IMOLA, ITALY – MAY 18: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing, Esteban Ocon of France and Alpine F1, Sergio Perez of Mexico and Oracle Red Bull Racing, and Pierre Gasly of France and Alpine F1, talk to the crowd on the fan stage ahead of the final practice session of the Formula 1 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari Circuit on May 18, 2024 in Imola, Italy. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202405180071 // Editorial use only //
Ocon’s split from his team seemed inevitable after his controversial actions at the Monaco Grand Prix, but it still came as a surprise. Equally surprising was Red Bull’s decision to extend Perez’s contract by two years, despite his significant drop in performance. This drop was particularly noticeable after a disappointing weekend in Monte Carlo for the experienced Mexican driver.
The most shocking aspect of Perez’s new contract is its duration. While a one-year extension would have been reasonable for the 34-year-old driver, the decision to offer two more years is generous and unbelievable, as noted by Villeneuve. The former F1 world champion stated: “He had his worst season at Red Bull. Normally, he would have some amazing races at the beginning. But he didn’t even have that this year. So, he collapsed even more! He was already behind Max at the start of the season and now he has dropped another half a second. That’s ten cars on the grid. I don’t know what’s going on.”
Talking about the situation at Alpine, Villeneuve expressed his lack of surprise at Esteban Ocon’s departure. He believed it was inevitable that Alpine would not keep both Ocon and Pierre Gasly, as they are both French drivers. Villeneuve questioned the logic of having two French drivers in a French team, as it limits their market potential only to France. He also highlighted that Ocon’s actions in Monaco made the decision to let him go easy for the team.
Sources within the F1 paddock suggest that Ocon is currently in negotiations with Haas to replace Kevin Magnussen next year. It is also likely that Haas will include Ferrari protege Oliver Bearman in their team for the final year as a customer of the Maranello team.
Villeneuve is certain about who should replace Ocon at Alpine: Jack Doohan, his reserve driver. According to Villeneuve, Alpine invested a significant amount of money in preparing Doohan, having him drive the old car for three years. It would be logical to give him the opportunity to take Ocon’s vacant seat.
The driver market in F1 is currently very uncertain, with many waiting to see what will happen with Carlos Sainz, as well as at Williams, Mercedes, and Haas. There is expected to be a lot of movement in the coming months.
Of the 20 drivers currently on the F1 grid, only 11 are confirmed for next year. This means there are nine available seats, making this one of the most volatile Silly Seasons for drivers in recent memory. This is completely different from last year, when no driver lost their job.
The end of this season is shaping up very differently, and it will be interesting to see how the driver market unfolds.
© 2024
The football star Cristiano Ronaldo, 39, is in advanced negotiations to return to the club that made him famous, Sporting Lisbon. According to sources close to the player, the talks have been positive and Ronaldo is excited about the possibility of wearing the Portuguese club’s shirt again.
Ronaldo started his career at Sporting Lisbon before moving to Manchester United in 2003. Since then, he has had successful stints at Real Madrid and Juventus, but has always made it clear his love for Sporting Lisbon.
Ronaldo’s potential return to the club would be a major boost for Sporting Lisbon, which is aiming to win titles and establish itself as a powerhouse in European football. Furthermore, the presence of the Portuguese star would bring a significant commercial impact to the club, with increased shirt sales and international visibility.
Although negotiations are advanced, there are still some details to be sorted out, such as salary and contract length. However, it is expected that everything will be resolved in the coming days and that Ronaldo can be officially presented as a Sporting Lisbon reinforcement soon.
The club’s fans are excited about the possibility of seeing Cristiano Ronaldo back on the field in the green and white shirt. On social media, supporters have already shown their support and affection for the player, who is considered one of Sporting Lisbon’s greatest idols.
Cristiano Ronaldo is also excited about the prospect of playing in Portugal again and reuniting with his family and friends. The player has a strong connection to his home country and has always made it clear that he would like to end his career at Sporting Lisbon.
At 39 years old, Ronaldo still maintains a high level of performance and is considered one of the best players in the world. His return to Sporting Lisbon would be a great gift for the club’s fans and for Portuguese football as a whole.
Let’s wait for the next chapters of this soap opera and let’s hope that Cristiano Ronaldo can shine again at the club that revealed him to the world of football. The expectation is high and the excitement is already taking over the Sporting Lisbon fans.
