Team-BHP (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/)

-   Int'l Motorsport (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/intl-motorsport/)

-   -   Formula 1 - The 2019 Silly Season (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/intl-motorsport/198057-formula-1-2019-silly-season-15.html)

Albon and Gasly to swap seats from next race! Interesting that Redbull wants to evaluate Albon to see how he fares against Verstappen instead of promoting Kvyat who is already a known material.

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...6EPKqqwJa.html

Very interesting. Is there some issue of finances. There normally is. It will be tough on Albon to get used to new engine.

Red Bull is financially strong. Its all about second rate drive by Gasly. He's been lapped by Verstappen in couple of races. Redbull are pretty close to Ferrari in constructors championship, they need a competent second driver.


I guess what you mean to say is chassis/package, since both Redbull and Toro Rosso are powered by Honda.

Also helps that Albon, like Red Bull is half Thai

I was surprised to know of the Thai connection! Never knew that Red Bull had Thai origin. So much for marketing!

Dream move for Albon. All eyes on him come Spa. Last time there was a mid season driver swap at RBR/STR the new guy won his first race. That driver was of course Max "Mad Max" Verstappen himself.

The Funny Side Of 2019 So Far... lol:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3fuicUXgto

Bottas will be racing for Mercedes next season. That leaves Ocon, at the mercy of Renault or probably Haas. One last option could be Williams.

It's musical chairs time. Ocon replaces Hulk at Renault. Hulk may end up in Haas which is probably the only realistic option for him.

As expected, Mercedes retain Bottas for a year and Ocon moves to Renault, leaving Hulkenberg to find his seat.

What Mercedes did was very understandable. In all fairness, Ocon has done nothing significant to prove that he is as raw a talent as say Leclerc or Max and the likes. Max is in a different league of course. In fact, in his short stint in F1, Ocon was only at par with Perez and that is not a great benchmark for a team like Mercedes. Only thing is that there is no word on whether Ocon has been loaned to Renault for a 2 year deal or if Mercedes have completely released him from their contract.

Hulk should ideally replace Grosjean at Haas. Im sure he is less error prone compared to Grosjean and that is important for a team like Haas who are anyway under pressure and cannot afford mistakes from their Driver.

These moves effectively mean the 2020 driver line up is more or less sorted. Ferrari, Mercedes, Renault, McLaren seats are closed for good. Racing point would retain Perez and Stroll for sure, no changes there either. I see status quo in Alfa Romeo as well. Giovinazzi would get another year.

That leaves RBR, Torro Rosso where Max seems to be the only one guaranteed of his seat. If Albon fails to deliver, then its problems plenty for them. Do they then put Kvyat back? Or would they try and go for another driver outside their academy? Highly unlikely.
And at Haas, I think it would be Kmag and Hulk. Lastly, at Willams, Russell has been confirmed and for sure Kubica is going out, and someone with a bag load of sponsor money is going to walk in. Williams need the money.

So no big drama then. That would be for the 2021 season for sure.

Given history of on-track incidents betwen these two, it would make for an interesting pairing!

https://jalopnik.com/which-of-your-l...ona-1837897695

Now this is really hilarious.

Haas will have same lineup of Grosjean and Magnussen for 2020. That means one less option for Hulkenberg!

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...Ls2Z2Z6qP.html

Wouldnt be surprised if hulk heads to williams in place of kubica. Just can't see any other option.

Williams or be ready to say good bye to F1. Ferrari are already putting their support behind Giovinazzi to make him stay in Alfa Romeo for next season. Red Bull and Toro Rosso are unlikely to look outside the "family".

Hulkenberg is a good driver but he turned out be quite a journeyman. He had a very good chance in this year's German GP to score a podium but crashed out.