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Yuki Tsunoda mainly owes the continuation of his GP career to motorcycle partner Honda. Because the performances of the fast but mentally weak Japanese are not exactly exciting. Moreover, he will immediately attract bad luck in 2023.
Lawson is the victim
Daniel Ricciardo (34) was also confirmed in the “new” team 2024 (Alpha Tauri disappears as title sponsor, Adidas is just around the corner). The eight-time GP winner and third place at the 2014 and 2016 World Championships is still injured after his accident in Zandvoort (broken metacarpal) and will only return to Mexico.
And that brings us to the big loser: Liam Lawson (21). The New Zealander has been in the cockpit as a substitute for three races and has improved with each outing: 13th – 11th – and 9th in Singapore. When Ricciardo returns, he will be a reserve driver again. “But with all four of our cars,” Bullen motorsport director Helmut Marko Blick said days ago.
There is hardly any demand for talent!
The Lawson case shows that Formula 1 hardly gives the talents in the background a chance. The exception is the 2021 Formula 2 champion Oscar Piastri. The Australian is already giving Lando Norris hell at McLaren-Mercedes.
But the example of Mick Schumacher (2022 F2 champion) at Haas-Ferrari shows that the teams embark on an adventure with young talent that does not always end well. And costs a lot of money.
Williams as an exception?
That’s why it’s interesting what Williams-Mercedes does with the last free cockpit in 2024. Do you give the American Logan Sargeant a second chance – or do you bring in the Brazilian Felipe Drugovich, the 2022 F2 champion and replacement for Aston Martin?
For the new GP nursery champion, Théo Pourchaire (21), the transfer race is over. The Sauber Academy driver must continue to play third man in Hinwil. Because you continue with Bottas and Zhou. And the Frenchman will probably be left out forever.
Driver duo: Mercedes in the lead
The third training confirmed the super form of Max Verstappen (25). The Dutchman has shaken off Singapore and is chasing his 48th GP victory on Sunday. But his toughest opponents are both still without a win: Norris and Piastri.
The McLaren duo came first in the Blick survey “Who has the best driver duo?” after more than 3500 votes, second place behind Mercedes with Hamilton and Russell.
Unfortunately, after an excellent start to the season, Alonso is no longer in the foreground at Aston Martin-Mercedes. This is reminiscent of Alfa-Sauber 2022, when they made a sensational start to the season only to score just four championship points in the last 13 races.
Alfa Sauber fans hope
The biggest problem on the 5.807 km long course is tire wear. “Anyone who gets through here on Sunday with just two pit stops has a genius in their car,” everyone says. An opportunity for outsiders? Hardly.
After the long runs on Friday, which are intended to provide direction, Bottas was surprisingly in second place behind Verstappen. “Our upgrades have an impact,” says the Finn optimistically. And the two Hinwil cars were in position 10 (Zhou) and 11 (Bottas) in the third practice session. The fans are eagerly awaiting qualifying at 8:00 am CET (TV live). Only in Miami (10th Bottas) and then in Budapest (5th Zhou, 7th Bottas) did the team reach the top ten finals.
The previous pole setters in 2023: Verstappen eight times, Pérez, Leclerc, Sainz and Pérez (2 each), Hamilton (1).
Source : Blick
I’m Emma Jack, a news website author at 24 News Reporters. I have been in the industry for over five years and it has been an incredible journey so far. I specialize in sports reporting and am highly knowledgeable about the latest trends and developments in this field.
