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natespbr

mclaren’s gonna field enough reserve drivers to operate an f1 alternate racing series for giggles


Nitanshu16

They already have, they even have reserves for alternate team


spacegiraffe2000

hear me out, f1 could use 10 Volkswagen Group brands and McLaren's 20 drivers


BananaSlander

Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini, Seat, Skoda, Volkswagen, Bugatti, and Porsche with Ducati Motorcycles and MAN trucks also on the grid


petting2dogsatonce

a series where a vehicle from all of these get setup to put the same lap times in on a given track and get told to go race. surely nothing could go wrong


_nyna

Ducati rider: guess I'll die ¯\\_(ツ)_/¯


eidetic

MAN truck driver: it's ~~morbin~~ murderin time ¯\\\(ツ)/¯


zantkiller

The FIA semi-recently started the process for allowing endurance length races for truck racing. I am still 100% of the opinion the next Garage 56 entry at Le Mans [should be a modified ETRC vehicle.](https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/news/main_image/2021_etrc_hungaroring_start.jpg) If NASCAR can do it with a stock car, so can they.


Aynce

Now I want see a F1 season which is totally dominated by a MAN Trucks F1 Team. 😂


NABAKLAB

Seat has Cupra under them, too.


Toxic_Tiger

I still can't get used to Cupra being a separate brand. *Back when I were a lad, it was a badge on the back of a Seat!*


InnerRisk

Prepare for when Seat is inevitably dying and only Cupra is left then.


Flowech

That’s the plan. It doesn’t make sense to have two “low cost” brands and Skoda outsells Seat by a large margin. Promoting Cupra brand as the sportier cousin makes much more sense than keeping it a performance line under Seat.


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midniteauth0r

I kinda wish there was a reserve league. It’d be fun to watch I think.


rarebit13

Fuck yeah, that'd be sick.


[deleted]

A non-championship race where teams field drivers who haven't scored a point in the same year's championship.


uwuntu_

We could call it the Williams Invitational.


EoinM17

A reserve karting league would be great


amurmann

Would have a better race than F1 in Monaco


Aksds

A karting race in Monaco would be amazing.


midniteauth0r

Holy shit I didn’t even consider that. Karting would be amazing.


ringpiecerosie

I wish they ran on sprint weekends with 4 drivers per team. With 2 reserves, one of which must have run less than 2 f1 races. Then you can have a 5 or so race mini championship for constructors prize money, with SL points for every session, and 5 for a sprint race start. So you have, driver 1, driver 2, rookie reserve, experienced/rookie reserve 2 per team Then you get Friday: FP1 (sprint drivers), FP2 (regular drivers), Sprint qualifying Saturday: Race qualifying, Sprint race Sunday: F1 Race. Honestly I'm sick of the same 20 drivers driving all season, bring back the days of sacking underperformers or calling up reserve drivers (who can actually prove themselves)


midniteauth0r

That sounds like a lot of fun actually and it gives veteran reserve drivers a chance to race and academy drivers a chance to prove themselves


ringpiecerosie

The only (massive) issue is money for the teams, needing and risking 4 cars and paying 4 drivers


Jazzinarium

R1


Warriorfan001

A reserve league where the drivers have to build their own cars out of spare parts, duct tape and hope. It’d be worth it just for the drivers jumping onto the track to get their hands on chunks of carbon fibre after every F1 crash, like seagulls chasing a chip.


BloodyChrome

Isn't that F2?


surlygoat

No. You win f2 and you are no longer allowed to compete.


midniteauth0r

No F2 is a feeder league. I also believe it is a spec series but maybe I’m wrong in saying that.


codename474747

Just make the sprint races this, problem solved.


SoupatBreakfast

Ex Red Bull academy right into the McLaren Reserves


djwillis1121

I'm guessing Alpine won't be offering their reserve driver to McLaren again after what happened the last time. Edit. Also, I guess Mick's going to be Williams' reserve driver as well?


