Comments on: Zhou gets third season alongside Bottas, Pourchaire named reserve driver | Formula 1

By: F1sauber

F1sauber — Fri, 15 Sep 2023 07:46:22 +0000

In reply to Armchair Expert. Mr Expert I agree with you. Very disappointing for Sauber fans, Bottas should move on, and let the seat for younger and hungrier drivers. It has become visibly pathetic how he drives, no much effort.

By: spoutnik

spoutnik — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 18:20:53 +0000

In reply to Armchair Expert. I don't think Pourchaire is a particularly better prospect to be honest.

By: Dex

Dex — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 14:11:55 +0000

Very exciting line-up. Also, why the hell are F2 champions still forbidden to participate in the following seasons? That rule now seems extremely unfair even, not to mention how devolving it is for the championship itself. Allow Drugovich, Pourchaire (if he wins, or Vesti, or whoever else) and others to race. It doesn't have to be purely a feeder series, it's enjoyable on its own, plus it's not feeding anything to anyone and vice versa. I can't believe they still have that foolish rule in place. What, to open up more spots? For whom? Nissani? Or one of those other, even slower crashers, that never score a single point, but last for ages in the championship?

By: Keith Campbell

Keith Campbell — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 13:16:11 +0000

In reply to Facts&Stats. He might not get a drive, since every team would have only one spot for a veteran driver and not every team could afford Alonso's salary demands. But this proposal would also virtually ensure that no top driver ever had competition from his teammate, because the rookie would be bumped as soon as they'd been in the sport for three years. If we think Verstappen's dominance over Perez is bad, just imagine how it would be if he only had to face an F2 graduate for three seasons before moving on to the next one.

By: Alberto

Alberto — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 13:15:34 +0000

In reply to Armchair Expert. This upcoming period probably just a filler as everyone is waiting for the switch. No one wants to fully commit, make a big change, invest or be ambitious.

By: Facts&Stats

Facts&Stats — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 12:44:00 +0000

In reply to SjaakFoo. The team picking up Alonso would love that, especially when beating AM in the WCC. Thanks for pointing out the positives :p

By: SjaakFoo

SjaakFoo — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 12:13:46 +0000

In reply to Facts&Stats. Imagine Fernando Alonso getting fired in favor of Richard Verschoor because of this rule, pretty dumb rule if you really consider it.

By: Jere

Jere — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 12:11:33 +0000

In reply to Frank. Frank - I don't see such a proposal solving anything either.

By: Frank

Frank — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 11:50:23 +0000

In reply to Facts&Stats. That would put some very deserving drivers out of a seat. It is unclear to me what problem the proposal attempts to solve, so I would vote againt it

By: Facts&Stats

Facts&Stats — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 11:11:17 +0000

As F1 is first and foremost a team-sport, I wouldn't mind if FIA introduces a rule stating that the second driver in any team cannot have more than 3 years of F1 experience.
This would force (on average) more than 3 rookies joining every season, and also some additional movement of the second tier drivers.

By: Jere

Jere — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 10:44:39 +0000

In reply to Coventry Climax. He joined on either a straight 3-year or 2+1 deal. Yes, Zhou may have again only received a single-year contract or perhaps 1+1. Pourchaire could do a year without actual racing, like Piastri in 2021, for example. I assume he'll switch from F2 to another series, although his chances of a full-time driver in F1 already lower for the future than they were for next season with Audi's future arrival. The last phrase is indeed probably true & possibly a different situation had he dominated F2 throughout this year's campaign instead of somewhat struggling in the championship battle until the most recent rounds.

By: Jere

Jere — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 10:38:20 +0000

In reply to Jere. Insufficiency

By: Coventry Climax

Coventry Climax — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 10:26:10 +0000

It says here that Bottas' contract runs until the end of 2024? I thought it ran until the end of 2025, to just before the new regulations kick in and the team becomes Audi?
The new Zhou deal is for a year, apparently.
So all in all, Pourchaire may still get his chance. Ofcourse he will have to actually race somewhere until then, but not all is lost for him yet.

Apart from all that, is Pourchaire really seen as a particularly outstanding driver? On the basis of the current contract continuations, Alfa Romeo apparently think not, and want to see how things go and develop for another year.

By: GeeMac

GeeMac — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 10:07:49 +0000

Interesting decision, not because I don't think Zhou is a good Grand Prix driver, but more because I had assumed Sauber would want to give Pourchaire an opportunity before the team becomes Audi and they (presumably) lose control over these sorts of decisions to the powers that be in Ingolstadt.

By: Streydt

Streydt — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 10:05:22 +0000

In reply to Armchair Expert. Probably pretty spot on.

By: Jere

Jere — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 09:58:30 +0000

As expected, especially since the pre-Italian GP Thursday. The rumors about budget insufficience were unfounded in the first place, so I never bought into them. Of course, a blow for Pouchaire & since he'd probably leave F2 even if he doesn't win the championship, he either faces a year without actual racing or moves to another series for initial interim purposes, although Zhou's continuation also risks him never getting a chance with Audi's future arrival.

By: Armchair Expert

Armchair Expert — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 09:25:19 +0000

Social Media F1 Team. Bottas will be posting on Instagram his bare body, while Zhou continues with his fashion endeavours. Results on the actual track? They don't care, because it's all about money and that's guaranteed, so why put even the slightest effort? This is how F1 is in the modern days.