How F1 lower field are tracking
ISSUES: IT’S TORRID FOR TORO ROSSO, HAAS, SAUBER BUT SOME HOPE FOR RENAULT, MCLAREN
Kyvat contributes to Toro’s poor showing and Joylon Palmer to Renault’s.
With the Formula One show on holiday, it’s time for our mid-term report and this week we take a look at the lower half of the field.
Toro Rosso – 39 points
Certainly not the year they were expecting.
The Italian-based team has struggled so far to be consistent.
Having said that, one must stress that Carlos Sainz has put in a sterling effort and achieved 35 of the team’s total of 39 points.
The young Spaniard has achieved one sixth place, three sevenths, two eighths, a tenth and four DNFs. One was due to an engine misfire and the others as a result of crashes.
Sainz has had periods of discontent within the team and has talked of moving on.
He certainly has the talent to pick up another seat with a more competitive team.
The team’s lack of points is also due to a very poor season from Daniil Kvyat, with just four points.
His highest finishes this year has been two ninth positions followed by one 11th, two 12ths, two 15ths, one 16th and three DNFs.
Since his forced removal from Red Bull the Russian has yet to produce solid results and a series of somewhat amateur incidents could not have endeared him to the team.
Haas – 29 points
Haas are certainly not enjoying the season, with continuing calls of brake problems from Romain Grosjean, despite changing the supplier.
The Frenchman has scored just 18 points with one sixth, two eights, one tenth, one 11th, two 13ths and three DNFs.
Kevin Magnussen, on 11 points, has had a similar season with three DNFs.
His highest position has been a seventh with one eighth, 8th, one 10th, two 12ths, two 13ths and a 14th.
Renault – 26 points
There are signs that Renault engine problems are being overcome as reflected in the Red Bull results.
But the season has yet to reward the French team’s own efforts.
Nico Hulkenberg has collected 26 points while Joylon Palmer has yet to get of the mark.
The German’s tally is two sixths, two eights, one ninth, an 11th, a 12th, a 13th and a 17th.
Joylon Palmer, on the other hand, has experienced three DNFs, due to brakes, a crash and an engine failure, plus a DNS due to brake failure on his way to the start.
The best position for the Englishman is three 11ths, one 12th, two 13ths and a 15th.
It is doubtful that he will be with them next season, particularly with a resurgent Kubica hovering in the background.
McLaren – 11 points
Perhaps there is a little light on the horizon for the beleaguered team whose relationship with Honda has so far proved a difficult one.
Recent results have produced a better pace and some reliability but there is still a long way to go.
Very soon we should be hearing of the team’s decision regarding an engine supplier for next season.
At the moment it is rumoured to be Renault, but do not be surprised if they stay with Honda.
Fernando Alonso on 10 points has given his all so far this year.
He took a lot of criticism for his decision to miss Monaco and compete in the Indy 500, but who can blame him?
His highest result this year has been a sixth place.
He has one ninth, one 12th, a 14th, a 16th and two DNS episodes, that being the Indy race and a power unit problem, plus four DNFs.
Stoffel Vandoorne has had his share of technical issues, plus two crashes. His best result has been tenth with one 11th, two 12ths, one 13th and two 14ths for his total of just one point.
Sauber – 5 points
A year the Swiss-based team will not care to remember, with all sorts of power politics resulting in the team principal, Monisha Kaltenborn, leaving recently. Her Edited by André de Kock (010) 492 5281 andrédk@citizen.co.za position has been filled by the highly experienced Frederic Vasseur.
Given time, the Frenchman should be able to get the team back on track.
His first move was to cancel next year’s engine deal with Honda and then sign with Ferrari, not for year-old designs but the latest derivation.
Pascal Wehrlein has had a tough year earning just five points, after missing the first two races following a crash in the Race of Champions.
He crashed once and apart from an eighth and tenth place has failed to get into the points.
Rumours are that his seat will be up for grabs in 2018.
Marcus Ericsson’s best efforts to date have been two 11ths, one 13th, one 14th, three 15ths, a 16th, and three DNFs. Not efforts that bode well for a long F1 career.