Some of the comments on here are off the scale If Verstapen had pulled a stunt like that this place would have erupted. I know most on here hate the bloke but blimey.
You’re right of course. But to be fair, that is because he and Red Bull have form for dirty tricks. For what it’s worth, I think it was a pretty poor move from Piastri and it doesn’t make him look good. Penalty deserved. Not a fan of Zak Brown pleading that it wasn’t as bad as it looked either. Of course he has to do that, but it’s laughable.
What was interesting about this though was that Verstappen showed once again that he can still be the petulant child that he was when he was 18. Lost his head, immediately lost control of his car and as a result lost any influence he had on this race. If he’d stayed calm he may have stayed in 2nd, (effectively leading).
One biased way of reading it. Another could be that he lost heat in his tyres having to get back behind Piastri and didn’t have them up to sufficient temperature by the time of the restart as a result.
Some of the comments on here are off the scale If Verstapen had pulled a stunt like that this place would have erupted. I know most on here hate the bloke but blimey.
You’re right of course. But to be fair, that is because he and Red Bull have form for dirty tricks. For what it’s worth, I think it was a pretty poor move from Piastri and it doesn’t make him look good. Penalty deserved. Not a fan of Zak Brown pleading that it wasn’t as bad as it looked either. Of course he has to do that, but it’s laughable.
What was interesting about this though was that Verstappen showed once again that he can still be the petulant child that he was when he was 18. Lost his head, immediately lost control of his car and as a result lost any influence he had on this race. If he’d stayed calm he may have stayed in 2nd, (effectively leading).
One biased way of reading it. Another could be that he lost heat in his tyres having to get back behind Piastri and didn’t have them up to sufficient temperature by the time of the restart as a result.
Well, yeah. Your biased way of reading it might be true.
As is often the case in these things though, the truth is probably somewhere in between. 🙂
Just watched the "Hill" documentary on SKY - Nothing really unknown in there, but still really nicely put together.
Probably one of the more underrated World Champions in my opinion, and often regarded as the least deserving. But given when he entered Motor Racing, the fact he got into F1 so late, raced against some of the best in history; Prost, Senna, Mansell, Schumacher... and still came away with a Championship, says a lot for me.
Horner has been linked to Ferrari, with Vasseur's future also under threat, regardless what you think of Horner as an individual, he's been one of the best TP's to ever grace the Sport, so he'll be be back somewhere eventually.
What does this mean for the Verstappen to Mercedes rumours though, as its the Verstappen camp that has wanted him gone. But that team is going to be f**ked with the new regulations, given they've lost Newey > Wheatley > Horner in the space of two years now. They should have replaced Christian with Wheatley before he went to Audi.
Van Haren is the Rich Cawley of Red Bull so fully expect that an announcement is imminent.
Huge move after 20 years at the team and being so instrumental to their success. Maybe there is something in those Vettel rumours of him taking up some kind of role.
Does throw up an interesting conundrum with the second seat if Mekkies is the long term replacement and not a caretaker
Wonder if there is a temptation from Red Bull to return to Hulkenberg and try and sign him as their second driver next year, take the experience route, especially now he's got the podium monkey off his back. Or even just an experienced second driver, another Perez type gamble.
Hadjar and Lindblad then go in at Racing Bulls with Yuki and Lawson dropped.
Does throw up an interesting conundrum with the second seat if Mekkies is the long term replacement and not a caretaker
Wonder if there is a temptation from Red Bull to return to Hulkenberg and try and sign him as their second driver next year, take the experience route, especially now he's got the podium monkey off his back. Or even just an experienced second driver, another Perez type gamble.
Hadjar and Lindblad then go in at Racing Bulls with Yuki and Lawson dropped.
Hulk should have been signed instead of Perez. I think that second seat needs experience from somewhere. I'm also wondering if Horner has bitten the bullet for 2026 perhaps not looking great.
Mekies seems to have a decent relationship with Hadjar so I can see them taking a punt on him next year in the second seat, however that would then beg the question at VCARB, do you keep Lawson with Lindblad?
