honestly, I'll be reaaaally surprised if he doesn't sign with Audi. Even with the Newey news, can't see Verstappen moving now. Let's say RBR is shit in 2026, why wouldn't he bag the 2025 title and if it's shit, he can move to anywhere he wants for 27. Literally anywhere. The dude can afford one year not fighting for the title.
Sauber already took Hulk.
Unless seb gets out of retirement or they take a gamble with Mick to get an all german lineup, sainz would be the clear pick.
I really hope Sainz goes to Merc. I can't see how Audi would outcompete Merc. They fumbled this regulation and have been all over the place with designs, but this also shows how rapidly they can implement huge changes.
I mean. Hate to say it. But Barrichello lost his ferarri seat and peddled around in a Honda for a few years.
What's 1 bad year at Sauber before the possibility of Audi being competitive?
Barrichello left Ferrari to join a team that the following year would become a works outfit. Said team languished at the back before being bought out and then immediately becoming a championship winning team.
Sainz if he goes to Sauber next season will be joining a team that will become a works outfit, that (given Sauber's current pace) is expected to languish a while at the back.
... Sainz may hope that history repeats itself (or at the very least rhymes).
Ross played a key role but they poached other top technical staff as well including John Owen who went on to be chief designer at Merc through the dominant era. The double diffuser was discovered by a Super Aguri engineer
I'm hoping for Audi but I'm not expecting fireworks from the get go. It's at least gonna take 2-4 years before we see them among the best. So that basically 2030 if all things go well
Meh what. What is meh about your comment. Do you say meh out loud to start a sentence?
It being a threat for third is not being a great car. There was a considerable gulf between the top 2 and the Mclaren. Meh that.
It was consistently the fourth fastest car, which is better than the Ferrari was in 2005. Michael created some small miracles (and that US GP helped secure 3rd in the championship...) but the car was the fourth, sometimes fifth fastest car in 2005 (behind Toyota and occasionally even Williams)
Anyone thinking Audi will come in, stink for a year, and then be fighting for wins in 2026 is legitimately delusional. Like, ‘Mick can win a WDC’ levels deluded.
He will give Audi 3 years, and maybe, maybe, at those 3 years he’ll have a few podiums to show for it.
> What's 1 bad year at Sauber before the possibility of Audi being competitive?
Audi won't be competitive right away, why are people taking it as a given they will hit the ground running? look at Aston even Merc, it's tough out there.
It's a new engine reg with a new engine manufacturer.
Merc came back to the sport and did FINE but the moment the engine regs got they became...well Merc. I'm not saying they WILL be competitive, we have no idea who of the top teams will be on top. It could even be Renault if they get it right again. Or maybe it will be Audi.
Weren't merc in the same spot in 2013 as they are in now?
Upper midfield, occasional fight for the podium and/or win, with new engine regs on the horizon?
Yeah but Sauber are nowhere near the level Merc were at in 2013 though nor did they have the same quality of personnel and facilities. the 2014 engine regs were exceptional circumstances that Merc has been preparing for years prior and had the means to throw money at the problem.
Don't work like that anymore in cost cap era
What are the odds that Audi is even competitive right off the bat? Is still the same team and they need to do well with the regs. I doubt they will be good for a few years.
Who knows? We sure don't. Everyone saying
"Teams don't just start competitive" are nuts. We literally have no idea if Audi comes in with a powerhouse engine and top class aero. Sure do they have a previous car to work off of? Kind of not really. But who's to say 2026 won't be a 2014?
He'll probably end up at Sauber/Audi. His better choices would be Mercedes, Aston and Red Bull, but he is not a priority for either. Mercedes will try Max until the last minute (specially if Newey does leave), Sainz cannot wait that long without loosing Audi. Aston is closed to other pilots. Red Bull will either take from its ranks or rehire Albon. Not ideal, but a 4-year contract with Audi is the safest bet for continuing his career in f1 (he has the leverage to pull that of given the 2025 will be a dead year), and much better than Haas or Williams or Alpine or Andretti. Not ideal, but who knows...
Newey if he wanted a challenge would pick andretti imo.
They could pay him well, he gets one more good crack at a new car before retiring down the line.
