Topic: Motosport General discussion tread --- Formula1, MotoGP, WTCC, ETCC, DTM..... - page 29. (Read 142977 times)

I think he does.  It's the reason why he returned to Red Bull and was willing to drive with the junior team.  If he doesn't get the second drive at Red Bull I don't think he'll stay long with whatever the junior team is called these days.

As for Red Bull's future, it's gonna be sketchy without Newey and with the new power unit manufacturer.  Ford Motors is it?  That's a new entry in F1...  So it's gonna be hard.  I expect Verstappen to leave after his contract expires on 2028.

Q1 for the Austrian MotoGP in Spielberg has just finished and has sent Jack Miller and Pol Espargaro into Q2, both of whom are KTM riders. I am a little curious about who will take pole position today as almost all riders looked strong with the sunny conditions today and the Sprint today could be quite fierce if the weather remains like it is. And now the riders have also entered the circuit, so let's watch the Q2 session for the riders who have qualified there.

1   Francesco Bagnaia   ITA   Ducati Lenovo (GP24)   1'28.508s   21/22   310k
2   Franco Morbidelli   ITA   Pramac Ducati (GP24)   +0.281s   21/23   310k
3   Jorge Martin   SPA   Pramac Ducati (GP24)   +0.319s   25/27   310k
4   Marc Marquez   SPA   Gresini Ducati (GP23)   +0.350s   25/26   309k
5   Brad Binder   RSA   Red Bull KTM (RC16)   +0.461s   25/25   314k
6   Alex Marquez   SPA   Gresini Ducati (GP23)   +0.548s   26/27   308k
7   Aleix Espargaro   SPA   Aprilia Racing (RS-GP24)   +0.599s   16/20   312k
8   Maverick Viñales   SPA   Aprilia Racing (RS-GP24)   +0.609s   21/22   309k
9   Marco Bezzecchi   ITA   VR46 Ducati (GP23)   +0.725s   19/24   309k
10   Enea Bastianini   ITA   Ducati Lenovo (GP24)   +0.773s   21/24   312k
11   Pedro Acosta   SPA   Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 (RC16)*   +0.800s   16/21   314k
12   Jack Miller   AUS   Red Bull KTM (RC16)   +0.821s   27/28   312k
13   Fabio Quartararo   FRA   Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1)   +0.872s   24/26   308k
14   Johann Zarco   FRA   LCR Honda (RC213V)   +1.098s   26/26   310k
15   Augusto Fernandez   SPA   Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 (RC16)   +1.254s   24/24   310k
16   Luca Marini   ITA   Repsol Honda (RC213V)   +1.301s   26/27   308k
17   Alex Rins   SPA   Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1)   +1.314s   17/22   312k
18   Miguel Oliveira   POR   Trackhouse Aprilia (RS-GP24)   +1.373s   23/23   313k
19   Raul Fernandez   SPA   Trackhouse Aprilia (RS-GP24)   +1.444s   26/26   309k
20   Fabio Di Giannantonio   ITA   VR46 Ducati (GP23)   +1.550s   6/8   305k
21   Pol Espargaro   SPA   Red Bull KTM (RC16)   +1.675s   10/12   312k
22   Takaaki Nakagami   JPN   LCR Honda (RC213V)   +1.913s   23/23   306k
23   Lorenzo Savadori   ITA   Aprilia Racing (RS-GP24)   +2.037s   18/23   312k
24   Joan Mir   SPA   Repsol Honda (RC213V)   +2.149s   14/23   310k
25   Stefan Bradl   GER   HRC Test Team (RC213V)   +2.387s   13/21   312k


Well I guess Ducati is the goat in this track once again 5 of the top 6 are all Ducati.

Source: https://www.crash.net/motogp/results/1053468/1/2024-austrian-motogp-red-bull-ring-friday-practice-results

it will be fun race to see. it can rain.

Yeah, it looks like Ricciardo doesn't have a 2nd chance for Red Bull move anymore. But I'm even doubtful he cares about that.    He isn't competitive even a bit.

