Vettel out of R1 with Covid, Hulk stands is (no silliness)

bathurst77 · 17 Mar 2022, 22:36 (Ref:4102997)

Sebastian Vettel has been replaced by a Nico Hulkenberg for the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, his team has confirmed.

Aston Martin released a statement on Thursday night.

“Sebastian Vettel has tested positive for Covid-19 and will not therefore be taking part in the 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix,” the team announced.

Replacing him in the AMR22 will be Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team reserve driver Nico Hulkenberg, who will be in the car from FP1 onwards.”

Aston Martin’s reserve driver Hulkenberg, 34, last competed in F1 in 2020.

F1 has made it compulsory for all drivers and team personnel to be vaccinated this year.

(sorry for typo in Sebs name,,, its early morning here (Mods can you please correct?)

https://www.news.com.au/sport/motors...f1288208cf8450

**chunterer** · 20 Mar 2022, 09:48 (Ref:4103440)

Decent job from Hulk with no prior time in the car. Top professional.

Laurence can't keep hiding the truth about Lance for much longer. Put 2 proper drivers in next season and watch the team progress..

GT6 · 20 Mar 2022, 10:17 (Ref:4103444)

Not sure you understand why he bought the team.

**Aysedasi** · 20 Mar 2022, 10:18 (Ref:4103446)

Quote:

Originally Posted by GT6

Not sure you understand why he bought the team.

**chunterer** · 22 Mar 2022, 06:18 (Ref:4103790)

Quote:

Originally Posted by GT6

Not sure you understand why he bought the team.

I understand alright! Just stating the obvious!

chillibowl · 10 Apr 2022, 13:50 (Ref:4106143)

A difficult weekend for Seb and his team mate also sloppy on track. The car doesn’t seem competitive and leadership looks to also be totally absent.

This team seems truely lost?

steve_r · 10 Apr 2022, 20:01 (Ref:4106178)

On the whole, it is hard to see how the weekend could have gone any worse for this team. Slow car, sloppy driving, crash after crash, grid penalty, and an in race time penalty thrown in. What a fall from grace compared with the Pink Mercedes season.

**GTRMagic** · 10 Apr 2022, 23:26 (Ref:4106218)

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve_r

On the whole, it is hard to see how the weekend could have gone any worse for this team. Slow car, sloppy driving, crash after crash, grid penalty, and an in race time penalty thrown in. What a fall from grace compared with the Pink Mercedes season.

And in any interview done by the on-track team or the host broadcaster, Mr Stroll Jr was never a pleasant fellow... definitely had no interest or inclination to be where he is... I dont get it...

Kingair · 11 Apr 2022, 02:09 (Ref:4106225)

It’s called daddies money $$$$$.

The bloke would be hard pressed to drive a stick up a dogs bottom in my opinion.

Akrapovic · 11 Apr 2022, 09:40 (Ref:4106276)

Disclaimer: I don't think Stroll is good. However there have been a thousand pay drivers on the grid who were significantly worse than he is. His payment method is just more obvious as his father owns it.

**chunterer** · 11 Apr 2022, 20:08 (Ref:4106381)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

Disclaimer: I don't think Stroll is good. However there have been a thousand pay drivers on the grid who were significantly worse than he is. His payment method is just more obvious as his father owns it.

Not very many who got their backsides into a quality drive though? (Well in previous seasons the Aston has been!)

The last ones I can think of are the Brabham no.2s in the early 80s?

We know why he's there but at some point soon Stroll snr is going to have to decide if he wants to carry on blowing millions so his son can drive (even if the car is slow atm) or he wants the cars to go as well. as they can.

If he's serious surely it's got to be 2 fresh drivers for '23.

chillibowl · 11 Apr 2022, 20:12 (Ref:4106383)

in fairness though, is Stroll Jr the biggest issue?

just speculating of course, but i would say the team needs a proper racing person in charge. they of course may choose to keep Stroll Jr on or not but imo their problem is leadership and also stemming from the development side (which is probably being driven by leadership's business model) then it is the fault of the drivers?

**chunterer** · 11 Apr 2022, 20:42 (Ref:4106390)

Quote:

Originally Posted by chillibowl

in fairness though, is Stroll Jr the biggest issue?

just speculating of course, but i would say the team needs a proper racing person in charge. they of course may choose to keep Stroll Jr on or not but imo their problem is leadership and also stemming from the development side (which is probably being driven by leadership's business model) then it is the fault of the drivers?

There is too much management there now but how many times have the cars been crashed so far this year and at what cost?

The car is difficult but neither driver appears able to get much out of it.

They need an experienced guy with lots of his career still in front of him and who doesn't like an overly specific car set up, and a younger proper coming man in the other one.
Hmm, bit like they used to have!

E.B · 11 Apr 2022, 20:47 (Ref:4106394)

Quote:

Originally Posted by chunterer

There is too much management there now but how many times have the cars been crashed so far this year and at what cost?

