Wazari wrote: ↑25 Dec 2024, 01:49Wishing everyone a Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! Hope everyone is well.
Everything progressing well on 2026 PU. Just chipping away everyday.
Personally, I think it is good Tsunoda-kun did not go to Red Bull. I think he will be better off in the long run by not going there. The reasons are many.
I think Honda certainly wants that. When they announced the partnership, Honda exec (Koji Watanabe?) was asked about this and their reply was basically that they wouldn't interfere with driver selections but would like to see a Japanese driver. This was before Alonso contract renewal.Jurgen von Diaz wrote: ↑25 Dec 2024, 09:19What do you guys think? Is Yuki on Aston Martin's shortlist? Alonso has a contract until 2026 and Lance seemingly until to the grave. Perhaps Yuki could be Aston Martin's reserve driver in 2026 and have a race seat in 2027.
Exactly...why AM will hire drivers rejected by other teams? AM's next target will be 'Max' or worst case scenario 'Sainz'.
I was about to respond to wkst with those exact names (Max and Sainz) but the caveat there is that the project has to be in a position to win titles (in case of Max) and at least races for Carlos. Under those situations Alonso will likely want to continue at least one more year. If Max is available he might not have a choice but if the car is not fighting for wins, I can see Honda putting Yuki in one of the seats.
I think Alonso's eventual replacement will be both a Honda driver and a serial champion. So Max Verstappen or (failing that) Alex Palou.
RBR are doing enough to keep Max happy, for the foreseeable future, max isn't going anywhere. RBR's competitiveness can change from year to year but many pieces need to fall into place for Max to end up at AMR. You need a down trend at RBR, you need big upswing at AMR and you need open driver slots at AMR to line up with that. The odds of Max ending up at AMR are still rather long.peewon wrote: ↑25 Dec 2024, 18:26I was about to respond to wkst with those exact names (Max and Sainz) but the caveat there is that the project has to be in a position to win titles (in case of Max) and at least races for Carlos. Under those situations Alonso will likely want to continue at least one more year. If Max is available he might not have a choice but if the car is not fighting for wins, I can see Honda putting Yuki in one of the seats.
The moment Max loses the championship for the first time, it's go time. Newey and a few more important people are gone. Max isn't going to work with the team and pull it to the top, he is going to talk to top teams. He wants the best car. Max is young and the best, so teams will make room for him if they have to. And Merc is that kind of team if their '26 engine is so good what people are saying.diffuser wrote:RBR are doing enough to keep Max happy, for the foreseeable future, max isn't going anywhere. RBR's competitiveness can change from year to year but many pieces need to fall into place for Max to end up at AMR. You need a down trend at RBR, you need big upswing at AMR and you need open driver slots at AMR to line up with that. The odds of Max ending up at AMR are still rather long.peewon wrote: ↑25 Dec 2024, 18:26I was about to respond to wkst with those exact names (Max and Sainz) but the caveat there is that the project has to be in a position to win titles (in case of Max) and at least races for Carlos. Under those situations Alonso will likely want to continue at least one more year. If Max is available he might not have a choice but if the car is not fighting for wins, I can see Honda putting Yuki in one of the seats.
Still baffles me, that with the number of things that can change between now and mid 2026, people are still will to talk about who will be driving for AMR in 2027.
Not to sure about that. It is also likely that if he does not fight for the championship, he leaves the sport even before 2028. Many believe they he will retire at 2028.Jurgen von Diaz wrote: ↑26 Dec 2024, 08:48The moment Max loses the championship for the first time, it's go time. Newey and a few more important people are gone. Max isn't going to work with the team and pull it to the top, he is going to talk to top teams. He wants the best car. Max is young and the best, so teams will make room for him if they have to. And Merc is that kind of team if their '26 engine is so good what people are saying.diffuser wrote:RBR are doing enough to keep Max happy, for the foreseeable future, max isn't going anywhere. RBR's competitiveness can change from year to year but many pieces need to fall into place for Max to end up at AMR. You need a down trend at RBR, you need big upswing at AMR and you need open driver slots at AMR to line up with that. The odds of Max ending up at AMR are still rather long.peewon wrote: ↑25 Dec 2024, 18:26
I was about to respond to wkst with those exact names (Max and Sainz) but the caveat there is that the project has to be in a position to win titles (in case of Max) and at least races for Carlos. Under those situations Alonso will likely want to continue at least one more year. If Max is available he might not have a choice but if the car is not fighting for wins, I can see Honda putting Yuki in one of the seats.
Still baffles me, that with the number of things that can change between now and mid 2026, people are still will to talk about who will be driving for AMR in 2027.
Every driver is saying that they are not going to drive forever, but only N. Rosberg could end his career on top. And I highly doubt that Max would end his career before 2028. When Red Bull falls from the top, the top teams will be throwing cash at Max, and he isn't going to say no. An F1-multichampion to end his career before 30's, it's impossible.Nikosar wrote:Not to sure about that. It is also likely that if he does not fight for the championship, he leaves the sport even before 2028. Many believe they he will retire at 2028.Jurgen von Diaz wrote: ↑26 Dec 2024, 08:48The moment Max loses the championship for the first time, it's go time. Newey and a few more important people are gone. Max isn't going to work with the team and pull it to the top, he is going to talk to top teams. He wants the best car. Max is young and the best, so teams will make room for him if they have to. And Merc is that kind of team if their '26 engine is so good what people are saying.diffuser wrote:
RBR are doing enough to keep Max happy, for the foreseeable future, max isn't going anywhere. RBR's competitiveness can change from year to year but many pieces need to fall into place for Max to end up at AMR. You need a down trend at RBR, you need big upswing at AMR and you need open driver slots at AMR to line up with that. The odds of Max ending up at AMR are still rather long.
Still baffles me, that with the number of things that can change between now and mid 2026, people are still will to talk about who will be driving for AMR in 2027.
The way he talks shows that for Max is not about winning anymore now. He will become a father soon and expressed he wants to spend time with his family.
If we see Hamilton and Alonso paying the hidden heavy price of having long careers in F1 we can understand why Max wants to leave. He also said “ "That makes me realise I don't want to drive forever. I want to see them grow up, maybe see my own kids grow up and spend time with them."”
