Open Wheel Racing 2021, anyone there to watch?

[MichVandal]

Is DeVries dead then? When this happens does the guy who got the cup of coffee find another line of work?

Probably. He could find a better ride, but RBR has a good history of running through drivers you never hear from again. Ricciardo left on his own, which is why he is still here. And Perez is still around. But it much more rare.

[Jimjamesak]

Is DeVries dead then? When this happens does the guy who got the cup of coffee find another line of work?

He’ll have plenty of options. Indycar, WEC, DTM, or even a reserve driver seat with some F1 team.

[Spartanforlife4]

Probably. He could find a better ride, but RBR has a good history of running through drivers you never hear from again. Ricciardo left on his own, which is why he is still here. And Perez is still around. But it much more rare.

Checo is around… for now. Keep missing Q3 in this car and who knows. Max is winning the constructors all by himself right now, but RB is lucky Aston Martin, Mercedes and Ferrari keep swapping the podium each race. A true #2 team would probably be looking at overtaking Red Bull in the standings by the end of the year.

[Kepler]

A true #2 team would probably be looking at overtaking Red Bull in the standings by the end of the year.

With Max good for 25 points on a bad weekend, Checo only needs to finish P6 to tie if one competitor finishes P2 and P3 every race.

I don't buy it. RB is on another planet. I don't know if this is normal for the constructor champion, or if it will last, but even if Mercedes or Ferrari or even McLaren had it all together it would still just be to take runner-up.

[Kepler]

Holy ****! If any of this is true it’s shocking he has a ride at all. How does this get ignored?

Because rich people can rape, murder, and steal with impunity.

[Russell Jaslow]

I'm amazed nobody wants to get into Red Bull just because their car is so good.

You have to realize that Red Bull was basically psychologically abusing these kids, long before they ever got to F1. These kids were signing up when they were 15, 16, 17-years-old. Sometimes younger if Red Bull grabbed them right out of karts. When parents and the family advisors saw how Red Bull treated these kids and other options were becoming available, they were steering these kids away from Red Bull.

Also, Red Bull didn't always have the best car. Mercedes has dominated way longer between the two Red Bull powerhouse eras.

Plus, the contracts Red Bull makes these kids sign are essentially like the reserve clause contracts in American sports of old. Again, when parents and advisors had no choice, they put up with it. But once other teams started junior programs with less restrictive contracts, those options became better choices.

[Russell Jaslow]

This is fascinating. Mercedes could have been HAM/VER. I loathe Max but I think he really dodged a bullet.

Does that mean RIC would have stuck at Red Bull and been their #1? That would have been a different edition of the multiverse.

There have been many interesting articles written under the "what if" theme in F1. For instance, Robert Kubica was apparently signed by Ferrari before his rallying crash ended his career. That completely changed the trajectory of muscial chairs in F1 for a long time.

[Russell Jaslow]

Is DeVries dead then? When this happens does the guy who got the cup of coffee find another line of work?

His F1 career is over. There is no reason for anyone else to pick him up.

But he is still immensely talented (heck, everyone in F1 is). Before he signed with AlphaTauri, he had already signed to run Formula E (where he won a championship, thus becoming the intriguing answer to a trivia question -- who is the first Dutch driver to win an FIA World Championship? Nyck beat Max by a few months) as well as run in the WEC for Peugeot.

He'll find a ride somewhere (and presumably, he'll still be paid for Red Bull for his two-year contract). Already there is talk he'll get one of the open FE seats.

[Russell Jaslow]

Holy ****! If any of this is true it’s shocking he has a ride at all. How does this get ignored?

Jos Verstappen's "record" has been known for a very, very long time. Way before Max got into F1. And Max getting caught up in one of those incidents is more Jos's fault than anything else (think John Paul, Jr. to John Paul, Sr.).

Also, after Max was in F1, Jos got into a bar fight where he was charged with assault. Looking at Jos's face in the paddock afterwards, it appears the other guy got the best of Jos...

Also keep in mind, Jos basically abused Max while trying to groom him into a driving champion. There have been a number of articles written about it. And neither of them denies it. Think Todd Marinivich and what his father did to him. Basically the same thing, except Max was able to deal with it and become a champion.

[Russell Jaslow]

With Max good for 25 points on a bad weekend, Checo only needs to finish P6 to tie if one competitor finishes P2 and P3 every race.

I don't buy it. RB is on another planet. I don't know if this is normal for the constructor champion, or if it will last, but even if Mercedes or Ferrari or even McLaren had it all together it would still just be to take runner-up.

Because eventually (hopefully!) the other teams will become good enough to be able to win races, not just settle for second and third. At that point, you need a solid wingman.

Yes, F1 does at times go through these periods of complete domination -- McLaren, Ferrari, Red Bull, Mercedes, Red Bull.

[solovsfett]

Jos Verstappen's "record" has been known for a very, very long time. Way before Max got into F1. And Max getting caught up in one of those incidents is more Jos's fault than anything else (think John Paul, Jr. to John Paul, Sr.).

Also, after Max was in F1, Jos got into a bar fight where he was charged with assault. Looking at Jos's face in the paddock afterwards, it appears the other guy got the best of Jos...

Also keep in mind, Jos basically abused Max while trying to groom him into a driving champion. There have been a number of articles written about it. And neither of them denies it. Think Todd Marinivich and what his father did to him. Basically the same thing, except Max was able to deal with it and become a champion.

Damn, those are great comparisons with Marinovich’a and JPJ Sr and Jr. I didn’t know the truth about Jos.

[Kepler]

think John Paul, Jr. to John Paul, Sr.

Is this a Pope thing?

[Kepler]

Also keep in mind, Jos basically abused Max while trying to groom him into a driving champion. There have been a number of articles written about it. And neither of them denies it. Think Todd Marinivich and what his father did to him. Basically the same thing, except Max was able to deal with it and become a champion.

It explains his lack of affect and robotic behavior.

Max gives me the impression that he really needs to get laid. And not F1 laid but down and dirty back alley shake your rump laid.

[Spartanforlife4]

From what I’ve read Max has an obsession for racing that, if not toxic, is straddling the line. He has his day job in F1, and then he’ll go home and do hours of sim racing. Sometimes F1, sometimes others, but like 95% of his waking hours are spent racing. The only non-racing activity he seems to have is that he’s apparently also really good at FIFA (like top 20 in the world).

Vettel had climate change, Hamilton has social justice, Bottas has cycling. Max’s outlet is just more racing.

[Kepler]

Bottas has cycling

And swimming.