2011 Driver Transfer Market

[Imari]

I thought for a rookie he had a pretty good season. Were money not as much of an issue I guess he probably would have stayed. But it seems like all the second tier F1 drivers are leaning towards pay drivers.

Does anyone know what a rookie like Hulkenburg would cost the team in terms of salary? I can't imagine it being huge, and the potential extra cash from finishing higher up the ladder at the end of the season could be worth it in the long run. I can't figure out if these teams are just going the safe route or what.

 

[Joker-GTBR]

He would do better in his second season. Somewhat weird move

 

[Wiegert]

I would have liked to see him stay on at Williams for at least another season. It would be good to see him get a drive for a decent team like Mercedes or Renault next year, but we'll have to wait and see.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I hope Renault test him alongside Petrov to give both a chance.

1) Renault's test line-up is already booked - Mikhail Aleshin and Jerome d'Ambrosio
2) Neither Petrov not Hulkenberg qualify as "young drivers"
3) Hulkenberg is already doing the Pirelli tests for Williams and Hispania; there won't be enough time to test the Renault
4) Renault won't have Hulkenberg test unless they were considering him for 2011, and because he has no sponsors, they won't consider him at all

 

[Alex p.]

Definately the wrong decision, good race results also bring money in. I almost hope Williams will FAIL miserably in the next season, would kinda deserve it.

 

[Wiegert]

Definately the wrong decision, good race results also bring money in. I almost hope Williams will FAIL miserably in the next season, would kinda deserve it.

I wouldn't go as far as to say I hope Williams will fail next season. I would rather see Hulkenberg show Williams that it wasn't the best idea to drop him by becoming a better driver with a different team in the future. It would be interesting to see if the replacement driver (Probably Maldonado) can get good race results for Williams next year, but if he isn't as good as Hulkenberg was this season, then I don't think the team will be too happy about it.

 

[Dan_]

And he is likely to be replaced by a Venezuelan Sakon Yamamoto. Money prevails over talent, sometimes F1 sucks.

 

[Northstar]

And he is likely to be replaced by a Venezuelan Sakon Yamamoto. Money prevails over talent, sometimes F1 sucks.

How is Maldonado a "Venezuelan Sakon Yamamoto"?

Yamamtoto hasn't won anything worth mentioning while Maldonado has won the GP2 championship.

I don't see why this is such a big deal, Hulkenberg really hasn't been all that impressive(aside from the fluke pole in Brazil), hell, he wasn't even the top finishing rookie. Not to mention Barrichello score more than twice the amount of points in the same car, granted it's unreasonable to expect Nico to score as many, but one would expect to be a little closer.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Money prevails over talent, sometimes F1 sucks.

The days of a Deletraz-esque pay driver are over. The feeder series are structured in such a way that, combined with the demand for a driver to hold a valid Superlicence (and the requirements necessary to obtain said Superlicence) mean that a driver has to have some degree of talent before he or she can put themselves in a position where a team will consider them.

 

[Louie_Schumii]

the days of a deletraz-esque pay driver are over. The feeder series are structured in such a way that, combined with the demand for a driver to hold a valid superlicence (and the requirements necessary to obtain said superlicence) mean that a driver has to have some degree of talent before he or she can put themselves in a position where a team will consider them.

+1

 

[prisonermonkeys]

AMuS names Force India as the Hulk's likely destination, while the Dutch claim Giedo van der Garde could take his vacant Williams seat.

 

[Sureboss]

Is either seat at Force India confirmed?

 

[Dan_]

How is Maldonado a "Venezuelan Sakon Yamamoto"?

Yamamtoto hasn't won anything worth mentioning while Maldonado has won the GP2 championship.

And if my memory is not deceiving me, he won the GP2 championship on his fourth year on that category, even when he was backed up by a very well known petroleum state company. How's that impressive?

I don't see why this is such a big deal, Hulkenberg really hasn't been all that impressive(aside from the fluke pole in Brazil), hell, he wasn't even the top finishing rookie. Not to mention Barrichello score more than twice the amount of points in the same car, granted it's unreasonable to expect Nico to score as many, but one would expect to be a little closer.

Hulkenberg on the other hand, matched Barrichello's pace through most of the season, and didn't score as many points as Rubens just because of his lack of experience and hence bigger number of crashing and error events.

Other than financial issues, I fail to see any reason to replace such valuable rookie.

