At a team event at the Museo Storico Alfa Romeo, where the Italian car manufacturer celebrated their return to Formula One, the Sauber F1 team have announced their driver line-up for 2018. From behind a repainted Sauber in Alfa Romeo colours, Marcus Ericsson and Charles Leclerc were present to confirm their racing seats in 2018.
Post here all non technical related topics about Formula One. This includes race results, discussions, testing analysis etc. TV coverage and other personal questions should be in Off topic chat.
Red Bull: verstappen( could Mercedes in 2019) Riccardo (could go Ferrari 2019)
Toro Rosso: gazly, kvyat
Renault: hulkenberg sainz
Sauber: wehrlein and a Honda driver
Force one: Perez ocon
Williams: stroll, massa/ raikkonen/ button
Haas: gro mag
Agree with most but not Sauber. Ericsson has too many backers there for them to drop him. Think Wehrlein is out unless Mercedes puts him in another team with an engine deal. He hasn't impressed.
Was anyone else surprised by Kvyat putting pressure on Red Bull to confirm his Toro Rosso seat next year quickly? Even considering the rumours about Sainz switching teams it seemed awfully bold considering his recent form.
Until a few weeks ago I wasn't sure Kvyat would even last the season with Gasly waiting in the wings, short of some Russian influence keeping him there. Now he seems confident he'll be driving in 2018.
Was anyone else surprised by Kvyat putting pressure on Red Bull to confirm his Toro Rosso seat next year quickly? Even considering the rumours about Sainz switching teams it seemed awfully bold considering his recent form.
Until a few weeks ago I wasn't sure Kvyat would even last the season with Gasly waiting in the wings, short of some Russian influence keeping him there. Now he seems confident he'll be driving in 2018.
He needs to know if he'll be without a Toro Rosso seat so that he can start working on another seat at another team. Not very that surprising he doesn't want to end up like Buemi / Alguersuari.
Personally I'm not convinced that Red Bull is convinced that Gasly is any better than Kvyat. Additionally look at how much most rookies have struggeled this year. Red Bull might not want to weaken Toro Rosso while the Red Bull seats are occupied anyway.
Bottas will slide into the next ferrari seat. Vettel is an easier driver to beat than Hamilton, and Ferrari will be more likely to give Bottas a long term deal than Mercedes will.
Bottas also has the wins under his belt, and i believe that ferrari only selects winning drivers with the exception of drivers who have driven with ferrari power for years (Massa pre 2006).
Bottas ticks all the boxes to be a good and reliable ferrari driver. He will be the one that's had enough uncertainty from mercedes.
After he jumps ship, Alonso will poke his head into the mercedes shop and at that time Hamilton's confidence will be high enough, and his boredom will be such that he would relish fighting alonso for another title.
With all that said, Bottas has the key to the 2018 driver Market; not Alonso.
He needs to know if he'll be without a Toro Rosso seat so that he can start working on another seat at another team. Not very that surprising he doesn't want to end up like Buemi / Alguersuari.
Personally I'm not convinced that Red Bull is convinced that Gasly is any better than Kvyat. Additionally look at how much most rookies have struggeled this year. Red Bull might not want to weaken Toro Rosso while the Red Bull seats are occupied anyway.
Realistically I'm not sure where else he could go... There doesn't seem much place for him on the grid outside of TR as most other teams either seem set with their drivers or looking elsewhere. Renault perhaps. If not I imagine he'd be looking at other series.
In terms of his talent compared to Gasly, I'll admit I don't know how they would compare. But in the past Red Bull have been more cutthroat with drivers who aren't measuring up than they have been with Kvyat given they DO have drivers in the pipeline to give the chance to, so I just thought Danii's tone was surprisingly bullish.
Red Bull: verstappen( could Mercedes in 2019) Riccardo (could go Ferrari 2019)
Toro Rosso: gazly, kvyat
Renault: hulkenberg sainz
Sauber: wehrlein and a Honda driver
Force one: Perez ocon
Williams: stroll, massa/ raikkonen/ button
Haas: gro mag
I would like to see Sainz in Renault, but taking into account that Kubika´s return is becoming more real I am afraid that Carlos will have problems to find a seat.
