https://www.planetf1.com/news/red-bull-visa-cashapp-rb-name-reveal Goodbye Alpha Tauri Say hello to Visa Cash App RB! No really, that's the name. This is going to get to be like Moto GP where everyone has long since given up tracking team names and just refers to the company behind them, so it's Pramac, Tech 3, Gresini etc regardless of who the sponsor or the bike is. Truly we live in the prologue to Baseketball.
You'll also have situations like with tobaccoo sponsors... where broadcasters maybe can't actually say the name of some of these sponsors on air... So Stake F1 will probably still be 'Sauber' to most... bc maybe you can't talk/advertise casinos on-air... RB will be... something... They were almost always referred to as 'Red Bull's sister team' regardless of what their name actually was that week.
I'm just gonna to refer to them as Lola out of spite. Eitherway, like football/Rugby stadiums I'm not paid to say their sponsor so will always be known by their proper name.
I've taken to calling the "New Alpha Tauri team" Vicarb, as it's the first two letters of each part of the name.. If they don't want to sound like a 90's meal plan, they can come up with a better Team Name/Identity IMO
I'm calling it now; Brundle or Crofty start using Vicarb to be down-wid-de-kids, then accidentally call them bicarb, and then before we know it they'll be simply Soda (bicarb->bicarbonate of soda) which will naturally lead to them being called the Thomas the Tank Team (Triple T for short) because some nugget will mishear soda as Sodor (Island of) and the internet will implode. /places 50p bet on the above because it's a shoe-in!
Silly season for 20235 has started early https://news.sky.com/story/formula-...3vzeq8ILXhg3-Vj_ypYuL1zYCP4RMiaub1wDUDNq-Fj1g
Apparently, Michael Andretti wants to field an F1 team. FIA say yes, but F1 say no. https://arstechnica.com/cars/2024/0...ry-wanted-to-enter-f1-in-2025-but-f1-says-no/
And Mercedes have issued a statement, Hamilton's on his way. All I can say to that is WTAF?!?! Aside from the presumably absurd pay deal what is there to gain from going to a team he's beaten 13 times in 17 years? But then I thought in 2012 that he was giving up everything chasing a pay cheque in 2012, so what do I know.
That one, yes, but now who get's his seat in a years time etc etc etc all the way down the line. Hopefully Lando will have his hat in the ring
And have been pretty clear that they're going all in behind his soon to be teammate, and likely will continue to unless Hamilton puts on a max-on-perez level stomping of LeClerc. This feels like it's going to be Vettel-at-Ferrari [or worse... Ricciardo-at-McLaren] than... Alonso-at-Ferrari. So... Sainz to Ferrari's WEC team and/or following daddy into Dakar type stuff? Kimi Antonelli in at Merc? or reckon they'll snaffle Albon off Williams?
I can see Merc looking at the possibility of buying out Landos contract if that isn't possible then Albon. He will certainly be banging down Toto's door for a chat Ocon - Renault is a dead end plus isn't he managed by Toto Sainz - I always thought he was eying up Sauber to be lead driver for Audi. This might be a nice alternative Thing is Merc don't need a number 1 with Russel there. They could easily put a junior in the car. A few sources have said Antonelli. He's skipped F3 straight to F2 so I doubt he has the super points required. If he is the long term target then you might see a Kovalainen type signing as a stop gap.
If Antonelli gets a top 3 in F2 this year they'll have him. If that doesn't happen, then my guesses are. 1. Esteban because he's Toto's boy. 2. Carlos because he's Mr Unflappable, his drive in Singapore was a masterclass in not cracking under pressure. Plus he was 6 points behind Leclerc last year. 3. Fernando on a 1 year then retire deal. Don't laugh, it's Nando, anything could happen in the next half hour! This year's going to be a real make or break season for George though. He needs to beat Sir Lewis or he could be relegated to Barrichello status for the rest of his career.
ftfy EDIT: Also for the luls and to wind up certain ferrari fans. I predict Hamilton wins in a Ferrari before Leclerc wins again.
I reckon Alonso will retire when his contract runs out at the end of 2024 with Sainz taking the seat of of Alonso for 2025 while McSilver will snatch Albon.
I predict Hamilton will be the latest in an ever lengthening line of world champions who go to Ferrari to be disappointed.
I wonder how long the relationship will last before it turns sour. Will it make it through pre season or will it be the usual Ferrari strategy call special before the paper thin skin Ferrari get offended?
Looks like Horner has been accused of improper behaviour and a 3rd party legal firm are investigating. Current rumour mill is that he sent inappropriate photos to a female member of staff. If true (big if), RB would probably be forced to fire him. Who could take on the team principle role?
