Honey, we need to talk about our boy Scuderia .. AKA KeystoneF1

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by peebee2

Why wouldn't he take a big-bucks Merc offer, assuming MV stays at RB?

Merc have realised that they will likely need a real team leader when LH retires, as the jury is most definitely out on GR being able to fulfill that role.

Is LH about to move anytime soon? After both Silverstone and the Hungaroring, he seems to have his mojo back. I think Russell might have his eye on that job, after LH goes.

Maybe Alfa-Romeo/Sauber? They qualified well at Hungary, after their upgrades but that is no guarantee at this stage, though they are going to morph into Audi and that might be the incentive for Leclerc to leave Ferrari.

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Is LH about to move anytime soon? After both Silverstone and the Hungaroring, he seems to have his mojo back. I think Russell might have his eye on that job, after LH goes.

Maybe Alfa-Romeo/Sauber? They qualified well at Hungary, after their upgrades but that is no guarantee at this stage, though they are going to morph into Audi and that might be the incentive for Leclerc to leave Ferrari.

He’d probably only go to Merc or RB. Long shot Audi.

What GR thinks and what the team think might not be the same at all.

[Teretonga]

Originally Posted by peebee2

Why wouldn't he take a big-bucks Merc offer, assuming MV stays at RB?

Merc have realized that they will likely need a real team leader when LH retires, as the jury is most definitely out on GR being able to fulfill that role.

I think you are wrong.
In an English language world where most teams reside in the UK yes your UK media hyped up George in 2022, especially when the car was a dog.
But once the potential in this present car was realized with a few revisions then Hamilton giftedness began to assert itself again. Even Hamilton has commented on the pole in similar light since Saturday.

That doesn't mean George can't lead a team. He can, but a Russell Leclerc team would be like a Senna-Prost team or a Mansell-Patrese team if the car was good enough.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by Teretonga

I think you are wrong.
In an English language world where most teams reside in the UK yes your UK media hyped up George in 2022, especially when the car was a dog.
But once the potential in this present car was realized with a few revisions then Hamilton giftedness began to assert itself again. Even Hamilton has commented on the pole in similar light since Saturday.

That doesn't mean George can't lead a team. He can, but a Russell Leclerc team would be like a Senna-Prost team or a Mansell-Patrese team if the car was good enough.

Big if - the Brain drain at Merc seems to be taking a toll

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by Teretonga

I think you are wrong.
In an English language world where most teams reside in the UK yes your UK media hyped up George in 2022, especially when the car was a dog.
But once the potential in this present car was realized with a few revisions then Hamilton giftedness began to assert itself again. Even Hamilton has commented on the pole in similar light since Saturday.

That doesn't mean George can't lead a team. He can, but a Russell Leclerc team would be like a Senna-Prost team or a Mansell-Patrese team if the car was good enough.

No problem, I was only saying what I've heard. May be true, may not come to pass.

But I have no doubt that George is far from a racing certainty to be considered team leader material in future.

A mildly remotivated Ham having almost 50% more points than him isn't a great sign.

[S griffin]

Leclerc made a mistake going to Ferrari. I’m sure he’s passionate to do well for them, but he’s wasting his best years. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him move on

[S griffin]

He could take a gamble. Go somewhere like Haas. The problem is for him there aren’t many other top teams that have room for him now

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by S griffin

He could take a gamble. Go somewhere like Haas. The problem is for him there aren’t many other top teams that have room for him now

HAAS? A Ferrari scrap bin car?

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by S griffin

He could take a gamble. Go somewhere like Haas. The problem is for him there aren’t many other top teams that have room for him now

Seriously?

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

Seriously?

No its total nonsense.

[S griffin]

Haas can surprise. And seem more organised at times than other teams

[chunterer]

Personally I think Russell is future no.1 material. He's had a few 'issues' this season that had blunted his campaign but most of the time over a race distance he's at a similar level to Hamilton. Sometimes ahead, sometimes behind.
Anyone who can get close to Lewis let alone beat him is seriously good.

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by chunterer

Personally I think Russell is future no.1 material. He's had a few 'issues' this season that had blunted his campaign but most of the time over a race distance he's at a similar level to Hamilton. Sometimes ahead, sometimes behind.
Anyone who can get close to Lewis let alone beat him is seriously good.

With all due respect that sounds like fan talk.

Analysis of performance isn't nearly so positive. And Lewis, who most think is in a slow decline of sorts, is shading him massively this season.

Outdated Powerpoint can only get you so far.

[GTRMagic]

The funny thing is watching the Sky broadcasts, and its almost like Ferrari doesnt exist. They really get no love.. and there is almost an EXPECTATION for something to go wrong with strategy or performance, or a dud pitstop or some other management intervention to two drivers who keep arguing with their pitwall...

Weird state of affairs...

