Former Sky Sports activities System 1 presenter Rachel Brookes has predicted a large overhaul of the F1 grid, tipping four-time champion Max Verstappen to affix Mercedes and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri to switch him at Crimson Bull.
F1 is now in its summer season break, and with that comes plenty of discuss potential driver actions for the upcoming season. Whereas there have been no official bulletins of workforce modifications for any driver, hypothesis about who might go the place is ramping up.
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Talking on the Important F1 podcast, Brookes advised a number of driver modifications, together with an all-British line-up at McLaren and strikes to Audi, Alpine and Williams for Carlos Sainz, Fernando Alonso and Franco Colapinto.
“I nonetheless assume Max is in search of an exit as a result of he is displaying us all what he can do proper now and we’re all impressed and we’re like, ‘Max is wonderful’, as a result of he’s,” she started.
“However he desires to be successful once more. He does not need to have to indicate that he can get a automobile that needs to be tenth as much as second. He desires to be successful races once more.
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“As a lot because it regarded simple for him earlier than, he nonetheless desires to win. He nonetheless desires a trophy at dwelling. With all of the individuals who have left there now as effectively, I nonetheless really feel that he is wanting round going, ‘I’ve achieved my time. I’ve given you every thing I probably can, and now I need to go someplace I can win once more.'”
She added: “I really feel that Max would nonetheless go to Mercedes. Max will go to Mercedes alongside Kimi Antonelli. Ferrari will probably be Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. Crimson Bull will probably be Isack Hadjar and Oscar Piastri.
Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing
“I feel McLaren is probably Lando Norris and George Russell. I feel Fernando Alonso will go to Alpine subsequent 12 months, Carlos Sainz will go to Audi. I feel Franco Colapinto will return to Williams. And I’ve Leonardo Fornaroli getting onto the grid, however I am not 100% positive the place but.”
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Elaborating on the advised transfer of Verstappen to Mercedes, Brookes argued that workforce chief Toto Wolff nonetheless regrets not signing the Dutchman earlier than he went to Crimson Bull.
“Max to Mercedes, it is simply in my head nonetheless. Toto missed out on him earlier than. I feel that also bugs him. I additionally assume Max would actually like to go up in opposition to Kimi Antonelli.”
Verstappen has been linked with a Crimson Bull exit for a while. Whereas it’s understood that he’s capable of activate an exit clause in his contract with the Milton Keynes outfit as he isn’t within the high two within the drivers’ standings, he has persistently refused to touch upon rumours linking him to Mercedes and McLaren.
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There has additionally been hypothesis a couple of return to Alpine for two-time champion Alonso, and Williams’s present efficiency struggles have led to elevated discuss that Sainz might think about an exit.
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