Silly Season 2013/14

[stefan_]

So it's official - Marko confirmed Daniel Ricciardo at Red Bull for "minimum three years".

Kimi now swings between Ferrari and Lotus. Hopefully he stays in Enstone.

[gandharva]

3 year contract "at minimum". 3-5 races for adaptation phase.

[iotar__]

No one expected that. Good, let's see what Greek surfer can do. One lap pace is probably there and he may get better at everything else unlike his alternative. Hard to judge talent properly - in Red Bull's program during young drivers tests every single one of them was equally "impressive and close enough to Webber", fake constant success story. Less aggressive tyre approach that makes qualifying more important should help. Team politics is a different matter, one season of similar to Webber treatment and smile may disappear from his face.

Now we'll see how long Ferrari angle will last and if it even exists. Another shocking development: Horner was lying and Webber was telling the truth.

[Juzh]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1K53Xv4Zao&[/youtube]

Wrong decision. Really dissapointed.

[munudeges]

That sound you can hear is Red Bull's rivals rubbing their hands together - as well as Vettel's. Ricciardo is going to crash and burn hard and Horner and Newey are going to use him to bury Markko once and for all.

Unless Alonso leaves Ferrari (where can he go now?) Raikkonen will stay at Lotus. You certainly wouldn't bet on Ferrari beating Lotus next season. That's how far they've fallen.

[aral]

Odd decision, and obviously not the first choice. It is hard on Vergne who has outperformed Ricciardo in 2012 and so far in 2013. I don't think that DR will "crash and burn" but I cannot see many RBR 1 and 2s anywhere in the near future.

Red Bull must be desperate to raise their image in Australia.

[ScottB]

So Da Costa to STR then?

Surely that'll be JEV out too then, as if he wasn't considered good enough to replace Webber he definitely won't be considered good enough for the next seat they need to fill, who gets the second seat? Sainz Jnr?

[stefan_]

It was a logical decision for Red Bull and it's great for Daniel to get this opportunity. Now I hope that they will let him prove himself and don't start the "mantain the gap" or "your engine is running a little bit hot, you need to back off" crap because once he gets in his hand with the new team I think he'll get Vettel a run for his money.

Now I believe da Costa will join Toro Rosso and next year Sainz will move to GP2 or FR 3.5.

[Holm86]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1K53Xv4Zao&

Wrong decision. Really dissapointed.

IMO its the only right thing to do from a team point of view. Vettel + Kimi or Alonso would never work out positively.

And I do believe in Ricciardo. He has shown he's got pace before. I will admit he didn't shine that much in STR but with a good car I believe he will be fast.

[sennafan24]

I expect Vettel to out-perform Riccardo like he has done Webber recently for the first part of 2014. That is no great knock, a young Kimi was outscored by D.C in his first year at McLaren. It takes time for a young driver to find his feet in a new team.

After the first year or so, I think we could see a true reflection. Riccardo is far from the finished package, but give it another year of seasoning and polish and he could challenge Vettel a little more.

It is hard for me to think any driver other than a very select few could out-perform Vettel at Red Bull (or any other team) but Riccardo has the chance to surprise me and others.

[djos]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1K53Xv4Zao&[/youtube]

Wrong decision. Really dissapointed.

You will be proved very wrong! Dan will really shine at RBR!

[Juzh]

You will be proved very wrong! Dan will really shine at RBR!

I hope so. I mean.. if RB won championships with webber behind the wheel with rounds to spare, they should be just fine with ricciardo.

[munudeges]

I fail to see how anyone will be proved wrong. He's done OK in qualifying, been outperformed by Vergne in races over two years and he only seem to have bucked up his ideas in the last few races when the carrot of a Red Bull drive has emerged. The evidence just isn't there. I'm also suspicious of anyone who constantly has a fake smile painted to his face. It tends to mask quite a bit and it isn't going to hide him.

Against the level of opposition he will face, including with Mercedes possibly having a bit of an engine lead, he's going to find life extremely tough and based on what we've seen the gap between Ricciardo and Vettel will be larger than Webber and Vettel was. Red Bull just can't afford that.

[sennafan24]

and based on what we've seen the gap between Ricciardo and Vettel will be larger than Webber and Vettel was. Red Bull just can't afford that.

Riccardo I think will match the closeness to Seb that Webber has managed this year. Seb is in career form and is performing at a impressive level consistently, but Webber is shopworn. It is not the Webber of 2009-2010, not by a long shot. He reminds me of Patrese in 1993 going up against a young and hungry Schumacher.

[djos]

I fail to see how anyone will be proved wrong. He's done OK in qualifying, been outperformed by Vergne in races over two years and he only seem to have bucked up his ideas in the last few races when the carrot of a Red Bull drive has emerged. The evidence just isn't there. I'm also suspicious of anyone who constantly has a fake smile painted to his face. It tends to mask quite a bit and it isn't going to hide him.

Against the level of opposition he will face, including with Mercedes possibly having a bit of an engine lead, he's going to find life extremely tough and based on what we've seen the gap between Ricciardo and Vettel will be larger than Webber and Vettel was. Red Bull just can't afford that.

Fake smile! This is just more proof you don't get Dan!

Dan will be just like Seb was in his first year at RBR, fast but will make a few mistakes but will learn from them!