saitz we have someone else lined up you have, idk, 2 weeks then we are going with them. And if Saitz miss out that's on him.
I feel like Alpine is kinda a bad option even with the merc engine. Team's been a mess for years and years now
Why tf does anyone think Williams is the best deal? Williams have been a back marker for like six years now and i don’t see it changing anytime soon. I think his best option would be to go to sauber and wait for the Audi takeover. Audi will bring more to the table and habe more chance in thriving in the new regulation change than williams does. And alpine would be better then williams, but i think his best bet is Audi, well thats if mercedes doesn’t want to sign him, which they probably won’t.
Is there any certainty that Audi and Apline will be any better with the new regulations? Williams are making small steps, but they are definitely steps forward, while Sauber is nowhere and Alpine seem to have all kinds of human issues, despite their technical revival.
Yep, tbh even if Alpine are ahead right now, if he's looking for a long term project I wouldn't touch them with a 10 foot pole. They've historically been happy with mediocrity, aiming for 4th, never the top, and they seem to be in perpetual turmoil behind the scenes. I doubt any driver would really wanna be a part of that even if they are currently quicker, at least until they have a Mclaren style revamp of the entire structure, and change of culture to be actually ambitious, neither of which are gonna happen overnight. Even with short term gains, it's hard to imagine them pushing any further than mid table.
FWIW, Pourchaire didn't get axed by McLaren IndyCar as much as another driver showed up with a suitcase full of money. Theo was doing a good job.
It is likely to suggest that their relation with Mick Schumacher, who has been the part of Mercedes-Benz since getting dropped by HAAS in 2022, may have played into this decision while firing then replacing Ocon for the next season. Also, it is quite a coincidence for the timing especially when Flavio Briatore took the role as the team advisor, except I don't really think so.
I'm not sure he needs a deal to be 'completed' between Alpine and Mercedes. If he is indeed seriously considering that team over, say, Williams, then an agreement between them should suffice for the moment. The details could be worked out later.
Having said that, he should go with Audi.
Sainz to Alpine. Lawson to RB. Dani Ric to Sauber. Bottas to Hass with Bearman. Merc brings in their own rookie. Occon battles it out with the rookies for the Williams seat, Zhou and Magnussen out.
How about zhou? 😢
So this means no more announcement any time soon. lol. I guess he will decide it in August during the summer break
idk why he's even considering alpine -- their issues run much deeper than a PU. going to williams seems like the most sensible option
Given they will both have Mercedes engines, I think the potential upside of Williams outweighs the misery of driving for Alpine, who are already running at full steam with little results.
So Andretti isn’t good enough with gm as a engine meanwhile alpine can just slack off its main commercial appeal being a manufacturer and not really take f1 seriously
The Sainz situation is like dating market nowadays. People don't want to be downward compatible and get left out alone and then proceed to claim everyone else is a jerk.
Sebastian making a return with Audi would make everything better. Team like Audi needs a driver with technical knowledge as well.
Carlos will play himself out of a seat at this rate. My $0.2 is that he needs to settle in at Audi.
Sure, it’ll cost him 2025 as Sauber but there’s where he’s got better medium term prospects w/ a fully committed works team that has the technical depth & capacity.
To be honest, Audi should roll the dice and give the second seat to Pourchaire - Audi wouldn't be competitive until 2027-28 which means that they could nurture Pourchaire in the meantime and he will have a solid mentor in Hulkenberg. By the time Audi starts regularly fighting for points, Pourchaire will have around 3 seasons under his belt and he will be more than ready to lead the team.
As much as I'm a fan of Theo's, he was a Vasseur/Sauber project and now that Audi calls all the shots and Vasseur is no longer there, there's nothing tying him to the team. They may as well sign Drugovich who rinsed Theo if they want a 3rd season F2 champion and even that is a far shout of what Audi needs for its ambitions.
I'm glad you guys brought up Pourchaire. He's obviously a talented driver and just became available from McLaren in Indy but he's also a former Sauber Academy driver. He's gotta know a lot of people in that team already and Audi could benefit from having a young talent as part of their project before they prove themselves with a front running car. Maybe the value of an unproven F1 driver with less commercial value as the third French driver on the grid is what it comes down to?
