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[livefastdriveyoung]

The Geneva Convention KNOCKING ON HIS DOOR so real. My favorite War Criminal.

Esteban is a nerd but a fun one in the same way Max is (no one come for me for alluding that the two are similar)

I only just watched the new F1 video and all I learned is that Esteban is a nerd

All I can say is that Max will get geography, Logan will get fish(ing), Oscar will probably get cricket or some massively Australian thing, and Fernando will get the Geneva Convention knocking on his door(out of love).

[livefastdriveyoung]

The only way Max Verstappen goes to Mercedes is if Toto Wolff has made the move of the century and secured Adrian Newey.

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I have been saying since February that either Zhou, Bottas, or both are going to lose their seats. If you don't think that Nico Hulkenberg's performance this season hasn't been a tryout for the Audi then you're wrong. He might wind up staying in Haas, but they want Ollie Bearman in a seat and Ferrari isn't happening for the foreseeable future.

I love both of these men, truly. But I don't think that Audi has any intentions of inheriting drivers. Whatever that looks like.

[livefastdriveyoung]

Reminder that if you have American mutuals in Uni/college/graduate/law school, final exams are either in one or two weeks. They are not ignoring you, they are dying trying to study.

Speaking from experience.

[livefastdriveyoung]

I hope to god that if Adrian Newey is going to Aston Martin, Fernando Alonso doesn't revert to active war crimes.

This new grid isn't prepared for it. Like the whole world lost their minds when Lewis did a trick that others have been doing for years.

Could you imagine if Fernando "I knew he would move," Alonso was just terrorizing George, Lando, or Yuki?

Like I know Daniel Ricciardo woke up this morning, and after having a good laugh and being sad that he might not get to drive one of Newey's creations again, said a quick prayer because he remembers what Fernando was like.

And Lewis is probably like doing some meditation because he cannot handle this shit again.

[livefastdriveyoung]

Fred Vasseur wants to be underestimated. He wants to be seen as the jolly old man. He wants to be the funny awkward dad asking his kids (Carlos) about his relationship status.

He wants you to forget that he shaped Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, that before they were Toto's, they were his. That he had Romain Grosjean too.

He is a brilliant mind. He is a master at what he does.

He's just very good at hiding it.

And that's how he's walking into 2025 with Lewis Hamilton, and very likely Adrian Newey as well.

[livefastdriveyoung]

Recap of the Adrian Newey Rumors:

Approximately two weeks after the Horner scandal broke, rumors that Newey was not happy with the investigation and behavior internally broke. At the time, many speculated that he would finish out his contract, and then potentially go wherever Max goes.

Four Weeks ago, Aston Martin was rumored to have put 100 million dollars over four years on the table in an attempt to poach him.

Somewhere around the same time, Newey was seen landing in Italy, relatively close to Maranello. At the time it was waived away as him racing some cars, which he did, but there's this concept you see a lot in politics, where a candidate isn't "campaigning" they're in the area for a trip and happen to stop off to give a speech to unions or farmers. Newey very well could have done the same.

Two weeks ago, it was rumored for the first time that Newey's discontent was two-fold, the first being Horner, the second being that he was being pushed to focus on 2025, not just 2026, and that was significantly impairing him.

This morning, (25/4 - 4/25) it breaks in the German Auto Motor Und Sport, which is the German syndicate that has had a bead on all thing Red Bull for years, that Adrian Newey has officially declared his intention to leave. Ideally it would be at the end of 2024, before his contract is technically up.

Several news platforms cite to this article with the term "report" so as not to have to backtrack if wrong.

Then, two hours ago, BBC Sport drops their article, the first to be an official claim. They claim to have verified with "independent high level sources close to Red Bull and Newey."

This immediately gets traction from sports reporters like Adam Stern and others. Which likely pushes Motorsport, who has never liked to post anything without a source, to finally publish.

An hour ago, Motorsport published the following "The news of Newey's impending departure was first reported by German outlet Auto Motor und Sport and has since been confirmed to Motorsport.com by sources with knowledge of the situation."

Fine. Game on. Motorsport doesn't indicate how high up these people are, but whoever these sources are, they're either the same as the BBC, or this really truly out there.

Then within seconds, Autosport is launching the same statement, "The news of Newey's impending departure was first reported by German outlet Auto Motor und Sport and since been confirmed to Autosport by sources with knowledge of the situation."

This is because it is the same authors, as a reminder these days a lot of sports editors especially, freelance.

Ok so he's going right?

Well, approximately 15 minutes ago, Planet F1 states that a Red Bull spokesperson tells them that "Adrian is contracted until at least the end of 2025. We are unaware of him joining any other team."

But then again, this was the same thing that went down with Lewis when he moved to Ferrari.

So here are my thoughts:

I don't know if Adrian is leaving, but the threat of him going is probably enough to send Red Bull upper management into a panic. Stock holders love Max, but they know that Adrian is the brains behind the car. If he goes somewhere else, they're not going to be as competitive. So likely someone from his camp is leaking that he's got the contract, and very likely, he's going to go unless they can give him what he wants.

