In the round-up: Carlos Sainz Jnr says he’ll ask Fernando Alonso for advice on life at McLaren before he replaces him at the team next year.
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What they say
Sainz was asked if he has spoken to Alonso about McLaren yet:
Not yet. Not much. It’s something that probably will happen later in the year.
For sure, I will ask a few things.
Quotes: Dieter Rencken
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Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
Internet, twitter, misunderstanding, headlines, clicks, misreading. Life. 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
— Fernando Alonso (@alo_oficial) October 16, 2018
Overheard that Albon may not be in the NISMO press roundtable. He's here but Seb has been driving his car today – a very bizarre situation. I do really hope he didn't take the Toro Rosso deal. 😔
— Hazel Southwell (@HSouthwellFE) October 16, 2018
Contrary to all the news, the brilliant Guy Edwards is alive and well. Phew. I guess that's what they call fake news…
— Peter Windsor (@PeterDWindsor) October 16, 2018
Just teach me not to trust experienced colleagues who told me he was dead. It was also on the BRDC Twitter feed, which is usually a good guide as well.
— Joe Saward (@joesaward) October 16, 2018
Folks, just so you know, Guy Edwards is very much… not dead. Quality journalism and research, however, might be. #F1
— Leigh M O'Gorman (@LeighOGorman) October 16, 2018
Guy Edwards always advocated doing your research properly. To avoid making a fool of yourself. 😉 #F1
— Mark Gallagher (@_markgallagher) October 16, 2018
P2 in the championship is not a bad result! 😃
This guy here (my engineer) made this year a pleasure in every aspect. Not one argument just constant constructive work which ultimately massively helped me get great success this year. He deserves endless respect! (1/3) pic.twitter.com/55Mct0ePzW— Dan Ticktum (@DanTicktum) October 16, 2018
- Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory
Links
More motor racing links of interest:
Formula E CEO says Saudi race still planned to open season (AP)
"The Formula E motorsport series is pressing ahead with plans to open its season in Saudi Arabia, even as global business leaders have suspended ties with the Gulf kingdom over the disappearance of a journalist."
Wehrlein and D'Ambrosio to race for Mahindra in season five (Formula E)
"Former Formula One driver and 2015 DTM Champion, Wehrlein makes his debut in Formula E on the first day of testing ahead of the season opener in Saudi Arabia on December 15."
Correction: Guy Edwards (Motorsport)
"We are relieved to report that former F1 driver Guy Edwards is alive, contrary to reports overnight that he had passed away at his home in Ireland."
Sir Jackie Stewart opens up on his wife Lady Helen's dementia (BBC)
"Andrew Marr spoke to the former world champion racing driver."
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Comment of the day
Do Renault deserve the criticism they have received from Red Bull?
I can’t understand those who continue to pillory the Red Bull hierarchy given how poor Renault’s development has been, especially since the commencement of they Hybrid era.
Cyril continues to suggest that there’s no hurry to develop and that “they have a plan” while they seem to be making no gain nor bringing any meaningful development to their power unit.
Frankly if I was a paying customer I’d be seriously questioning their commitment to F1. What makes it worse is they actually have their own team and seem to have only moderate aspiration no for that.
Hopefully 2019/20 might see some evidence of a “plan” – they surely couldn’t have conned Daniel Ricciardo on false promises could they?
DB-C90 (@dbradock)
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badhatharry
17th October 2018, 0:19
Alonso, how should I handle my first season at McLaren?
Well, get a hold of some Ferrari data…
maiagus
17th October 2018, 0:33
Sometimes I am conflicted about whether Alonso had a shorter/less successful carrer than his talent deserved or a longer career than expected to someone involved in so much strange cases.
@HoHum (@hohum)
17th October 2018, 0:31
King Salman:” I had nothing to do with it, all I said was- who will rid me of this troublesome journalist.” So no reason not to love Saudi.
ColdFly (@)
17th October 2018, 5:25
Weird world we live in.
It’s more dangerous to pick up your visa at the consulate than entering the race itself.
BasCB (@bascb)
17th October 2018, 8:04
Yeah, next they will probalby “discover” that the 15 who flew on two officially chartered planes were all Iranian agents who took over a planned action to politely ask some questions. Or maybe they will turn out to be tourists who wanted to see the Aya Sophia in Istanbul @hohum, @coldfly.
