Silly Season 2013/14

[raymondu999]

Webber tried and failed...

Yes - the position of the word "tried" has always been a tricky one in terms of enforcing laws. Hence why "attempted murder" and "murder" carry two different sentences in law.

[mnmracer]

Webber tried and failed...

Yes - the position of the word "tried" has always been a tricky one in terms of enforcing laws. Hence why "attempted murder" and "murder" carry two different sentences in law.

But the team orders were "not to challenge", not "not to pass".
Webber attempted to pass and failed.
Webber succeeded in ignoring the team orders he was given.

[raymondu999]

Webber tried and failed...

Yes - the position of the word "tried" has always been a tricky one in terms of enforcing laws. Hence why "attempted murder" and "murder" carry two different sentences in law.

But the team orders were "not to challenge", not "not to pass".
Webber attempted to pass and failed.
Webber succeeded in ignoring the team orders he was given.

Fair point.

[MOWOG]

Meanwhile........

A shock new contender could have leapt into contention to become F1's newest Red Bull driver in 2014. Germany's Sport Bild claims team boss Christian Horner met with Luis Garcia Abad in the Red Bull motor home in Hungary. He is Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso's manager.

Sport Bild correspondents Bianca Garloff and Ralf Bach report that Red Bull confirmed the meeting took place, at the behest of Alonso's management. Photos of the meeting were even published.

Spaniard Alonso is under firm contract to Ferrari for 2014, meaning that the two-time world champion or Red Bull would have to buy out the deal if he really jumps ship to become Sebastian Vettel's new teammate.

"A decision is expected in the next seven days," read the Sport Bild report.

From Grand Prix.com

[oT v1]

And RAI back to Ferrari?

[sennafan24]

I have heard a theory that Alonso's manager is representing the young Spanish driver who drove for Red Bull in the YDT last week, and Blid have the wrong end of the stick.

However, I have also heard on another forum that talk of Alonso to Red Bull has been rampant round the paddock this weekend. It seems unlikely due to Ferrari having contract in place for Alonso for few more years, but it would be great if it did happen.

[mnmracer]

I think Da Costa is not yet ready for it. He's not really impressing me in WSR this year. If you want a real young gun, give Frijns another offer.

[SectorOne]

Ricciardo - RBR
Da Costa - STR

The only properly logical decision. (for Red Bull, not necessarily the fans)
They will tick all the boxes they have and use STR for the purpose it was created for.

[LionKing]

Ricciardo again finished behind Vergne this race.
They should get Kimi but whether Kimi wants it or not I don't know.

[ScottB]

I note when asked on BBC Alonso was struggling to keep the grin off his face when asked if the meeting took place.

But more importantly, when asked if he'd prefer Alonso or Kimi, Vettel quickly said Kimi, then wound himself back a bit, but stated that he respects Kimi on and off track, so it'd be easier.


So sounds like Seb will be using whatever influence he has to stop this. Though I suppose Lewis had a pretty public meeting with RBR too, and nothing came of that. But if it did happen Ferrari would be stuffed, unless they could convince Kimi to return, there are no other obvious candidates to lead that team.

[sennafan24]

After this weekend, I maybe tempted to do a bit of a 180 with my opinion.

Maybe Riccardo would benefit from a Lotus drive up against say Romain next year. I think the potential is there for Riccardo, but he may need another few years of experience if his race performances are anything to go by. There does seem to a bit of "nod nod wink wink" to this Alonso/Red Bull thing, but I suspect even if there has been talks, the Ferrari deal will not be broken.

That said, I would love to see Alonso vs Vettel.

[stefan_]

The new Alonso to RBR "rumour" is a smoke bomb in my oppinion.
The only logical move I see in this whole story is Ricciardo to RBR (because he truly deserves it) and da Costa to STR (even though da Costa isn't doing so well this season). If they take Raikkonen then the whole Red Bull programme is becoming pointless and money were and would be thrown out the window.
On top of that, Raikkonen is taking no ---, he drives the wheels off any vehicle you put him in, he will probably beat Vettel and the whole "friendship" between them can build up into an internal war that would tear the team down in an important year that is 2014.

[JimClarkFan]

I note when asked on BBC Alonso was struggling to keep the grin off his face when asked if the meeting took place.

But more importantly, when asked if he'd prefer Alonso or Kimi, Vettel quickly said Kimi, then wound himself back a bit, but stated that he respects Kimi on and off track, so it'd be easier.


So sounds like Seb will be using whatever influence he has to stop this. Though I suppose Lewis had a pretty public meeting with RBR too, and nothing came of that. But if it did happen Ferrari would be stuffed, unless they could convince Kimi to return, there are no other obvious candidates to lead that team.

I thought that was very telling, either alonso was laughing at the scope of the misunderstanding, or he is laughing because he got his hands caught in the cookie jar

[FoxHound]

Da Costa is driving at the same or near the same level as before, hes just suffering appalling luck.

[djos]

Ricciardo again finished behind Vergne this race.
They should get Kimi but whether Kimi wants it or not I don't know.

Choosing new tires of whatever spec you want is always strategically helpful to those who just miss out on q3 - we've been seeing it all year!