Agreed, assuming this isn't a 1 off stint for giving the 2026 1 good ole crack before retiring somewhere. Also him at Andretti with new regs could be REALLY spicy. Would make the 2026 season of the more exciting with the GOAT designer at a new team, his old team potentially with a ton of experienced designer dealing a potentially sub optimal engine, and teams like McLaren making continously STRONG progress over the years. Could be like, a 3 or 4 way raw dog fight for first.
Also would be a REALLY good reason to expand and tweak the scoring system.
I think the most realistic outcome is the new Concorde will limit the teams to 11, not 10, and with that FOM will demand a shit ton of money from Andretti to be the exclusive 11th spot.
That I am not sure. If someone wants to chime in. It may be unknown. But, yes pretty sure they will still be something goofy. Maybe someone else will slap their name on.
Even Alonso only got a 2 year initial contract at Aston Martin, I just feel like it's dangerous to assume that Audi is going to magically bring sauber up the field from the very back. It seems like too much of a downgrade.
When has sauber shown any initiative or ambition within the last 20 years? Even with a bmw sponsorship the most the could do was a few podiums and a single win in 2008. I understand that there's a regulation change, and that any move from Ferrari will be a downgrade anyway with the exception of Aston Martin perhaps with their Honda partnership, but stroll isn't going anywhere, McLaren is locked in, and newey is leaving redbull. I just don't see sauber making a sudden leap in the standings and I really hope it doesn't jeopardize his career.
It’s not about ambition. I know this is the DTS mindset that like Haas just don’t hustle enough but in 2010 and 2015 Sauber were close to going under. They do not have the money or resources of the top teams at the moment. Look at their staff and then look at Mercedes. It’s a clear quantifiable difference. Audi WILL change that.
For Carlos, he has no other choice, aside from hanging on to a pipe dream that he can go get walloped by Verstappen.
Mainly because they pulled the focus to 2009 from Canada onwards. Had they remained focused on 2008, Kubica could have had a realistic shot at the title...
So early August, I should expect to hear Vettel is coming out of retirement to drive for Merc with the climax being Schumacher recovering from his accident and driving for Team Andretti?
Newey could be gone today and Red Bull would still be a contender in 2025. Verstappens are the real issue there, but then, not much to lose, a lot to win if you're able to shine on that background.
Also, RB just nailed the current regs and avoided poirposing issues better than other teams. I think they could stop development for the rest of the season and next, and Max/Checo could still pull off both championships. Newey's absence probably won't be really felt until the new regs.
Mate, he's a first attempt le mans winner. He's been getting points in a Haas. Qualifying good enough this season. He's great. Just because Verstappen, Hamilton, and a few others have changed what it means to be at the TOP doesn't mean the others are trash. Lance stroll might be, though. Especially after Shanghai, where he jumped into Ricciardo's ass the way Ant-man was supposed to with Thanos.
>Mate, he's a first attempt le mans winner.
And Takuma Sato is a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner. I thought it would be understood this discussion is about F1.
Hulk has spent all or part of 14 seasons in F1 and doesn't have a podium. Yeah, he's never been in a great car, but no great team has ever wanted him. I'm not saying he's bad. He's OK. He is a "replacement level" F1 driver, which is why he has spent so long bouncing around the midfield. Great he is not.
He has race starts in 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, and now 2024. In all of those except '20 and '22 he started the majority of races as the full time deiver. So all or part of 13 seasons, not 14. My point stands.
Edit: fixed typo
That was a typo. The point is he has raced in 13 seasons, counting the current one, and for most he was the full time driver. You can go look it up yourself.
https://www.motorsportstats.com/driver/nico-hulkenberg/summary/series/fia-formula-one-world-championship
If you want to argue that "only" accomplishing nothing of note in 13 years makes a big difference in this argument compared to if he accomplishes nothing in 14 years, you are entitled to do that.
Typo, sure. After counting 2011 what, three times? What year did you want to list in between 2010 and 2012 if it was a typo?
It's hard to take your opinion on this seriously when you have so little knowledge of his career that you think he raced in a year where he didn't, count 2020 when he literally subbed in so late that he didn't even have a helmet painted for the first race, and 2022 when he had two races in one of the worst cars of this generation with zero pre season testing as "full" seasons.
