Quote Originally Posted by Malbec View Post
What is interesting is the effect RBR's policy is having on driver salaries.

IMO Alonso did not expect RBR to replace Vettel with yet another STR rookie almost immediately but they did. By doing so RBR saved $10s of millions by not hiring Alonso and also decimated his negotiating position with McLaren as he could not play Woking against Milton Keynes for his services. Alonso will likely be taking a substantial paycut for 2015 because of Kvyat, the alternative would have been hoping for a Caterham seat or sitting out of F1 for a year.

It will be interesting to see the effect of a constant influx of young, fast and talented but low paid F1 drivers will have on the market over the next few years, I reckon RBR is singlehandedly driving down driver salaries across the whole sport (for the talented group, paydrivers are another matter).
I think you've hit the nail on the head there. F1 these days is very much about hiring drivers that bring money in rather than hiring drivers that demand higher salaries. I know there was talk that Hamilton would either be taking a cut or remaining on his current salary before he won the Championship, and there were even more options back then. Alonso I feel decided his exit from Ferrari, but I think he did so thinking there were more options at his disposal. Its likely he signed with McLaren some time ago and most likely after Red Bull confirmed their line up. I can't imagine Ron Dennis paying more than he has to for a driver with limited options regardless of his quality. He is arguably the most complete driver on the grid, but there is some great talent at the moment and being the best may not always equate with being the most desirable signing, sadly in this era. Alonso has given Ferrari a lot over the past 5 years and they couldn't deliver their side of the bargain, however at times I can't help but feel his past may have hampered his chances with certain teams. I hope he gets a competitive drive next year as it is us that is being robbed by not seeing this guy fighting for Championships.

Vergne has just been very unlucky. He deserved a better drive and personally I think Red Bull picked the wrong guy to partner Ricciardo, but time will tell and I am sure Kvyat will deliver what is expected.