 

[Sureboss]

I think Rubens has been a .250 quicker all season than Hulkenburg. He's done okay, but apart from the Brazil pole, he's not been all that brilliant. He's got talent, though.

 

[Imari]

I guess there's also the possibility that being "OK" as a rookie just isn't good enough any more. Maybe what a team is looking for now is the next Hamilton/Vettel, and they're willing to throw away merely decent drivers for a chance of finding that one gem.

 

[Northstar]

How's that impressive?

It took Button 9 years to win the F1 title, does that suddenly make it less impressive?

 

[Tired Tyres]

F1 is the pinnacle of motor sport where you face the best every year.

GP2 is a constantly changing championship with new drivers introduced every year.

The longer you stay in it, the more experienced you will be against these younger less experienced drivers and therefore gain an advantage over them.

 

[Dan_]

It took Button 9 years to win the F1 title, does that suddenly make it less impressive?

That wasn't my point, Rosberg won the GP2 title at his first year whilst Maldonado didn't. For comparison sake, GP2 driver vs GP2 driver, F1 is misplaced on this comparison.

Anyway, I just find Hulkenberg a valuable rookie, however I lack any technical expertise to judge his skills as a driver with more depth, so opinions still stand and I respect yours. Just that.

 

[PeterJB]

And if they were the only team with an available seat?

In that scenario he may as well sign with them, unless he doesn't mind being another teams test driver. (Slang for turns up to races and does no driving for the whole year ), but for all we know HRT could do a Honda and be winning races next year.

 

[Famine]

Didn't HRT fail to update their car at any point this season under the plan to buy the TF110 and update it for 2011, only to be told where to stick it by Toyota over unpaid bills and thus be left with only an outdated, undeveloped 2010 car which was already at the back of the grid?

I doubt they'll be winning races in 2011.

 

[PeterJB]

It could happen, almost certainly won't, but it could.

 

[Peter]

Didn't HRT fail to update their car at any point this season under the plan to buy the TF110 and update it for 2011, only to be told where to stick it by Toyota over unpaid bills and thus be left with only an outdated, undeveloped 2010 car which was already at the back of the grid?

I doubt they'll be winning races in 2011.

Who said they would?

I think i've said this before already. HRT can only get better. Now they've got a whole off season to test for 2011, and some technical data to put the money they've gotten from the new investors into making a 2011 car, God knows how. All new teams in the past 10 years have done better in their second year. Torro Rosso, Super Aguri, MF1?(didn't Spyker do better in 2007 than MF1 in 2006?), and you could say Force India.

 

[L.Hamilton]

Good, Maldonado`s probably the better driver anyways...

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Is either seat at Force India confirmed?

Liuzzi claims to have a contract and Sutil expects to renew his contract within the next few days, but right now it's up in the air.

 

[Peter]

So, what's Karun Chandhok up to? Is he gunning for test/reserve at FI? Or Red Bull?

 

[Prince.M5]

Cannot blame Williams though. Ther really have no choice as they really are in need of money after 2-3 of their major sponsors are pulling out at the end of this season.

Whatever happens, Nico WILL get a seat somewhere. He has a real talent and a very valuable rookie!

So, what's Karun Chandhok up to? Is he gunning for test/reserve at FI? Or Red Bull?

He's been in the TV for quite some time...

 

[Peter]

If Trulli retires, and Bruno goes to Lotus, I can see Hulk joining de la Rosa at HRT. Unfortunately that's all I see happening.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I can see Hulk joining de la Rosa at HRT.

Except that he's reportedly given a blanket "no" to joining Hispania.

 

[Ardius]

Apparently its not just money, it was about contract length. I seem to remember Legard or someone on twitter mentioning this. Basically Williams wanted him to sign a 5 year contract or something like that but Hulk/Weber didn't want to commit to that length.
But I think thats only a literal reason. The actual reason is simply that was a way of saying "you're fired" with a better reason than "we don't have money". This way they can simply say "we couldn't reach an agreement".

 

[Sureboss]

Who said they would?

I think i've said this before already. HRT can only get better. Now they've got a whole off season to test for 2011, and some technical data to put the money they've gotten from the new investors into making a 2011 car, God knows how. All new teams in the past 10 years have done better in their second year. Torro Rosso, Super Aguri, MF1?(didn't Spyker do better in 2007 than MF1 in 2006?), and you could say Force India.

You're assuming they'll be racing in 2011.