S_L_Y_G_U_Y
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They look so pretty in their Tuxs
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quovadis
Honorary Master
Yeah, look the man has very strong sponsorship money to back him up. Tough call for Horny to make.
If they leave it as is, they will lose a lot of credibility, they will not win the constructors in 2025 and potentially lose Max for 2026 if the team keeps lagging behind in 4th or 5th even.
quovadis
Honorary Master
It could also be that their prospects in general might not be great for 2025 and they're focusing on 2026. I doubt Max is going anywhere.
Max is difficult to call in my opinion. He seems committed for now at least, but if he starts seeing the 2026 design and is not confident with itor whatever he could easily go somewhere else. I mean any team would make space for him ,lets be honest.
quovadis
Honorary Master
My personal view is that 2026 would be the litmus test for his and RB's future but he'll be in the car in 2026.
2026 happens, the RB isn't great so he moves to Ferrari when Hamilton retires?
quovadis
Honorary Master
Anything is possible. The only dynamic that would come into play, I feel, is if Charles wins his first championship in 2025 or 2026. I feel that if Max abandons RB prematurely it'd be a team that he'd be #1 and have definite win potential by joining.
I honestly would love to see it. Max might just be the one that can get it done for Ferrari.
Agent_Smith
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If I were a betting man, I'd put a wee few bob on him joining Adrian Newey at Aston Martin after Fernando Alonso permanently pulls out his camping chair.
Yea that's the other option too. I don't see him staying at RB fi the car isn't competitive and we don't really have the security of being assured it would be, with Newey gone. It could well be but it would be a lot to just assume it is. AM have the money, a Merc powertrain which we can assume to be at least on part with the rest, and Newey. They'll struggle for consistency but could be a top 3 car easily I would think.
Agent_Smith
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Currently yes. But to sweeten the deal for Max, AM is linking up with Honda in 2026, a powertrain with which Adrian Newey and Max are intimately familiar.
Oh sheesh I missed that entirely. Hmm that dampens things somewhat for me.
2026 is an entirely new powertrain as I understand it, meaning they'll have to be good out the gate. Merc typically get the engine right even if their aero of late has been comical. I'd have more faith in Merc getting it right than Honda at this point.
Agent_Smith
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True. And if I recall an article I read a couple of months ago, apparently the rumblings out of Brackley are that Merc is very happy with where they currently are regarding the R&D and design progress of the 2026 powertrain.
But given the phenomenal resources he will have at his disposal, I would still back Newey to create a car to at least compete with what Mercedes produces.
Overall package, definitely. I would expect similar to when Vettel was with them. Slightly down on engine but better on aero leading to a faster package overall.
This is also the first time that RB is going into a new era without Newey. He has been instrumental in designing the cars for both "success" periods.
It will be interesting to see whether RB can still be a top team without him there. For all we know, RB could falter into a mid card team by 2026.
quovadis
Honorary Master
I'd think RB cars' DNA to still have some Newey in them in the short to medium term. 18 years of design never simply gets thrown away. I'd be looking more closely at the innovation though.
Mike Hoxbig
Honorary Master
The Newey thing is overstated. His input is important, but there's a whole bunch of other intelligent okes who are also important. It's these other guys who are leaving to other teams that you need to keep an eye out for.
Merc did fine without him during their dominant years, McLaren and Ferrari are also doing fine without him now...
Yeah well they never had him to begin with so I am just wondering if RB's reliance on him for the past 18 years wont hurt them come 2026 onwards. There is obviously also the engine unknowns that could hamper them.
the way I see it, he has been instrumental in the ground effects era. now that the other teams have caught up RB need to rely more heavily on other personnel that have been working with him and implementing his ideas.
I dont think they will be able to bring the car back to the front of the field. not because I dont think think they are capable, but because I feel like the design has reached its limit. and the way Mclaren went about getting past RB means they have unlocked the peak of the car better. same with Ferrari. Merc could in theory get into the same bracket.
2025 is going to be a fight between 4 teams in basically equal cars, as they have reached the limit of the design. its going to be 24 races dictated by set up, strategy and individual race skills.
so based on that, Ferrari will take the constructors, as Fred has made great strategy team changes and they have looked much better.
Mclaren need to mature in strategy a bit more. but they have the driver skill and the set up parts nailed the best I feel.
Merc is a wildcard, you cant say what they will do because its the first year without LH and his set up insights and strategy insights, and we will only see how much of an impact that makes next year. also kimi is a giant question mark.
Red bull have only one driver. and while they have great race strategy, they have really struggled with car set up this year since Newey left and that is when Max started struggling in the first few practice sessions compared to Norris/LeClerc/Piastry.
regardless of what happens we are in for a cracking season. even if one driver dominates, if there is close racing and the driver is the one making the difference it will be fantastic.
I dont think they will be able to bring the car back to the front of the field. not because I dont think think they are capable, but because I feel like the design has reached its limit. and the way Mclaren went about getting past RB means they have unlocked the peak of the car better. same with Ferrari. Merc could in theory get into the same bracket.
2025 is going to be a fight between 4 teams in basically equal cars, as they have reached the limit of the design. its going to be 24 races dictated by set up, strategy and individual race skills.
so based on that, Ferrari will take the constructors, as Fred has made great strategy team changes and they have looked much better.
Mclaren need to mature in strategy a bit more. but they have the driver skill and the set up parts nailed the best I feel.
Merc is a wildcard, you cant say what they will do because its the first year without LH and his set up insights and strategy insights, and we will only see how much of an impact that makes next year. also kimi is a giant question mark.
Red bull have only one driver. and while they have great race strategy, they have really struggled with car set up this year since Newey left and that is when Max started struggling in the first few practice sessions compared to Norris/LeClerc/Piastry.
regardless of what happens we are in for a cracking season. even if one driver dominates, if there is close racing and the driver is the one making the difference it will be fantastic.
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