Honda is going to manufacture engine for Red Bull until the end of 2025. After that yeah the deal is off. It is really hard to predict Red Bull's future now so we will see...


Maybe Liam would have more chance as you said. It makes sense when I read your proof. But it is really difficult to be sure of anything about Red Bull. I bet they don't even know what's next lately. 

I think RB will prioritize Perez or Liam over Tsunoda, because Tsunoda is not really part of RB - unlike Perez, Daniel, and Liam - he is a Honda representative who wants at least an Asian (especially Japanese) who can play in F1. If you want proof, you can see the Goodwood festival some time ago where the RB team came, but Tsunoda was not there, that already emphasized who has "RB blood". So no matter how Tsunoda performs, he will still be stuck in VCARB, but if Honda becomes a partner with Aston Martin, it is likely that he will also move to that team. At least Perez will stay at RB until 2025 because that is the best option for RB for now.

^  Sooo that sucks for Ricciardo.  But what's the point of promoting Tsunoda if Honda won't be making power units for Red Bull anymore.  Afaik taking in Tsunoda was part of the deal with Honda agreeing with building and sharing technical know how with Red Bull.  Will Red Bull really accept money to get Tsunoda in..?  I say maybe as I've heard some talks that Red Bull is accepting money from the people who's backing Perez.

But yeah, we'll see.  I'm not really into Tsunoda much.

Tsunoda still looks like an option for Red Bull seemingly. But it is all up to his performance level.



Source: https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/tsunoda-will-be-considered-for-red-bull-promotion-if-he-keeps-performing-bayer/10644391/

If he keeps up a high level effort at Racing Bulls, it is quite possible for him to capture Perez's seat next year. They say even Marko left the door open for the possibility. It is true though. There is no guarantee in F1 so losing constructor championship would push Red Bull to look for an alternative to Perez immediately.

Even Liam Lawson might be an option according to the source. But I think in that case Tsunoda would be the priority - I would support it more too. 

It is a very beautiful country but quite far from the country I live in so it would be impossible for me to go there if the only purpose is to watch MotoGP. However in terms of MotoGP this weekend I also have the opinion that Ducati will still be the king there although I will also be watching some other manufacturers during the FP and Practice sessions in the two days before the Sprint and Main Race. Because KTM and Aprilia can also be strong competitors for Ducati, as for the other Asian manufacturers, I am still quite doubtful.

Spielberg despite being one of the shortest track in motorsport is one of the best one.
I really like short track (not Monaco)

Do you remmeber the f1 gp of 2021/2022 on Sakhir where Russel got the Lewis spot? one of the more thrilling races ever done.


Anyway are you a sure about the weather? this weekend rain is coming in mid Europe.

MotoGP returns to my home country Austria this weekend, the weather should be fantastic, unfortunately it will probably not be possible to visit Spielberg at the race itself, but maybe not.

Spielberg is a Ducati track, so I assume that the first places will all be Ducati with all that engine power. Is anyone here from the forum going to be at Spielberg?

^  Judging from Alex Albon's with an inferior car at Williams, he's gonna be a good acquisition for the bigger teams.  I hope a bigger team poaches him and give him a decent car that's consistently mid but with some chances of getting into podiums when the opportunity presents itself. 

Do any of the new teams coming in need a good driver?  Alex Albon is prolly one of the top choices imho.

Situation fro driver next season with the contract expiration date.

Max Verstappen	Red Bull	2028
Sergio Perez	Red Bull	2026
Lewis Hamilton	Ferrari	multi-year
Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	multi-year
George Russell	Mercedes	2025
Lando Norris	McLaren	"Long-term"
Oscar Piastri	McLaren	2026	Contract End
Lance Stroll	Aston Martin	"2025 and beyond"
Fernando Alonso	Aston Martin	multi-year
Alex Albon	Williams	2025
Carlos Sainz	Williams	"Beyond 2026"
Nico Hulkenberg	Sauber	multi-year
Pierre Gasly	Alpine	"Long-term"
Esteban Ocon	Haas	multi-year
Oliver Bearman	Haas	multi-year
Yuki Tsunoda	Visa Cash App RB	2025

Data from https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1046665/1/2025-f1-driver-line-who-confirmed-and-rumoured-2025-grid

Ferrari doesn't have what it takes to make a car that will win Hamilton the title, they have way too many problems. I feel like Hamilton is just doing it because who wouldn't want to drive a Ferrari, but that's about it.