I think they make a play for a more experienced driver though, maybe they can tempt Albon away from Williams, or Gasly away from Alpine? Both have previous there, but with Horner out of the way maybe there's a chance at coming back? All depends on Helmet Marko though (not a typo)
After seeing the news earlier this morning that Christian Horner has been sacked after 20 years as team Principal of Red Bull, my first thought was I know drug taking is prevalent in all spectrum of society but was Horner guilty of sniffing ginger Spice 🤔
From what I understand from articles about the Red Bull power dynamic , the Verstappens have won.
I suspect it ultimately boiled down to " sack Horner or Max goes to Merc"
Does throw up an interesting conundrum with the second seat if Mekkies is the long term replacement and not a caretaker
This is my take on it too. Some on "X" speculating that it's because Verstappen has signed for Mercedes and therefore he was fired for letting it happen but that doesn't seem to make a lot of sense. Much more likely IMO that it was either Verstappen or Horner and the Red Bull owners have said Verstappen too important.
From what I understand from articles about the Red Bull power dynamic , the Verstappens have won.
I suspect it ultimately boiled down to " sack Horner or Max goes to Merc"
Does throw up an interesting conundrum with the second seat if Mekkies is the long term replacement and not a caretaker
This is my take on it too. Some on "X" speculating that it's because Verstappen has signed for Mercedes and therefore he was fired for letting it happen but that doesn't seem to make a lot of sense. Much more likely IMO that it was either Verstappen or Horner and the Red Bull owners have said Verstappen too important.
It would tie in with how the Verstappen's seem to act, it always feels like they've held Red Bull to ransom in the past so they can get their way with whatever they want, which in turn has turned Max himself into this stroppy looking character when he doesnt get his way.
I couldn't see him working well at Mercedes for that reason, or elsewhere even, as he wouldn't have that protection.
Comments
Good luck getting out the car parks! Safe journey home!
As is often the case in these things though, the truth is probably somewhere in between. 🙂
Would have disrupted Piastri's race more and might have actually cost him more than a place to his teammate
Probably one of the more underrated World Champions in my opinion, and often regarded as the least deserving. But given when he entered Motor Racing, the fact he got into F1 so late, raced against some of the best in history; Prost, Senna, Mansell, Schumacher... and still came away with a Championship, says a lot for me.
Horner has been linked to Ferrari, with Vasseur's future also under threat, regardless what you think of Horner as an individual, he's been one of the best TP's to ever grace the Sport, so he'll be be back somewhere eventually.
What does this mean for the Verstappen to Mercedes rumours though, as its the Verstappen camp that has wanted him gone. But that team is going to be f**ked with the new regulations, given they've lost Newey > Wheatley > Horner in the space of two years now. They should have replaced Christian with Wheatley before he went to Audi.
Huge move after 20 years at the team and being so instrumental to their success. Maybe there is something in those Vettel rumours of him taking up some kind of role.
Christian Horner: Red Bull F1 team principal sacked after 20 years in charge of Milton Keynes outfit | F1 News | Sky Sports
Chris Medland has confirmed that Mekies, from Racing Bulls is his replacement.
I suspect it ultimately boiled down to " sack Horner or Max goes to Merc"
Does throw up an interesting conundrum with the second seat if Mekkies is the long term replacement and not a caretaker
Hadjar and Lindblad then go in at Racing Bulls with Yuki and Lawson dropped.
Hulk should have been signed instead of Perez. I think that second seat needs experience from somewhere. I'm also wondering if Horner has bitten the bullet for 2026 perhaps not looking great.
I think they make a play for a more experienced driver though, maybe they can tempt Albon away from Williams, or Gasly away from Alpine? Both have previous there, but with Horner out of the way maybe there's a chance at coming back? All depends on Helmet Marko though (not a typo)
Clean sweep all round and start again?
I couldn't see him working well at Mercedes for that reason, or elsewhere even, as he wouldn't have that protection.