Christian Horner expects there won’t be any movement on the Formula 1 driver market for next year until Mercedes confirms Lewis Hamilton’s decision on his future.
The Red Bull team principal is in discussions with Daniel Ricciardo who is expected to extend his contract to remain at the team. However few drivers will be preapred to commit until the reigning world champion has taken his place.
“All of these things are obviously interlinked in some way, shape or form,” said Horner. “I think the whole driver market is waiting for [Mercedes team principal] Toto [Wolff’s] driver to kick that off.”Horner said negotiations are “progressing well with Daniel” and he believes their deal will be sorted soon now that the team has confirmed Honda as its engine supplier for next year.
“I expect things to be concluded prior to the summer break. Our priority had been firstly to get the engine situation sorted and now things are progressing with Daniel.
“Our intention is to retain both drivers and I’m sure during the next couple of weeks we’ll be entering into the finishing straight to get things concluded prior to the summer break.”
Red Bull’s decision regarding Ricciardo could also have a bearing on the future of Carlos Sainz Jnr, who is currently on loan to Renault. Horner said Renault “have a desire to keep Carlos.”
“It really depends whether we have a requirement for him or not. Our intention is to retain both drivers so once that’s clear then we will sit down with Carlos.”
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2018 F1 season
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Robbie (@robbie)
29th June 2018, 17:01
For me LH re-upping with Merc has been a forgone conclusion all along, but I can understand that drivers and teams just need to hear it made official. Sounds like there will be little movement this season. I guess there’s whatever FA might do, and perhaps the question of Kimi.
Ben Rowe (@thegianthogweed)
29th June 2018, 23:36
I may a well ask you again now @robbie, But do you now feel that Bottas has looked to be good enough to make it worth the team keeping him? I can’t see it being a benefit at this stage taking a risk of bringing in another driver as Bottas now is used to the team and certainly looks to be doing well. If he’d had equal luck to Hamilton, he would be under 15 points behind. That is pretty impressive.
Robbie (@robbie)
30th June 2018, 1:24
@thegianthogweed I appreciate the extension of the conversation. While I do agree that VB is doing well, especially considering his bad luck at times, I can’t say I have seen evidence of a strong rivalry going on at Mercedes, although I admit that with better luck and the additional points that he should have had, perhaps I’d have more of a sense of that.
Oh I’m fully aware of why most people would think there’s no reason to replace VB. He is indeed doing a fine job. But I think for me I got spoiled with such a potent rivalry with LH and Nico, as well as the sentiment at the time coming from TW. That sentiment was that it was their duty to hire the two very best drivers as a top team which is what respects the viewing audience the most by maximizing the show. Now it might be that he was saying that because as the dominant team, if they didn’t have that LH/NR rivalry what would we have had? Answer: the opposite, which is more akin to MS/Ferrari dominating with his contracted subservient to not compete against the designated number one. Perhaps TW feels that now that there is an LH/SV rivalry he doesn’t need to provide more show by challenging LH more within the team. Perhaps especially since it seems SV has at least the natural upper hand at Ferrari.
The vast majority by my informal poll based on comments I see around here would have VB being sufficient, and not one to disturb the peace at Mercedes (obviously particularly for LH). But for me I want the peace disturbed a little on the top teams especially. This is supposed to be gladiator vs gladiator type stuff, not number ones with rear gunners. Not one driver and a ‘safe’ teammate that won’t rock the boat. We need boats rocked in F1. As well as VB is doing, I don’t see boats rocking…yet. Lot’s more season to come, so let’s see what transpires. For now I don’t think, as things have transpired, we’ll see VB challenging for the WDC but rather at best taking points from SV on occasion. And I’m sure Merc, TW, and LH and fans will be fine with that. But for me that’s not enthralling. For the record nor is Kimi lagging behind SV so much. The most fun I’m having is watching the boys at Red Bull.
Alonso (@alonshow)
30th June 2018, 17:41
@robbie: That makes perfect sense from the point of view of the fan, but from the point of view of the team I can’t see any reason at all to find anybody else. They have the perfect drivers to bring home both championships for many more years, so why change?
Robbie (@robbie)
30th June 2018, 20:53
@alonshow For sure there’s that side of it, undeniably, and…
@thegianthogweed Here we go with VB on pole. Now let’s see him stamp his authority on LH and SV. I’ll be excited to see that, just so you know I have nothing I dislike about VB…just haven’t seen the gloves come off like I hope he can do. Especially as it seems he’ll be retained. I ‘only’ want to see LH challenged and pushed especially if Merc remains dominant. I fear this season the points gap might limit VB’s allowance in that regard.
DaveW (@dmw)
29th June 2018, 17:24
The only drama seems to be on how much he gets paid. Does anyone actually think he will swap with Ricciardo or Raikkonen? Maybe Hamilton is taking the position with Toto that Ferrari is ascendant and he might go there to be sure to get his last 27 wins and cement his legacy by going head to head with Vettel. (Wolff would probably just roll his eyes before they both bust out laughing.)
For the off season, I see FA as gone off to do IndyCar and/or WEC. I see Grosjean going down the plank to be replaced with LeClerc possibly, who will be replaced by whoever is next in Ferrari’s program. Ricciardo may go to Ferrari if Raikkonen gets the boot or flees to McLaren.
matt
29th June 2018, 17:46
Hamilton wants to be a pop star fashionista, i think he will retire from F1 while he is still a superstar so he can get the best chance at celebrity after F1.