Looking at 00:30, I wonder if they could kick Ric, move Perez to RBulls and give Sainz the seat in the RB..
I'm curious to know what current F1 drivers people would like to see leave F1, to make room for younger talent drivers from F2 and/or F3?
I'd like to see Ocon, Magnussen and Stroll go (though Stroll obviously has a contract).
I am kind of shocked that this is even a conversation. I assumed he would sign with Audi.
I thought there was talk of Sainz doing a one-year deal at Mercedes themselves?
I mean I can kind of make sense of Sainz holding out for Alpine-Mercedes if he thinks their ceiling is higher than Williams, especially with Briatore being involved again. But if it's purely for the Mercedes engine which as is alluded to in this video does look like being the class leader in 2026...well Williams will have that engine too. Sainz needs to be really careful he doesn't outsmart himself and end up somewhere he doesn't really want to be or even off the grid completely, like Alonso has done to himself many times.
He’d be mad to go to Alpine .. I don’t think Alpine know what they’re doing .. they seem chaotic .. sackings, new advisors, binning their own engine. The Piastri and Alonso saga ..
The question everyone should ask themselves Is Alpine's poor performance due to their engines? Just look at the current performance of Williams. The motor is a not a magic bullet that can make a team fast. And if we are only speaking of the forthcoming 2026 powertrains, why does everyone think that the Merc is going to be the absolute fastest? Where is the proof?
When a constructor stops being a constructor. They might as well just sell the team to Andretti
This os getting ridiculous. If i were Audi or Williams i would just make a bid to get Ocon or Bottas ASAP. Also, Paul Aron is looking very impressive and has no backing of any F1 team.
Who’s patience is running out? The media?
Renault/Alpine need to get it together. However, if they don't have enough faith in their own engine, they need to bow out and let some new team that is there to compete, not just to market themselves. I'd rather see Sainz at an authentic competitor.
Bottas? More like a contender for Formula E, in my view.
"Un-worx-ing."
Only Renault could provoke new wording from a journalist.
😂
I don't see how alpine is even something he is seriously considering. It sounds like the team is in chaos.
Why would Renault own a team using a competitor's engine? The whole point of a manufacturer owned team is for marketing.......the marketing message now is "Don't by a Renault b/c even their racing division uses Mercedes"
Why have relations soured between sauber and bottas? I didnt realize something happened. Can somebody explain?
Sauber has signed Hulkenberg, and is openly courting other drivers. They only have two seats so it's clear that they don't want Bottas. Bottas, understandably, doesn't like being a backup option.
When he became available, I really wanted Sainz to sign with Williams, but as the season goes on, I'm hoping more and more Bottas ends up in that seat.
Lotus 2015 vibes
It doesn’t matter where Sainz goes. It’s not going to be a front runner at least not for a while. You have 3 bottom teams closely matched. The question is how long is Sainz willing to wait to run with the top teams. With that said I think Williams is his best option but I’m just a fan.
Carlos, the answer is James Vowles & Williams Mercedes.
I wonder if Sainz himself realized what you just said about Alpine waiting out Sainz's option clock. Sainz just needs to go to Sauber already!
If Alpine considering Mercedes engines why are they trying to sign Binotto?
Alpine has nothing to lose, if they miss out on Sainz they can sign Doohan for a year, so I believe they could be making all the engine stuff up to cause more ruckus, can’t trust them.
How does Alpine using a Mercedes engine change things that much? They become a direct competitor to Williams - who're also a Mercedes customer. I'd be backing Williams over Alpine anytime. Does it really change anything?
If alpine and Williams will have the same merc engine, I’d choose Williams every time. Sure they’re slower, but they also aren’t miserable.
1) Are we still convinced Mercedes want Antonelli for 2025 given a under whelming F2 season.
2) And on current form surely Perez’s contract is ripped up….
I don't buy it. If he wants a Merc engine Williams already has that. If he's not careful these teams are just going to give up waiting and sign someone else. He's obviously a very good driver but there are lots of other good drivers without seats too
Bottas back to Mercedes is not out of the question i feel. If Kimi gets into F1 i feel it’ll be in the williams seat first or maybe a little bit longer yet
It's a shame the Renault engine is down on power because it sounds really good.