Dennis Hauger is the subsequent driver in line for an AlphaTauri seat following Juri Vips’ termination from the junior academy, in response to Helmut Marko.
Vips was Pink Bull’s take a look at and reserve driver till just a few months in the past when he was let go for utilizing a racial slur on a Twitch stream. He would doubtless have been Pink Bull’s first possibility if the necessity arose to advertise a junior driver to Method 1. Now, with out him, it looks as if Hauger is the brand new primary decide.
Marko defends Vips
In an interview with Motorsport.com, Marko spoke in regards to the resolution to fireside Vips. He acknowledged that Pink Bull had no alternative however to take away the Estonian from their driver academy because of backlash from the media.
“The English media unleashed such a sh*tstorm that Pink Bull Racing had no alternative however to take away him from workplace. I personally suppose he’s 21 years previous and has apologised.”
Vips did situation a press release of apology following the incident by way of an Instagram story. Whereas Pink Bull terminated his contract with their staff, Vips remained in Method 2 with Hitech Grand Prix.
Marko talked about his frustration with the scenario, citing the truth that Vips was taking part in a online game as one thing that was an issue.
“What bothers me is that it occurred throughout a silly online game as a result of they don’t have anything higher to do within the afternoon. I don’t perceive how you are able to do that for greater than two minutes, however hey, that’s the youth. I can’t do something with it. Max does it too with sim racing.”
Oddly, Hitech staff principal Oliver Oakes cited the same concern in the staff’s assertion about Vips. He mentioned “I don’t know why he was streaming C.O.D. at the moment of day. Definitely, there are issues that will have been way more useful for his profession!”
Is Hauger the brand new favorite?
With Vips beforehand touted as a favorite to inherit a seat at AlphaTauri, Pink Bull wants a brand new first possibility.
Pierre Gasly has been rumoured to be leaving the Pink Bull second staff after 2023, if not even earlier. Whereas nobody is aware of the place foolish season will go away the staff, Pink Bull must be ready.
When requested who was subsequent in line for the AlphaTauri seat ought to Gasly go away, Marko talked about Method 2 driver Hauger as the choice.
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“Dennis Hauger has dominated Method 3 in an unbelievable manner,” mentioned Marko. “He now has ups and downs in Method 2, he isn’t fixed. Efficiency and nothing else is the deciding issue. That’s changeable.
“Individuals who we thought may do it abruptly couldn’t do it anymore and vice versa. That’s the reason it’s troublesome to make predictions.”
At present, Pink Bull has 4 junior drivers in Method 2. Jehan Daruvala, Liam Lawson, and Ayumu Iwasa race alongside Hauger within the class. Of the 4, Hauger is definitely the bottom within the standings, sitting twelfth with 67 factors.
Daruvala, Hauger’s Prema Racing teammate, is the best positioned in fourth. Then it’s Iwasa in seventh and Lawson in eighth.
Thankfully for Pink Bull and Marko, Gasly has a contract with AlphaTauri for 2023 and can almost definitely stay with the staff. That offers them no less than one other season to evaluate which, if any of these 4 drivers, is probably the most deserving of a Method 1 seat.
Characteristic Picture Credit score: Getty Pictures