The summer slump in Formula 1 is just around the corner. Sebastian Vettel’s announcement that he was retiring from the sport triggered the first surprise. Fernando Alonso has announced within 3 days of Sebastian’s announcement that he will take the seat at Aston Martin. This seems to have taken Alpine by surprise and they will next decide who will join Esteban Ocon on the French team in 2023.
For those new to Formula 1, the ‘summer slump’ is that time of the year when there is speculation about driver changes. There are many rumors and inside information about driver team changes being released by people close to the teams.
In 2013, during the F1 summer break, TJ13 announced that Ferrari would recruit Kimi Raikkonen. In Monza, the Scudderia confirmed the Finn’s signing.
Today Marcus Ericsson, ex-Sauber F1 driver and now Indianapolis 500 winner, tweeted his goofy views of the season following the Alonso announcement.
After Alonso’s “middle finger to Alpine change” so did the rest @F1 Summer slump takes place:
Alpine Ocon Gasly
AlphaT Schumacher-Tsunoda
McLaren Norris Piastri
AlfaR Bottas Zhou
Haas Mag-Ricciardo
Williams Albon De VriesIt’s called Silly Season for a reason 😜
— Marcus Ericsson (@Ericsson_Marcus) August 1, 2022
Aston Martin clearly held back Vettel’s big reveal while they pinned Fernando Alonso behind the scenes.
TJ13 believe Daniel Ricciardo is the favorite to replace Alonso and return to Alpine. He was publicly humiliated by team boss Zak Brown, who revealed Ricciardo’s two-year deal, which expires at the end of 2023, could be prematurely revoked due to the Australian’s poor performance.
Ricciardo replaces Alonso at Alpine
Gasley from Ericssons to Alpine isn’t a bad name. Pierre was overlooked for another try in the big Red Bull team when they appointed Sergio Perez in 2021. He has to wonder if he’ll ever get a second chance to ride with Max Verstappen and Alpine are a far better team than Gasley’s current team Alpha Tauri.
The likely outcome for Gasly is that Ricciardo gets the seat and stays there.
Only certain teams accept F1 rookie drivers and Ericsson’s suggestion that McLaren, battling for P4 in the championship, would recruit F3/F2 champion Oscar Pisatri is far-fetched.
If McLaren lets Daniel Ricciardo return to Alpine, another reunion is on the cards. After being dropped by Haas, Kevin Magnussen has made a strong return this season and could be considered by new McLaren management as a replacement for the ‘Honey Badger’.
Alpine are unlikely to match Ocon with a rookie as they are now P4 in the Constructors. Therefore, their promising academy driver Oscar Pisatri is unlikely to get Alonso’s place. Rookie drivers often score few points in Season 1 and Alpine cannot afford to drop from their current P4 in the Constructors Championship to P6 or P7.
Piastri will most likely take George Russell’s route into F1 and complete his rookie stint with the Williams team if Nicholas Latiffi is dropped.
Magnussen, leaving Haas for McLaren, would most likely see American-owned Team Haas F1 looking at rookie Nick Defries, who will drive the Mercedes AMG F1 car again in a first practice session. The FIA ​​mandated that every car have a ‘young driver’ this season and De Fries impressed when he replaced Lewis Hamilton at the French GP.
The summer slump was started when Aston Martin ‘ambushed’ Alpine when recruiting Fernando Alonso.
With most F1 drivers on contract until the end of 2023, the only reason we’re having a dumb season this year is because of Vettel’s retirement, which has opened up a multitude of opportunities for the contractless this season.
predictions
Red Bull-Verstappen/Perez
Ferrari – Sainz/Leclerc
Mercedes-Hamilton/Russell
McLaren-Norris/Magnussen
Alpine—Ocon/Ricciardo
Alfa Romeo – Bottas/Zhou
Alpha Tauri—Gasley/Tsunoda
Haas-Schumacher/Defries
Williams – Albon/Piastr
Aston Martin – Alonso/Walk
READ MORE: Italian media angry at Ferrari for calling it ‘Waterloo’
#summer #slump #Gasly #Alpine #rumors #judge13
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