Checo gone

[Geoff]

Sad, but seemingly inevitable.

And who to replace ?

TSU has been doing all the right things of late.

Or LAW, who started with a flourish but seems to have flattened out a
bit, plus a bit of bad luck.

Despite LAW being a fellow kiwi, I don't warm to him as he appears to
impart a sense on 'entitlement', and tends to snivel a lot.

But whoever gets the job, surely being second-fiddle to VER is not a
happy place to be anyway.

[scole]

Post by Geoff
Sad, but seemingly inevitable.
And who to replace ?
TSU has been doing all the right things of late.
Or LAW, who started with a flourish but seems to have flattened out a
bit, plus a bit of bad luck.
Despite LAW being a fellow kiwi, I don't warm to him as he appears to
impart a sense on 'entitlement', and tends to snivel a lot.
But whoever gets the job, surely being second-fiddle to VER is not a
happy place to be anyway.

I think both Tsunoda and Lawson would be bad picks. Tsunoda in particular
has shown he does not have the temperament to know his place and play his
role, it'll end in tears and would be counter-productive.

I did see an article recently that floated the idea of bringing in Bottas,
a reliable journeyman driver who has already demonstrated a willingness to
be the number 2 in a team. I like that idea, I've a soft spot for Valtteri
and it'd be nice to see him get a few years in a top team again.

[~misfit~]

Post by scole

Post by Geoff
Sad, but seemingly inevitable.
And who to replace ?
TSU has been doing all the right things of late.
Or LAW, who started with a flourish but seems to have flattened out a
bit, plus a bit of bad luck.
Despite LAW being a fellow kiwi, I don't warm to him as he appears to
impart a sense on 'entitlement', and tends to snivel a lot.
But whoever gets the job, surely being second-fiddle to VER is not a
happy place to be anyway.

I think both Tsunoda and Lawson would be bad picks. Tsunoda in particular
has shown he does not have the temperament to know his place and play his
role, it'll end in tears and would be counter-productive.
I did see an article recently that floated the idea of bringing in Bottas,
a reliable journeyman driver who has already demonstrated a willingness to
be the number 2 in a team. I like that idea, I've a soft spot for Valtteri
and it'd be nice to see him get a few years in a top team again.

Lawson got the seat.

<https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/breaking-lawson-confirmed-as-verstappens-red-bull-team-mate-for-2025.4umEL3YzqWIv9JEV7qI2Gn>

[scole]

Post by ~misfit~

Post by scole

Post by Geoff
Sad, but seemingly inevitable.
And who to replace ?
TSU has been doing all the right things of late.
Or LAW, who started with a flourish but seems to have flattened out a
bit, plus a bit of bad luck.
Despite LAW being a fellow kiwi, I don't warm to him as he appears to
impart a sense on 'entitlement', and tends to snivel a lot.
But whoever gets the job, surely being second-fiddle to VER is not a
happy place to be anyway.

I think both Tsunoda and Lawson would be bad picks. Tsunoda in particular
has shown he does not have the temperament to know his place and play his
role, it'll end in tears and would be counter-productive.
I did see an article recently that floated the idea of bringing in Bottas,
a reliable journeyman driver who has already demonstrated a willingness to
be the number 2 in a team. I like that idea, I've a soft spot for Valtteri
and it'd be nice to see him get a few years in a top team again.

Lawson got the seat.

Ah, good for him, fantastic opportunity for a young driver, just as long
as he keeps his nose clean in terms of understanding the pecking order
within the team. And I'm pleased he got it over Tsunoda, tbh. Yuki is not
very likeable, have seen him act like a spoilt brat too many times in the
last couple of seasons for my taste.

[Woozy Song]

Post by ~misfit~
Lawson got the seat.
<https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/breaking-lawson-confirmed-as-verstappens-red-bull-team-mate-for-2025.4umEL3YzqWIv9JEV7qI2Gn>

So are the driver musical chairs finished for next season?

[Mark Jackson]

Post by Woozy Song

Post by ~misfit~
Lawson got the seat.
<https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/breaking-lawson-confirmed-
as-verstappens-red-bull-team-mate-for-2025.4umEL3YzqWIv9JEV7qI2Gn>

I fear he's not got the experience to survive partnering Verstappen
without lasting damage.

Post by Woozy Song
So are the driver musical chairs finished for next season?

R[acing] B[ulls] has not yet announced Tsunoda's teammate, although it's
expected to be Isack Hadjar.

[~misfit~]

Post by Woozy Song

Post by ~misfit~
Lawson got the seat.
<https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/breaking-lawson-confirmed-
as-verstappens-red-bull-team-mate-for-2025.4umEL3YzqWIv9JEV7qI2Gn>

I fear he's not got the experience to survive partnering Verstappen without lasting damage.

