brendan :fedora: :ubuntu:

@BowtiesAreCool @bhmnscmm it would be interesting to see what teams would do without parc ferme between sprint shootout and sprint race.

@GoodEye8 I don’t disagree with anything you’re saying. RBR has the best car, Merc doesn’t know where they are, and Ferrari and Aston are the best bets for wins outside of RBR. Perez is on an expiring deal, but they’re happy with his performances so far this season (at least outwardly - https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/13110713/sergio-perez-and-christian-horner-discuss-red-bull-driver-s-f1-future-as-contract-runs-out-at-end-of-2024). I guess we’ll see, but I just don’t see SAI going to RBR to be a clear #2, but I’m sure I’ll be proven wrong.

@GoodEye8 I think you just made my other point with your last statement. Why would Sainz want to go to RBR to be a clear #2? Makes no sense for him at this stage of his career. If he’s not #1 at RBR, best go somewhere else to try to compete for wins and a long shot at a championship. At RBR, he won’t get that chance as long as Verstappen is there.

@GoodEye8 can’t see it happening, not with Perez’s form right now. He’s exactly what they want. RBR don’t want a 1b driver in that second car. They just need someone who can consistently come second and support Verstappen. He’s got his flaws, and 2023 wasn’t a banner year for him, but Verstappen was in a class of his own and didn’t really need the support with how dominant the car was, and he still came second in the championship. He’s the best #2 driver RBR has had since Webber.

@Pixelemme agreed, SAI may be a stop gap until they’re ready to put Antonelli in there, but Russell also had to pay his dues with a few seasons at Williams before getting the call up.

@Pixelemme @saltesc Zhou. But I don’t think SAI will go to Sauber to be in a shit car. He saw what happened to ALO going to McLaren when Honda came back and won’t want to waste his prime years toddling around in the lower midfield.

Here’s a pretty reasonable driver lineup for 2025 with quite a few rookies:

RBR: VER, PER
MER: RUS, SAI
FER: LEC, HAM
AMR: ALO, STR
MCL: NOR, PIA
SAU: HUL, Pourchaire
HAAS: BOT, Bearman
WIL: ALB, Antonelli
RB: TSU, Lawson
ALP: OCO, GAS