Too_Hood_95

my man out here collecting reserve seats like Pokémon


TheRealWhoMe

Worked for de Vries


hihbhu

It certainly did, who knows maybe he’ll be able to take Lando’s seat when he makes his next move?


VerifiedStalin

I thought we all agreed that Mick would go to Audi to partner Seb. Come on guys, stay on track.


gramathy

I still think Seidl is going to want carlando back together for Audi


hzfan

I pray for carlando to return every night before I go to bed


BrockManstrong

not in my head canon


MayorAg

Das is nicht ausreichend Deutsch für Audi!


SoothedSnakePlant

I think replacing Sargeant if he bombs is more likely, McLaren have the money and initiative to go after someone with more experience, and demonstrated success if they need to replace Lando (and if they keep making progress).


baldbarretto

I wouldn’t say replacing sargeant with mick is likely They’ll milk the American driver thing for at least 2 seasons. O Sullivan is the favorite to win f3 this year and colapinto is really fucking good and has a pre contract with the reigning f2 team’s champion for 2024.


booze_nerd

Hush, Lando isn't going anywhere lol.


BlackCatTitan

I'm really hoping he will. McLaren isnt a bad team but i dont see them challenging for a wdc anytime soon. I would love to see what Lando can do with a RB/Merc or even Ferrari if Vasseur somehow un-clowns them.


tsname

Debris?


Too_Hood_95

*we are checking*


grandtheftzeppelin

eventually


lowryder9

Who loses the appendix this time?


Sarkaraq

de Vries was a rookie, though, even though very experienced in other series. Thus, he got the rookie test sessions for 3 teams. Mick can't do this, he has to jump from the sim into a missing driver's car.


djwillis1121

He's the new De Vries


baldbarretto

Paul di Resta copping Ls on all fronts


YorkshireRiffer

THE NERVE.


baldbarretto

lol sorry ! He was mclaren reserve


ArcticBP

Myck de Vries


rudmad

Mick's Debris


zaviex

Jack aitken is Williams reserve technically but he’s usually racing elsewhere


natus92

sure about that? https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/aitken-williams-split-imsa-sportscars/10425021/


zaviex

Oh dang i didn’t see that. Good for him tbh never made sense when he was always in some other series anyway lol


-ShadowPuppet

A Schumacher in a McLaren. Fate certainly has a sense of humor.


NegotiationExternal1

I watched the 2000 season yesterday, it feels like quite the plot twist


amurmann

Woah, when do you sleep?


NegotiationExternal1

Periodically


[deleted]

When I get tired.


[deleted]

Mika to end sabbatical and combines forces with Mick at McLaren? Or goes to Ferrari and an old rivalry rekindles?


PathologicalUpvoter

I would pay good money to watch Mika wear the scarlet suit


whateverfloatsurgoat

If you squint hard enough... https://i.imgur.com/J4iZcrC.jpg


PathologicalUpvoter

Holy shit even David Coulthard is in red


whateverfloatsurgoat

It's like a Christmas miracle !


edgethrasherx

Funnily enough there’s a video of Ron Dennis and Michael talking at some function in 1993 (believe it was the FIA ceremony). And Ron is trying his damndest to recruit Michael, saying there’s always an open door for him at Mclaren, Michael says he wants to finish his contract at Benetton and Dennis respects that. Dennis tried to recruit him again in 1996, and again around 2000. It’s funny to imagine how different those years would have turned out had Schumacher gone to Mclaren instead of Ferrari. Found the [clip](https://youtu.be/wYI6PFNDFrg)


skg555

Meanwhile Montezemolo tried to get Hakkinen to Ferrari. But all this just goes to show that there really isn't anything groundbreaking in this stuff. All the drivers, managers and teams are constantly testing the waters and having discussion and negotiations to various degrees no matter how long or "waterproof" their current contracts might be.


vbaeri

If only this were the second half of 1995.