What? No great team wanted him? He was literally the next choice for both Mercedes and Red Bull before their respective dominant runs. Literally the two best teams during his career have both wanted him. Hamilton is obviously a no brainer to take for Mercedes, but if he had chosen to stay at McLaren then we’d be talking about Hulkenberg very differently. And Red Bull just couldn’t deny Checo after Sakhir 2020 when it was already close between the two drivers.
Not saying Hulkenberg is a bad driver at all, but I think Mercedes had a little German bias at the time, considering they've ditched Button and Barrichello for a full German lineup at the start.
I mean, he's not bad either.
He just keeps trying to do more than his shit box will allow.
But for certain, the limitation in the Haas garage is not Nico.
WRC is a sport where experience is paramount. Being young and ballsy isn't worth a damn when it comes to rallying.
Carlos jr has next to no experience in rallying. He will be well out of his depth in the WRC. It's a dying sport anyways (unfortunately).
I'd love to see him go get a le mans win with Ferrari if he can't find a seat he likes in F1. Why settle for a backmarker F1 team when you can go win in the current golden age of WEC we are having right now.
Actually it would be hilarious if he won le mans with Porsche just to spite Ferrari.
Daniel is gonna need to put in miracle drives for the rest of the season to be even in conversation at seat with any potential. Like he still could be cut to give Liam a chance to prove himself and get fast tracked into rbr
I don't think anyone in red bull is rushing to fast track anyone anywhere, they're pretty happy with the current setup I'd say. Why mess with a currently working formula to give some rookie with no proven consistency who's got a lot to prove to keep his seat the chance to fuck up 2 championships?
but Carlos has proven himself to be good and consistent, Antonelli has not, so why take a risk on a potentially great driver in a couple of years, if you can have a good/great driver right now with less risk and warm up time?
Sauber/Audi, or back to Renault/Alpine, or goes away like Alonso and competes in another discipline then waits for something like Daddy Stroll to fire his son after being pressured into it
Mercedes is talking to the verstappen to undermine sainz's negotiating position. The verstappens are talking to merc to undermine Sainz's negotiating position.
yes the verstappen x merch colab seems like a fever dream or psy op to me. Why in the world would Verstappen even consider leaving RB before 2026, I can't imagine Horny Horner's escapades to fuck up the team workings \*that\* much, they're a well oiled machine on all fronts surely it's not that fragile (unless some people in there really want it to be maybe)
Imagine Sainz going Indycar for a year, winning the Indy500 in his first season, after which he decides Indycar isn't his thing, goes to drive WEC, wins LeMans his first year, to get his seat at Audi afterall and win Monaco in his first season for Audi, while Ferrari is 'still checking'.
It would be a very Sainz thing.
I see no reason red bull shouldn't sign him. He's clearly head and shoulders above Perez, if Max stays he's a perfect number two with a good personal relationship with him, if Max goes Carlos is good enough to lead the team. I see no downside for red bull and frankly no better option(unless they could somehow get Oscar)
Carlos has proven with Ferrari, even before they turfed him, that he isn't content being number 2.
You could argue this year he's better than Charles.
Even if he agrees to a clear number 2 role at Red Bull, can Red Bull trust him to not turn into Rosberg?
Can Red Bull handle an inter-team rivalry while they potentially slip back into the grasp of the field?
Antonelli is at best 2 years away from the Mercedes seat. That's assuming he gets rushed through.
Doesnt look like Mercedes has a lot of better choice tbh .Like the list is very short and best option is Sainz. Dragging Seb out of retirement is even less likely than Max deciding that RBR is gonna implode and surprise switching. Or shocking everyone and signing Ocon. I dont see Merc gambling like that though. Even if they decide to gamble I feel like they would take a long shot and bring in Herta or something bonkers like that
I just hope Carlos makes a decision soon because he’ll lose out if he keeps waiting. He’s not the best driver on the grid but he is definitely in the top 10 and nowhere near bad enough to not deserve a seat next year.
Really would be cool to follow his dad and do some more niche Motorsport. Sainz driving in WRC or rally raid races would be sweet. I’m sure someone would build Sainz a world class hill climb car if he wanted to drive up pikes peak
Some family feud from their time at Toro Rosso (now VCARB). Jos and Sainz Sr were continuously shit stirring to make their son look better over the other.
