2019 Aston Martin Red Bull Racing - Honda F1 Team

[gandharva]

It seems RB Honda has well and truly arrived

I don't think so. Still a significant gap overall. In Monza and maybe also Spa they will probably have hard times against Ferrari (pace wise) again and also there will probably be 2 penalties to swallow. Next best chances will be Mexico and Suzuka.

But development curve looks good and even better if you look at next year, as I think Ferrari needs to redo their car (same goes for at least the other half of the grid) because that outwash frontwing concept simply failed. I also think that the Merc concept pretty much peaked already, so even better for next year.

[Big Tea]

Well, Mercs are undefeatable with current Pirelli tires. At least we had almost 1min gap to the Ferraris. But right now I'm very disappointed

Why? I think you shouldn’t be so disappointed. Sure it would be great to win. Red Bull needs a little more polishing on the strategy side. This is something they will learn.

You should be supper happy that before the summer break it seems that RBR is faster than Ferrari. It is possible for Max to close in on Hamilton for the driver championship. The car is look good wit more updates to come.

Great race. Good to watch too.

Yeah, I'm disappointed because the race seemed more or less under control. And then, Pirelli striked again. But well, maybe I though we were more closer to Merc than it is right now.

Now we will've to wait until Spa, and see If we can keep the pace. We need the Spec 4 to deliver, and then I think we should be able to fight on the same level. Unfortunately we can't hold Hamilton right now

Come on! Imagine that race without the tyre dramas?

Give them their due, that was a fantastic race, and not just for the two leaders.
I have slagged the tyres, but it was the difference between an edge of the seat race and a procession today

[loner]

great strategy from the Mercs
great drive by MAX
hell those ferrarris are shambles , Max was going to overtake SV at some point.
better days to come with spec 4 and 2020

[Bill]

I think Redbull needs a buffer more anything a wing man the strategy would have worked if Gasly was able to hold Lewis for a few laps may . Having two car makes a strategy tricky

[Bill]

Max was complaining about grip I think they are still not on top those aero bits we also need a little from the car

[ispano6]

It was noted in post race commentary that if Hamilton got around Max after the first round of pitstops RB would have been the ones able to take the gamble. Still, RB should have responded with softs, they lasted quite long.

[Datco]

It was noted in post race commentary that if Hamilton got around Max after the first round of pitstops RB would have been the ones able to take the gamble. Still, RB should have responded with softs, they lasted quite long.

Mercs were too fast, Lewis could follow closely for a long time, RBR did not have that pace advantage if they responded. It was even marginal for Lewis taking the lead 3 laps before the end. RBR had track position and that's about all they had going for them for the Win.

[Bill]

If Bottas or even Gasly did there jop Lewis would probably not have pitted for soft since it would have meant surrendering track position to his team mate and that would have given Max breathing space.

[Fulcrum]

Driver options for Red Bull.

Hamilton - no chance.
Bottas - if let go by Mercedes in favour of Ocon, actually one of the more realistic options.
Vettel - no chance.
Leclerc - no chance.
Gasly - the incumbent, but looks to have been destroyed with half a season to go. I expect he'll be gone soon.
Sainz - no chance, under contract.
Norris - no chance, under contract.
Magnussen - must have some chance, but rather small.
Grosjean - no chance.
Perez - could be a decent option.
Stroll - no chance.
Kubica - no chance.
Russell - could be a decent option.
Ricciardo - no chance.
Hulkenberg - could be a decent option.
Albon - could be a decent option.
Kvyat - could be a decent option.
Giovinazzi - no chance.
Raikkonen - old, but could perform the role as per Webber previously.

Shortlist to replace Gasly:

Bottas - experienced, has raced at the front.
Magnussen - experienced, limited/no experience at the sharp end.
Perez - experienced, never consistently at the front, but has taken chances when they were presented before.
Russell - inexperienced.
Hulkenberg - experienced, but has made mistakes at critical moments.
Albon - inexperienced.
Kvyat - experienced, has prior experience of Red Bull, also has baggage from Red Bull.
Raikkonen - extremely experienced, ex- champion, lots of experience racing at the front, old.

