Phil wrote: ↑22 Jun 2018, 18:21
What makes Max fast also makes him prone to errors. Lewis was there, Daniel was there, even Vettel was there. It's a natural progression most drivers go through.
It's a myth thinking Max will get any faster on the basis he is still young. He isn't that young - at least not in experience. He is already in F1 in his 5th season and he has had at more than 2 full seasons (3rd season with RB) behind the wheel of a top-tier team with RedBull. He will most likely become more consistent, less prone to errors, but that will most likely also cost him (some) speed. Driving with more margin or choosing your battles more wisely.
Experience brings in another dimension to the existing speed, which would make a driver faster. Once a driver learns to manage and put together consistent approach, it is going to make a big difference.
Phil wrote: ↑22 Jun 2018, 18:21
Dan actually is doing a pretty fantastic job against him actually. Perhaps not by sheer speed, but he is fairly close but making less mistakes. Being beaten by Max doesn't necessary mean his stock will go down.
In time, he might actually gain some as the driver who is almost as fast, but not as petulant and impatient.
You contradict your above statement about a driver getting faster over time. Just to put forward stats, every single GP where they both have had incident free races, it has always been Max who finishes ahead. Ric is looking good because of Max's mistakes. If Max learns to keep his head calm, it would be disastrous for Ric's stocks.
Faster driver can gain consistency by ironing out problems, but a slower and consistent driver gaining speed is actually a very difficult part.
It seems like Ferrari and Mercedes aren't a destination for Ric anymore, with both teams having made their intentions clear for the future. If he has to stay back at Red Bull, his only saving grace should be Max continuing to have this kind of mistake laden drives. If not, Ric might end up like Webber. At one point, even Webber was looking like moving to Ferrari when Alonso was at Ferrari.
Phil wrote: ↑22 Jun 2018, 18:21
If anything, I think by the time Max fulfills his RedBull contract, his stock will have gone down significantly since the moment he signed that deal. Because by then, other drivers with just as much promise and potential will be on the market in Charles Leclerc and Norris. If Max isn't already a WDC by then, who would want him with most big teams more interested in their own junior drivers? Ferrari certainly are catered for. By then, even Mercedes will have some valuable contenders, I'm sure.
No can speak for what happens in times to come as the landscape changes quite dramatically.
