Il Leone wrote: ↑14 Mar 2024, 13:24
Are RB ever going to consider putting someone who can challenge Max in the other car?
Sure, why not? Red Bull tried to sign Norris and were interested in Russell in 2021. Norris preferred McLaren while Russell was not released from his Williams and Mercedes management contract.
Red Bull would have considered Leclerc for 2025-on, but his Ferrari salary of $60m p/a would be unpalatable for Red Bull (that's probably more than Verstappen?!) -- Ferrari were willing to offer crazy money so Red Bull couldn't (didn't want to) match that.
Red Bull however were definitely sleeping on Piastri, Red Bull should have swept in to sign Piastri for 2025-on before McLaren provided an attractive contract extension for the Australian. A missed opportunity IMO.
Personally I would have considered Alonso for Red Bull 2021-on, but Honda may have not been pleased with that, so that one is ruled out too.
Stu wrote: ↑14 Mar 2024, 13:55
I’m not sure why they would do that, in recent eras any time that a team does put ‘equal’ drivers in a team, chaos ensues.
Lauda and Prost got on just fine, and I am confident that Verstappen and Leclerc would get on just fine. [Obviously: Verstappen and Hamilton, absolutely not, that is out of the question, carbon-fibre flying everywhere even when they were in different teams.]
Unfortunately for Red Bull, Scuderia Ferrari are willing to pay outrageously high salaries for drivers.
ali623 wrote: ↑14 Mar 2024, 13:59
They offered Norris a contract and he declined.
Il Leone wrote: ↑14 Mar 2024, 14:05
We've had over 2 seasons with George and Lewis and there's been no chaos,
for the good of the sport RB should do the same IMO.
This is true, likewise Charles and Carlos. RBR are trying to find a second tier one driver but there is really none available to them given Norris declining a Red Bull contract, being too slow to contract Piastri, Leclerc preferring a much more lucrative Ferrari offer, Hamilton ruled out for risks of regular crashes, Alonso ruled out for slating Honda's reputation, Ricciardo who left the team (
despite a contract offer to continue) no longer appears to be a Tier 1 or 1B driver etc.
Sainz as a tier 1B driver could the best bet, and may well drive the Red Bull in 2025 assuming Verstappen and Sainz factions can now interact cordially.