The worst outcome would have been replacing a driver who didn't deliver over two seasons with Mick Schumacher, a driver who didn't deliver over two seasons, with no past/future relation to the team.

Lando looked good but remains to be seen if he can keep his head under real pressure. His starts are just a mess. The title race is definitely on though

I’m assuming that he’s bringing some serious cash with him

never heard of him but cannot be worse than sargeant :o

never heard of him but cannot be worse than sargeant :o

Not sure of that myself. His record in F2 is worse than Sargeant's. Which is why he's a bizarre choice

 

For reference, these are varous drivers' F2 comparisons. . -

 

 

Charles Leclerc - 1 title, 22 races, 7 wins, 8 poles, 10 podiums - Win ratio = 31.81%

 

George Russell - 1 title, 24 races, 7 wins, 5 poles, 11 podiums - Win ratio = 29.16%

 

Oscar Piastri - 1 title, 23 races, 6 wins, 5 poles, 6 podiums - Win ratio = 26.08%

 

Nyck De Vries - 1 title, 67 races, 12 wins, 23 podiums - Win ratio 17.91%

 

Liam Lawson - 28 races, 4 wins, 10 podiums - Win ratio = 14.28%

 

Oliver Bearman - 40 races, 5 wins, 3 poles, 7 podiums - Win ratio = 12.5%

 

Yuki Tsunoda - 24 races, 3 wins, 4 poles, 7 podiums - Win ratio 12.5%

 

Felipe Drugovich - 1 title, 73 races, 8 wins, 5 poles, 19 podiums - Win ratio = 10.95%

 

Theo Pourchaire - 1 title, 81 races, 8 wins, 3 poles, 20 podiums - Win ratio 9.87%

 

Nikita Mazepin - 24 races, 2 wins, 6 podiums - Win ratio = 8.33%

 

Zhou Guanyu - 68 races, 5 wins, 3 poles, 20 podiums - Win ratio = 7.25%

 

Mick Schumacher - 46 races - 1 title, 3 wins, 11 podiums - Win ratio = 6.52%

 

Logan Sargeant - 31 races, 2 wins, 2 poles, 4 podiums - Win ratio = 6.45%

 

Franco Colapinto - 18 races, 1 win, 3 podiums - Win ratio = 5.55%

 

 

 

Obviously, there's extra context to be taken into account here but it's pretty clear that overall, the best drivers have the best records and I see nothing to suggest Colapinto has the capability to improve Williams results this year. They don't need a long term plan for this replacement, they need the 2nd car to score a few points to make sure they stay ahead of Sauber and maybe challenge Alpine. Colapinto is not looking the best available option, Schumacher is.

 

Schumacher may be the best option but he’s contractually tied to Alpines endurance team, and I can’t see the incentive in Alpine letting him out of that contract, especially as they decided against giving him Ocon’s seat

Schumacher showed flashes of decent pace but couldn't keep it out the wall so Williams don't wanna replace one crash happy driver with another.

doesn't seem like the bestest of the bestest choice, wasn't really anyone else available? guess he brings lots of $$$

They need to do away with this whole F2 champions can't be in F2 again rule.

 

In the last couple of years it seems to have contributed to other drivers getting F1 seats over the title winners, purely because the title winners drop off the radar if they don't get a seat straight away.

Schumacher showed flashes of decent pace but couldn't keep it out the wall so Williams don't wanna replace one crash happy driver with another.

 

I can't see Schumacher coming back and being anything other than an average driver. I guess he'd still be better than Stroll/Perez/Sargeant.....

 

The fact that Mick Schumacher can be considered the standout choice shows what a complete lack of options they had available to them to make a change.

They need to do away with this whole F2 champions can't be in F2 again rule.

 

In the last couple of years it seems to have contributed to other drivers getting F1 seats over the title winners, purely because the title winners drop off the radar if they don't get a seat straight away.

 

Couldn't agree more. I'm sure some drivers have considered throwing the title if their prospects of a promotion to F1 immediately look bleak just so they can stay in F2.

More than anything they need 3 more teams on the grid. F1 is too much of a closed shop these days. You've got somewhat ordinary drivers like Zhou, Magnussen, Stroll, Sargeant etc clogging up the seats because they're 'safe and reliable' when there's genuinely great drivers out there who could potentially do a much better job. Then there's the mid tier of Perez, Gasly, Hulkenberg, Ocon, Tsunoda et al who are occasionally great but usually boring.

 

I'd love to see the likes of Newgarden, Dixon, Palou, Pourchaire, Drugovich, O'Ward and Herta given a shot.

 

And yeah the F2 Champions rule isn't working as intended. Nor is the superlicense set up

hope Palou gets a chance, my fav of the potential future drivers

 

 

Welcome to the big time Antonelli! Slightly large shoes to fill.

https://www.f1-fansite.com/2024-f1-season/2...ents-gearboxes/

 

So both Lewis and George and Oscar and lando all have new engines this week, should surely give them all a boost, so if max keeps up with them then I guess he has it won, if not then it will be a very interesting final 8 races

This season is turning into another 2009. One driver absolutely dominates the first third of the season but the rest of it is completely up in the air as to who could win each race. But just like 09 the leader was never seriously threatened for the title such was the extent of their early lead in the standings. Max might not even win another race all season but he just needs to keep picking up podiums whilst everyone else takes points off each other.

Well indeed Max struggled to keep up with everybody on fresher power units and qualifies in 7th👀do we have a title race

Red Bull are always stronger in the races so would expect them to come through the Ferraris and Mercs at least. Who knows it might get a bit feisty between the top 6 into turns 1/2.

Red Bull are always stronger in the races so would expect them to come through the Ferraris and Mercs at least. Who knows it might get a bit feisty between the top 6 into turns 1/2.

 

Ferrari’s looked real good in the last race. Should be a great race