Former Minardi boss says struggling Vettel should retire
Apr.13 - Former F1 boss Giancarlo Minardi thinks quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel "should retire".
It's a stinging comment after one of Vettel's worst performances ever in Formula 1 last weekend in Melbourne.
"He was unlucky to have missed two grands prix because of covid," said the 74-year-old, who is also now the president of the Imola circuit.
"But he should retire. He has a lot of money, he has won titles and he will never win again," Minardi told Corriere della Sera newspaper.
His comments come amid speculation that the 34-year-old may be replaced at struggling Aston Martin by Fernando Alonso, who may need to make way at Alpine for the reigning Formula 2 champion Oscar Piastri.
Alonso, 40, said in Melbourne that he sees himself in F1 for another two or three years - but he didn't say specifically that it will be with the Renault-owned team.
"I don't know if he meant with us of not, but I hope so," Alpine's new team boss Otmar Szafnauer told AS newspaper.
"We have him this year, and these decisions for the future will come in July or August.
"Until then, we're going to learn a lot about the car and I'm sure we'll all have more information to make a decision."
At Aston Martin, however, new boss Mike Krack was quick to protect Vettel after his horror Melbourne weekend.
"Everything is fine with Seb," he insisted.
"The fact that a driver like him, a four-time world champion, has so many problems over a weekend has little to do with his driving performance.
"It's not normal when a driver of his calibre is off the track so often over a weekend," Krack added.
Former F1 driver Timo Glock, however, joins Minardi in thinking the German driver may take the question of his role at Aston Martin out of the team's hands.
"It's going to be a tough road for the whole team," he told Sky Deutschland.
"I can imagine that Sebastian Vettel will lose his patience at some point because he knows very well how long it takes to get out of a hole like this.
"We'll have to wait for the next races to see how he can motivate himself - and what he then decides for his future," Glock concluded.
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Vettel and Alonso. Two perfect candidates fort retirement. Vettel is washed up and Alonso is clinging to false hopes. But where's the brigade clamouring for them to go? Yet constant droning for Sir Lewis to leave. 🤔
Maybe Giancarlo Minardi should retire. Oh he did. Old fart.
We can't lose all the greats... the sport needs losers too.
But it looks like Lewis may be tired of the sport now that he isn't in 1st place any more.
Retirement comes for everyone. Until you have experienced the loss of supremacy, you have no clue re the difficulty of pulling the plug and your opinions are moot.. Right now, AM has bigger problems than VET.
I find that always the people who had no success criticize Seb my man got 2 Podiums last year in car that finished 7th in constructors AM best 4 results he's had 1 race this season had barley any practice and he should retire claims bet no one mentions that he had lap time faster than McLaren in last race at some points in the slowest car on the grid Seb has not lost his pace the car he drives has no pace
Right.
Without Minardi or Stoddart, no RB
Edit no TR but same thing really
I think, Seb retires at end of season from Fi maybe to long distance racing with either AM or Fer. Alon to AM or long dist with AM or Fer. Ham to Alpine to head up F1 and major prom role with new hybrid sports cars. He is a perfect fit with a French sports car manufacturer, The Alpine HY 200Hamilton. Neat, compact, very fast and typical French slightly outrageous styling a la Megan’s.
Are you getting the picture, billions could be made and another wdc into the bargain. Bit to mass market for Mercedes.
Glad you found your stash, Blo', but I do have a question. Are you in a contest with Jaxwad for the most outrageous calls of the season? Can I play? Maxxy gets bored and goes BASHCAR racing with Niki Maz who becomes a US citizen and races with the nom de plume P. I. Groper.
Alpine why bother ?
https://en.media.alpinecars.com/news/alpine-on-the-rise-in-2021-05db-989c5.html
Oh and Max to Fer and Sainz to Mb
First RoR, in No way would I claim to be in the same league as the inestimable Sir Jax. Second, that Russian prat and his father would probably love your idea, but will more likely disappear into the depths of South America with the billions they have robbed from the Russian people, in fact if it was me I would be there already and keeping very quiet.
Strop that tends to my strange mind to confirm my predictions, Lewis has tried the blond hair but fitting in with an austere German mind set just isn’t him. The more flamboyant French persona, the Renault money and proletariat image together with the huge challenge is right up his street. Let’s face it if you were Sir Lewis where would you feel more comfortable?
WTF's a Minardi? LMFAO. #NOTRELEVANT
When your being silly, your just daft , and when trying to say something intelligent, just plain Stupid, but it passes the time between races
Are you honestly saying Lewis would love the French way...Somehow I think working for Renault who are helping towards Russia's war chest and success in UKR , wouldn't be that high on his list of potential employers
Where would Lewis feel more comfortable? In a gay brothel..? would be my guess....!!
Silly, daft , stupid, I have/ am called that all the time, even by my very young staff! I try my best.
Gay brothel? Based on personal experience? I’m impressed by your open mindedness.
"Silly, daft , stupid, I have/ am called that all the time, even by my very young staff! I try my best."
And your efforts are successful. You go, Blo'. You are probably considered best boss ever.
Fly, you nailed it. "Gay brothel" and the rabid promiscuity that entails.
I worked on a Norwegian flagged cruise-ship once upon a time. All the waiters were gay.
Walking down the hallway through gay-town to my cabin much further aft, I heard this choo-choo sound coming from the cross-alley just ahead. I stopped - not knowing what to expect.
Well, in front of me these five waiters, all in tiny red Speedo's were marching up to a cabin door in front of them. Each of the waiters was grasping the hips of the waiter in front. Each moving his arms in time with the lead guy.
The lead waiter, a short swarthy greek, was moving his arms back-and-forth horizontally, like the steam-pistons on an old locomotive, in time with the choo-choo sounds being made by the other four waiters - who were progressively taller than the waiter in front.
There was a brief pause as the Greek knocked on the cabin door, which was opened quickly. The procession choo-chooed it's way into the cabin - within which a number of Speedo-clad waiters lounged, smiling broadly.
As the last waiter crossed the threshold, he looked at me and smiled as he made pelvic-thrusts in time with his "Woo-hooo" steam-whistle sound, then slammed the door.
Having never been in a gay brothel, I can only surmise that what I witnessed was a reasonable facsimile.
Your’e far too kind ROR. But absolutely correct as always.
can’t seem to get the picture of Stroppy in a Gay Brothel out of my mind though. Black wet look micro shorts and Mexican moustache? We’re you there too Canadian ED. I would have gone along too but the thaught of anything thicker than a chopstick up my arse makes my eyes water to much to drive in.
Seb's call in the end whether to continue or not.
For now, I'm confident he'll continue despite AM's current performance level.
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