With all the big companies (and government representatives) pulling out of that october conference it really doesn’t seem to be a good idea to go to Saudi Arabia to promote it right now. Then again, it seems that the Saudis are currently the biggest investor in tech stocks etc, (with China also big in that aspect) so I guess it is not a surprise that this series makes the same mistake F1 made with going for the big paychecks of despotic (and often worse, like South Africa etc.) regimes.
michel
17th October 2018, 11:09
money talks,
KSA organised 9/11, supported and funded the destruction of Syria, supported the terrorists planning attacks all over the world, executes opponents, executed or punished woman and LBGTs, their country is build with south East Asian slave labour, has killed 100.000s of people in Yemen. And almost nobody cared.
For motorsports, this kind of dirty money from reprhensible backward states is the new tobacco.
How much of f1s funding is from Bahrein, UAE, KSA, Qatar? Hell Mclaren is owned by by Bahrein.
South Africa was a disgrace and everyone own the wrong side of that back then should be ashamed, but I feel like KSA is even worse. And its weird people did not care until a Washington post journalist got hit.
Biggsy
17th October 2018, 14:27
Glad to see there are other people who actually have a more objective worldview.
As for the state of the affairs at the moment, we live in a peculiar time, and it probably can’t last much longer.
America as the strongest power at the moment is dictating who’s good and who isn’t. The problem is that we have this unholy frankenstein that is USA-Israel-KSA, with their interests so intertwined that it’s almost impossible to expect they will really take any measures to distance themselves from one another. Money talks. And F1 itself is completely owned by western and middle-eastern big businesses.
ferrox glideh (@ferrox-glideh)
17th October 2018, 17:47
I guess Liberty Media is just a name, a catchy phrase, not an actual stance on how their affairs are governed.
It’s the same old Bernie-style business, with money being a more important bottom line than human morality.
Tristan (@skipgamer)
17th October 2018, 0:32
I really think Ricciardo’s just in it for the pay day, $60 million is a lot of money
maiagus
17th October 2018, 0:40
If one puts its cynical reading glasses, that is exactly what he did and he seems to be right.
RB doesnt seems to be a title contender in the next two years. If it is, VER would be a fierce competition.
Apparently he would not find a seat on Ferrari or Mercedes.
So, no title perspective.
Verstappen, for now, is under the graces of RB and the chronometer.
So, remaining in RB would mean less financial reward and a tough benchmark.
Then, going to Renault is a bet that already pays this $60 millions, plus some surprise result he could get and nobody would expect he could win as they would in RB.
Finally and funnily, Ricciardo is almost an old driver by today’s standarts.
Jim Clark
17th October 2018, 2:28
He’s much closer in age to Lewis and Seb than to Max.
DB-C90 (@dbradock)
17th October 2018, 7:55
I really hope that wasn’t his motivation @skipgamer, otherwise my admiration for our local lad will go down a bit.
I’m hoping that Renault might actually have a plan that might possibly involve some change to its management. There are some good candidates that I suspect might actually help lift Renault and their current Team Principal has never given me any indication that he’s the right person.
In time I’m guessing we might hear more from Dan about the matter. In the meantime I can only hope that he does a Hamilton and ends up being in the right car with the right team. Not feeling confident though and even less so every time Cyril opens his mouth.
greg-c (@greg-c)
17th October 2018, 11:49
Aussie Aussie Aussie !!!
@dbradock
Garns (@)
17th October 2018, 12:30
@dbradock
I see your point about Cyril but he isn’t open like, say, Toto is, so you hope there is more of a plan than is currently suggested, which isn’t too much.
Also dont forget Alain Prost has increased his role in the team, a great like he is can only help.
greg-c (@greg-c)
17th October 2018, 11:47
@skipgamer
re Danny Ric, please let it not be the case, surely/Shirley his red bull contract offer would have let him buy premium petrol and have a decent flat with parking to live in
To continue to be an absolute legend at late braking one must have a car at least capable of catching the car in front,
I do hope your wrong, and that he saw something we don’t know about.
Garns (@)
17th October 2018, 12:20
@greg-c
I dont think money is primary reason, but it cant hurt. He gets out of Red Bull for a change in environment, can see if Renault get it together in two years or if a seat opens up at the top two. Do doubt Lewis or Seb may be done by then, may be both.
Or he had said if F1 doesn’t go in the right direction with reg changes he may go race somewhere else. There is no doubt Ricky Bobby will race in the USA after he finishes F1.
Have faith fellow Aussie, it’s all good 😎
dutchtreat (@dutchtreat)
17th October 2018, 0:45
Such Honda hype and Renault bashing. In 2019 only RBR and TR will get on the podium…
Stephen Crowsen (@drycrust)
17th October 2018, 6:00
But will they get onto the podium more frequently than Renault? Next year could be the best year for getting podiums for the likes of Force India, Williams, Sauber, and Haas.
