I have no knowledge of F1 driver contracts, but if there are no races are the drivers paid? If there is no F1 this year will Vettel be out of contract and receive zero for 2020?
If 2020 gets canceled, who - based on 2019 performances - would you sit in his seat? Ricciardo? Sainz? Albon?
Drivers are paid a fixed retainer, and a fee on a race by race basis, plus eventual bonus depending on result/points scored, etc .... If there are no races, I suppose they would only receive the retainer. Most teams would be unable to pay their drivers the full amount of the contract, if themselves are receiving nothing from Liberty.
I think so, and Ric is a very engaging guy. My question is: how would he handle the unique atmosphere and pressures of racing for SF? I hadn’t thought much about Albon, but he is young, fast, and seems to be very personable. He might be a great complement to Leclerc (and is younger/cheaper than Ric)
Agreed. Just think Ric has the most experience/podiums and past success with RB vs Sainz and Albon with less experience. I think Ric would flourish with Ferrari, he has a magnetic personality that the media love, can handle attention/exposure exceptionally well as shown in the last 2 seasons with Netflix in his face all the time, manages to stay optimistic under the most trying situations and has good racecraft. I also think his ability to perform under pressure is underestimated. Sainz surprised me last season, very consistent after China and finally podiumed in Brazil. Will be interesting to see how he performs in his sophomore season with McLaren.. Albon did exceptionally well as a mid-season acquisition, very consistent from his debut in the Belgian GP and able to come from the back again in Russia. Would have had 2nd place in Brazil except for bad luck. Embraces his Thai heritage and doesn't seem to wilt as Verstappen's teammate tying Max's qualifying lap at Suzuka and finishing 4th overall.
Absolutely. Really there doesn't seem to be a bad choice in the bunch. I think you're right about Ric, too. But I also wonder if maybe he wants to be a clear #1 on a team (vs having to continually fight vs Max or vs Charles)
It boils down to a matter of taste: is it better to be number 2 in a top team and hope to get some wins, or Number One in an average team that hardly ever gets to the podium?
I support the not so great driver with 4 titles moving back to mid of the grid and another coming to Ferrari and moving forward given the skills he has at beating the driver moving back from the front lol
What would Hulkenberg bring to Haas ? He did 9 seasons of F1, drove for 3 different teams in 179 GPs, and never got a podium. His highest postion in the WDC was 7th.
BRUNDLE: SAINZ TO FERRARI A SERIOUS OPTION https://www.grandprix247.com/2020/03/22/brundle-sainz-to-ferrari-a-serious-option/ McLaren should be worried about losing Carlos Sainz to Ferrari in 2021, says Formula 1 pundit Martin Brundle. The 25-year-old Spaniard, who shone last year in his first season with McLaren, is out of contract at the end of the 2020 season. Asked by the Daily Express if the Woking outfit should be concerned about rumours Ferrari could target him to replace Sebastian Vettel for next season, Brundle answered in the affirmative. “Yeah, if he’s out of contract. I’ve always championed Carlos, and to McLaren when they weren’t sure about taking him. “I think he’s got his dad’s kind of sporting winning mentality — a double World Rally Champion of course, his dad.” Asked who else could be in the running for Vettel’s seat, Brundle mentioned Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo, but went on to reveal just how highly he thinks of the Spaniard. “I think Sainz was very close [in performance] to [Max] Verstappen when they were at Toro Rosso. It got political. It got dad and lad against each other from both sides of the garage and they went with Verstappen, which I think you would do all day long. “But I think Carlos was a really good match for him.” Sixth in the 2019 driver’s championship with 96 points, Sainz was comfortably the best driver outside the big-three teams, although on his part, he is not letting the hype get to him. “Of course it’s nice to hear that people in Italy talk about me and a possible transfer to Ferrari. I only see that as a compliment. But logically, I am mainly focused on McLaren right now,” he said during preseason testing in February.
Ferrari would be looking for a steady number 2, not a challenger to Leclerc. Sainz could fit the bill in that role.
Ricci has race and winning experience at a top team. Albon does not appear as fast as Sainz but he is certainly on the up. Interesting choice!