If Webber Retires... That Coveted No.2 Red Bull spot goes to...
Posted by danm
...who?
I really do feel Webber will retire this season. He has been trounced by Vettel, sadly.
I cannot for the life of me justify taking one of the Toro Rosso drivers when neither of them are particularly deserving of their seats already/are totally unspectacular/seemingly lack charisma and fan appeal/already fighting a face off to keep a seat at STR.
Would the untrialled Daniel Ricciardo get the push in? Surely not, he is too young? But seems a hell of a lot more promising than the STR guys.
So who exactly would get it?
Sniffing around, all I can think of fitting it perfectly as young rookies are Kobayashi or Perez, but both have committed themselves to Sauber for the moment.
Hamilton is looking ever more likely, but I think that the Hamilton/Vettel pairing would be worse than Prost/Senna and Hamilton/Alonso. I think it'd be a total disaster, and Red Bull seem to know it.
Would they really take on an unpredictable mature guy again, like Webber, in Massa? I doubt it.
They need a good number 2 who won't ruffle Vettel; but at the same time keeps him on his toes.
I can think Button is perfect, but he already has that role within McLaren and doesn't look likely to be moving at all.
Rosberg? Looks like he's about to sign his life over to the silver side. Ooof. Brave boy. Plus, I think he is a risky choice, given he's too young to keel over as a number 2; and still has something to prove. Could be toxic.
So surely Ricciardo is going to get the green light? It's gonna be someone home grown, right? Surely.
Tough to predict.
What does everyone else think?
Jenson drives it like he owns it; Lewis drives it like he stole it
I really do feel Webber will retire this season. He has been trounced by Vettel, sadly.
I cannot for the life of me justify taking one of the Toro Rosso drivers when neither of them are particularly deserving of their seats already/are totally unspectacular/seemingly lack charisma and fan appeal/already fighting a face off to keep a seat at STR.
Would the untrialled Daniel Ricciardo get the push in? Surely not, he is too young? But seems a hell of a lot more promising than the STR guys.
So who exactly would get it?
Sniffing around, all I can think of fitting it perfectly as young rookies are Kobayashi or Perez, but both have committed themselves to Sauber for the moment.
Hamilton is looking ever more likely, but I think that the Hamilton/Vettel pairing would be worse than Prost/Senna and Hamilton/Alonso. I think it'd be a total disaster, and Red Bull seem to know it.
Would they really take on an unpredictable mature guy again, like Webber, in Massa? I doubt it.
They need a good number 2 who won't ruffle Vettel; but at the same time keeps him on his toes.
I can think Button is perfect, but he already has that role within McLaren and doesn't look likely to be moving at all.
Rosberg? Looks like he's about to sign his life over to the silver side. Ooof. Brave boy. Plus, I think he is a risky choice, given he's too young to keel over as a number 2; and still has something to prove. Could be toxic.
So surely Ricciardo is going to get the green light? It's gonna be someone home grown, right? Surely.
Tough to predict.
What does everyone else think?
Can anyone really see Webber sticking around when he doesn't seem that happy? It's all well and good, he isn't doing badly as a number two at all - perfect for the team - but maybe not perfect for him.
But then with Vettel there in his current form, he has no chance.
I always thought he'd have a poke at Ferrari as his last wild card farewell for a transition year whilst Ferrari prepared to rope in a new Massa-esque long term rookie (Koby or Perez).
On second glance, Rosberg would be a relevant choice, we know he'd push Vettel, but just how much we can't tell. Although something hints that we almost know we won't BEAT Vettel, which raises his appeal further.
Di Resta is Mercedes bound for sure, not quite certain if the McLaren tie in is now void.
Sutil? No way, had his chance, mediocre seat filler.
The Hulk? Needs more race time, and too unknown still.
I thought Petrov could be an interesting prospect, he is definitely maturing and for breaking Red Bull to new markets, but he is too involved financially with Renault/Lotus. Though rumours suggest they're in sh!t creak right now. Still, he is a bit of a far out choice.
Glock seemed to be quite solid at Toyota, I think he is heading towards the Massa/Rubens/Webber mould and I see him cropping up to a midfield team next year maybe at Williams if Rubens leaves. He'd be my very dark horse bet, but then two germans isn't good for marketing.
Ricciardo is top, he has to be! But in a race winning machine almost guaranteed, what a career start. That's gotta be better than Hamiltons plate he was given.
Jenson drives it like he owns it; Lewis drives it like he stole it
But then with Vettel there in his current form, he has no chance.
I always thought he'd have a poke at Ferrari as his last wild card farewell for a transition year whilst Ferrari prepared to rope in a new Massa-esque long term rookie (Koby or Perez).
On second glance, Rosberg would be a relevant choice, we know he'd push Vettel, but just how much we can't tell. Although something hints that we almost know we won't BEAT Vettel, which raises his appeal further.
Di Resta is Mercedes bound for sure, not quite certain if the McLaren tie in is now void.
Sutil? No way, had his chance, mediocre seat filler.
The Hulk? Needs more race time, and too unknown still.