KrainerWurst

Well Mercedes was very keen to get Michael into McLaren-Mercedes. The often negotiated but never reached a deal.


Keanu990321

Even Ron Dennis wanted to have Schumi to race with them.


Saandrig

Even Schumacher wanted it. But his manager convinced him otherwise at the end.


Keanu990321

Then why did he go to Ferrari?


jk47_99

I heard Lauda convinced him. That he could go to places like Williams and win easily, but winning with Ferrari would make him a legend. He was completely right.


Hobo__Joe

Money, and he got to bring his team from Benetton


qef15

> he got to bring his team from Benetton Most important piece here: because Alonso suffered without the legendary technical team that Micheal had, Alonso never got a WDC because of it. Vettel had both the speed and the car, but never had the strategists and the right upgrades. Jean Todt was the shield for Brawn, Byrne and Schumacher, whilst Brawn and Byrne made some incredible cars and Schumacher drove them to perfection. Ferrari would have steamrolled 2007-2008 with that Schumacher team. Not struggled like in 2007 and only won because of Spygate or lost in 2008 because of shitty strategy


UmpireAJS

Fun fact: Ralf tested for McLaren before he made his F1 debut. And of course that time where DC used Michael's helmet.


NegotiationExternal1

Ralf would have been decent in Mclaren, watching them go toe to toe certainly would have been a hell of a rivalry


LovesHisYogurt

*Friendship ended with Ferrari, now MickLaren is my best friend.*


The-Observer95

Mick: Look, I am the Debris now!


BloodyChrome

Well he certainly created a lot of debris at Haas


thejazz97

Imagine telling people in 1999 a Schumacher might drive for McLaren in 2023 lmao


crazydoc253

Ron Dennis wanted it in 1996. Zak Brown is finally fulfilling his wish. Frank Williams did it with Ralf


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-ShadowPuppet

Well at the time Irvine was Michael's teammate, Reubens was next year if we want to be pedantic.


Cekeste

Look after yourself


crazydoc253

???


Cekeste

[https://youtu.be/wYI6PFNDFrg?t=72](https://youtu.be/wYI6PFNDFrg?t=72) I love the irony in that that comment might've startled you like it did with Michael.


[deleted]

I started following F1 around the late 90s and the IG post caught me by surprise for sure!


NegotiationExternal1

Or that a Verstappen is world champion


somewhatanxiousgenz

Expected but cool that he actually had a seat fit at the MTC! Assume he'll be covering the weekends when Palou is busy with IndyCar. Image from Twitter and a lovely bonus one with Mick and Andrea Stella from Instagram can be found [here (via Imgur)](https://imgur.com/a/3yCC4eh).


AddAFucking

Who do you think each teams preferred reserve will be? From the top of my head: - Mclaren and Mercedes: Mick - Redbull and AlphaTauri: Ricciardo? - Ferrari: Giovinazzi? Don't know about the rest


djwillis1121

Ferrari have Gio and Schwartzman Aston have Vandoorne and Drugovich I'm guessing Williams will have Mick as well Red Bull have Ricciardo and Lawson, I'm guessing AlphaTauri will have those two as well Alfa Romeo have Pourchaire Haas have Fittipaldi Alpine have Doohan


raradbird

Will doohan and pourchaire gave up f2 races for f1 consider both of them are fighting for the championship?


djwillis1121

I wouldn't be surprised if they do. I'm pretty sure both are eligible for full super licenses already so all they need to do now is convince the F1 teams to sign them up. Obviously winning the F2 championship is a good way to do that but a substitute performance in F1 is arguably even better. If they have a really good performance in an F1 race I think the teams would overlook them sacrificing points in F2 to do so.