I think the critical decision resides with Red Bull choosing to retain Gasly somewhere, versus jettisoning him altogether.

If they elect to retain him within the family, it means they will promote from within (Albon or Kvyat), and send Gasly back to Toro Rosso.

If they elect to boot him completely, then an external candidate becomes much more likely. Of the candidates I've listed, Russell is too young, Magnussen probably too mediocre, Hulkenberg can be quick but is prone to making errors. Perez is very steady, although no faster than Hulkenberg. That leaves Bottas and Raikkonen. Raikkonen is probably bound up in a contract that couldn't be escaped without paying out - and is old, albeit still very sprightly - which would leave Bottas.

Considering Red Bull usually hire internally, that would suggest Albon or Kvyat, but the second Red Bull seat must be hotting up with every race Gasly continues to under-perform.

[Big Tea]

Driver options for Red Bull.

Hamilton - no chance.
Bottas - if let go by Mercedes in favour of Ocon, actually one of the more realistic options.
Vettel - no chance.
Leclerc - no chance.
Gasly - the incumbent, but looks to have been destroyed with half a season to go. I expect he'll be gone soon.
Sainz - no chance, under contract.
Norris - no chance, under contract.
Magnussen - must have some chance, but rather small.
Grosjean - no chance.
Perez - could be a decent option.
Stroll - no chance.
Kubica - no chance.
Russell - could be a decent option.
Ricciardo - no chance.
Hulkenberg - could be a decent option.
Albon - could be a decent option.
Kvyat - could be a decent option.
Giovinazzi - no chance.
Raikkonen - old, but could perform the role as per Webber previously.

Shortlist to replace Gasly:

Bottas - experienced, has raced at the front.
Magnussen - experienced, limited/no experience at the sharp end.
Perez - experienced, never consistently at the front, but has taken chances when they were presented before.
Russell - inexperienced.
Hulkenberg - experienced, but has made mistakes at critical moments.
Albon - inexperienced.
Kvyat - experienced, has prior experience of Red Bull, also has baggage from Red Bull.
Raikkonen - extremely experienced, ex- champion, lots of experience racing at the front, old.

I think the critical decision resides with Red Bull choosing to retain Gasly somewhere, versus jettisoning him altogether.

If they elect to retain him within the family, it means they will promote from within (Albon or Kvyat), and send Gasly back to Toro Rosso.

If they elect to boot him completely, then an external candidate becomes much more likely. Of the candidates I've listed, Russell is too young, Magnussen probably too mediocre, Hulkenberg can be quick but is prone to making errors. Perez is very steady, although no faster than Hulkenberg. That leaves Bottas and Raikkonen. Raikkonen is probably bound up in a contract that couldn't be escaped without paying out - and is old, albeit still very sprightly - which would leave Bottas.

Considering Red Bull usually hire internally, that would suggest Albon or Kvyat, but the second Red Bull seat must be hotting up with every race Gasly continues to under-perform.

Has to be Kvyat. Albon looks like he WILL be a good option, but needs another year. Will they bring in an outsider? I dont think so. Who would they lose?

[damager21]

Arghhh... So close yet so far. Great drive by both Max and Lewis. Red Bull strategy on the pits was not upto the mark, given they had pitted 6 laps before Lewis, they should have gone for a 2nd pit stop on the Softs or Mediums. It was inevitable that Lewis would have gone past Max by end of the race

Lewis & Merc showed again why they are the champs. Heartening to see how convincingly Red Bull beat Ferrari in this race!

[Fulcrum]

Driver options for Red Bull.

