Midweek Wrap: Coulda, woulda, shoulda, Mattia... a quiet week

Binotto States the Obvious: It goes without saying that 2019 has not gone how Ferrari expected it to so far – but that hasn't stopped Mattia Binotto from saying it again anyway. Speaking to motorsport network, the Ferrari team principal bemoaned his car's issues with downforce, while acknowledging "we've missed a few opportunities". Coulda, woulda, shoulda, Mattia.

Unfortunately for him and the rest of the Scuderia, it's far too late to turn things around now. Indeed, they're in a fight just to hold onto second place in the constructor's, with particular pressure to win in Spa and Monza – possibly the only tracks left where they realistically have a chance.

Hamilton Gets a Say in 2020 Teammate: News which isn't exactly surprising, but nonetheless interesting, Lewis Hamilton has apparently been asked his opinion on who should line-up beside him next season, according to Toto Wolff. Given the option between Esteban Ocon and Valtteri Bottas, I would think it almost a certainty he'd choose the latter, given the strength of their working relationship in the Finn's two-and-a-half years at the team.

That's not to assume Ocon would be capable of doing to Hamilton what he himself did to Fernando Alonso in 2007, but as we saw in his clashes with Sergio Perez at Force India, Ocon wasn't exactly shy in taking the fight to his teammate, and if he so much as

feels he's on the Brit's level, that could lead to some serious tension.

All of that said, asking Hamilton's opinion is one thing, listening to it is another. For all we know, Wolff might have his heart set on Ocon, and canvassing Hamilton was just a courtesy. I guess we'll find out in due course…

Perez Issues Ultimatum: It's been a strange old career for Sergio Perez. He burst onto the scene when he nearly won in Malaysia 2012 with Sauber, signed for McLaren, had a dud year in a dud car, got replaced by Kevin Magnussen, and ever since has been midfield fixture with Force India/Racing Point, where he's made an irregular habit of snagging podiums out of nowhere. Now things could be set to get even stranger, should he not find himself in a podium-contending car by 2021, indicating he'd rather retire than stay with the also-rans.

Maybe he's just venting some frustration, but if he is for real, he might want to start making plans for after-F1. A good, if not quite great driver, there simply isn't a spot in the big three teams for him, and unless Racing Point pull a Brawn with the 2021 regulations, they're not going to be fighting for podiums, even with the incoming budget cap. In any case, it would be a great shame to lose him from the grid, especially as he'd be only 31 in 2021, so here's hoping he sticks it out regardless.

Max Not Quite So High on Lewis: What's a step below "shots fired"? Stones thrown? Whatever it is, I don't think this is as vicious an "attack" by Max Verstappen on Lewis Hamilton as some might want it to be, but it is intriguing that the Dutchman took such an opportunity to downplay his rival's period of dominance.

Certainly, Hamilton's had a good run of late against his teammates, although I would both argue that Nico Rosberg deserves more credit than he's being given here, and maybe Hamilton is just that good

Indeed, Max himself has definitely benefitted from a downgrade in in-house competition this year – if Daniel Ricciardo was still there, he might still be waiting for a maiden pole position – so I don't think he's got much of a leg to stand on.

As for the "three or four drivers with the same capabilities" – by which I think he means other drivers who could've had similar levels of success in the same car – it's anyone's guess. Assuming one is himself, the others are probably Vettel, Leclerc and… Ricciardo? All great drivers, sure, but four in five titles? Maybe not.

https://www.grandprix247.com/2019/08/18/outside-line-contenders-and-pretenders-for-red-bull-2020/