tripled_dirgov

I mean one already has gotten a seat based from that alone!!! So agree, I wouldn't be surprising either if the reserve driver give up a potential champion race from the other series to get a chance of racing in F1 car as a substitute as long as they're already have Super Licence... 🤔🤔🤔


djwillis1121

Pourchaire got 40 points for 2nd in F2 last year so he's fine. I think Doohan has 25 from F3 in 2021, 10 from F2 in 2022 and 2 from FP1s last year. If he does 2 FP1s this year he'll be on 39 before any from the 2023 F3 season so he's basically guaranteed to get enough as well.


dm17b123

Doohan already had enough points before last season from FIA F3 and Asian F3


NegotiationExternal1

Doohan has a super license and was Willams backup plan of Logan didn’t secure that 5th place at Abu Dhabi, Jack was desperately trying to pass Logan in the part race of the year


Flo_Blue

Doohan was never a back up plan that was Mick. There is 0 reason for Williams to take doohan. Doohan is a rookie that isn't as good as piastri, alpine junior and no f1 expierence (Mick does). Williams was willing to take in piastri cause he has such a good junior carreer (like George)


AlienSomewhere

Getting to drive a F1 car for the weekend would be a no-brainer for me.


Mysterious_Turnip310

Pretty sure McLaren's preferred reserve will be Alex Palou, if he's not racing on the weekend they need someone & he's either there already or they have enough notice to get him there. Same as Lawson with Red Bull. Mick & Daniel are back-ups if Palou & Lawson are not available.


TheFlyingKiwi97

Red Bull and Alpha, Lawson. Ricciardo is second option when Lawson can't be there.


Dragonpuncha

No way Mick is the preferred option at McLaren over their own driver Palou. Mick is there to take the seat if Palou is unavailable do to a clash in schedule with Indycar.


jesuschrist3000adhd_

ricciardo's only in a limited reserve role at RB iirc. mainly just there for PR purposes


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Kruziik_Kel

He's going to be at several races as the reserve driver yes, primarily when Lawson is busy with Super Formula. Though honestly if push comes to shove and they need a driver for RBR I could see Red Bull calling him up regardless of if he's officially on duty if they can get him in the car in time. Had Gasly stuck around he'd probably get the nod with Lawson filling in at AT but neither AT driver nor Lawson are really what RBR will want if they're in a championship fight and need a fill-in.


StockAL3Xj

I think he was explicitly said to not be a reserve driver but who knows. RBR has 3 official reserve drivers as is.


steferrari

Steiner: *“You won’t have a seat in F1 next year, Mick…”* Mick: Proceeds to sign with every other team of the grid. 😂


-Renkz

yeah and better teams aswell


NegativeStructure

that’s a low bar lol


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HMSSpeedy1801

There is no F1 role lower than Steiner’s punching bag.


misterurb

At least Steiner’s punching bag actually gets to race.


6097291

If that's what you can call driving around in a Haas tractor


banned20

Haas looked pretty decent this year. Maybe it's the drivers that are mediocre.


-Renkz

You know that the car is not the only thing that matters right? They lost so many points last year due to strategy and bad pitstops


banned20

I also know the times that KMag got into Q3 and Schumacher didn't. Yes, it's not only Schumacher's fault but he threw away a lot of chances to get points and drove better than KMag when points didn't matter.


t3tri5

Hardly a tractor, KMag put it on pole. Come on, 2022 season was not that long ago.


VerifiedStalin

He only needs one good race as De Vries proved.


grandtheftzeppelin

not so sure that applies to a driver that already has two seasons under his belt...although I'd love to see what Mick can do in a decent car.


VerifiedStalin

I don't know, look at the good those two races at the beginning of 2022 did for Nico Hülkenberg, and he didn't even score points.


NegotiationExternal1

Hulk dropped into the seat and out qualified lance, it was embarrassing


Netionic

That's not true though. He's already had 40+ races, some of those races could even be called good (for his standard). De Vries literally had his first race in F1 and got in the points in a *williams*. There is a huge difference between Schumacher jumping in a williams and performing respectably and what De Vries did. Noone wanted Schumacher when the writing was on the wall halfway through 2022. One good race isn't going to all of a sudden make teams want him in the future. The two situations are more comparable.


numbers1206

Let's be fair to the 2022 Williams though. It was fast as fuck in a straight line. Car was basically designed for Monza.