I thought Petrov could be an interesting prospect, he is definitely maturing and for breaking Red Bull to new markets, but he is too involved financially with Renault/Lotus. Though rumours suggest they're in sh!t creak right now. Still, he is a bit of a far out choice.
Glock seemed to be quite solid at Toyota, I think he is heading towards the Massa/Rubens/Webber mould and I see him cropping up to a midfield team next year maybe at Williams if Rubens leaves. He'd be my very dark horse bet, but then two germans isn't good for marketing.
Ricciardo is top, he has to be! But in a race winning machine almost guaranteed, what a career start. That's gotta be better than Hamiltons plate he was given.
I would love to see Rosberg go there and turn up the heat, but Red Bull have been seen to employ some serious No.1 politics; and at the same time, seemingly not worry about them.
Wether that's the result of Vettel being better than Webber we don't know. They have let them fight tooth and nail and take eachother out as well, so it's a mystery.
The Mclaren opening is an immense one - what a space to fill! Button is a pretty gritty number 2, but not really team leader material. I think if Lewis goes, they will undergo a few transitional years if something feisty doesn't join them. If they do end up producing their own engines too, this is a nice time to secure one of the little rookies, again, I forsee both of the current Sauber pair hitting the top teams at some point.
Maybe Rosberg would get the nod. Or di Resta?
Next season is going to rely heavily on the movement/contracts of Webber and Rosberg. The same way we all waited on Kubica, but with him likely out of the frame for a while, it's opened up a real can of worms.
Jenson drives it like he owns it; Lewis drives it like he stole it
Wether that's the result of Vettel being better than Webber we don't know. They have let them fight tooth and nail and take eachother out as well, so it's a mystery.
The Mclaren opening is an immense one - what a space to fill! Button is a pretty gritty number 2, but not really team leader material. I think if Lewis goes, they will undergo a few transitional years if something feisty doesn't join them. If they do end up producing their own engines too, this is a nice time to secure one of the little rookies, again, I forsee both of the current Sauber pair hitting the top teams at some point.
Maybe Rosberg would get the nod. Or di Resta?
Next season is going to rely heavily on the movement/contracts of Webber and Rosberg. The same way we all waited on Kubica, but with him likely out of the frame for a while, it's opened up a real can of worms.
Silverstone 2010...
Jenson drives it like he owns it; Lewis drives it like he stole it
Webber won't retire, I regard him as one of the few drivers that enjoy doing it at any costs, in any team. Guys like Barrichello, Trulli or Coulthard (some time ago). So I'll think he'll be given the sack in december and will sign for a midgrid team. I can see him in Force India alongside Di Resta, or in Sauber alongside Kobayashi (IMO Perez will sign for a better team next year).
If the choice is between the STR drivers, it's difficult to choose one which is better. Buemi has been doing it really well this year, but Alguersuari did a great job after replacing Bourdais and in 2010. I'm sure that Ricciardo won't get it, though. RBR won't sign a rookie, that's why they owe STR, to test rookies for the future (Even though the only guy who's made it all the way from F3 to STR to RBR is Vettel).
If the choice is outside Red Bull-Sponsored drivers, Rosberg has contract with MGP, so it's too expensive, but... who knows what Nico can do with a RBR? That's interesting. Massa? Nah, it's like bringing in another Webber. Alonso? You're dreaming. Button? Possible... possible... but he's happy at McLaren and he won't get out unless someone fired him. Hamilton? Vettel would have problems with him, he has already had (China 2010). Perez? Difficult, he's linked to Ferrari, but if they "stole" some engineers from RBR, it could be some kind of revenge
. Kubica? No one knows in what state he'll return, could be like MSC in 2000 and win the championship, could be like Massa last year and be humiliated by his teammate and his own team.
My final choices are: Buemi, Alguersuari or Rosberg. Of course, they can do anything and sign in J.R. Hildebrand (poor guy...)
Stats: 139 Starts / 7 Wins / 9 Poles / 5 Fastest laps
If the choice is between the STR drivers, it's difficult to choose one which is better. Buemi has been doing it really well this year, but Alguersuari did a great job after replacing Bourdais and in 2010. I'm sure that Ricciardo won't get it, though. RBR won't sign a rookie, that's why they owe STR, to test rookies for the future (Even though the only guy who's made it all the way from F3 to STR to RBR is Vettel).
If the choice is outside Red Bull-Sponsored drivers, Rosberg has contract with MGP, so it's too expensive, but... who knows what Nico can do with a RBR? That's interesting. Massa? Nah, it's like bringing in another Webber. Alonso? You're dreaming. Button? Possible... possible... but he's happy at McLaren and he won't get out unless someone fired him. Hamilton? Vettel would have problems with him, he has already had (China 2010). Perez? Difficult, he's linked to Ferrari, but if they "stole" some engineers from RBR, it could be some kind of revenge
. Kubica? No one knows in what state he'll return, could be like MSC in 2000 and win the championship, could be like Massa last year and be humiliated by his teammate and his own team.My final choices are: Buemi, Alguersuari or Rosberg. Of course, they can do anything and sign in J.R. Hildebrand (poor guy...
