Marti_EF3 wrote: ↑16 Dec 2019, 15:04
Don't know where to post it exactly..
Yamamoto could land Red Bull F1 role in 2020
Two-time Japanese Super Formula champion Yamamoto made his F1 debut earlier this year, driving a Toro Rosso in the first practice session at the Japanese Grand Prix so Honda could field its own driver at its home race.
It also allowed both parties to evaluate Yamamoto's performance in a grand prix car, and the 31-year-old's impressive debut and his eligibility for a superlicence has made it possible for him to take on a role next season, although it is not clear if this would be for both Red Bull teams or something specific to Toro Rosso.
Honda's F1 managing director Masashi Yamamoto told Motorsport.com: "We confirm that we are having conversations about him with Red Bull and Helmut Marko.
"We have quite a good offer, but this is not only Honda's decision or the team's decision, we have to speak to Naoki himself as well of course.
"He's participating in different series as well. It's still ongoing."
Honda has waited more than a decade for one of its drivers to race in F1, with Takuma Sato the last in 2008.
The junior drivers Honda has placed in Formula 2 in recent years have not achieved the required results to step up to F1, but the manufacturer still sees value in establishing an opportunity with Red Bull for the best members of its driver programme.
"Of course it is a very good thing for Honda to make a base for future Japanese young drivers," said Masashi Yamamoto. "It's going to give a good influence to current young drivers we have, and other Japanese drivers."
Formula 3 race winner Yuki Tsunoda, tipped for a move to Formula 2 next season, is Honda's brightest prospect on the F1 ladder.
The 19-year-old scored one victory and finished in the top 10 in the new FIA F3 championship in his first season racing in Europe.
Tsunoda is much younger than more established Honda drivers like F2 race winner Nobuharu Matsushita, who still does not have enough points for a superlicence after four years at F2/GP2 level and a year in Super Formula.
Masashi Yamamoto admitted it is "really, really difficult" for Honda's proteges to prove themselves good enough to be in F1 because of the various skills required.
He believes Super Formula ace Yamamoto, Matsushita and "maybe" Tsunoda have the abilities needed to succeed in F1, but while ex-F2 drivers Tadasuke Makino and Nirei Fukuzumi are "really quick and very talented" they are unlikely to return to the F1 ladder in the short-term.
"Of course, the driving skill or speed is needed, but it's not only about that," said Masashi Yamamoto.
"If you see Jenson Button, he's quick, but also his personality, the way he reacts to fans and also the media as well, and also the team relationship, dealing with people. Those aspects are really important."
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/red- ... 37/?nrt=54
This is so understated, and is definitely a driver's skill. Politics is part of F1 through and through. If your face is on the TV screen you have to be very politically astute. Part of Hamilton's completeness as a driver is his political ability, knowing which words to say, when. Timing, when, and how you say things, the emphasis you put on certain words and concepts are all part of politics.
The ripples that came from Max's comments are still being felt, and will continue as motivation for Ferrari to "shut him up". Verstappen has been fighting Ferrari, and Vettel on track and with words since 2016, and in 2019 had some hard races with Leclerc. So there is an underlying rivalry, and to Max's credit that rivalry does breed interest. To be honest I enjoy the occasional spicy take, I understood it as bit of a tongue in cheek comment. In a way it puts scrutiny on Ferrari, but at the same time it may invite scrutiny further should Honda take a nice engine step.
Man, next year will be interesting, especially if performance between the top 3 converges and they all have a chance to win on their track. The tight competition will naturally lead to more emotional outbursts from drivers as the human element will matter more when it comes to winning. It will hurt more to come in second knowing you had a car that could win, than it does coming in second in a car you expected no better than 4th in.
If the cars are within .2 traffic can play a huge role.
, the interview Tuschinski in Amsterdam with Max.