Ferrari-Vettel announced separation before a single lap of F1 2020 – do neither have confidence in the other for this year’s World Championship? In which case, why even bother racing together. Also in this episode, Daniel Ricciardo’s career lifeline (courtesy: Mclaren) and end of rejections in Formula 1 for Carlos Sainz Jr. (courtesy: Ferrari).
The Vettel-Ferrari relationship nosedived fairly suddenly. From being ‘The One’ who would help Ferrari reclaim their days of glory, Vettel was quickly relegated to the illustrious list of World Champions who failed to win titles with Ferrari – Fernando Alonso and Alain Prost being the other two. Were Ferrari right in letting go of Vettel? Will the Carlos Sainz Jr.-Charles Leclerc partnership deliver to Ferrari what several former far more experienced drivers couldn’t? And of course, WHAT IF Sebastian Vettel wins the 2020 Formula 1 World Champion? Okay, given how they separated, we wonder if they should even bother to race together in 2020.
Also in this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, we mourn Ferrari overlooking the availability of proven race winner, Daniel Ricciardo. But of course, Mclaren have offered Ricciardo a career lifeline and they’ll have the funniest driver line-up in 2021, if nothing else. Would Nicholas Todt have influenced Ferrari’s partner of choice for Leclerc? Would THE Carlos Sainz (Sr.) have pulled all strings to get his son (Jr.) a seat at Ferrari? And before we end, helmets off to Liberty Media for doing all they can to retain all 10 teams in Formula 1 after the pandemic. Tune in!
(Season 2020, Episode 18)
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Here’s what’s in store for you in this episode:
0:00-3:00 – For the 2020 Formula 1 season, Ferrari either lack belief in their car or Sebastian Vettel; your guess is as good as ours
3:00-6:00 – Do you feel so too that Fernando Alonso’s stint with Ferrari seemed more successful than Sebastian Vettel’s?
6:00-9:00 – Let’s hope that Bernie Ecclestone is advising Vettel correctly and we don’t see the four times World Champion retire from Formula 1 – he’s only 32 years old, after all
9:00-12:00 – A Vettel-Hamilton partnership at Mercedes, a dream too good to come true? It would a be a brilliant headline for Formula 1 after the pandemic. But can Mercedes afford such a pairing? Also, why Fernando Alonso or Vettel shouldn’t join Renault from 2021
12:00-15:00 – Did Ferrari do the right thing by letting go of Sebastian Vettel? If you were a Team Principal, how many of Vettel’s mistakes would you overlook? In 2019, the two Ferrari drivers drove to different objectives (Read: Vettel Missed A Mentor At Ferrari)
15:00-18:00 – Carlos Sainz Jr. to Ferrari is a great reward and hopefully bring an end to the rejections he’s faced in Formula 1. Early indications that Sainz will play ‘number 2’ to Charles Leclerc at Ferrari?
18:00-21:00 – Why did Ferrari not choose to hire Daniel Ricciardo despite his proven race winning credentials? Also, Cyril’s over-reaction to Ricciardo side-stepping to Mclaren
21:00-25:00 – Could Renault become an all Mercedes junior driver team – George Russell vs. Esteban Ocon? Or could Kevin Magnussen return to the team? Let’s also not rule out Robert Kubica and his sponsors
25:00-28:00 – Are Daniel Ricciardo’s chances of getting a drive with a top team all but over? Also, Liberty Media are taking definite steps to make sure that all 10 teams remain in the sport after the pandemic
28:00-end – Hosting Formula 1 Grand Prix without a local promoter – Liberty Media might just get to explore a new business model thanks to the pandemic! (Read: Liberty Media To Turn Race Promoter In F1 2020)