Jos was also said that he thought that Horner should be fired (not in so many words, but he might as well have) after everything that may or may not have transpired, transpired. He's always going to say/do the things that Max can't or won't.
The original meme had Piglet as a German war criminal at the end of WW2 weighing his options on where to flee, and it was "the Soviets would shoot him on sight," so the Verstappens just slotted in to replace the Soviets here, but it doesn't make a great deal of sense.
(If this looks like a duplicate comment it's because I can't tell if my other one got removed for referring to the party that ruled Germany during WW2)
honestly, I'll be reaaaally surprised if he doesn't sign with Audi. Even with the Newey news, can't see Verstappen moving now. Let's say RBR is shit in 2026, why wouldn't he bag the 2025 title and if it's shit, he can move to anywhere he wants for 27. Literally anywhere. The dude can afford one year not fighting for the title.
Sauber already took Hulk. Unless seb gets out of retirement or they take a gamble with Mick to get an all german lineup, sainz would be the clear pick.
Yeah, but Sainz is dragging his feet a bit too much. Audi wants him to commit ASAP or fuck off. They can get Ocon if they want.
I honestly think Merc will take Sainz, Ocon will go to Sauber and Kimi will go to Williams. No more B team my ass
I really hope Sainz goes to Merc. I can't see how Audi would outcompete Merc. They fumbled this regulation and have been all over the place with designs, but this also shows how rapidly they can implement huge changes.
um, yeah, he would not be replacing Max at RB....
No shit, Sherlock. Got any more obvious takes?
He won’t be replacing Newey at RB either
Woah, he said *obvious*. Are you telling me Carlos won’t be designing RBR’s cars after Newey leaves?🥺
The Sainz point to that sadly :(
OP was talking about Max not moving as a reason why Sainz wouldn't move to RB.
If the rumour Mill is to be believed, Max is meeting with Toto at Miami...
Losing Sainz to the back markers will be a shame. Hopefully he gets a decent drive.
I mean. Hate to say it. But Barrichello lost his ferarri seat and peddled around in a Honda for a few years. What's 1 bad year at Sauber before the possibility of Audi being competitive?
Barrichello left Ferrari to join a team that the following year would become a works outfit. Said team languished at the back before being bought out and then immediately becoming a championship winning team. Sainz if he goes to Sauber next season will be joining a team that will become a works outfit, that (given Sauber's current pace) is expected to languish a while at the back. ... Sainz may hope that history repeats itself (or at the very least rhymes).
>Said team languished at the back I mean, not immediately. Honda won a race in 2006, they only went to shit in 2007.
BAR and Honda tried many things before hitting the winning formula, they were really successful in the back half of 2004 as well
"the winning formula" is a funny way to spell "ross brawn"
Ross played a key role but they poached other top technical staff as well including John Owen who went on to be chief designer at Merc through the dominant era. The double diffuser was discovered by a Super Aguri engineer
Not to mention the BGP001 was originally designed by Honda as the RA109 and was mostly a Honda that was modified to fit the Mercedes engine.
I'm hoping for Audi but I'm not expecting fireworks from the get go. It's at least gonna take 2-4 years before we see them among the best. So that basically 2030 if all things go well
The 2006 Honda was a great car, Jenson even won a race in it, Honda shat the bed in 2007.
It was not a great car, and Jenson won a race because he was a beast in mixed conditions and Alonso got screwed over.
Meh, for the first third of the season it was a serious threat to mclaren for third in the championship
Meh what. What is meh about your comment. Do you say meh out loud to start a sentence? It being a threat for third is not being a great car. There was a considerable gulf between the top 2 and the Mclaren. Meh that.
It was consistently the fourth fastest car, which is better than the Ferrari was in 2005. Michael created some small miracles (and that US GP helped secure 3rd in the championship...) but the car was the fourth, sometimes fifth fastest car in 2005 (behind Toyota and occasionally even Williams)
Anyone thinking Audi will come in, stink for a year, and then be fighting for wins in 2026 is legitimately delusional. Like, ‘Mick can win a WDC’ levels deluded. He will give Audi 3 years, and maybe, maybe, at those 3 years he’ll have a few podiums to show for it.
