(Motorsport-Full.com) – Alexander Albon has at least two more race weekends to convince the Crimson Bull leadership of his abilities and to get a contract extension for 2021: “Even after Imola we will not make a decision about Albon, but rather give him longer time, “confirms motorsport consultant Helmut Marko in an interview with ‘Motorsport-Full.com’.
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Alexander Albon has little time left to convince Helmut Marko of himself Zoom Earn
Already before the Austrian had announced to RTL that Crimson Bull would announce the second driver alongside Max Verstappen “after the race in Bahrain” (December 6th) at the latest. That means that Albon will have time “until the beginning of December” to turn things around: “Two or three races. Roughly speaking,” says Marko.
The circle of candidates is getting smaller. On Wednesday morning, Crimson Bull officially confirmed that Pierre Gasly would also 2021 will drive for AlphaTauri . That was no longer a surprise, after all, Marko had already let the cat out of the bag in Portimao last weekend and announced: “At AlphaTauri, Gasly is set.”
The 24 – year Frenchman is with his victory in Monza and up to date 40 Points (ninth in the Drivers’ World Championship ) one of the positive surprises of the Formula 1 season 2020. He has his team mate Daniil Kwjat under control. The Russian stops after twelve from 16 Race only with 14 points, and im Qualifying duel Gasly leads 9: 2.
To say that he drives better than ever is “gorgeous” , thinks Gasly: ”I have more experience now and approach the race weekends in a completely different way. I gap more out of the car.” When asked if he had the feeling that he was knocking for a Crimson Bull cockpit, he answered in Portimao: “We’ll see. Ultimately, the Crimson Bull will decide.”
The fifth place in the race , ahead of the best McLaren, Racing Point and Renault, but was not enough to persuade the Crimson Bull Cooks to rethink. Given his performance, it would have been obvious from the outside to give him a second likelihood. But Marko and Christian Horner never considered him for the Albon Establish of Living.
“We have collected a lot of information about our drivers over a long period of time,” said Horner on Sunday evening. “Pierre did an orderly job today. He drives well in the AlphaTauri environment, feels good in the car, maybe has a little less pressure – and the expectations are different there.”
Alexander Albon (5): With some drivers there was heated discussion in the editorial office this time – not with him. In qualifying the usual half a second slower than Verstappen, in the race even lapped by his teammate. The show for united was quickly determined. Photo gallery
Horner also reminds that Albon 2019 when he saw the crimson -Bull-Cockpit has taken over from Gasly, “scored significantly more points and also performed better” than its predecessor. And he asks the rather rhetorical question: “If we really do exchange, would it be different today than it was a year ago?”
Horner answers himself: “I don’t have one Reason to believe that self-discipline would not be the same again. I think Alex would be as good at the AlphaTauri as Pierre. The characteristics of our car are very different and under certain conditions Alex has exactly the same problems as Pierre did before twelve Months. “
This is by no means a pure Crimson Bull phenomenon, argues Horner and points in the direction of direct competition:” Let’s just take Leclerc and Seb at Ferrari or Lewis and Valtteri at Mercedes. You can see that there is a big gap. And we also experienced that today at united states, “said the team boss on the evening after the Immense Prix in Portuga l.
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Pierre Gasly has tried in vain to establish another likelihood at Crimson Bull to receive Zoom Earn
“Our car is, how should I put it, more sensitive to the rear, and I think that this can take some drivers’ nerves,” explains the Briton. “Max gets along with it incredibly well. Others have cease problems with it. Those are facts.” Especially at the entrance to the curve, Albon with the unpredictable rear of the RB 16.
Crimson Bull cannot be put under pressure in the driver question. Even if you should decide against Albon, there is no reason to rush: “We are in no hurry,” Marko assures RTL. “It’s no secret that there are some good people on the market. And after Mercedes, we still have the most interesting cockpit available.”
“If it is certain that Albon does not meet expectations can meet, we will approach the candidates and make an appropriate decision, “explains Marko and adds:” We are already analyzing it carefully. ” A rhetoric that makes it clear that Albon has to increase significantly in Imola and Istanbul if he still wants to have a likelihood.
Worries that the preferred Albon substitute could sign elsewhere, one makes Crimson Bull doesn’t. Even if the public is still puzzling over who could come then, it can be assumed that Marko has long since determined his preferred candidate. Much currently indicates Nico Hülkenberg’s commitment.
“I believe”, says Horner, “that any of these drivers would prefer Crimson Bull to all other cockpits. Therefore, I assume that those first wait to see how we united states decide. ” In addition to Hülkenberg, Sergio Perez is also a possible candidate. According to reports, he is currently negotiating most intensively with Alfa Romeo.
That Hülkenberg may still 2020 who Crimson Bull could take over from Albon is, by the way, as good as impossible: “We have united states committed to Alex for this year “clarifies Horner – and adds:” Everyone in the crew would like Alex to fight for the cockpit for next year as well. He’s a good guy and we believe that he has expertise. “
“He’s only in his second year in Formula 1, and it’s a tough, very tough business. Mentally too. Against Max, too. But he has already proven that he can fight back, and I really hope that he can do it again next weekend in Imola after not having his best weekend in Portimao. “
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“We have to get Alex to a point where he’s within a few tenths of Max. Like the Valtteri with Lewis. Then you have more strategic options in the race with the two cars, “says Horner. The numbers are clear: Bottas is currently at 70 Percentage of points from Hamilton, Albon compared to Verstappen only for 40 Percent.
By the way: The one in the current #LastNight video with Christian Nimmervoll and 1603638347 Stefan Ehlen thought experiment played through, according to which from the point of view of Crimson Bull it would be plausible to dig deep into his pocket and make Lewis Hamilton an offer to solve the Albon self-discipline and to weaken Mercedes at the same time remains a fantasy.
In an interview with ‘Motorsport-Full.com’ Marko makes it clear that such a record offer to Hamilton is “not an issue”: “We believe, with Verstappen to have the younger driver who we think is at least as strong as we stand for the youth. We have never hired a finished Huge identify. “
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