factory_p wrote: ↑25 Mar 2019, 12:29
Mclarensenna wrote: ↑21 Mar 2019, 00:05
garygph wrote: ↑20 Mar 2019, 14:08
I am concerned for Ricciardo and his relationship within the Renault team, particularly with Abiteboul. Cyril has said some things to the media re Ric that I do not think was the right thing to do first thing in the season. Was this because he felt Ric was behaving like a prema donna and needed to be pulled down a peg or two? Or is it because there is a personality clash between them? Has Ric been surprised as to just how quick Hulk actually is?
However those are all the obvious questions but I do wonder if actually the problem is Abiteboul putting massive pressure to justify his cost in every way, making sure he is going to get every drop of blood out of this investment. This could be he pushed hard to for the budget to get Ric or he was made to take Ricat the cost of those funds going elsewhere. Now his car/engine is not that quick and he is under massive pressure. Ric could be the guy he is releasing his pressure on.
Cyril should have been replaced years ago. To even slightly bash Ric after 1 race shows how much class Cyril he has which is nothing new from him. I have seen 100s of cars go on the grass but never seen a drain cause this much damage. The fault lies on the FIA or Australian track for having such a massive bump in the drain cause so much damage and not smooth it out somehow. That drain was a safety hazard.
In the interview Ric stated he hit the bump and did not realise the front wing came off as F1 drivers cannot see the front wing. Ric only realised when he started braking for the corner that something was actually wrong. I do not think i have ever seen a driver lose a front wing and try and brake and not lock up and go 30+ metres deeper as you lose so much front downforce and braking force. Yet Ric managed to stop the car as if the front wing was not even missing, something I have never seen before. No driver on the grid would have stopped that car under those circumstances. I am pretty sure most drivers would have taken out quite a few cars braking for that first corner in that situation. Ric is the best late braker I have ever seen and this further proved it. So no blame goes to Ric at all from what i can tell for Australia.
Don't get me wrong, I really don't believe Abiteboul is an asset to RSF1, but I wonder if some of his comments have been taken out of context to create some drama in the press - just like we've seen Ricciardo's comment regarding his media commitments before the grand prix have been exaggerated.
I have only seen quotes in written articles. If there was an actual inteview where Cyril commented on Ricciardo's first weekend with the team I'd really like to hear it and have his comments in context. Because at the moment, it seems very stupid even by his standards...
Cyril is a useless leader. Top leaders find solutions, weak leaders like Cyril blame the rules and want them changed to help them. Like Renault before threatened to quit if engines did not go hybrid. Then Mercedes hits it out of the park taking advantage of new rules and Renault just winges and complains again when it was their idea and they failed.
Renault has to increase budget big time if they ever want to compete. Get a title sponsor on the rear wing like Mercedes did with petronas and a few other good sponsors which nets Mercedes approx additional 50 million or so to spend on the car. Then get Renault board to contribute another 150 million but at the end of the day they will get it back. How?
Same way Redbull ends up costing Mateschitz less than Torro Rosso. Bigger sponsors, bigger prize money, and more importantly more advertising. Mercedes estimated they got 2 billion in free advertising after winning in 2014.
Its a win win. Renault would actually get a much better return and cost them less at the end of the day spending 500 million a year instead of 300 million. But Cyril still doesn't realise this. Instead of going to the FIA complaining to change rules again he should be going to the Renault board and tell them his plan that will actually save Renault money and win them a championship.