I think it's clear that we are going to see Max win this season yet again, and then next season unless Red Bull gets horrible, we are going to see Max probably still be first, he isn't doing all that awesome and if this gap gets any closer, we may see Max losing next season but I feel like he is good enough to get it, McLaren clearly has better car now, but Max will do fine. I think 2026 is the year Max could be losing, depending on how cars are made for that year, everything will be shuffled, like we could see Williams winner, who knows, it's all brand new situation.

Some people from Valentino Rossi's side only think that Ducati has betrayed several parties including Valentino Rossi's side because they also have a satellite team and riders that can be taken by Ducati for the new season later. However, I only see one rider who was betrayed by Ducati, namely Jorge Martin who is currently on the Prima Pramac Racing team where last season he was runner-up and also currently he is competing at the top of the standings. So he should be worthy of being chosen by Ducati because his own dedication has also been longer in the Ducati satellite team than Marquez who just joined this season through the Gresini Racing team.

But Hamilton is one of those exceptional athletes who still has around 5 years left in him.  And by that I don't mean 5 years left in F1 like most older drivers.  I mean 5 years left of having a good chance to win another championship if given a decent car that wins podiums.

And how nice would it be to see his record breaking title run be done with a team like Ferrari.  It would bring back all interest in F1 imho.

Another week without F1 ahead looks as boring as this same one we just left behind.Luckily for all of us hardcore F1 fans this will be the last one then we are going to have 10 races in 3.5 months time meaning they will be packed with great F1 action.The F1 season has become even interesting in these last races where Redbull even with Max is having huge difficulties to win races.That makes the Championship open as there are enough races to even think some other drivers to have a real chance to dream for winning the F1 title,something impossible to be thought of after 5 first races of the season.

Race 2 WSBK Portugal also went very fiercely and quite tough because after Toprak competed with Alex Lowes who had a little contact and removed the left winglet from the BMW motorbike ridden by Toprak while competing in front. He began to lose his balance a little and approaching five laps remaining in the race, Toprak was also attacked by Bautista although something very unfortunate happened to Bautista because he fell while fighting with Toprak. It didn't stop there in a few laps before the end of the race Toprak was also attacked again by Bautista's teammate, Bulega, although Bulega himself did not succeed in achieving first place because Toprak was still strong with one winglet condition.

Hamilton still has a chance to get the 8th (or 9th) title, he is still competitive and powerful on the circuit. The challenge is only the car, whether it is good enough or not depends on how Ferrari can provide a car that can accommodate Hamilton's racing style. And more strategy also needs to be considered by Ferrari because they often mess up the race because of a very bad strategy, it makes them lose the chance to win the race several times, and hopefully it will not happen again and make Hamilton even worse there.

Many fans of Valentino Rossi did not like Ducati's choice to take Marc Marquez who in my opinion is a great rider because in my opinion they are afraid that he will win the championship and surpass Valentino Rossi haha ​​this is really ridiculous on their part I respect Valentino being Italian but It really makes me laugh to despise Marquez is crazy..

Hamilton to become 8 times world champion? It would be great to see him holding the title record only by himself.    He is 39 years old now. I don't feel like he has long years ahead of him to continue driving in F1.

But first, Ferrari needs to give him a car which can win a title - for real. This is a thing they have been lacking for years. Sometimes they started the season strong but failed hard anyway later. Consistency has been the main problem. But I still have a feeling they will handle this. Hamilton has always been good about which team to prefer for winning titles. I think he knows something about Ferrari's future but doesn't want to share it yet.