0:07 - Verstappen’s Long Term Future 1:15 - F1 Cars Are “Not Hard Enough to Drive”
1:59 - “It’s Between Me and Lewis”
2:45 - Mercedes Future in F1
Verstappen’s Long Term Future
Max Verstappen has received much praise for his performances thus far in 2019 and currently sits 3rd in the championship only behind the two Mercedes. And Max himself seems satisfied with his performance given the circumstances.
"We are satisfied with the results so far, absolutely. It's the maximum we can achieve. We scored the maximum amount of points every race weekend and are third in the championship ahead of Ferrari, where we normally won't belong.”
“As a team and myself you want more but, but if you can say to yourself that we have maximised the results then you have to be satisfied.”
But despite being happy at the moment, Max’s father Jos, who closely manages his son’s career, has come out saying he is always on the look out for potentially better teams for his son in the future.
"As it looks now, it is good for Max to stay with Red Bull. But we are watching very carefully how things go. We thought we would have a better chance this year. But Mercedes has a better engine and a better car.”
"In the current situation, it is possible that Max will not win a race this year. In the long term we have to think about what we will do in the coming years. Then it will be a guess as to what team you should be with.”
F1 Cars Are “Not Hard Enough to Drive”
With so much speculation as to how the future of F1 might look, people are bound to speak up about their ideal vision of the sport. 5-time world champion Lewis Hamilton was recently very vocal about the fact he doesn’t believe the sport is physically demanding enough.
“We’re not fatiguing. Honestly, the cars are not hard enough to drive, they should be more physical. I think in 2021 they need to get rid of certain driver aids - not having as much power steering, for example. You should be physically, massively depleted afterwards. I think that’s how a sport should be.”
“But it’s less so about that physical side these days, that’s why we see an 18-year-old can come in, no problems. That should not be the case.”
“It’s Between Me and Lewis”
Valtteri Bottas has exceeded the expectations of many so far this season and is in close battle with his teammate Lewis Hamilton for the top spot in the championship standings.
The Finn was recently asked who he believes are his rivals are when fighting for the title and had the following to say:
“For now it’s between me and Lewis, but it’s a massively long season. There’s many teams that, especially at some tracks, are very close and it’s going to be a big development race between teams all through the season.”
“But if it’s going to be me and Lewis, every single opportunity is going to be key. That’s why Barcelona for me was annoying. I felt I worked hard for this weekend and for the qualifying, to be on pole, on this circuit where it means a lot and I lost it at the start. But that’s life and there’s 16 opportunities to go. That’s plenty.”
Mercedes Future in F1
With the upcoming major regulation shakeup due in 2021 there are many things about F1 that are up in the air, including whether or not the teams will stick around in the sport or leave altogether.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff was recently asked about his teams intentions for the future and has the following to say about.
"We are not pulling out. We had the discussion in the board because as a large corporation and a brand you need to choose ‘do you want to be in here for the long term and go through cycles’.”
“I think that the truth lies somewhere in the middle. We are really enjoying it, it makes sense for us."
Fast Feed
- Following tenders for standardised gearboxes, brakes and wheel rims, the FIA have just opened a new tender for fuel systems for 2021
- Fernando Alonso fails to qualify for Indy 500
- Niki Lauda has another health set back and has been moved from his rehabilitation centre to a private clinic for dialysis
- Christian Horner has laid down his thoughts heading into Monaco saying: “We have always done very well in Monaco and Max can go there for revenge"
- Current W Series leader Jamie Chadwick has signed with Williams as development driver
- Nico Hulkenberg has said perhaps his team “need to take a step back, take a deep breath and let the people work”
- Max Verstappen, while excited at the prospect of a home race admitted: “I don't know if Zandvoort is a good circuit specifically for us”
- Jorn Teske has come out saying that it’s “important” that they see Mick Schumacher on track in an F1 in some capacity
- Williams are still yet to be compensated for their car damage that occurred at Baku
- Lance Stroll believes his current team is “a different environment and a much better environment” than Williams
- Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei has said of the 2021 regulations that “the cost cap is pretty much accepted”
0 Comments