This could mean he retires this year, especially if he wins again.
i predict that when he does go, his pop singer career will fail, utterly.
Wooolfy1
29th June 2018, 18:45
Keep wishing while he racks up the wins!
YellowSubmarine
29th June 2018, 19:01
Wow. That’s a lot of salt there, old fella. It’s his hobby, let him do it. You’ll be disappointed – he’ll still be winning titles in 2021 onwards.
matt
29th June 2018, 19:15
He can do whatever he wants, I am not trying to stop him. My interest in Lewis Hamilton is limited to him being a racing driver, his singing and fashion are cringy to say the least and as long as he is in a pubic facing role I can say whatever I like about him, it comes with the territory. I dont think that he would have a problem with this.
I think that there is a realistic chance that he is going to retire while he is still ontop of his game and he has been building a life outside of F1, in his own words, for life after F1. He is modelling it on David Beckhams continued success and brand image after football. His words, not mine.
I am sorry if you like his RnB singing and posing around with various celebrities, for me it is just more ammunition for banter.
Robbie (@robbie)
29th June 2018, 19:47
I also have no interest in what LH does off the race track, but I certainly don’t think he will retire from F1 for several years yet.
Ju88sy (@)
30th June 2018, 6:09
The ‘Ammunition for banter’ comment is a touch short sighted, and exposes a narrow view of the world. Whether Hamilton gains F1 or any sports site internet commenters approval or not matters not one jot (personally I have no interest in what he does outside of Formula 1), however as a driver he has raised the profile of F1 far more than any of the current drivers with which he has competed in the last 11 years.
This is GOOD for the sport, and was bought home to me last year at the Austin Grand Prix, when having a chat with a couple of girls on ticket check duty on the stand, they knew nothing about Formula 1, however one of their mothers had suggested they look into Lewis Hamilton and suddenly they became interested in him and the result of the race.
Formula 1 is lacking the old style characters and personalities that did so much for popularising the sport outside of a race weekend, and indeed in comparison to other sports Formula 1 is severely lacking ‘Stars’ whose profile extends beyond motorsport. At least Hamilton has some other interests that are expressed with a presence in public life and raises the profile of Formula 1 by association.
matt
30th June 2018, 13:56
take a look at the current cover of GQ magazine if you want to see what Lewis Hamilton is up to outside of race weekends.
I cant link to it here but it is easy to find. He is still reeling from the mob that attacked him for bantering with his nephew over him wearing a dress.
Miani (@miani)
29th June 2018, 20:30
It was Rosberg who decided to retire “on top of his game”. You’re talking nonsense.
matt
30th June 2018, 14:00
The baying mob that comes out whenever somebody is critical of Hamilton is most amusing. What is nonsensical about retiring on top of your game?
Why do you think that Hamilton will continue until he is shuffled down the order of teams until even the back markers don’t want him anymore?
Just look at him, he is not the sort of person to do that and if you want to have a discussion then please be civil and polite, if you cannot manage that then it simply proves that you have nothing to offer but snarling lunacy.
If you need guidance on how to conduct yourself in an online discussion then just don’t saying anything that you would not say to me in person. In person, if you began with “you talk nonsense” I would laugh at you and continue on with my business.
Steven Robertson (@emu55)
29th June 2018, 21:26
Magnussen to Ferrari, he’s fast enough to be a number 2 and feisty enough to be a problem to any Mercedes or red bull behind him.
anon
29th June 2018, 22:13
@emu55, if you believe some of the rumours swirling around, that seat is destined to go to Leclerc instead.
Steven Robertson (@emu55)
29th June 2018, 21:31
I’d prefer Hamilton to stay a couple of years longer purely because I want another British driver to be in F1 with a competitive team, Russell and lando being my main hopes
Paul
29th June 2018, 23:28
RIC to Ferrari (giving Ferrari a good semi Italian driver and a lot of marketability)
RAI to where ever (currently wasting his seat)
LEC to Haas or bide his time at Sauber for 1 more year. Then to replace VET in 2020
SAI to Red Bull
OCO to Renault
HAR to leave
ALO to Indy full time
(Dark Horse nomination – FI gets new sports drink owner, bigger investment and a surprise higher level driver – RIC perhaps)
Ben Rowe (@thegianthogweed)
29th June 2018, 23:42
I assume some of these are just what you want to happen rather than what might. As Vettel is contracted to Ferrari in 2020. Sometime last year, he signed a 3 year deal or something. So nowhere else until 2022 if that is correct.
Zeke
30th June 2018, 2:45
Vettel will never win a drivers championship with Ferrari until he has to fight with an equal team mate. If Ric doesn’t get Kimi’s seat I will have lost all respect for the Scuderia. Enzo would be turning in his grave with the way Vettel is protected.
No driver should ever have a veto over who his team mate will be.
Bebana
30th June 2018, 17:21
Ricciardo should go to Ferrari .
Not only Vettel will be strengthened by his presence but Ferrari will definitely put fullstop on Merz domination.
JC
30th June 2018, 1:05
For Mclaren, Nando out, Lando in!
Zeke
30th June 2018, 2:47
👍🏻