Jere (@jerejj)
17th October 2018, 10:15
@drycrust Very unlikely that the likes of FI, Williams, Sauber, or Haas could realistically be fighting for podium-positions next season despite RBR’s switch to Honda power. Even with the Honda PU, RBR is still likely going to remain significantly ahead of all the teams mentioned above pace-wise.
spoutnik (@spoutnik)
17th October 2018, 11:52
@drycrust I bet the current pecking order will remain the same next year, with maybe McLaren improving a little bit.
MacLeod (@macleod)
17th October 2018, 8:09
Not only a strong engine brings podium there are more things like Aero, tactics and good pitcrew/wall otherwise Force India and Willems would be team 3 and 4 if only engine counts…
Arrows98 (@arrows98)
17th October 2018, 3:01
Alonso’s advice: ‘Get out!’
Arrows98 (@arrows98)
17th October 2018, 3:05
but in all seriousness, I believe the opportunity to succeed was one of the reasons that made Sainz sign with McLaren: Sainz has never hidden the fact he’s a huge Alonso fan…
Mashiat (@mashiat)
17th October 2018, 3:44
@arrows98 I have a different theory as to why he left Renault to join McLaren, and it is the one that is believed to be the case. Sainz simply wasn’t wanted by Renault, because he isn’t good enough compared to their other candidates. Renault were willing to take a Mercedes junior over him. And Sainz didn’t have any choics but to join McLaren, who were desperate themselves are Ocon turned them down for Renault.
Mashiat (@mashiat)
17th October 2018, 3:44
*after Ocon
Arrows98 (@arrows98)
18th October 2018, 3:48
oh, I also don’t believe for a second Renault was head over heels to re-sign Sainz (that’s why I said ‘one of the reasons’) but I feel he could’ve probably negotiated for an extension if he gave in to some of their demands
NickF1 (@nickpkr251)
17th October 2018, 4:10
Balme the engine, never the chassis, English people are never wrong even when they are
GP2 engine !!!
NickF1 (@nickpkr251)
17th October 2018, 4:11
or blame
UNeedAFinn2Win (@uneedafinn2win)
17th October 2018, 7:04
or embalm
ferrox glideh (@ferrox-glideh)
17th October 2018, 17:50
Bomb!
MB (@muralibhats)
17th October 2018, 5:04
Sainz is the most overrated driver on the grid now IMO. All the attention he got was due to be paired with VER. You hardly notice or see his drive from the time he moved to a more competitive Renault from Toro Rosso. Also I dont like the way he potrays Alonso as his hero and by that getting all the attention. When you overdo it on multiple occasions, it feels silly. Feels like a promotional stunt.
His career will mot likely end with McLaren. Perez was lucky enough to continue.
AL
17th October 2018, 5:55
Most overrated? You’re forgetting Ericsson.
Stephen Crowsen (@drycrust)
17th October 2018, 6:30
I doubt that Sainz is the most overrated driver in F1, I think he’s quite good actually. He drives, he doesn’t attract attention, and often finishes in the points. It is hard to stand out on TV when you’re not competing for a podium place.
Good driving isn’t dramatic driving, so immediately one has to accept that good drivers won’t be the ones that stand out unless they’re at the front. Sainz has scored points at 11/17 races, with a total of 39 points, or an average of 2.3 points per race.
DB-C90 (@dbradock)
17th October 2018, 8:01
Well reasoned @drycrust. I’d go further than that and suggest that had there not been so much animosity from the current RBR driver, he’d have been a shoo in to get the seat vacated by Dan Ric.
That may well backfire on RBR as I doubt Gasly will be any less likely to cause friction than Sainz would have been, and is probably far more likely to bin it early in the season which will cost them valuable points.
spoutnik (@spoutnik)
17th October 2018, 11:57
@muralibhats most overrated? I’d put Hartley, Ericssson, Raikkonen, Perez, Magnussen, Grosjean and Vandoorne (despite being fan) before Sainz.
MB (@muralibhats)
17th October 2018, 12:39
The drivers you mentioned are rated as much as they have potential. Being on the race grid doesn’t mean being overrated.
I will be happy if he performs well. Lets see.
hyoko
17th October 2018, 21:16
much less so than LH and SV IMO
DB-C90 (@dbradock)
17th October 2018, 6:06
Alonso’s advice:
Drive a different car.
Martijn (@)
17th October 2018, 8:54
Ask Alonso anything on driving, but please limit yourself to that. All other things failed so why ask him?
