BMMR61 wrote: ↑25 Sep 2023, 17:41
djos wrote: ↑25 Sep 2023, 13:33
BMMR61 wrote: ↑25 Sep 2023, 13:21
Look, we don't know how Daniel would go in the Red Bull, this year's, next year's, but it certainly looks like unless it's an easy car to drive fast, he won't manage it. Look at Checo, he won from almost last place in the pink car at Jeddah, yet in this year's Red Bull his ability to gel with the car has been patchy. Difficult cars are difficult for most drivers to tame, it doesn't bode well for Daniel to try matching him with a car that has been notoriously difficult for Gasly, Albon, and Perez.
Likewise we don't know the thinking in the minds of Horner and Marko, their driver choices have, even in retrospect, seemed in the main, bizarre and unsuccessful. Max has been their cornerstone since he got on terms with Daniel and Daniel was given unofficial number two status. Only on rare occasions have teammates of Max been able to do anything like what he can, and regularly does do. Because the cars develop in a way Max can extract tremendous pace, which means an extreme balancing act.
Lawson has been passed over by Red Bull for an AT spot enough times, including after proving he can be instantly on it, that it seems they have other ideas of what a Red Bull driver is and isn't. It also seems that most F1 insiders find it bizarre that the "other rookie sensation" of 2023 can't find a drive in spite of some pretty mediocre and ageing talent.
We do have a pretty good idea actually, just look at his Silverstone test, the times he did would have put him on the front row. Where did Checo start? I'll tell you, 15th!
https://www.planetf1.com/news/daniel-ri ... lap-report
The lap times achieved the day after the British GP are creditworthy - not indicative. It's quite common, owing to the build up of rubber, for the Saturday times to be beaten on the Monday if there's no washing of the circuit, it's simply track evolution. I like Daniel and wish him well.
They see in the data how much is the driver and how much is the track. I think you are right, that the times itself mean nothing. But how he was driving was enough to put him into the AT afterwards. And he was competitive in the AT immediately.
They also have sim data to judge...so I guess they have a good knowledge on how he would do in the RedBull.
And as mentioned in the RedBull thread: I think Checo has mostly an issue with setup. He was jumped on setup by Verstappen after Baku. I think there is a big question on this point in terms of performance in both directions...can Ric drive better with the setup that suits Ver? Or is the car for next year maybe better for Checo and they keep him exactly for this reason?
Many unknowns for us, but not for RedBull necessarily.