Mercedes : Lewis + Bottas
Ferrari : Vettel + Raikkonen
RedBull : Ricciardo + Verstappen
Force India : Perez + Ocon
Williams : Stroll + Massa
Haas : Grosjean + Magnussen
Toro Rosso : Gasly + Niko Kari
Mclaren : Alonso + VanDoorne
Sauber : Matsushita + Ericsson
Renault : Hulkenberg + Kubica
highlighted the driver changes. apart from these 4 drivers, things will stay the same driver-wise.
Sauber will take Honda engines.
that means the following drivers are out:
Sainz, Kvyat, Palmer, Wehrlein [reserve driver for Mercedes or Williams].
"Explain the ending to F1 in football terms"
"Hamilton was beating Verstappen 7-0, then the ref decided F%$& rules, next goal wins
while also sending off 4 Hamilton players to make it more interesting"
Mercedes : Lewis + Alonso (1 yr)
Ferrari : Vettel + Bottas( 2 yr)
RedBull : Ricciardo + Verstappen
Force India : Perez + Ocon
Williams : Stroll + Wheirlin (1 yr to take alonso or Lewis seat if he does ok)
Haas : Grosjean + Magnussen
Toro Rosso : Sainz (gone after contract) + Gasly
Mclaren : Raikonen (1 yr) + VanDoorne
Sauber : Matsushita + Ericsson
Renault : Hulkenberg + Kyvat (2 year with russian backing like petrov)
Mercedes : Lewis + Alonso (1 yr)
Ferrari : Vettel + Bottas( 2 yr)
RedBull : Ricciardo + Verstappen
Force India : Perez + Ocon
Williams : Stroll + Wheirlin (1 yr to take alonso or Lewis seat if he does ok)
Haas : Grosjean + Magnussen
Toro Rosso : Sainz (gone after contract) + Gasly
Mclaren : Raikonen (1 yr) + VanDoorne
Sauber : Matsushita + Ericsson
Renault : Hulkenberg + Kyvat (2 year with russian backing like petrov)
Out: Massa, Palmer
Perhaps swap Sainz with Kvyat and you'd be spot on. Any thoughts on why Raikkonen might move to McLaren?
I like Ringo's prediction, however, by the end of next week, I think Renault will be Hulk and Kubica, for 2017 already.
TR will stay the same as now. Saintz and Kvyat.
I just don't know who to put in the 2nd McLaren seat. and I am a bit uncertain about Wheirlin and Massa due to Martini's 25 years of age thing (which is stupid seeing that most places around the world, drinking age is between 18 and 21).
So mine are:
Mercedes : Lewis + Alonso
Ferrari : Vettel + Bottas
RedBull : Ricciardo + Verstappen
Force India : Perez + Ocon
Williams : Stroll + Wheirlin
Haas : Grosjean + Magnussen
Toro Rosso : Sainz + Kvyat
Mclaren : VanDoorne +
Sauber : Matsushita + Ericsson (If they go to Honda) Erricson + LeClerk (if they stay with Ferrari)
Renault : Hulkenberg + Kubica
Martini wont accept Stroll and Wehrlein as mentioned earlier in this topic... keep puzzling guys
Not for nothing, Rosberg's Championship is the only thing that lends credibility to Hamilton's recent success. Otherwise, he'd just be the guy who's had the best car. — bhall II #Team44 supporter
Gerhardsa wrote:
So mine are:
Mercedes : Lewis + Alonso
Ferrari : Vettel + Bottas
RedBull : Ricciardo + Verstappen
Force India : Perez + Ocon
Williams : Stroll + Wheirlin
Haas : Grosjean + Magnussen
Toro Rosso : Sainz + Kvyat
Mclaren : VanDoorne +
Sauber : Matsushita + Ericsson (If they go to Honda) Erricson + LeClerk (if they stay with Ferrari)
Renault : Hulkenberg + Kubica
Matsushita is not really a choice for Sauber. He doesn't have enough points to get the Superlicence. Unless FIA makes an exception - and I can't see any reasons for doing this - he won't be in F1 next year.
"Explain the ending to F1 in football terms"
"Hamilton was beating Verstappen 7-0, then the ref decided F%$& rules, next goal wins
while also sending off 4 Hamilton players to make it more interesting"