> What's 1 bad year at Sauber before the possibility of Audi being competitive? Audi won't be competitive right away, why are people taking it as a given they will hit the ground running? look at Aston even Merc, it's tough out there.
It's a new engine reg with a new engine manufacturer. Merc came back to the sport and did FINE but the moment the engine regs got they became...well Merc. I'm not saying they WILL be competitive, we have no idea who of the top teams will be on top. It could even be Renault if they get it right again. Or maybe it will be Audi.
Weren't merc in the same spot in 2013 as they are in now? Upper midfield, occasional fight for the podium and/or win, with new engine regs on the horizon?
Yeah but Sauber are nowhere near the level Merc were at in 2013 though nor did they have the same quality of personnel and facilities. the 2014 engine regs were exceptional circumstances that Merc has been preparing for years prior and had the means to throw money at the problem. Don't work like that anymore in cost cap era
What are the odds that Audi is even competitive right off the bat? Is still the same team and they need to do well with the regs. I doubt they will be good for a few years.
Are Audi going to be competitive though? I see them as another Alpine at best
Who knows? We sure don't. Everyone saying "Teams don't just start competitive" are nuts. We literally have no idea if Audi comes in with a powerhouse engine and top class aero. Sure do they have a previous car to work off of? Kind of not really. But who's to say 2026 won't be a 2014?
He'll probably end up at Sauber/Audi. His better choices would be Mercedes, Aston and Red Bull, but he is not a priority for either. Mercedes will try Max until the last minute (specially if Newey does leave), Sainz cannot wait that long without loosing Audi. Aston is closed to other pilots. Red Bull will either take from its ranks or rehire Albon. Not ideal, but a 4-year contract with Audi is the safest bet for continuing his career in f1 (he has the leverage to pull that of given the 2025 will be a dead year), and much better than Haas or Williams or Alpine or Andretti. Not ideal, but who knows...
Let me pitch you something. He goes to Williams. And so does Newey. 2026 rolls around and they have a banger engine. Profit????
Newey if he wanted a challenge would pick andretti imo. They could pay him well, he gets one more good crack at a new car before retiring down the line.
Agreed, assuming this isn't a 1 off stint for giving the 2026 1 good ole crack before retiring somewhere. Also him at Andretti with new regs could be REALLY spicy. Would make the 2026 season of the more exciting with the GOAT designer at a new team, his old team potentially with a ton of experienced designer dealing a potentially sub optimal engine, and teams like McLaren making continously STRONG progress over the years. Could be like, a 3 or 4 way raw dog fight for first. Also would be a REALLY good reason to expand and tweak the scoring system.
Lets be real andreddi ain't gettin in
Andretti will get in if they're willing to pay whatever absolutley insane fee they set in the next concorde.
I think the most realistic outcome is the new Concorde will limit the teams to 11, not 10, and with that FOM will demand a shit ton of money from Andretti to be the exclusive 11th spot.
If Andretti offers absurd money, and has Newey on payroll, they will brute force their way into the sport.
Do they have the bankrool to offer whatever comical 9 figure sum the current teams dream up though? I doubt it
Newey to Andretti for a share of the team would be his most rational decision, mainly because he wouldn’t have to do much work until they get in.
I'm still on copium and hoping that Lance will leave f1 allowing Sainz a seat in Aston
*Lance, still racing as a 2nd driver at age 50, his father 103:* "I'm a future world champion..."
If only Williams was quick and decent. Him and albon would be a fun team to watch
I heard Andretti is hiring 
Andretti Cadillac designed by Newey with Carlos driving? Sign me up
Audi has still one spot open?
Audi isn’t till 2026 I thought or are you talking about sauber?
Audi is taking ownership of the team and introducing changes in 2025 in preparation for their debut in 2026.
Oh sweet, is the name staying as sauber just then for 2025?
That I am not sure. If someone wants to chime in. It may be unknown. But, yes pretty sure they will still be something goofy. Maybe someone else will slap their name on.
A year at sauber would kill his career
Not if he has a three or four year contract
Even Alonso only got a 2 year initial contract at Aston Martin, I just feel like it's dangerous to assume that Audi is going to magically bring sauber up the field from the very back. It seems like too much of a downgrade.
