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As a fully paid up memebr of the Jacques Vileneuve fan club for a number of years, I know I should argue with you about that, but I really can'tDoubleFart wrote: ↑2 weeks ago Driving for free? Jacques should have been paying Sauber to drive with some of the performances he put in at the end of his career!
*team JV high-5*Star wrote: ↑2 weeks agoAs a fully paid up memebr of the Jacques Vileneuve fan club for a number of years, I know I should argue with you about that, but I really can'tDoubleFart wrote: ↑2 weeks ago Driving for free? Jacques should have been paying Sauber to drive with some of the performances he put in at the end of his career!
Things are ramping up on the Antonelli front.....Everso Biggyballies wrote: ↑2 weeks ago
Antonelli is of course the other main option, albeit one of greater risk due to his lack of top level experience. Yes he has lots of old F1 cat testing planned and the balance of an as we stand underwhelming F2 campaign. He is going to struggle to match the likes of Leclerc and Russell who both won their debut F2 championships. I know Toto has huge expectations of the 17 year old, perhaps too high, but I cant see him being the sensible pick.
So in my opinion there is too much risk in promoting Antonelli into the Mercedes team for next year and the way should be clear for Sainz to go to Brackley with a two year deal in his hand. (Toto will likely prefer a single year) That gives Antonelli the oportunity and time to prove he is the real deal at Williams and be able to hit the ground running when he goes to Mercedes, as did George.
Vowles for the first time has alluded that Albon might have a performance based exit clause on his contract,.... he is otherwise tied to Williams until end 2025RACER understands that a request to the FIA to provide Antonelli with an exemption from the minimum age limit has been instigated by Williams team principal James Vowles rather than Mercedes, calling into question Logan Sargeant’s immediate future with the team.
Antonelli turns 18 on 25 August, meaning any dispensation would be required for the races up to and including the Dutch Grand Prix, but if it is not granted then he would be free to race in F1 from Monza onwards.
Despite the request, Vowles insists Sargeant has the ability to retain his seat based on his performances.
Williams have on the other hand confirmed they now have a third chassis available for the first time this year. I just hope it isnt called into service for a Sargeant crash given the pressure he is now under. Reading between the lines this Miami weekend could be his last GP on US soilthere would be no move to put Antontelli in the car at the next round in Imola, saying his focus is on improving the car’s performance to try and hold onto Albon.
I have a duty and responsibility to make this car faster first, because Alex is a championship-level driver. We’ve got to provide the right car for him to be behind him and we haven’t yet
I agreeMonteCristo wrote: ↑2 weeks ago*team JV high-5*Star wrote: ↑2 weeks agoAs a fully paid up memebr of the Jacques Vileneuve fan club for a number of years, I know I should argue with you about that, but I really can'tDoubleFart wrote: ↑2 weeks ago Driving for free? Jacques should have been paying Sauber to drive with some of the performances he put in at the end of his career!
I choose to believe that he was shockingly bad out of principle because he was being paid.
I don't think anyone can defeat that logic.
That last line doesnt really fit in with the. absolutely not this year part of his statement and suggests something might happen when he turns 18 in August."The dispensation was something that wasn't brought up by us and we have certainly stated from the beginning that that was not something we have pursued," Wolff said.
"I don't know where this belief comes from that Mercedes was keen on pushing that forward. Kimi needs to concentrate on his F2 campaign and he knows that.
"I think a champion is not going to be distracted by any of this. But certainly, at least it distracts me because everybody's asking me: 'What about Kimi and driving in Imola?
"This is not going to happen. This is not something that Mercedes wants. These rumours have gotten their own spin. Let's do Formula 2. We as a team have lots of other issues to resolve."
Wolff made clear that Mercedes had never expressed any interest in fast-tracking Antonelli into F1, and suggested that the dispensation request was something done by a third party.
"I think that this dispensation is probably something that got some traction because more and more people flirted with the idea," he said. "But it's certainly nothing that we have ever pushed from our side."
Last month, he also completed a maiden F1 test with the 2021 Mercedes W12 at the Red Bull Ring, followed by an Imola test in the more recent but trickier-to-drive 2022 W13.
"It's completely on the trajectory that we expected," Wolff said about his protege's progress.
"There are easier days, there are harder days. I think between the two drivers and the team, they need to sort out a few issues, but it's not unexpected. And the testing goes very well and we are just approaching it calm and collected.
"That is what we have planned before the season, a solid F2 campaign and testing for Mercedes, and we will continue to just do this. Everything else is just a distraction for all of us.
"It's not going to happen in the next few weeks or a couple of months."
Door closing for Sainz as Perez nears new F1 deal
https://www.grandprix.com/news/door-clo ... -deal.htmlIt is believed the Ferrari-departing Spaniard recently let a deadline set by Audi-owned Sauber pass, as he holds out for better options at Red Bull and Mercedes. But another rumour is that Toto Wolff is only offering Sainz, 29, a single-year offer to race at Mercedes next year - keeping the door open for the team chief's 17-year-old protege Kimi Antonelli for 2026.
