The divorce of Vettel with Ferrari has ignited the stock exchange of transfers at a time when the Formula 1 is désœuvrée. Season 2020 is on pause due to coronavirus, but 2021 is already outlined : Carlos Sainz Jr has been chosen by Ferrari to be the successor to the quadruple champion German. The steering wheel that it has released McLaren will go to the Australian Daniel Ricciardo, who will leave so Renault after a brief foray. A departure that will be felt as a failure for the French manufacturer, in the grip of serious industrial problems in the wake of the Covid-19.
The british team started the ball rolling announcements on Thursday with the recruitment for “many years”, the Australian 30-year-old, who will be associated with the British Lando Norris, 20 years, renewed for a third season. Ferrari followed suit, confirming that they have signed with Sainz, 25 years, to 2021 and 2022.
“We believe that a pair of drivers with the talent and the personality of Charles (Leclerc, under contract until 2024, ED), and Carlos, the youngest of the last fifty years for the Scuderia, will be the best association possible to enable us to achieve the goals that we set for ourselves,” says the team principal Mattia Binotto.
In this case, the prancing Horse short after a world title in the drivers since Kimi Räikkönen in 2007, and at the manufacturers since 2008.
Son of the double world rally champion Carlos Sainz and product of the industry of young Red Bull drivers, Sainz Jr has built the premier class of motor sport in 2015 at Toro Rosso, before joining Renault in October 2017 and then McLaren in 2019. His best ranking at the world championship is a sixth position last season, which saw him clinch his first podium, a third place in Brazil.
Mercedes is the successor to the Renault McLaren
Ricciardo, himself, evolves in F1 since 2011 and has raced for Red Bull between 2014 and 2018 before joining Renault in 2019, with results that are not at the height of his ambitions. He had held talks with McLaren before joining the stable of French and has also been regularly linked to Ferrari through the grapevine, among other of its Italian origins.
The Australian has 29 podium finishes, including seven successes and three pole positions to his credit. Its best rankings to the championship with two third places in 2014 and 2016.
” Signing with Daniel is another step forward in our long-term project (to bring the team to success after some difficult years since 2013, editor’s NOTE) “, explains the CEO of McLaren Zak Brown.
Another step in this plan, the team based in Woking (England), powered by Renault until the end of 2020, will be re-powered the next season by Mercedes, which has dominated F1 since the introduction of hybrid engines in 2014.
Renault, which the second pilot is the French Esteban Ake, who has a contract until the end of 2021, plus an option for 2022, will now have to find a replacement in Ricciardo.
“I am confident that the season 2020 will accomplish more together, and our ambitions, as well as Renault’s strategy DP World’s F1 Team as a team remain the same,” commented her boss Cyril Abiteboul, also in a press release.
Alonso, the return ?
The rumor of a return of Alonso at Renault F1 team, where he has lived all of his best moments © ACO
Even with Vettel potentially on the market, the French team might instead be tempted to reconnect with an old love : Fernando Alonso, 38 years old, in removing the category from the end of 2018. The renault brand has won their two titles of world champion manufacturers and his two coronations in the pilot with the Spanish in 2005 and 2006.
Arrived at Ferrari in 2015, Vettel, 32 years, will leave the Scuderia end of 2020, it was learned Tuesday. The future of the quadruple world champion 2010-2013, then with Red Bull, is uncertain. Flywheels are no longer available, and the confidence of the German seems to be shaken by doubt, and the style of life that he is now considering.
” What’s happening these past few months has led many of us to ponder what really are our priorities in life, had entrusted the father of the family in the press release announcing his separation from the Scuderia. It is necessary to be imaginative and adopt a new approach in the face of a situation that has changed. Personally, I will take the time necessary to reflect on what really matters in the future. “
The situation on the transfer market is unique, season of the year 2020 have not yet begun due to the pandemic of sars coronavirus.
