SirBastianVettel wrote: ↑05 Nov 2024, 21:15
organic wrote: ↑05 Nov 2024, 16:27
Perez has scored 48 points since imola
Can the team get a serious driver please
They tried with Gasly, Albon and Perez. What would be a serious driver at this point? Lawson? I doubt he’d do much better than those three. Same for Yuki imo. Colapinto? Just too much of an unknown/risk I think. I honestly don’t know what I’d do if I was in Red Bull’s position.
I said Hulkenberg already from the start, when it was rumoured to be between Perez/Hulkenberg back in 2020. But people insisted that Perez was the obvious choice, because peoples obsessions about podiums. But people seemingly have figuered it out what I was telling you back then, that Perez, although a solid driver, does have peaks of form, gets that fantastic result (Baku for instance), gets the spotlight for it, but "regresses" back to normal after that. And when you are a midfield driver, getting one fanastic result, such as a podium, it will linger in peoples minds because they dont really put as much of an effort looking at the midfield as they do with top teams. And when you suddenly have a midfield driver up there, you say "Holy hell, midfield driver on a podium, he must be good!", without taking more time to investigate it. It gets compounded when you are at the front, as we have seen.
I thought Hulkenberg was a better choice because I have him as a better driver than Perez. But also, and perhaps more importantly, is that I think Hulkenberg wouldve been a better fit for RB given what Verstappen wants from the car, more oversteer. I think Hulkenberg is more suited for that than Perez. And I think that Gasly too likes more understeer, like Perez. However, both Gasly and especially Albon, were quite young when they got brought up to the team. I also dont know where Id put these if I were to rank drivers. I would probably put Hulkenberg just above these, given that we are talking about Hulkenberg. Perez is probably on par with them (Gasly & Albon).
Also, SOME people have to much of a parasocial relationship with their driver. The idea that it means more to you (as a spectator) that a driver is 3rd (on the podium) rather than 4th, in relation to a 4th place finish to a 5th place finish, is laughable to me. The difference in both instances is one position. But for some reason, being on the podium is much more valuabe to a spectator. Why? Its not like YOU are going up on the podium. So it shouldnt really matter to much. For drivers I understand, because they get the experience of going up on the podium and soaking in the experience, patting their own ego. To get the spotlight, etc. But when push comes to shove, the difference between 3rd and 4th is the same as 4th and 5th. Its one position (dont think about the points to much).
Right now Red Bull have dug themselves into a hole. I dont see them taking any experience driver elsewhere, so its probably one of the younger ones that get the chance, sink or swim. Either Lawson or Tsunoda. My guess is that Lawson gets it, because Red Bull doesnt seem to fancy Tsunoda much. I think because of his personality and hotheadedness. I would be suprised if they buy out Colapinto and chuck him into the Red Bull. That would probably be the biggest mistake of the three. Not because Colapinto might not be good enough, but right now its such a risk. Although Colapinto did good the first few races, there has been some flaws creeping in, in the latter races, with Albon outqualifying him quite some distance in the last two races. Albon just hasnt raced the last two races, so there is no reference there in racetrim.
For Lawson, we dont know HOW quick he is. What would make him a good option for Red Bull is that he seem to be adaptable. He has raced in F2 and done good. Raced in DTM and came 2nd (shouldve won). Raced in Super Formula and came 2nd. So many different cars, many different categories. So he knows how to adapt. The question is just, how quick is he? If you were to ask me right now, I would say... Gasly-level, as a reference. Sort of midfield, respectable F1 caliber driver. And perhaps that is all they need. But again, rough estimate and I would leave it abit to see what he has got. We havent seen much of him.
If I were Red Bull, what would I do? I would probably take Hulkenberg as a loan for the reminder of the season 3 races to see what he has got. If you deem him good enough, get him maybe a 1+1 deal.
(I know Hulkenberg has a contract with HAAS this season and next with Sauber/Audi. However, HAAS has Bearman, who seems to be up to speed, and I dont think Sauber/Audi would be to upset to let Hulkenberg go given that they have other options such as Perez or retaining Bottas. And since people seemingly values podiums above all else...). Probably unnecessary to go for Colapinto, but if you dont value Tsunoda, then maybe. But you have Hadjar coming up, so you could have Tsunoda-Lawson for a year, chuck in Hadjar together with Lawson for the following year and release Tsunoda. And then you go from there. If either Lawson or Hadjar are deemed to be ready for it, you can replace either of them with Hulkenberg, who perhaps then will retire.
Obviously, the last paragraph is something that I would do, not something that I think WILL happen.
