Hey all! In this episode of ForeverF1 blog reacts, we're going to be looking at the upcoming driver market, and the way I would navigate it from each team boss' perspective. Lower teams go first, then all the way up to the eventual inevitable champion Mercedes. Let's do it!
(But these do have to be realistic. Williams can't pick Lewis the same way Ferrari can't complete a strategy call.)
10. Alfa Romeo
Driver 1: Robert Schwartzman
Driver 2: Mick Schumacher
I don't know what kind of sponsorship deals these two will pick up in the future. But if theres any advantage to being a disciple of the Ferrari team chain right now, it's drivers. With 3 inspiring F2 talents in Illot, Schwartzman, and Schumacher all battling it out for the title in F2 right now, Alfa should take first pick on the best drivers around. As such, Schwartzman and Schumahcer should make the jump as teammates to link arms in Alfa's garage.
9. Haas F1
1. Logan Sargent
2. Nico Hulkenburg
Haas need more than anything else in the world is sweet, sweet cash. DId you know Haas (the corporation, not the person) puts in over 140$ Million each year in invested assets? That's before sponsorship money factors in. What one might say then is: Why not Latifi, or Sirotkin? Because 1. they suck. But 2 because they need money long term. Haas' business strategy should be targeting the 320-Million strong at-home market that the US enjoys at the moment. There's nothing like an investment in the future of the team by promoting the most promising American driver in generations. If brands see return on investment in sponsoring Haas on American soil, this team has a future ahead of it. As for Hulkenburg? He's just good.
8. Williams
1. Kevin Magnussen
2. Calum Illot
Can you tell I like promoting youth? This year's F2 field has been through the roof with rare talents for F1 teams to strike gold with next season. As for Williams, some British flair to the now American squad will do wonders for their charge up the field. With money coming in the 100s of millions, the days of paid seats in the Williams garage are over. This is a great opportunity to poach Illot as his two competitors in F2 are more likely to find seats, and his title-challenging form shows he's ready for the big time. Kevin Magnussen on the other hand should relish a move away from the Haas environment. You should be able to tell from the Netflix documentary, but the atmosphere there is so toxic. Not to mention the car. At least in Williams there is potential, a chance to shine in front of the bright lights of the team in front. For crying out loud Russell has earned his entire reputation in F1 off of moving the car up a couple of places a weekend. He'll be looking onwards and upward.
7. Alpha Tauri
1. Pierre Gasly
2. Yuki Tsunoda
For the layman, it's hard to tell if Pierre Gasly is the best worst driver, or the worst best driver. For me, its the latter, and AlphaTauri's aspirations are matched by Gasly's skill ceiling. Alpha's main concern is their youth promotion side. Even if they find a talent, he's gone in a year. This means they often have to compete with sub-par #2 drivers (Scott Speed, Brendon Hartley, etc.) Finishing 7th or 8th every race will keep the team chugging in the constructors as they are forced to try out new shoes every other year. As for Tsunoda, he's far from another #2 flop. The F2 title hopeful has dashed up the field in only his 3rd season in F2. Currently a P3 sitter in the title, but carrying arguably the most momentum, Tsunoda has the pedigree of other Toro Rosso greats like Vettel and Ricciardo. They'd be crazy not to at least try him.
6. McLaren (Stay Put)
1. Daniel Ricciardo
2. Lando Norris
McLaren have a great lineup for both the present and future. No need to change with Ricciardo and Norris holding down the comedic side of F1 in Enstone.
5. Renault
1. Sergio Perez
2. Esteban Ocon
I'm not even really sure what Renault is doing in F1. 4th in budget commitments, yet consistently behind McLaren or Racing Point, the bannanas have a short time scale to impress the higher ups before the team is sold. In truth its hard to tell where they will be in the future, but since the future is where they need to look, a 38-year old Alonso is not the premier move. (Sorry Fernando) To rejuvenate an inconsistent squad, the best candidates are the duo of consistency themselves, Perez and Ocon. Despite their differences, Renault have their much desired French pedigree to market off, and a candidate for podiums in Sergio Perez. Naturally, if they do step into the top 3 in 2021 this will need some tweaks. However, for their status as F1's perennial #5 team, these two will do.
4. Racing Point/Aston Martin
1. Sebastian Vettel
2. Lance Stroll
If the man who owns your team also owns a son who drives there, you don't kick him out. I know Stroll's reputation among fans is as poor as a Ferrari 26th lap strategy call, but his investment value to the team is infinite. Aston don't stay if Stroll isn't interested. You can't even put a value on that. To survive, they have to choose based on that. And hey if im the team boss, im not firing my boss' son right before a massive team investment. Vettel, on the other hand, has become massively underrated by the F1 community. In fact, he might even be the most underrated driver on the grid. While his motiavtion and concentration have clearly dipped, his approach to racing has not gone completely out the window. Without strategy and up against a top 5 driver in Charles Leclerc means his stock has fallen lower than what Racing Point need. For a free transfer, Vettel will bring hunger to Aston's garage. His reputation alone brings eyes to the team, and a win-now spirit that could benefit their title hopes. Don't give up on the German, notice him bounce back next season should he get the chance.
3. Ferrari (Stay put)
1. Charles Leclerc
2. Carlos Sainz
All good for the Tifosi from a driver's perspective. If only it were the same with everything else.
2. Red Bull
1. Max Verstappen
2. Valterri Bottas
Unpopular opinion: Red Bull's strict adherance to the promotion programme is hurting their title chances. Ricciardo and Verstappen are really the only example of when its ever worked in both seats. Webber was from Jaguar, Gasly flopped, Kvyat lost confidence, and Albon has been consistently laggin behind since joining. Imagine the points they could gain by dragging in drivers from elsewhere compared to where they are now. Unexpectedly, they should look to Ferrari for how to do this: promote 1, purchase the other. Well, anyways, Verstappen is naturally going nowhere. To praise him is to be redundant, but theres a reason they've tied him to a long-term deal at such a young age. As for their #2, they absolutely could not do better than Valterri Bottas. In lieu of any new world champions currently racing since 2010, Bottas is the next best thing. Look, consistency matters. Think to Webber's securing of 4 constructor's championships, or how Kyvat lost out with a few bad races. He can drive with Hamilton, and will keep things tight with Verstappen so they can pressure Mercedes heavily in the future.
1. Mercedes
1. Lewis Hamilton
2. George Russell
No apologies for this first pick. The GOAT himself rides in the 44 and will stay as long as his neck stays upright. In the other seat, they have a problem. Hamilton will retire in the next 5 years. Other teams will and are closing in. If they don't have a future world champion by that time, they're doomed. Even in 2020 where their black/silver arrows fly much further ahead than the other teams, Verstappen has more wins and points than Valterri. They can't accept that if Lewis is gone. In steps their one and only youth prospect in George Russell. It is a from the frying pan into the fire moment for him to go from Williams to Mercedes, but if he's going to swim, he's got to learn somewhere. Not to mention Mercedes has done exceptionally well at integrating new drivers. Hamilton beating Rosberg in 2013, or Valterri being closer in 2017 than in 2019 says a lot in terms of their cohesion within the team. Mercedes need another 6-time world champion, and if they're serious about collecting those trophies are often as they are now, they'll start looking here.
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