F1 F1 2025 Season

[Gunf]

Then it confirms what everyone already knows (it's the car)

If the car is as bad as everyone thinks it just further makes me think that Max is the clear best driver right now

 

[Vader]

If the car is as bad as everyone thinks it just further makes me think that Max is the clear best driver right now

The car has been tailored to Max's requirements. It's VERY pointy at the front end, with bucketloads of oversteer - most drivers prefer a car which understeers slightly. It's also quite unstable at the rear end.

All of this means that Max can get the most out of it, but it's almost undriveable for anyone else.

** Max is absolutely the clear best driver right now, but his ability to drive a car which has been designed to his specific requirements (and is undriveable by anyone else) should not be seen as evidence of this.

There's a reasonable description of the car's handling in this article from The Guardian:
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2...pt-fast-and-that-is-why-they-axed-liam-lawson

Verstappen’s talent, then, has masked the limitations and deficiencies that the team have failed to sort out and Red Bull are now paying the price. Tsunoda must be seen as part of the process of addressing this, and Lawson almost as collateral damage. Yet in mitigation for the New Zealander, there is another fundamental hurdle for any number-two driver at Red Bull and that is that the car has long been designed to suit the strengths of their world champion.

Verstappen enjoys a very pointy front to the car, with oversteer, to enjoy a sharp turn-in to the corner, ramped up as far as possible. “That’s where [he] excels,” said Horner in China. “That’s where he’s able to live on a knife’s edge of adhesion and he’s just constantly asking for more and more front out of the car.”

The side effect of this, as Horner noted, is that it makes the rear of the car unsettled, loose on corner entry, which can be enormously hard to control and adapt to, especially if you are new to it. Which, in turn, can grind away at the confidence, leaving drivers bereft and questioning their own abilities. Sergio Pérez was nowhere near as woeful a driver as his performances for the last two years at Red Bull suggested but he simply could not handle the car. Lawson replaced him only to find himself in similar deep water and now Tsunoda has a shot at this poisoned chalice.

 

[DamoESP]

Albon explains it best re: Max and the car (first few minutes of this):

 

[skam85]

Doesn't come across as much of an entitled DH here.

 

[Not Important]

 

[Jatz]

View attachment 2263857

Doesn't come across as much of an entitled DH here.

How was he going to come across as an entitled dickhead after failing so spectacularly? He doesn't exactly have a lot of scope to be beating his chest right now.

Honestly, this humiliation might be the best thing for him long term.

 

[Barrybran]

How was he going to come across as an entitled dickhead after failing so spectacularly? He doesn't exactly have a lot of scope to be beating his chest right now.

Honestly, this humiliation might be the best thing for him long term.

Some people thought he was a bit cocky when he said that he wasn't there to win friends. Unfortunately, race car drivers are a different breed to the average Joe. It wouldn't surprise me in the slightest to see him do well in a VCARB car. He's a decent driver and wants to do well.

 

[Not Important]

Valtteri Bottas makes F1 return with McLaren

Valtteri Bottas is busy in Spain for McLaren on testing duties.

racingnews365.com

 

[Pure_Ownage]

I'd argue it depends more on Jos than Marko as to the fate of Max Verstappen.

Insiders say its both. But either way red bull needs to be prepared to start down Max and get rid of the problem (ie jos and marko both go).

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Albon explains it best re: Max and the car (first few minutes of this):

Great descriptions that.

 

[Forward Press]

Insiders say its both. But either way red bull needs to be prepared to start down Max and get rid of the problem (ie jos and marko both go).

It is a mix of both but Max might leave Red Bull if they turf out his father unceremoniously.

Either way these factional struggles are not a good look for any F1 team.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

It is a mix of both but Max might leave Red Bull if they turf out his father unceremoniously.

Either way these factional struggles are not a good look for any F1 team.

With all the problems red bull have they need committed and mature people to lead them through sorting it out. If Max is temperamental enough that he leaves because they sack his dad then he was not either mature enough or committed enough. Which is partly why they should sack jos now and test what Max is made of.

 

[happy_eagle]

On the surface level it was very much presented that Red Bull didn't want Sainz in that second seat because of politics between the fathers.

But I wonder in hindsight whether Sainz knew that the second car was a bit of a poisoned chalice and didn't pursue that option as much as he could of because of that ?

 

[Gasometer]

LL’s problem is the edit he got on the current DTS

He comes across throughout as an over confident arrogant sob, whether he is or he isn’t

 

[happy_eagle]

LL’s problem is the edit he got on the current DTS

He comes across throughout as an over confident arrogant sob, whether he is or he isn’t

I didnt watch any of DTS the past 2 years, and I still got the impression Liam was a bit over confident.

 

[Gasometer]

I didnt watch any of DTS the past 2 years, and I still got the impression Liam was a bit over confident.

In one snippet he’s bemoaning how frustrated he is watching on knowing he’s the better driver

Now I’m sure there’s metres of footage of him, but that’s what they ran with

 

[Black_White]

In one snippet he’s bemoaning how frustrated he is watching on knowing he’s the better driver

Now I’m sure there’s metres of footage of him, but that’s what they ran with

Every driver on the sidelines reckons he’s the better driver.
Stock standard behaviour from any of them.

 

[Gasometer]

Every driver on the sidelines reckons he’s the better driver.
Stock standard behaviour from any of them.

Difference is he had done nothing of note when that comment was made.

In DTS Checho had reason to be, Yuki and Sainz as well because they had runs on the board

Lawson had sfa

 

[Pure_Ownage]

On the surface level it was very much presented that Red Bull didn't want Sainz in that second seat because of politics between the fathers.

But I wonder in hindsight whether Sainz knew that the second car was a bit of a poisoned chalice and didn't pursue that option as much as he could of because of that ?

Possibly. Its interesting that and that they apparently approached along about returning but he turned them down.

 

[Gasometer]

Possibly. Its interesting that and that they apparently approached along about returning but he turned them down.

The Aussie photographer Kim Illman on his Tiktok account yesterday pondered that last year Honda were willing to pay RB $10 million to get Yuki to the No 2 position. RB went with LL. He suggests that with Japan coming up it was a timing that RB couldn't ignore for positive publicity and also going back to Honda to see if the $10 million was still an option.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

The Aussie photographer Kim Illman on his Tiktok account yesterday pondered that last year Honda were willing to pay RB $10 million to get Yuki to the No 2 position. RB went with LL. He suggests that with Japan coming up it was a timing that RB couldn't ignore for positive publicity and also going back to Honda to see if the $10 million was still an option.

True. Interesting that albon didn't want to go back though.

 

[hotchilli]

I really hope Yuki can succeed in the Red Bull. Really enjoy how he comes across as a person.

 

[Cromulant]

I really hope Yuki can succeed in the Red Bull. Really enjoy how he comes across as a person.

A whingy, whiney ****

 

[hotchilli]

A whingy, whiney ****

Like the majority of the grid on the radio.

Outside of the car he comes across as a likeable guy.

 

[Festerz]

Albon explains it best re: Max and the car (first few minutes of this):

That is a brilliant video and not just for Albon's very clear explanation of the way the RB is tuned to Verstappen's specific needs to the detriment of his team mates but for his carefully considered, intelligent and very honest reflections on life as a Red Bull driver.

Thanx for posting.