[Driver] 2019 F1 Silly Season

[loon]

Originally Posted by EffectiveSprinkles

But like I said, going to IndyCar is giving up on F1.

and why is giving up on F1 a bad thing?

[Aysedasi]

Because its the Holy Grail, the panacea, the pinnacle...... (allegedly..... )

[EffectiveSprinkles]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

I suppose he could get a drive as a reserve driver again but wouldn't that be taking a step backwards?

Yes but crucially he will be in the F1 paddock.

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by loon

and why is giving up on F1 a bad thing?

I don't understand the question. Nobody is saying giving up on F1 is a bad thing. But if he wants to be an F1 driver, then you don't achieve that by leaving the paddock. It isn't a bad thing to "give up" on F1...unless you want to be an F1 driver.

[S griffin]

I can see him getting a third driver role inn2019

[E.B]

Ocon did say he would be in the F1 paddock next year whether he had a drive or not. He believes he has enough experience to not need to continue racing in a lower series....

"Currently there are discussions, but nothing more for now. I do not know what is my percentage chance is to sign but it is my last chance for next year," he said.

"But it's not the end of the world if I'm not on the grid next season. I will prepare, particularly in the physical side. And I will come back much stronger in 2020."

Ocon says he retains the full support of Mercedes, insisting that his 'plan B' is a reserve driver role rather than a move to another series.

"I do not need to gain more experience outside of formula one," he said.

"I will stay fully focused on formula one and act like nothing else matters. I will stay in the paddock to get ready and try to learn as much as possible and come back strong.

https://www.f1-fansite.com/f1-news/o...ddock-in-2019/

[wnut]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

I don't understand the question. Nobody is saying giving up on F1 is a bad thing. But if he wants to be an F1 driver, then you don't achieve that by leaving the paddock. It isn't a bad thing to "give up" on F1...unless you want to be an F1 driver.

Yet Ocon would be a better driver for having spent a year in Indycar than a year as a reserve driver in F1.

I think that these guys should be allowed, actively encouraged, back into F2.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by EffectiveSprinkles

Yes but crucially he will be in the F1 paddock.

Fair enough but if another George Russell comes along, in the interim, then what?

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by wnut

Yet Ocon would be a better driver for having spent a year in Indycar than a year as a reserve driver in F1.

I think that these guys should be allowed, actively encouraged, back into F2.

Ocon can’t go back to F2. He was never in it.

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by peebee2

Ocon can’t go back to F2. He was never in it.

Think it was a general point 🙄

[S griffin]

He's too good to back to F2 though

[gert]

I think it would be unwise for Ocon to "just be in the F1 paddock" and do nothing else.

Let's suppose Bottas has a pretty good 2019 season: he wins a few races, finishes 3rd in the championship and helps Mercedes win the Constructors Championship. Are you going to replace him with a driver who has done no racing at all?

And what if you want to replace Bottas after 2019 and you have that other young driver (Russell) who has just had a very good debut season and has comprehensively beaten his teammate. All the while, everybody has seen how good he was at racing, passing, planning his moves, etc ...
Who do you pick for the 2nd Mercedes?

After all, everybody is lamenting Ocon's situation NOW, but come the end of 2019, who will freshly remember his on-track actions? You are only as good as your last race.

--

If I were Ocon I would - at the very least - try to get involved somewhere, alongside the F1 paddock walk. WEC? Formula E? Blancpain Endurance Series, even only a partial programme just to keep people talking about him.

[S griffin]

I really think it would be a big shame, but I feel Ocon is too good to not be in F1. If not next season, then the season after

[V8 Fireworks]

Originally Posted by wnut

I think that these guys should be allowed, actively encouraged, back into F2.

I agree.

[V8 Fireworks]

Originally Posted by EffectiveSprinkles

Ocon is too good for IndyCar.

Nobody is "too good" for Indycar. Indycar is hard. A very unique skillset, quite different to F1. F1 is certainly not a superior series as far as the race driving demonstrated by the drivers.