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

The funny thing is watching the Sky broadcasts, and its almost like Ferrari doesnt exist. They really get no love.. and there is almost an EXPECTATION for something to go wrong with strategy or performance, or a dud pitstop or some other management intervention to two drivers who keep arguing with their pitwall...

Weird state of affairs...

To be fair, that seems largely the reaction here too... I mean, just look at the title of the thread......

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

To be fair, that seems largely the reaction here too... I mean, just look at the title of the thread......

[Richard C]

To get back a few pages/days in this thread before we got derailed a bit..

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

The funny thing is watching the Sky broadcasts, and its almost like Ferrari doesnt exist. They really get no love.. and there is almost an EXPECTATION for something to go wrong with strategy or performance, or a dud pitstop or some other management intervention to two drivers who keep arguing with their pitwall...

Weird state of affairs...

I felt the same way. There seems to be an expectations as to Ferrari is going to screw up a pitstop or strategy call. I have no strong opinion regarding how Ferrari seems to be trending. I guess in some ways the operational stuff (pitstops, strategy) maybe is improving, but the car itself seems to be going backwards.

Historically all of this seems to be torches and pitchforks aimed at the team principal. What is being said about Vasseur these days? You can't expect him to turn the ship quickly, and maybe he is still in a bit of a honeymoon phase. But at what point does he get a target on his back?

Richard

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by Richard Casto

To get back a few pages/days in this thread before we got derailed a bit..


I felt the same way. There seems to be an expectations as to Ferrari is going to screw up a pitstop or strategy call. I have no strong opinion regarding how Ferrari seems to be trending. I guess in some ways the operational stuff (pitstops, strategy) maybe is improving, but the car itself seems to be going backwards.

Historically all of this seems to be torches and pitchforks aimed at the team principal. What is being said about Vasseur these days? You can't expect him to turn the ship quickly, and maybe he is still in a bit of a honeymoon phase. But at what point does he get a target on his back?

Richard

Well poor quali makes you try to off beat plans and try to find something everyone else isn't doing, when it works you look brilliant, when it doesn't the media feasts

[S griffin]

I just hope Vasseur can turn things around. But it was always going to be a struggle this year, the car is just not quick enough. Although they have had a few moments in the sun

[Born Racer]

I think Russell has shown leadership qualities. He has shown himself willing to speak up and ask why he should not be allowed to move in front of Hamilton when the latter has been slower at certain points in the race, but I've also seen times where he has selflessly even offered to move over to help the Mercedes strategy overall. So he seems to have a will to win and a sense of the big picture of the team. I don't know how much off the pace you consider him, peebee, but I think if he's even close to Hamilton, that's good - it's like being in the Red Bull and being close to Verstappen.

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by Born Racer

I think Russell has shown leadership qualities. He has shown himself willing to speak up and ask why he should not be allowed to move in front of Hamilton when the latter has been slower at certain points in the race, but I've also seen times where he has selflessly even offered to move over to help the Mercedes strategy overall. So he seems to have a will to win and a sense of the big picture of the team. I don't know how much off the pace you consider him, peebee, but I think if he's even close to Hamilton, that's good - it's like being in the Red Bull and being close to Verstappen.

I think you're broadly right.

But one thing, the next Mercedes top dog needs to be a lot better than "good" - hence considering Leclerc etc.

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by peebee2

I think you're broadly right.

But one thing, the next Mercedes top dog needs to be a lot better than "good" - hence considering Leclerc etc.

Not wishing to open a can of worms here, but personally I'm beginning to wonder just how 'good' Leclerc really is? As always, there are two ways of reacting to the problems he's been having, but for example) he has thrown the car into the barriers on more than one occasion (fan: "He's trying the make up for the rubbish car by over-driving", not a fan: "He doesn't even understand his & his cars limits") plus he's clearly getting rattled when things go wrong etc.
I'm not saying he is a rubbish driver, but am starting to question some of the hype that surrounds him.

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by peebee2

I think you're broadly right.

But one thing, the next Mercedes top dog needs to be a lot better than "good" - hence considering Leclerc etc.

But is Leclerc really better than 'good'?

Originally Posted by VIVA GT

Not wishing to open a can of worms here, but personally I'm beginning to wonder just how 'good' Leclerc really is? As always, there are two ways of reacting to the problems he's been having, but for example) he has thrown the car into the barriers on more than one occasion (fan: "He's trying the make up for the rubbish car by over-driving", not a fan: "He doesn't even understand his & his cars limits") plus he's clearly getting rattled when things go wrong etc.
I'm not saying he is a rubbish driver, but am starting to question some of the hype that surrounds him.

I posted my comment before reading yours. But I very much agree and have thought this for some time.

[peebee2]

Inside the sport Leclerc is generally considered the outright fastest driver on pace alone.

His mistakes have been costing him though.

[Akrapovic]

[citation needed]