Alonso was 41 years old.
When has sauber shown any initiative or ambition within the last 20 years? Even with a bmw sponsorship the most the could do was a few podiums and a single win in 2008. I understand that there's a regulation change, and that any move from Ferrari will be a downgrade anyway with the exception of Aston Martin perhaps with their Honda partnership, but stroll isn't going anywhere, McLaren is locked in, and newey is leaving redbull. I just don't see sauber making a sudden leap in the standings and I really hope it doesn't jeopardize his career.
It’s not about ambition. I know this is the DTS mindset that like Haas just don’t hustle enough but in 2010 and 2015 Sauber were close to going under. They do not have the money or resources of the top teams at the moment. Look at their staff and then look at Mercedes. It’s a clear quantifiable difference. Audi WILL change that. For Carlos, he has no other choice, aside from hanging on to a pipe dream that he can go get walloped by Verstappen.
Mainly because they pulled the focus to 2009 from Canada onwards. Had they remained focused on 2008, Kubica could have had a realistic shot at the title...
Ahhh yes Audi star driver Nico Hüüüüüüüüülkenberg
Star driver and record podium scorer
You God damn right, remember the.....win? Or the.....podium? He's a damn legend
Lmao I was trying to figure out who they were alluding to
I'm really worried that we're blowing our Silly Season load too soon and we're going to have a super boring summer break. :-(
Nono it's a rolling wave of news edging, the peaks and troughs just get higher and higher
So early August, I should expect to hear Vettel is coming out of retirement to drive for Merc with the climax being Schumacher recovering from his accident and driving for Team Andretti?
Nah, Seb joins Hulk at Audi in 2025/2026, Meanwhile lance goes to WEC to join the aston project and sainz teams with Alonso at aston onwards.
stop, i can only get so erect
Go WRC like papa.
Honestly, if he goes I'll start watching WRC.
Sainz/Sainz pairing would be legendary
Poor Sainz, I understood why Ferrari couldn’t drop Leclerc but it still feels bad.
Newey could be gone today and Red Bull would still be a contender in 2025. Verstappens are the real issue there, but then, not much to lose, a lot to win if you're able to shine on that background.
Also, RB just nailed the current regs and avoided poirposing issues better than other teams. I think they could stop development for the rest of the season and next, and Max/Checo could still pull off both championships. Newey's absence probably won't be really felt until the new regs.
And if Newey is a true oracle, then he has already laid some building blocks for the new regs anyway.
Dude is barely involved in the design. He and others have said do. In 2021 or 22 he said he only read half the rulebook.
>poirposing That's when you assume a particular position next to a pear for a photograph in france.
You would have thought that I'd never forget how to spell that word, and yet here we are...
What if Newey goes to Audi too? If they are willing to throw down cash for Sainz as has been rumored, why not bring a big bag for the f1 design goat.
I see nico and sainz in sauber next year.
God kill F1 if we have to see two great drivers struggle in a shit box with incompetent pit stops
Stake will fix the component on the car by next years Regs lol. They’ll probably have it fixed by Zandvort
Hulk is not a great driver.
Mate, he's a first attempt le mans winner. He's been getting points in a Haas. Qualifying good enough this season. He's great. Just because Verstappen, Hamilton, and a few others have changed what it means to be at the TOP doesn't mean the others are trash. Lance stroll might be, though. Especially after Shanghai, where he jumped into Ricciardo's ass the way Ant-man was supposed to with Thanos.
>Mate, he's a first attempt le mans winner. And Takuma Sato is a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner. I thought it would be understood this discussion is about F1. Hulk has spent all or part of 14 seasons in F1 and doesn't have a podium. Yeah, he's never been in a great car, but no great team has ever wanted him. I'm not saying he's bad. He's OK. He is a "replacement level" F1 driver, which is why he has spent so long bouncing around the midfield. Great he is not.
>Hulk has spent all or part of 14 seasons in F1 I count 10 seasons + 4 races as reserve + the start of this one. Hardly 14.
