Driver market: Alessandro Alunni Bravi cautious / Formula 1

Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen has events on the track under control: The Red Bull Racing star took both race and GP wins at the Shanghai International Circuit. But the biggest applause went to local hero Guanyu Zhou, who missed the points in front of his home crowd.

The Chinese hope to contest more home runs in the first division. But given Audi’s entry plan, very few people think he’ll be able to keep his Sauber cockpit for long. Instead, there are rumors about a possible commitment from Carlos Sainz, who will have to leave his Ferrari cockpit for Lewis Hamilton after the current season.

Nico Hülkenberg is also considered one of the candidates for the future Audi factory team, like Sebastian Vettel, whose return would be welcomed by many fans and regular visitors to the paddock. Sauber team representative Alessandro Alunni Bravi does not want to get involved in rumours. He insisted in the paddock in Shanghai that he would not comment on this.

The lawyer says only this: “14 drivers still do not have a contract for next year, and like all teams, we are talking to different drivers. But now is not the right time to make a decision in this matter, instead we must now give our drivers a car with good performance.”

“But of course we are happy that we are playing a different role in the driver market with the confirmation of Audi and the investments being made. I think this is very exciting for our team. “We are no longer spectators, but active players in the driver market,” added the Italian with 49 years old.

China-GP, Shanghai International Circuit

01. Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing, 1:40:52,554 h
02. Lando Norris (GB), McLaren, +13,773 sec
03. Sergio Pérez (MEX), Red Bull Racing, +19,160
04. Charles Leclerc (MC), Ferrari, +23,623
05. Carlos Sainz (E), Ferrari, +33,983
06. George Russell (GB), Mercedes, +38,724
07. Fernando Alonso (E), Aston Martin, +43,414
08. Oscar Piastri (AUS), McLaren, +56.198
09. Lewis Hamilton (GB), Mercedes, +57,986
10. Nico Hülkenberg (D), Haas, +1:00,476 min
11. Esteban Ocon (F), Alpine, +1:02,812
12. Alex Albon (T), Williams, +1:05,506
13. Pierre Gasly (F), Alpine, +1:09,223
14. Guanyu Zhou (RCH), Sauber, +1:11,689
15. Lance Stroll (CDN), Aston Martin, +1:22,768
16. Kevin Magnussen (DK), Haas, +1:27.553
17. Logan Sargeant (USA), Williams, +1:35,110
outside
Daniel Ricciardo (AUS), Racing Bull, collision
Yuki Tsunoda (J), Racing Bulls, Collision
Valtteri Bottas (FIN), clean, engine

World Championship Position (after 5 out of 24 Grands Prix and 1 out of 6 Sprints)

the driver
01. Verstappen 110 points
02. Perez 85
03. Leclerc 76
04. Sainz 69
05. Norris 58
06. Plate 38
07. Russell 33
08. Alonso 31
09. Hamilton 19
10. Walk 9
11. Tsunoda 7
12. Oliver Bearman (GB) 6
13. Hulkenberg 4
14. Magnussen 1
15. Alboni 0
16. Okon 0
17. Zhou 0
18. Ricciardo 0
19. 0 gas
20. Bota 0
21. Sergeant 0

Builders Cup
01. Red Bull Racing 195 Punkte
02. Ferrari 151
03. McLaren 96
04. Mercedes 52
05. Aston Martin 40
06. Running Bull 7
07. Exactly 5
08. Williams 0
09. Alpine 0
10. Sauber 0