Hamilton - no chance.
Bottas - if let go by Mercedes in favour of Ocon, actually one of the more realistic options.
Vettel - no chance.
Leclerc - no chance.
Gasly - the incumbent, but looks to have been destroyed with half a season to go. I expect he'll be gone soon.
Sainz - no chance, under contract.
Norris - no chance, under contract.
Magnussen - must have some chance, but rather small.
Grosjean - no chance.
Perez - could be a decent option.
Stroll - no chance.
Kubica - no chance.
Russell - could be a decent option.
Ricciardo - no chance.
Hulkenberg - could be a decent option.
Albon - could be a decent option.
Kvyat - could be a decent option.
Giovinazzi - no chance.
Raikkonen - old, but could perform the role as per Webber previously.

Shortlist to replace Gasly:

Bottas - experienced, has raced at the front.
Magnussen - experienced, limited/no experience at the sharp end.
Perez - experienced, never consistently at the front, but has taken chances when they were presented before.
Russell - inexperienced.
Hulkenberg - experienced, but has made mistakes at critical moments.
Albon - inexperienced.
Kvyat - experienced, has prior experience of Red Bull, also has baggage from Red Bull.
Raikkonen - extremely experienced, ex- champion, lots of experience racing at the front, old.

I think the critical decision resides with Red Bull choosing to retain Gasly somewhere, versus jettisoning him altogether.

If they elect to retain him within the family, it means they will promote from within (Albon or Kvyat), and send Gasly back to Toro Rosso.

If they elect to boot him completely, then an external candidate becomes much more likely. Of the candidates I've listed, Russell is too young, Magnussen probably too mediocre, Hulkenberg can be quick but is prone to making errors. Perez is very steady, although no faster than Hulkenberg. That leaves Bottas and Raikkonen. Raikkonen is probably bound up in a contract that couldn't be escaped without paying out - and is old, albeit still very sprightly - which would leave Bottas.

Considering Red Bull usually hire internally, that would suggest Albon or Kvyat, but the second Red Bull seat must be hotting up with every race Gasly continues to under-perform.

Has to be Kvyat. Albon looks like he WILL be a good option, but needs another year. Will they bring in an outsider? I dont think so. Who would they lose?

I think the outsider option is very unlikely myself, but it is an option if they boot Gasly entirely (i.e. no seat at Red Bull or Toro Rosso, both Toro Rosso drivers being retained), and have a compelling external candidate.

I personally can't see any, other than perhaps Bottas and Raikkonen if they were available. Raikkonen is no nonsense, and shouldn't threaten Verstappen at all. Bottas, much the same.

But yes, I suspect the logical choice would be Kvyat.

[NL_Fer]

Why did they ever drop Saintz?

[Marti_EF3]

Why? I think you shouldn’t be so disappointed. Sure it would be great to win. Red Bull needs a little more polishing on the strategy side. This is something they will learn.

You should be supper happy that before the summer break it seems that RBR is faster than Ferrari. It is possible for Max to close in on Hamilton for the driver championship. The car is look good wit more updates to come.

Great race. Good to watch too.

Yeah, I'm disappointed because the race seemed more or less under control. And then, Pirelli striked again. But well, maybe I though we were more closer to Merc than it is right now.

Now we will've to wait until Spa, and see If we can keep the pace. We need the Spec 4 to deliver, and then I think we should be able to fight on the same level. Unfortunately we can't hold Hamilton right now

Come on! Imagine that race without the tyre dramas?

Give them their due, that was a fantastic race, and not just for the two leaders.
I have slagged the tyres, but it was the difference between an edge of the seat race and a procession today

Yeah I know. It was an awesome race! But well, maybe I was expecting we could be a little better on race pace. But Merc have something more on the car and had the advantage on the strategy today. But we can expect an excitind 2nd half of the season

[Jolle]

Why did they ever drop Saintz?

Sainz was tired of waiting and had a big chance to be overtaken by younger drivers, like Verge or Buemi had. Besides that, he would be put in a position where Webber was and Ricciardo to a lesser extend. He had an escape in Renault and took it and is now in a stable position within McLaren.