I would agree with you, if we assume that Sauber development will be stagnating for two more years.Everso Biggyballies wrote: ↑1 week ago But moving to Audi would be a two year at least sentence to driving arguably the worst car on the grid, a car way beneath his status. He would be better off at Alpine or VCARB. Even a one year at Mercedes and the hope that maybe he gets extended for a second year or alternatively another team has an opening is better than moving to Sauber in the short term.
My fear is that they (Audi) will be more interested in developing the 2026 car, the one that will carry the Audi name for the first time. My thought would be that for added feelgood for Audi would be to take as much improvement into 2026 over what they end 2025 with. If they put too much into Sauber 2025 and Audi 2026 is only 5% better it is not so complimentary for Audi than to take an undeveloped / underachieving 2025 Sauber, which becomes an Audi say 25% or more better than the Sauber is much more kudos for Audi.... more of a look how good Audi are to have improved the 2025 dud car by so much over a for all the might of Audi and millions of investment they only made a 5% improvement. I hope that makes sense what I am trying to convey.Aty wrote: ↑1 week agoI would agree with you, if we assume that Sauber development will be stagnating for two more years.Everso Biggyballies wrote: ↑1 week ago But moving to Audi would be a two year at least sentence to driving arguably the worst car on the grid, a car way beneath his status. He would be better off at Alpine or VCARB. Even a one year at Mercedes and the hope that maybe he gets extended for a second year or alternatively another team has an opening is better than moving to Sauber in the short term.
X-factor; there were changes in the technical department, and new technical input is being directed towards 2025 car (and beyond). It was late for 2024 car, but it would be really bad news if, next year we see more of the same. You are assuming nothing will change. To preserve my sanity I have to think (and hope) differently. I've check jobs openings on their website. Sauber is hiring on massive scale. All for better tomorrow.
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/arti ... a5ZHglHYYqAlbon signs multi-year contract extension with Williams
DOMENICALI ON RED BULL’S TWO F1 TEAMS, DOMINANCE AND HORNER
https://www.grandprix247.com/2024/05/15 ... omagna-gp/As for the Horner-scandal, the F1 Chief stated: “Our position, as Formula 1, is to let companies (in this case teams) follow the regulations and their internal codes of conduct, for which they obviously take responsibility.
Corrective and improvement activites on the current car continue. Monies are being spent, and efforts are made to move current drivers up on the ladder. Seidl and ABB both spoke about it. Car isn't going to be redesigned from ground up, but they identified principal defficiencies based on comparative analyses with more successful cars on the grid, and are working on catching up as much as rules allow. Sure, Audi is not pleased having their name associated with current racing results, especially when technology link to current cars between Audi and Sauber was not formulated. Audi however supplies financial resources, but it is ABB who has to play the game.Everso Biggyballies wrote: ↑1 week agoMy fear is that they (Audi) will be more interested in developing the 2026 car, the one that will carry the Audi name for the first time. My thought would be that for added feelgood for Audi would be to take as much improvement into 2026 over what they end 2025 with. If they put too much into Sauber 2025 and Audi 2026 is only 5% better it is not so complimentary for Audi than to take an undeveloped / underachieving 2025 Sauber, which becomes an Audi say 25% or more better than the Sauber is much more kudos for Audi.... more of a look how good Audi are to have improved the 2025 dud car by so much over a for all the might of Audi and millions of investment they only made a 5% improvement. I hope that makes sense what I am trying to convey.Aty wrote: ↑1 week agoI would agree with you, if we assume that Sauber development will be stagnating for two more years.Everso Biggyballies wrote: ↑1 week ago But moving to Audi would be a two year at least sentence to driving arguably the worst car on the grid, a car way beneath his status. He would be better off at Alpine or VCARB. Even a one year at Mercedes and the hope that maybe he gets extended for a second year or alternatively another team has an opening is better than moving to Sauber in the short term.
X-factor; there were changes in the technical department, and new technical input is being directed towards 2025 car (and beyond). It was late for 2024 car, but it would be really bad news if, next year we see more of the same. You are assuming nothing will change. To preserve my sanity I have to think (and hope) differently. I've check jobs openings on their website. Sauber is hiring on massive scale. All for better tomorrow.
My understanding is that Audi deliberately chose to not associate the Audi brand on the car for similar reasons. They want to launch Audi with a wow factor. They are investing for 2026 when it becomes Audi, not 2024 or 2025 Sauber. Many fringe fans now would be unaware of the Audi ownership of Sauber. Only the more hardcore fans that visit F1 websites and forums would be that educated in the detail. I know for fact that my brother and his son are F1 fans in as much as they watch the races, maybe just the highlights. They dont follow F1 news or visit motorsport forums. They know who certain drivers drive for. They certainly wouldnt be able to name every driver. But they are F1 fans. I mentioned Audi to my brother the other day. He was aware of having heard of a rumour they were joining but not the details.