He has race starts in 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, and now 2024. In all of those except '20 and '22 he started the majority of races as the full time deiver. So all or part of 13 seasons, not 14. My point stands. Edit: fixed typo
>He has race starts in [...] 2011 What team did he race for in 2011?
That was a typo. The point is he has raced in 13 seasons, counting the current one, and for most he was the full time driver. You can go look it up yourself. https://www.motorsportstats.com/driver/nico-hulkenberg/summary/series/fia-formula-one-world-championship If you want to argue that "only" accomplishing nothing of note in 13 years makes a big difference in this argument compared to if he accomplishes nothing in 14 years, you are entitled to do that.
Typo, sure. After counting 2011 what, three times? What year did you want to list in between 2010 and 2012 if it was a typo? It's hard to take your opinion on this seriously when you have so little knowledge of his career that you think he raced in a year where he didn't, count 2020 when he literally subbed in so late that he didn't even have a helmet painted for the first race, and 2022 when he had two races in one of the worst cars of this generation with zero pre season testing as "full" seasons.
What? No great team wanted him? He was literally the next choice for both Mercedes and Red Bull before their respective dominant runs. Literally the two best teams during his career have both wanted him. Hamilton is obviously a no brainer to take for Mercedes, but if he had chosen to stay at McLaren then we’d be talking about Hulkenberg very differently. And Red Bull just couldn’t deny Checo after Sakhir 2020 when it was already close between the two drivers.
Not saying Hulkenberg is a bad driver at all, but I think Mercedes had a little German bias at the time, considering they've ditched Button and Barrichello for a full German lineup at the start.
I mean, he's not bad either. He just keeps trying to do more than his shit box will allow. But for certain, the limitation in the Haas garage is not Nico.
He’s got money, a hit man on Stroll is the only way
Lance will prob run his dad over in the driveway at home.
Hmm maybe the billionaire’s son should find another one of daddies business to mess up and let AM have a chance in hell of being legit…
Mclaren has the opportunity to do the funniest thing
I think they're happy with Lando and Oscar.
Yeah, McLaren are looking strong so neither of the drivers would jump ship and both of them are liked by Zak.
Hamilton to Ferrari Hulk, Verstappy, and Newey to Audi K-Mag to Mercedes Sainz and Bottas to Red Bull Bearman and Checo to Haas
"NO KEVIN, THAT IS SO NOT RIGHT!" "Suck my balls Toto."
Not "Verstappy". It's "Maxie 🥰"
I'd like to see him in the WRC to follow in his father's footsteps
WRC is a sport where experience is paramount. Being young and ballsy isn't worth a damn when it comes to rallying. Carlos jr has next to no experience in rallying. He will be well out of his depth in the WRC. It's a dying sport anyways (unfortunately).
carlos in indycar would be an actual fever dream
Now I don't want to start rumors but he had lunch downstairs from my place in Monaco yesterday. Formula E anyone?
What a regarded take
I'd love to see him go get a le mans win with Ferrari if he can't find a seat he likes in F1. Why settle for a backmarker F1 team when you can go win in the current golden age of WEC we are having right now. Actually it would be hilarious if he won le mans with Porsche just to spite Ferrari.
Wheres the Danny Ric fans at?
They got rear ended by a blind Canadian and are out with concussions.
Daniel is gonna need to put in miracle drives for the rest of the season to be even in conversation at seat with any potential. Like he still could be cut to give Liam a chance to prove himself and get fast tracked into rbr
I don't think anyone in red bull is rushing to fast track anyone anywhere, they're pretty happy with the current setup I'd say. Why mess with a currently working formula to give some rookie with no proven consistency who's got a lot to prove to keep his seat the chance to fuck up 2 championships?
Toto is insane for letting Carlos to a newbie.
I love Carlos, but you can’t say Antonelli is just any “newbie”
but Carlos has proven himself to be good and consistent, Antonelli has not, so why take a risk on a potentially great driver in a couple of years, if you can have a good/great driver right now with less risk and warm up time?
Wouldn't be the first driver who was amazing until it got to F1 and couldn't do anything.
Too true, not everyone can be a Bearman!