Whether or not that is time to work on 2026 or to get rid of Horner, I don't know.

If he does go, there is gardening leave. He won't be at any team in 2025 probably. But if he can design the 2026, and he can do it the way he wants, that might be enticing enough to take a year off.

If he isn't leaving, then someone in Red Bull is going on a mole hunt. And I wish them luck because the BBC and Motorsport aren't giving up their sources, so you better have known exactly who you told this to.

Game on.

[livefastdriveyoung]

We have a second confirmation from Motorsport.com who have also independently confirmed it:

The news of Newey's impending departure was first reported by German outlet Auto Motor und Sport and has since been confirmed to Motorsport.com by sources with knowledge of the situation.The news of Newey's impending departure was first reported by German outlet Auto Motor und Sport and has since been confirmed to Motorsport.com by sources with knowledge of the situation.

That makes it two official sources who typically try not to report without solid verification. Newey is leaving. We just don't know where.

[livefastdriveyoung]

Ok BBC has it and isn't citing sources, but "BBC has learned" is usually a pretty good indicator that they have verified sources. They admit to the story first braking on Auto Motor und Sport, which is a German syndicate that has broken several major F1 stories before. They say that they have "independently verified by BBC Sport with high-level sources close to Red Bull and Newey."

There is no confirmation as to where he is going, whether that be Ferrari or Aston Martin. I could see him going to Ferrari because part of the reason he's leaving is the struggles with the money issue. Ferrari just got 90 million of cold hard cash from HP and Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc are probably the next best thing to Max Verstappen. Aston Martin's money is certainly attractive, and it wouldn't be a problem to work with Fernando, but I think Ferrari will be where he lands.

Again, the only verification is from BBC, there are not other articles citing this as confirmed, and we know BBC has been wrong before.

[livefastdriveyoung]

I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW!

I promise I am following the Adrian Newey Story. I fully promise. If it is confirmed I will let you know. I am watching it.

[livefastdriveyoung]

If your first interaction with F1 is Brocedes, I am so genuinely sorry. As someone who has been watching since 2015(?) It does not get better. They go from friends to enemies to something else called healing but it is not ever going to be what it was.

Like maybe introduce yourself with Jenson Button, or like Sebastian but avoid Multi-21?

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NEWSFLASH: MAX VERSTAPPEN IS A NERD

Like genuinely how do you look at that man and think anything else? Flags, maps, history, he's a NERD.

I love it, but like, there was nothing about this man that screamed himbo or just even hunk.

[livefastdriveyoung]

Nico Hulkenberg to Audi would be hilarious. Like if he's teammates with Carlos Sainz I will be on the floor because that man will have to do so much press.

Also I guess that means Ollie Bearman to Haas.

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I didn't want to address it but it gaining traction:

James Vowles needs to prove himself as a team principal. What he's not going to do is replace an F1 driver with an F2 driver who has been brought up to early.

Again.

He's also never going to prove himself if he continues to act as a feeder program for the Mercedes seat. Valtteri, Nico R, and George all served time in Williams before making their way to Mercedes. James has already made it clear Kimi isn't their top choice over a driver in their own academy.

Kimi isn't doing that well. He's currently 9th after 3 (4?) races. He could improve but he's not placing well enough to blame it solely on Prema.

Logan finished fifth the year he was promoted.

Additionally, Kimi isn't 18 yet. Even if, EVEN IF, FIA were willing to give an exemption on that component, there's another funky little aspect that everyone is ignoring.

I'm pretty sure that To drive in F1, drivers need to have their standard road license in their home country. Kimi races under the Italian flag, he won't be able to test until he's 18 (I THINK). And that's if he passes the first time. Which, no F1 driver has a great record with the standard test, whether that be the theory or the physical.

Also it's Joe Saward. The man predicted Lando had a contract with Ferrari. Like he's pretty good at scooping calendar changes, but if I had to guess, that's from getting his hands on documents that go out to dozens of people. You better believe that a contract like this is being kept under wraps.

Don't believe it until it comes out of Kimi, Logan, James, or Alex's mouth.

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I am in fact ill but it makes sense. Just because they're friends again according to one party doesn't change the fact that the other party might not want to discuss or act in public.

Healing isn't linear and it's not the same for everyone. Some things have to be kept behind closed doors.

i fear this is the closest thing we're getting to a brocedes reunion...

(what is their problem?!??!! YOU GUYS LITERALLY MISS EACH OTHER, STOP ACTING LIKE YOU DON'T)

(can you imagine just casually not acknowledging your childhood best friend...CAN YOU IMAGE!???? DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH EFFORT THAT TAKES??!!??)

[livefastdriveyoung]

See this is more realistic. Do I love that he clearly kept pace for a little bit before zooming off? For sure. But they didn't appear to talk. Not that Lewis is ever super talkative pre-race. But he clearly has his AirPods in.

That doesn't mean that it isn't muscle memory for him to keep pace with Nico.

But this is realistic. They weren't hanging out together.

my two cents

[livefastdriveyoung]

How things have changed in two years.

Lewis was losing the idgf war so bad 🤭😭