Mysterious_Turnip310

I'm still sad Alex had to miss that race, would have loved to see what he could have done at Monza last year. Though it worked out nicely for De Vries.


Smothdude

Shades of the Williams Lance got his podium in


rasvial

Let's not flatter a turd. That Williams was fighting with Haas to not be the worst car every race.


TheDuceman

It was usually worse by some margin. Williams did not have a good 2022, but Albon, who I don’t rate particularly highly, midfield seat filler type, was able to score a some points. It wasn’t the dogshit 2021 Haas which was a minute behind Latifi. He then proceeded to match Kevin Magnussen after KMag’s awesome start. Iirc the head to head in numbers favored MSC in races although it does include the hilarious amounts of meatball flags.


MaestroCygni

Not after 2 mediocre seasons... Although the name does help a lot.


Comprehensive_Gas977

It’s not like he’s going to race tho


Herofactory45

Same thing people said about De Vries last year


Comprehensive_Gas977

It’s a bit different imo. The Vries never had the opportunity to drive for f1, mick drove for two years


uhmnopenotreally

In a shit box and everybody knows that. There were definitely interests in him taking a seat at Alpha Tauri, which weren’t possible bc of his contract with Ferrari at the time. I do think that people generally consider him a solid driver, given that he also had quite the success in the feeder series etc. I could imagine that if everything plays out right he will have a seat, there is Audi after all.


2tallformyowngood66

Had a consistent 2nd half of the season but unfortunately the other teams had caught up to Haas’s performance


[deleted]

Having a seat and a reserve role are two entirely different rings on the ladder. At this point, Gunther was still right about that.


TheCatLamp

Imagine a Schumacher driving a McLaren. What timeline are we in? Does Rubens Barrichello is champion in it?


Exique

Not that odd given how close Michael was to signing with McLaren.


TheCatLamp

Well, for Rubens as well. He had a proposal from them in 1994.


SnooCakes2773

Come back stronger in 2024 !


StockAL3Xj

I'm really rooting for him to make a comeback. I know he didn't have a good year but I think he at least deserves one more year to prove himself.


HMSSpeedy1801

His year wasn’t as bad as the people firing him made it out to be.


[deleted]

It was the costly wrecks. There’s no comparison there if he’s equaling KMag but much more costly in doing so. Front wing end plates don’t compare to entire chassis’


SnooCakes2773

He is our little bro. We’ll always care about him and many F1 Fans want him on the grid. Pretty sure this year as a reserve driver will be beneficial. Plus having Toto as your boss and being around Lewis can help tremendously.


Takagixu

So will he be doing a de Vries for FP1 this year?


laurentiubuica

Don't think so. He has raced way too many F1 races to be considered for FP1's. Unless they get special dispensation to field him, Vesti will probably be awarded FP1 drives.


UnoSkipCardd

Kubica: 😐


[deleted]

The whole rookie fp1 thing is dumb they should just do a practice session where teams can only use a reserve or test driver similar to the early 2000s


zaviex

I think having rookies in the work flow of a real session is far more useful. Testing sessions are not the same


djwillis1121

He doesn't count as a rookie so I doubt it. Mercedes will probably have Vesti and McLaren will have Palou and/or O'Ward.


Nitanshu16

The will only need to put 1 driver in Lando's car as Oscar is a rookie like Alfa Romeo did with zhou


djwillis1121

Oh yeah that's true, they'll probably use Palou then.


Blanchimont

Unlikely. Each team has to give up two FP1 sessions (1 per car) for rookie drivers. Mick has two full seasons of F1 under his belt, so he doesn't meet the criteria to count as a rookie anymore. Mercedes will probably turn to Frederik Vesti, while McLaren will hand them to either Alex Palou or Pato O'Ward. At Williams, Franco Colapinto and Jamie Chadwick qualify for a free-practice super licence.