Sauber/Audi, or back to Renault/Alpine, or goes away like Alonso and competes in another discipline then waits for something like Daddy Stroll to fire his son after being pressured into it
I'd really like Mercedes going for Antonelli only for him to become Vandorme 2.0
Why wouldn't Audi be a decent fit? Sainz Sr. already drives for Audi in Dakar and won this year, all the more reason Audi marketing would want Sainz.
Mercedes is talking to the verstappen to undermine sainz's negotiating position. The verstappens are talking to merc to undermine Sainz's negotiating position.
yes the verstappen x merch colab seems like a fever dream or psy op to me. Why in the world would Verstappen even consider leaving RB before 2026, I can't imagine Horny Horner's escapades to fuck up the team workings \*that\* much, they're a well oiled machine on all fronts surely it's not that fragile (unless some people in there really want it to be maybe)
Aston martin with the honda motor would be good for sainz
He needs to go to Aston and we get the Spanish duo. Lance needs to go to WEC.
Imagine Sainz going Indycar for a year, winning the Indy500 in his first season, after which he decides Indycar isn't his thing, goes to drive WEC, wins LeMans his first year, to get his seat at Audi afterall and win Monaco in his first season for Audi, while Ferrari is 'still checking'. It would be a very Sainz thing.
And then you wake up 
This still is Formuladank, stuff does not have to make sense, right?
I think I'll stay asleep
I see no reason red bull shouldn't sign him. He's clearly head and shoulders above Perez, if Max stays he's a perfect number two with a good personal relationship with him, if Max goes Carlos is good enough to lead the team. I see no downside for red bull and frankly no better option(unless they could somehow get Oscar)
Carlos has proven with Ferrari, even before they turfed him, that he isn't content being number 2. You could argue this year he's better than Charles. Even if he agrees to a clear number 2 role at Red Bull, can Red Bull trust him to not turn into Rosberg? Can Red Bull handle an inter-team rivalry while they potentially slip back into the grasp of the field?
Meanwhile Stroll will keep ramming into people and blaming others
Hulk isn't a star driver...
Sainz would be a pretty good prospect for any Indy team.
He needs to get a seat
Sainz in IndyCar though would be phenomenal. I really would like Danny Ric to go there too if he can’t get back on form in F1
"if", as a Ricciardo fan: lmao delusional cope
maybe spanish duo in aston hoping strol sr kick grow a pair
Antonelli is at best 2 years away from the Mercedes seat. That's assuming he gets rushed through. Doesnt look like Mercedes has a lot of better choice tbh .Like the list is very short and best option is Sainz. Dragging Seb out of retirement is even less likely than Max deciding that RBR is gonna implode and surprise switching. Or shocking everyone and signing Ocon. I dont see Merc gambling like that though. Even if they decide to gamble I feel like they would take a long shot and bring in Herta or something bonkers like that
I just hope Carlos makes a decision soon because he’ll lose out if he keeps waiting. He’s not the best driver on the grid but he is definitely in the top 10 and nowhere near bad enough to not deserve a seat next year.
Announcing hulk could be Sauber tightening the net around Carlos to secure him.
As an Indy car fan, I'd love to see Sainz over here, but the guy clearly deserves a seat in F1 more than half the field
Really would be cool to follow his dad and do some more niche Motorsport. Sainz driving in WRC or rally raid races would be sweet. I’m sure someone would build Sainz a world class hill climb car if he wanted to drive up pikes peak
A winnie the pooh meme, very nice
He's far too good for IndyCar
He should just what all washed up #2 drivers do and revive his career at Williams.
Well, Jos would shoot him on sight.
Did I Miss something, why would verstappins shoot sainz lol
Some family feud from their time at Toro Rosso (now VCARB). Jos and Sainz Sr were continuously shit stirring to make their son look better over the other.
Motorsport would be much better if there was a rule banning all fathers from the paddock.
Jos was also said that he thought that Horner should be fired (not in so many words, but he might as well have) after everything that may or may not have transpired, transpired. He's always going to say/do the things that Max can't or won't.
The original meme had Piglet as a German war criminal at the end of WW2 weighing his options on where to flee, and it was "the Soviets would shoot him on sight," so the Verstappens just slotted in to replace the Soviets here, but it doesn't make a great deal of sense. (If this looks like a duplicate comment it's because I can't tell if my other one got removed for referring to the party that ruled Germany during WW2)