Jere (@jerejj)
17th October 2018, 10:17
Wasn’t that reported like two months ago already, though? #RehashingOldNews
– The confirmation/announcement of Wehrlein’s FE move means that he’s now officially out of the contention for the remaining STR-drive if he ever were a serious contender in the first place.
– I agree with the COTD.
– Regarding the Motorsport.com-article: Journalism at its best. #CheckTheFactsBeforeClaimingSomething
– Alonso’s tweet, though.
alex
17th October 2018, 10:33
He’ll ask advice to a guy that has been 4 years in the team with 0 progress in developing the car. If u get his opinions and advice and u do the opposite he recommends you, most sure will be the better chances of success you will have!
Fudge Kobayashi (@)
17th October 2018, 10:39
@hazelsouthwell why? If he’s been offered the drive of course he will take it, the TR is a reasonably competitive car this year and should be even better in 2019 with Red Bull joining the big H.
GongTong (@gongtong)
17th October 2018, 14:56
@ftruth @hazelsouthwell I wanted to ask the same thing. Albon has been superb this year and is every bit as deserving to make the F1 grid as LN and GR (more so in my opinion). The TR is actually a more appealing seat to me than what his rivals are getting, no?
Hazel Southwell (@hazelsouthwell)
17th October 2018, 16:06
@ftruth @GongTong
A few reasons; firstly, that he’d signed to Nissan and was at final testing. They’ve now lost two and potentially three days of running one of their cars due to the complications of this, which sucks. Especially for a team that paid for his year in F2 this season, so had put a lot of faith in him.
I understand the allure of the STR seat but as a Formula E journalist I see them dead-eyed and broken out the other side. With Ticktum in the wings as the golden child, Albon is throwing away a factory seat with a superb team (Nissan’s Formula E entry is run by e.Dams, Jean-Paul Driot’s multi-title winners) for a very risky situation in a series there’s no guarantee will suit his driving style.
BlackJackFan
17th October 2018, 18:19
But Hazel… STR is F1… and who wouldn’t choose to drive for F1 rather than FE.
Only a slightly biased FE journalist, it seems… ;)
Tom
17th October 2018, 18:43
+1 Blackjackfan – I like Formula E and expect it to become a massive series ( potentially merge with or overtake F1 in many years time ) but right now surely a driver who believes in their skills has to take an F1 drive over Formula E ? I mean they get to drive against the best drivers on world famous tracks with much faster cars. To be honest I do wonder if Formula E seems like a step down from F2 due to the tracks they race on and speed differences.
It’s a shame if the funding and contract from Nissan ends up meaning nothing but sadly I don’t believe for one second if Alonso, Hamilton or Vettel came knocking that Nissan wouldn’t drop a driver in seconds. Unfortunately loyalty rarely gets you anywhere.
Fudge Kobayashi (@)
18th October 2018, 10:55
Have to agree with this tbh, no brainer.
Zd2756
17th October 2018, 23:23
Hazel, you may find that DAMS only pay for a portion of his F2 budget which he was having to pay all of it back with his FE earnings anyway (according to Joe Saward’s blog). I’m sure he will have to pay DAMS back in full if he ends up at STR anyway.
It is so cruel and wrong to even think of stopping a 22 years old driver from fulfilling his dream when it’’s been offered to him – especially as Albon doesn’t have money to bring to F1 and has to rely solely on his talent alone.
GongTong (@gongtong)
18th October 2018, 13:32
I agree with the sentiment that you take an F1 seat when it comes up. I too love FE and it’s sad that F1 churns broken drivers out to them… however, the option to go from F1 to FE is there. We can’t say the same in the other direction. Yet.
PgA
17th October 2018, 11:26
Sainz: Hi Alonso, how do I break a team.
Alonso: Get comfortable…
Biggsy
17th October 2018, 14:32
– Hey Fernando, after I retire, I want to become a horrible, unfunny, bitter, internet troll. How do I become one?
– Just go to the comments section on racefans.net. You’ll have a plenty of an example there.
ferrox glideh (@ferrox-glideh)
17th October 2018, 17:57
A tad harsh, especially considering what the comments sections on many other F1 sites are like. I’ve found the F1fanatic/Racefans comments to be rather informed and light-hearted by comparison, although I may be preaching to the choir here.
BlackJackFan
17th October 2018, 18:21
Hi Biggsy – I presume you’re offering yourself as mentor… ;)
James Bond (@jamesbond)
18th October 2018, 1:14
Sainz: Hey Nando how can I crush my new teammate?
Nando: Hey Carlos just make sure Mclaren gives the newest parts and updates to you only.