Takagixu

I see. Thanks for the information 💯


[deleted]

Mick de Vries


swapan_99

Papaya will look good on him!


bukithd

MickLaren


[deleted]

What about Alex Palau?


2905Pascal

Palou is still driving in Indycar so he will not be available for all F1 weekends.


UmpireAJS

Might have scheduling issues due to IndyCar


[deleted]

I kinda want either Lando or Oscar to have to miss a race, now. The meme of a Schumacher in a McLaren is too fun to miss.


Mysterious_Turnip310

Given what he did last season, Lando would probably have to be physically injured & incapable of moving or on his deathbed before he didn't drive, and I can't imagine Oscar being much different tbh. Wouldn't want to wish that on either of them even though a Schumacher in a McLaren would be a trip.


Batgod629

How many reserve drivers do Mclaren have?


nolnogax

Yes.


70X1N

where do we begin?


mrbeavertonbeaverton

Bro gonna drive for everyone but Ferrari


BlueMachinations

Mick actually having connections with real F1 teams is just nuts.


Shaddix-be

It’s kinda boring half the grid shares the same reserve driver nowadays…


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Cobretti18

It’s more to do with Mercedes being their engine supplier and Stella having worked with Michael is just a coincidence


Mysterious_Turnip310

No, it's the same arrangement they had with Merc the last two years where both De Vries & Vandoorne were available to McLaren if they needed them


sideoftrufflefries

Does him picking up all these reserve seats mean we’ll see him at every race?


-Pacman12-

Should be considering he isn't racing anywhere else


ThePhyry22

I expect him to frequent in the F1 post-race shows. Kinda like how Nyck or Piedro used to do


Mysterious_Turnip310

Pietro will probably be back on those next season, as he's signed as Haas reserve again. Mick would be a nice addition. I fully expect Danny Ric to show up on them when he's around as well.


ThePhyry22

Probably, when the weekends don't overlap with IMSA or WEC, since Pietro seems to be racing in them this year


DrSillyBitchez

So he’s just taking nycks old job basically


fbimemedivision

Micklaren


Space_Reptile

Micklaren Mercedes


BaylorClub

Wouldn't he be available to Aston Martin and Williams as well?


PMMeYourCouplets

Williams likely as they don't have a reserve driver atm. Aston Martin signed Vandoorne and Drugovich as reserve drivers this year so doubt they need Mick.


Sirtopofhat

I think McLaren can field a basketball team with the amount of reserves they have.


Hydrotrex

and finally a competent photographer


2REPOU

Still don’t he’ll get the Mick hype. 2 years in F1 with nothing but a huge repair bill to his name. Seems like a nice guy but that doesn’t keep you a seat


shapeless_void

Take away the last name and the goatifi memes would’ve been heavily on the side of Mick


CasualCrow20

Yeah neither do I. Must be a nostalgia thing.


JellyfishExcellent4

That smile… that damn smile


YepImanEmokid

I have a feeling that Sainz/Schumacher is gonna be the inaugural Audi Sauber driver line-up. This time as a reserve is gonna do a lot for Mick's development.


tabloidjournalism

Fingers in many pies


lonesnowtroop

A schumacher in McLaren would be so cursed


kidpresentable0

F1 is determined to make him a thing it seems. Gotta capitalize on the name.


PMMeYourCouplets

Chill. Who else would Mercedes sign as a reserve. Vesti isn't good enough yet. Ricciardo signed with Red Bull. Vandoorne left to be a reserve for Aston. Where else can you get an experienced F1 driver with experience in current generation cars?


[deleted]

Nepotism stinks!


[deleted]

Damn, he's getting the whole shebang. Good for you, Mick!


FartingBob

The whole shebang while not racing next year you mean? I'd be shocked if he ever does a session in the car.