[Jody Barton]

Morini, I really don't think I could ever be accused of claiming Max is or was the complete package. I've continually pointed out that if you take out mechanical issues between the two that Ricciardo out qualified him, and out races him. I still think his defending of positions is little league at times as well and have said so. I think for anyone who has been keeping up with the sport we can now add car set up as one of his weaknesses too. He misses Ricciardo's input, and so do RBR if you ask me, that car has not developed anywhere near as quickly as it has in the past. As for Max being out performed by Albon, yeah, he has been, and that tells you more about Max than Alex I think. Alex has out performed him by simply driving like a professional, not an idiot, in Japan Max was unlucky, but elsewhere? He's got himself in scrapes again hasn't he?

As to Leclerc... yeah, he does right now look the more likely of the two to win a WDC, but that's probably more courtesy of the car he's in. He's not exactly free of errors or the complete package either. He clearly can't set a car up too, and I do wonder if it was say Giovinazzi alongside him whether that Ferrari would develop as quickly and be set up as nicely. We shouldn't downplay the same impact of Vettel on either that car, or Leclerc's performances.

NeilP I honestly don't think Max is scared of anyone, least of all Alex Albon. Sorry, but I just think that's a bit of a silly comment. Max is the better driver, no question, he's also far to impulsive and rash, but over a season Alex won't get close to him. I happen to think the reason the Max camp want the Hulk in the other car is because if his experience and his knowledge setting up the car. It's plain as the nose on my face that Max is missing the input from Danny Tix, and Albon is apparently constantly asking for Max's data / set up... soooo... yeah, if no data's going back the other way then I can see why Max wouldn't want him in the car.

Back to Hulkenberg for a second though if I could, many have said he "deserves" a drive in a top car for as long as I can remember. Maybe he does. However, he's had a top driver benchmark in the other car for me this season... and he's been smashed. He was the established driver and Ricciardo has come into that team and made Nico his bitch. So does he really deserve a drive in a top team? I don't think so. Does he deserve a drive in F1? Well, with a grid that contains Stroll, Grosjean, Magnussen and Giovinazzi my argument would be yes. However, he has two options, RBR, which is not likely and Williams, who probably can't afford him.