I still don't understand Buemi's part in all this but I'll leave it. Comparison between F-E and F1 are not helping: leading driver - rare points, what does it matter? As if putting him in F1 would be a favour to this team. IMO no one would put him in F1 car for sporting/performance reasons. He hasn't driven these cars for five years, he'd be competing with those that have, his only team-mate was Alguersuari. Why would aspiring top team hire him?ScottB wrote:At the moment, you could make the argument that Formula E is the bigger marketing deal for Renault, at least until / if they become competitive in F1 again.
That being the case, why move Buemi, who is clearly a front running driver in that series, into F1, where he isn't, where he'll go from winning races to occasionally fighting for points?
It just potentially weakens their strength in one series, for no real gain in another.
The best thing they can do just now is keep Kevin, maybe hire an experienced head to help with car development and focus on getting the car to a point where they might be able to tempt someone like Sainz to join in 2018/19.
Sainz seemed like a realistic target; young, potential, and could well be available, as long as there's no room at RBR. Kyvat's on the way out, Grosjean, I suppose he could come back, Perez, probably aiming higher up the grid.iotar__ wrote:I still don't understand Buemi's part in all this but I'll leave it. Comparison between F-E and F1 are not helping: leading driver - rare points, what does it matter? As if putting him in F1 would be a favour to this team. IMO no one would put him in F1 car for sporting/performance reasons. He hasn't driven these cars for five years, he'd be competing with those that have, his only team-mate was Alguersuari. Why would aspiring top team hire him?ScottB wrote:At the moment, you could make the argument that Formula E is the bigger marketing deal for Renault, at least until / if they become competitive in F1 again.
That being the case, why move Buemi, who is clearly a front running driver in that series, into F1, where he isn't, where he'll go from winning races to occasionally fighting for points?
It just potentially weakens their strength in one series, for no real gain in another.
The best thing they can do just now is keep Kevin, maybe hire an experienced head to help with car development and focus on getting the car to a point where they might be able to tempt someone like Sainz to join in 2018/19.
Sainz: two sides
- One hand: RB contract and it's up to them to extend it.
- Why would they be 'tempting' him as if he's Alonso? Name five races (same for Magnussen) that would indicate that he is capable of copying with top competition in every aspect. I can easily name 10 for Grosjean, many for Perez (with small '?' over Q speed), Bottas or some for Hulkenberg or Maldonado. Yes, he's been more consistent and had solid races but that's not enough. Kvyat benchmark is not particularly strong either. Monaco was good although maybe should have been in front of FI/Hulk. Very good Spain (that's one). Solid race in Canada but after bad crash, slower than Kvyat (mistakes) in Baku Q, good Austria. What else? Before Kvyat's swap - I don't recall great races.
Sainz is young(very young), he is ambitions and he has talent. Yes, he hasnt been so spectacular as Vertappen, but wo has been?. He is improving rapidly and I think he could be a very interesting driver for Renault in 2017/18. He is delivering on every race, just give him an interesting project and a car, and he will deliver. As I have already said there are drivers like Ricciardo which werent that spectacular at the beginning(his TR years were good but nothing remarkable) and they bumb!! they have the appropiate car and they deliver(2014).Jolle wrote:Well, thats the problem now that Renault faces. Every works team has it's driver with that special edge. Mercedes has Hamilton, Ferrari Vettel, Honda has Alonso and RedBull has the two young challengers. Sainz is a good driver but hasn't shown that special edge and there is no driver at the moment that can fall into that list. And if they are not careful they end up with a frustrated Irvine solution.
I'm not saying he isn't a very good driver, but he hasn't got the same impact as Vettel, Alonso, Hamilton and now Verstappen at their debut in F1. More like Ricciardo, Button or Coultard. Fast, steady (when you get the silly mistakes out) and reliable.Vasconia wrote:Sainz is young(very young), he is ambitions and he has talent. Yes, he hasnt been so spectacular as Vertappen, but wo has been?. He is improving rapidly and I think he could be a very interesting driver for Renault in 2017/18. He is delivering on every race, just give him an interesting project and a car, and he will deliver. As I have already said there are drivers like Ricciardo which werent that spectacular at the beginning(his TR years were good but nothing remarkable) and they bumb!! they have the appropiate car and they deliver(2014).Jolle wrote:Well, thats the problem now that Renault faces. Every works team has it's driver with that special edge. Mercedes has Hamilton, Ferrari Vettel, Honda has Alonso and RedBull has the two young challengers. Sainz is a good driver but hasn't shown that special edge and there is no driver at the moment that can fall into that list. And if they are not careful they end up with a frustrated Irvine solution.
I imagine they are waiting a bit how the championship develops (you don't let your WC leader go) and how and if he picks himself up after the summer break again.hemichromis wrote:Any news on Nico for Mercedes next year?
He's been looking less impressive since monaco, do we think Mercedes are looking elsewhere?
Unless they have another major coming together, I don't think they'd change, as there's no incentive to.hemichromis wrote:Any news on Nico for Mercedes next year?
He's been looking less impressive since monaco, do we think Mercedes are looking elsewhere?