I've been following his career for a while now, he's pretty level-headed. The 'beef' with Checo and
Nando was, IMO Liam knowing what would impress Marko and Horner and so delivering it. (Both Horner
and Marko have since said they like that he's not intimidated by other more experienced drivers.)
He's not the sort of guy to let what happens outside the car get in the way of his driving - or at
least hasn't been in the past.

I hope that he keeps off socials though. He got shit on-line from Aussies when he 'took' Dan's seat
and since he's been announced for RBR his socials have blown up with comments and even threats from
rabid Checo and Yuki fans.

Post by Woozy Song
So are the driver musical chairs finished for next season?

R[acing] B[ulls] has not yet announced Tsunoda's teammate, although it's expected to be Isack Hadjar.

[Carl Keehn]

Post by Mark Jackson

Post by Woozy Song

Post by ~misfit~
Lawson got the seat.
<https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/breaking-lawson-
confirmed- as-verstappens-red-bull-team-mate-
for-2025.4umEL3YzqWIv9JEV7qI2Gn>

I fear he's not got the experience to survive partnering Verstappen
without lasting damage.

Post by Woozy Song
So are the driver musical chairs finished for next season?

R[acing] B[ulls] has not yet announced Tsunoda's teammate, although it's
expected to be Isack Hadjar.

Formula One has reported that Isack Hadjar has been signed as the final
driver for 2025.

I'm glad to see Bottas back at Mercedes, even in a backup role. They
need his experience.

[Eric]

I'm glad to see Bottas back at Mercedes, even in a backup role.  They
need his experience.

I'm very glad that we went from a season that started with no changes to
the driver lineups, to a season where only two teams have NOT changed
their lineups.

[Sir Tim]

Post by Mark Jackson

Post by ~misfit~
Lawson got the seat.
<https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/breaking-lawson-confirmed-
as-verstappens-red-bull-team-mate-for-2025.4umEL3YzqWIv9JEV7qI2Gn>

I fear he's not got the experience to survive partnering Verstappen
without lasting damage.

I very much agree. The second Red Bull seat seems to be something of a
poisoned chalice at the moment.

Perez has been much criticised but I doubt that any of the current crop of
drivers would have done much better. It would seem that only Max is capable
of taming a car that was, in any case, probably built around his driving
style

I think that Sainz would have been the best choice for his team mate next
year, but there may have been political reasons for rejecting him. Failing
that, I think that Bottas, on a one year contract, could have been a good
choice.

[Martin Harran]

Post by Sir Tim

Post by Mark Jackson

Post by ~misfit~
Lawson got the seat.
<https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/breaking-lawson-confirmed-
as-verstappens-red-bull-team-mate-for-2025.4umEL3YzqWIv9JEV7qI2Gn>

I fear he's not got the experience to survive partnering Verstappen
without lasting damage.

I very much agree. The second Red Bull seat seems to be something of a
poisoned chalice at the moment.
Perez has been much criticised but I doubt that any of the current crop of
drivers would have done much better. It would seem that only Max is capable
of taming a car that was, in any case, probably built around his driving
style
I think that Sainz would have been the best choice for his team mate next
year, but there may have been political reasons for rejecting him. Failing
that, I think that Bottas, on a one year contract, could have been a good
choice.

I don't think Sainz would have been a great choice. RB don't need a
second driver chasing the WDC, they need a good journeyman who will
get enough second and third places to give them the WDC. That is where
Checo failed miserably.

I agree with you that someone like Bottas would fill the spot but
perhaps for several years until they have to start thinking about
Max's replacement.

[~misfit~]

Post by Sir Tim

Post by Mark Jackson

Post by ~misfit~
Lawson got the seat.
<https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/breaking-lawson-confirmed-
as-verstappens-red-bull-team-mate-for-2025.4umEL3YzqWIv9JEV7qI2Gn>

I fear he's not got the experience to survive partnering Verstappen
without lasting damage.

I very much agree. The second Red Bull seat seems to be something of a
poisoned chalice at the moment.
Perez has been much criticised but I doubt that any of the current crop of
drivers would have done much better. It would seem that only Max is capable
of taming a car that was, in any case, probably built around his driving
style
I think that Sainz would have been the best choice for his team mate next
year, but there may have been political reasons for rejecting him. Failing
that, I think that Bottas, on a one year contract, could have been a good
choice.

Personally I think they've made the right choice. Max won't be there forever (there were rumblings
about him leaving during and because of the Horner - former female employee contretemps). Max has
actually mentioned once or twice that he might not stay in F1 if he's not in a winning car. Because
of this RBR need to be thinking about the next great driver rather than a points collector.

Also all things must end. Yes the second RBR seat has seemed cursed of late but Liam's got a
history of being able to jump into a new car / series and doing extremely well. I'm pleased that
he's in the RBR car now rather than getting used to a different car for a year or two. IMO that
would have made getting the best out of the RBR car much harder (as it seems to drive differently
to the other team's cars).

Not only that but I believe that I called this move here a year ago? ;) (Ok it may have been on the
F1 subreddit but I think it was here...)

All the best for the holidays.