The concern is Ocon may not be sufficiently impressive in Indycar to be reconsidered for F1....

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by S griffin

I really think it would be a big shame, but I feel Ocon is too good to not be in F1. If not next season, then the season after

Second seat at Williams might suit Mr Ocon well..

[EffectiveSprinkles]

Originally Posted by V8 Fireworks

Nobody is "too good" for Indycar.

Ocon very much is. Especially now that IndyCar went back to spec nonsense.

[V8 Fireworks]

Originally Posted by EffectiveSprinkles

Ocon very much is [too good for Indycar]. Especially now that IndyCar went back to spec nonsense.

lol Certainly the opposite is true!

In 2020, Mick Schumacher will likely be arriving in F1 from a standout F2 season and Ocon's ability to get back into an F1 seat may be rather challenged!

Apparently Ocon turned down a mutliyear Williams deal to instead wait for the chance to race a Mercedes in 2020 ---- seems optimistic...

[S griffin]

Yet more degenerating of Indycars. Even though the series is on the up and is more exciting than F1

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by EffectiveSprinkles

Ocon very much is. Especially now that IndyCar went back to spec nonsense.

I'm sure IndyCar would love to return to racing multiple chassis, currently that's just not financially feasible. However, whether IndyCar is a spec series, or not, has nothing to do with Ocon being "too good" for Indycar.

[EffectiveSprinkles]

Well clearly he feels the same and so does the entire F1 paddock. IndyCar is a second rate series at best for drivers, there's simply no doubting that. And of course spec racing is less interesting for everyone.

[S griffin]

Well F1 has often liked being snobbish to over series. Thankfully Fred is not like that and has given other series a try

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by EffectiveSprinkles

Well clearly he feels the same and so does the entire F1 paddock. IndyCar is a second rate series at best for drivers, there's simply no doubting that. And of course spec racing is less interesting for everyone.

Somehow, I don't think you speak for Ocon, let alone the entire F1 paddock and this is rather more about how you feel.

IndyCar is hardly second rate. Drivers race on a far greater variety of tracks compared to F1 and the tracks themselves, haven't been heavily sanitised, with massive, multi-coloured tarmac run off areas, which allow drivers to exceed the track limit and there are no Tilkedromes; the layout for COTA was conceived by promoter Tavo Hellmund and 1993 Motorcycle World Champion Kevin Schwantz.

As I said, I'm sure IndyCar would love to return to racing multiple chassis, however the racing itself has been far more interesting, more competitive than F1 and not predictable. The 2018 F1 season is more or less a repeat of last year.

[EffectiveSprinkles]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Somehow, I don't think you speak for Ocon, let alone the entire F1 paddock and this is rather more about how you feel.

IndyCar is hardly second rate. Drivers race on a far greater variety of tracks compared to F1 and the tracks themselves, haven't been heavily sanitised, with massive, multi-coloured tarmac run off areas, which allow drivers to exceed the track limit and there are no Tilkedromes; the layout for COTA was conceived by promoter Tavo Hellmund and 1993 Motorcycle World Champion Kevin Schwantz.

As I said, I'm sure IndyCar would love to return to racing multiple chassis, however the racing itself has been far more interesting, more competitive than F1 and not predictable. The 2018 F1 season is more or less a repeat of last year.

That's all very nice but completely irrelevant. For drivers it's second rate compared to F1. For lots and lots of reasons, none of which you address. Whether it should be or not is a different discussion which you seem to be having with yourself.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by EffectiveSprinkles

That's all very nice but completely irrelevant. For drivers it's second rate compared to F1. For lots and lots of reasons, none of which you address. Whether it should be or not is a different discussion which you seem to be having with yourself.

Why is it irrelevant and what are these lots and lots of reasons for it being second rate for drivers, that I didn't address? It's hardly a discussion I'm having with myself, considering you brought up the subject of IndyCar being second rate for drivers, in the first place, no one else.