The car is difficult but neither driver appears able to get much out of it.

They need an experienced guy with lots of his career still in front of him and who doesn't like an overly specific car set up, and a younger proper coming man in the other one.
Hmm, bit like they used to have!

Hammer Nail, Head.

chillibowl · 11 Apr 2022, 21:39 (Ref:4106405)

Quote:

Originally Posted by chunterer

There is too much management there now but how many times have the cars been crashed so far this year and at what cost?

The car is difficult but neither driver appears able to get much out of it.

They need an experienced guy with lots of his career still in front of him and who doesn't like an overly specific car set up, and a younger proper coming man in the other one.
Hmm, bit like they used to have!

yes...when you put it like that i cannot disagree! of course i tried to but i cant lol!

steve_r · 11 Apr 2022, 21:09 (Ref:4106401)

I'd rather not write Vettel off after one single race this year, but Gasly would be on my shopping list if I were looking for a driver for next season.

Alan52 · 11 Apr 2022, 21:23 (Ref:4106402)

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve_r

I'd rather not write Vettel off after one single race this year, but Gasly would be on my shopping list if I were looking for a driver for next season.

Why would Gasly want to move further back on the grid?He would be a strong candidate for what will probably be vacant seats at Mercedes and Red Bull in 2024.

steve_r · 12 Apr 2022, 16:41 (Ref:4106536)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan52

Why would Gasly want to move further back on the grid?He would be a strong candidate for what will probably be vacant seats at Mercedes and Red Bull in 2024.

Because (IMO only) unless a seat opens up at the main RBR team, he would be better off almost anywhere else and trying to do what Sainz did. The Aston Martin team are struggling now, but are a proven midfield time with loads of money being pumped into it, so it might not be a bad drive as a stepping stone at least.

I have no idea who will be on RBRs or Mercs shopping list in 2024. Does Gasly really want yet another season in Torro Rosso waiting for a drive in the main team that may never arrive?

Greem · 11 Apr 2022, 22:33 (Ref:4106411)

We judge when millionaires/billionaires don't spend money.

We judge when they do.

It's a shame my dad's pension is about £2.47 a year (long story) otherwise I'm sure he'd have bought me a promo pen refill or something similar. I could have been world promo pen champion.

Seriously though: is Stroll really so bad compared to some past drivers?

**BertMk2** · 12 Apr 2022, 10:02 (Ref:4106466)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greem

Seriously though: is Stroll really so bad compared to some past drivers?

Probably not - but previously a less than impressive pay driver would hang around for a few seasons then be replaced by another less than impressive pay driver. Because daddy Stroll owns the team we're stuck with the same less than impressive pay driver for a longer period and that's just boring

Akrapovic · 12 Apr 2022, 13:31 (Ref:4106500)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greem

Seriously though: is Stroll really so bad compared to some past drivers?

No Pick a random early 90s season and you'll find gaps of 2-4 seconds between team mates, with regular DNQs and cars being 5-10 seconds off the pace.

None of todays drivers are anywhere near as bad as pay drivers from the 90s.

E.B · 12 Apr 2022, 15:21 (Ref:4106512)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

No Pick a random early 90s season and you'll find gaps of 2-4 seconds between team mates, with regular DNQs and cars being 5-10 seconds off the pace.

None of todays drivers are anywhere near as bad as pay drivers from the 90s.

Also the difference then between the best (fastest) and worse (slowest) car was far greater than the difference is today. Nowadays the gap might be 3 seconds whereas back in the day it was often likely 5 secs or more. More if you included those that missed pre-qualifying.
I guess as well as the drivers, the worst cars are less bad today that the worse cars were back in the day.

chillibowl · 12 Apr 2022, 15:31 (Ref:4106514)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

No Pick a random early 90s season and you'll find gaps of 2-4 seconds between team mates, with regular DNQs and cars being 5-10 seconds off the pace.

None of todays drivers are anywhere near as bad as pay drivers from the 90s.

Quote:

Originally Posted by E.B

Also the difference then between the best (fastest) and worse (slowest) car was far greater than the difference is today. Nowadays the gap might be 3 seconds whereas back in the day it was often likely 5 secs or more. More if you included those that missed pre-qualifying.
I guess as well as the drivers, the worst cars are less bad today that the worse cars were back in the day.

but surely this just reinforces the need to have better drivers now days, even at the lower end.

need for better leadership, management, facilities, etc as well. over the past couple of decades the minimum bar has been raised significantly.

S griffin · 11 Apr 2022, 22:52 (Ref:4106413)

I don't think money matters, it's about how they spend it and where they spend it.

It's unfortunate for Stroll he's in an underwhelming car, but there's nowhere else for him really to go. He's an ok driver, but not great. Hope he can find something soon

Akrapovic · 12 Apr 2022, 15:38 (Ref:4106516)

We do have better drivers than what we did before. Stroll is tenths off of his 4 time WDC team mate. Drivers before were 2-3 seconds off of their generic midfield team.

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