Vowles 'writes off' Vertappen for Mercedes, Marko's revealing quip to Tsunoda's crash
A filmmaker with a soft spot for Ronnie Peterson, Gilles Villeneuve, Mika Hakkinen and above all, Tazio Nuvolari and Ayrton Senna, is also a diehard Formula One fan since the age of 4 (mid-90's). An avid researcher of the past of Grand Prix Racing since before it was even named F1, and with a thirst for knowledge of the ins and outs of the actuality of the sport, as well as for the technical aspects that define it, is a member of GPblog since 2023, where he has put his love of racing to good use.
That's Friday done for the F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, and the first day of on track action in Jeddah has left quite a few -surprising- talking points and twists in the narratives dominating the paddock.
Vowles on Verstappen to Mercedes F1 rumours
Williams' team principal, James Vowles, former Mercedes man himself, whilst acknowledging the decision to sign Max Verstappen or otherwise let him go, ultimately lie on the team led by Austrian Toto Wolff, it's his opinion that Verstappen and Mercedes would not be the right fit.
A matter of talent? Certainly not. But rather of the philosophy currently driving the Brackley-based team's driver line-up decisions: Mercedes homegrown talent, as Andrea Kimi Antonelli and George Russell certainly are, with championship winning potential, and an equally important ingredient to the mix, the culture.
With Red Bull Racing's current form, it is not outlandish to think that a performance clause in Verstappen's contract may be triggered as early as the 2025 F1 summer break, making the reigning world champion a free agent for 2026. Aston Martin and Alpine are also in the conversation to sign Verstappen.
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Marko's silent reaction to Tsunoda's FP2 crash
Yuki Tsunoda parked his car in the wall during FP2 in Jeddah. What's strange is that the incident did not take place during a pushlap, but rather during a long run.
Something wrong with the car or a lapse in concentration? Marko's silence was telling. However, the 81 year old Austrian also revelled in Red Bull Racing's 'best friday in ages' and looked forward to the rest of the weekend where his prediction for the Grand Prix was rather ominous.
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