)Stats: 139 Starts / 7 Wins / 9 Poles / 5 Fastest laps
It wont happen but Kimi would be more than awesome.
Other than that Nico or Button would be the best guys to go for... We still havent seen Nico in a top car, and we need to know just how much slower Schumacher is now... Vettel and Nico would be an amazing pair, but maybe Nico would push Vettel more than Marko would like.
After what's gone on at the team I cant see them wanting a driver at least the ability of Vettel.
"Trulli was slowing down like he wanted to have a picnic" LOL
Other than that Nico or Button would be the best guys to go for... We still havent seen Nico in a top car, and we need to know just how much slower Schumacher is now... Vettel and Nico would be an amazing pair, but maybe Nico would push Vettel more than Marko would like.
After what's gone on at the team I cant see them wanting a driver at least the ability of Vettel.
"Trulli was slowing down like he wanted to have a picnic" LOL
Yes, I would probably give the seat to Buemi. He's not the sort of guy that's going to rock the boat too much, and seems to have some good potential when he puts his mind to it.
X (@ed24f1)
X (@ed24f1)
I know alguersuari hasn't set the world on fire at str, but i think he was thrust into that seat way too early. Even in his 2nd full season he is still at an age where most drivers are still in GP2, so the redbull must see some potential in him.
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As much as I dream of seeing Bruno Senna get the chance in a top car, I realise that's a pretty unrealistic thing to seriously consider here. Likewise a Kimi comeback. But those would be my first two choices in an ideal world.
Realistically, as said above, RBR will probably promote one of the current Toro Rosso drivers if Webber goes - everything fits. And yeah, Buemi is more likely to get the gig than Jaime, based on his overall performance.
danm Wrote:
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> Silverstone 2010...
The brilliant thing about that race and Webber's whinge on the radio when he won was that he was actually making an extremely accurate comment, even though it was meant to be a frustrated one. :P
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/09/2011 02:43AM by EC83.
Realistically, as said above, RBR will probably promote one of the current Toro Rosso drivers if Webber goes - everything fits. And yeah, Buemi is more likely to get the gig than Jaime, based on his overall performance.
danm Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Silverstone 2010...
The brilliant thing about that race and Webber's whinge on the radio when he won was that he was actually making an extremely accurate comment, even though it was meant to be a frustrated one. :P
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/09/2011 02:43AM by EC83.
matt3454 Wrote:
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> I know alguersuari hasn't set the world on fire at
> str, but i think he was thrust into that seat way
> too early. Even in his 2nd full season he is still
> at an age where most drivers are still in GP2, so
> the redbull must see some potential in him.
I think he probably has more marketing potential than Buemi, and that might help him later on.
Toro Rosso have to accommodate Ricciardo in 2012, and probably Jean-Eric Vergne in 2013 or 2014, so something has to give. Either they let Buemi or Alguersuari go, or they promote one to Red Bull if Webber retires. It's becoming a bit of a bottle-neck.
I suppose Vettel may also get some input into his team-mate, and it will be interesting to see if he wants a number 2 driver or another top-line driver.
X (@ed24f1)
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> I know alguersuari hasn't set the world on fire at
> str, but i think he was thrust into that seat way
> too early. Even in his 2nd full season he is still
> at an age where most drivers are still in GP2, so
> the redbull must see some potential in him.
I think he probably has more marketing potential than Buemi, and that might help him later on.
Toro Rosso have to accommodate Ricciardo in 2012, and probably Jean-Eric Vergne in 2013 or 2014, so something has to give. Either they let Buemi or Alguersuari go, or they promote one to Red Bull if Webber retires. It's becoming a bit of a bottle-neck.
I suppose Vettel may also get some input into his team-mate, and it will be interesting to see if he wants a number 2 driver or another top-line driver.
X (@ed24f1)
This is quite a tought decision, and because of that I wouldn't be surprised if Webber stayed for another year. I still think that he's doing a pretty solid job, it's just the Vettel is doing an even more solid one. Mark's a tough character, but I wouldn't expect to see him at another team - I reckon he will retire when he leaves Red Bull.
As for his replacement, there aren't really any obvious choices... Personally, I'd like to see Massa there for a year or two. He might be leaving Ferrari to make way for Perez, and there isn't really anywhere else he could go apart from Red Bull.
As a Rosberg fan, I wouldn't like to see him driving for the Red Bull. I think he's got huge potential, but going to partner Vettel would be career suicide. Then again, Rosberg is German like Vettel, so maybe Red Bull wouldn't give him the cold shoulder after all??
I don't think there are any other available drivers who would be up to speed.
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As for his replacement, there aren't really any obvious choices... Personally, I'd like to see Massa there for a year or two. He might be leaving Ferrari to make way for Perez, and there isn't really anywhere else he could go apart from Red Bull.
As a Rosberg fan, I wouldn't like to see him driving for the Red Bull. I think he's got huge potential, but going to partner Vettel would be career suicide. Then again, Rosberg is German like Vettel, so maybe Red Bull wouldn't give him the cold shoulder after all??
I don't think there are any other available drivers who would be up to speed.
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