The surprising departure of Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari kicked off the Silly Season early on February 1st. With Scuderia choosing to release Carlos Sainz and keep Charles Leclerc for ‘The Hamilton Chapter’ in Maranello.
As a result, Sainz, who is currently one of the most sought-after figures in F1 and recently won the Australian Grand Prix, is now available for hiring, just as Mercedes is looking to fill a seat they did not expect to have to fill, at least not until Hamilton retires.
However, the inevitable union of Hamilton and Ferrari has interrupted that narrative. The convergence of the two biggest brands in the sport can be seen as an inevitable outcome given the circumstances.
Specifically, Mercedes is on a downward trajectory while Ferrari is on the rise, much like when Sir Lewis left McLaren about a decade ago. Once again, the 39-year-old winner of 103 GPs has demonstrated impeccable wit and timing.
Speaking to the Inclave Casino media team, Herbert, a former F1 driver, offered some advice to Mercedes F1 team boss Toto Wolff: “Carlos Sainz should be one of the candidates considered by Mercedes. He is a reliable and intelligent driver who would fit in very well.”
“However, would they be willing to bet on someone like Ollie Bearman and put him in a high-pressure situation? I believe so,” speculated Herbert. “Bearman has proven he can handle one of the most demanding seats in F1, if not the most demanding, at Ferrari. He would be a perfect match. It would be fantastic to see.”
But in a more realistic scenario, Ferrari will likely keep Bearman by offering him a seat at Haas F1 for 2025, according to Herbert. “Ollie has done an exceptional job. His debut was one of those rare moments that leave a lasting impression. This bodes well for the future of British motorsport and his own career.”
“He will be in an F1 car next year, probably at Haas. And from there, his future looks very promising. As long as he secures a seat next year, his career will take off. We will have a rising star on our hands,” Herbert predicts.
Currently, Bearman is still relatively unknown despite his notable F1 debut in Jeddah, when he replaced Sainz, who was hospitalized for an appendix operation, at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. It is important to remember that one race does not define an F1 driver, as demonstrated by Nyck de Vries at AlphaTauri last year.
In the world of Formula 1, Mercedes has long been betting on George Russell to succeed Lewis Hamilton. However, the younger of the two British drivers has failed to meet expectations. Similarly, Mercedes has not produced a series of below-average cars coinciding with Russell’s arrival from Williams. To truly showcase his talent, Russell needs a competitive car.
Despite this, it seems unlikely that Russell will go elsewhere, and Mercedes will not seek a newcomer to fill the seat, whether it be Bearman or Kimi Antonelli. There are reports that Toto Wolff, the team boss, wants to lure Max Verstappen from Red Bull and is toying with the idea of Sebastian Vettel making a comeback.
In addition to the search for Verstappen, all other options bring a high level of risk compared to the safe bet that Carlos Sainz would be for the Mercedes team. It is worth noting that Mercedes has never had a Latin driver racing for them in the modern era.
Sainz has also been linked to a possible return to Red Bull and is considered a candidate to lead the Audi F1 project in 2026.
Regarding the possible pursuit of Vettel, it is important to remember that the beloved four-time F1 world champion faced a fate similar to Daniel Ricciardo in his final years. He was convincingly outperformed by Charles Leclerc at Ferrari before Aston Martin extended his decline.
In conclusion, it is worth mentioning that Ricciardo’s poor performance has not gone unnoticed by Johnny Herbert, a former F1 driver. Herbert believes that Ricciardo’s chances of returning to the top are slim, especially considering that his teammate, Tsunoda, is faster than him.
© 2024
The biggest football competition in the world is about to begin and fans are eager to see their favorite teams in action. The 2024 World Cup promises to be an exciting event, with teams from around the world competing for the title. In this article, we will take a look at the teams in group A and what to expect from them.
Brazil: The Brazilian national team is always one of the favorites in any competition. With talented players like Neymar and Gabriel Jesus, Brazil has a strong and skillful team. They have a rich history in the World Cup, having won the tournament five times. Brazilian fans are hopeful that their team can bring the trophy home once again.
France: France is the current champion of the World Cup, having won the tournament in 2018. With players like Kylian Mbappé and Antoine Griezmann, the French team has a powerful attack. They have a balanced and talented team, and will certainly be a threat to any team they face.
Italy: Italy is a team with a rich history in the World Cup. They have won the tournament four times and are always a competitive team. Although they have not had as much success in recent years, the Italians have a talented and experienced team. They will certainly be aiming for a good performance in this tournament.
Netherlands: Netherlands is a team known for their offensive and attractive style of play. Although they have not won the World Cup, the Dutch have reached the final three times. With players like Memphis Depay and Frenkie de Jong, the Dutch team will certainly be a threat to their opponents.
These are just a few of the teams that will be competing in Group A of the 2024 World Cup. With talented teams and skilled players, this tournament promises to be exciting. Football fans around the world are looking forward to seeing who will emerge victorious and lift the World Cup trophy.
