2024 Formula 1 Drivers threadFormula 1

[Har1MAS1415]

Races under a French license.

I know

 

[MagpieRacer]

I know

Just clarifying as you mentioned if he raced under an Algerian license, he isn't so it's a non issue.

Anyway,

I wonder if Mercedes are protecting themselves a bit by signing Bottas as a reserve, I know they aren't known for doing the Red Bull thing and replacing under performers mid season, but Antonelli is a big risk for them to take. Team Brackley, to my knowledge, haven't hired a rookie since Ricardo Zonta in 1999, and haven't done so at all as Honda, Brawn or Mercedes, so it is relatively uncharted territory. Bottas is a safe pair of hands if Antonelli doesn't perform.

When was the last time a top 3/4 team signed a rookie?

 

[Fezzik]

When was the last time a top 3/4 team signed a rookie?

McLaren/Piastri, though to be fair they weren’t quite performing as a top 3/4 team at the time.

 

[Liquid]

When was the last time a top 3/4 team signed a rookie?

McLaren promoting Hamilton stands out.

 

[TumeK5]

McLaren promoting Hamilton stands out.

Piastri.

Oh, and nearly forgot about Alonso. Same year.

 

[Liquid]

Piastri.

I wasn't posting it as the last time, just a significantly notable one. McLaren in 2007 was a much stronger team than McLaren in 2023.

 

[MagpieRacer]

McLaren/Piastri, though to be fair they weren’t quite performing as a top 3/4 team at the time.

Yeah, right on the cusp, 5th place in 2022 for McLaren.

McLaren promoting Hamilton stands out.

That's the only one I can really think of.

 

[TumeK5]

I wasn't posting it as the last time, just a significantly notable one. McLaren in 2007 was a much stronger team than McLaren in 2023.

Yep, but apart from Piastri you have to go all the way back to Hamilton.

 

[MagpieRacer]

Piastri.

Oh, and nearly forgot about Alonso. Same year.

Alonso? He was a rookie for Minardi way back in 2001.

 

[TumeK5]

Alonso? He was a rookie for Minardi way back in 2001.

I know.

 

[MagpieRacer]

I know.

I'm failing to see your point in referencing Alonso then?

 

[TumeK5]

I'm failing to see your point in referencing Alonso then?

You must be the only person on Earth not knowing about the Alonso rookie meme.

 

[MagpieRacer]

You must be the only person on Earth not knowing about the Alonso rookie meme.

I'm aware of it, it still doesn't correlate to the years being mentioned, you said 'same year', he tested in 2020 and came back in 2021, Piastri debuted in 2023 and Hamilton 2007.

 

[Jimlaad43]

Kevin Magnussen at McLaren in 2014 would count. McLaren were still a top team at the time, having just had a poor 2013 it wouldn't be worth calling them not top yet. The fall off in 2014 was strong, but it would still be a rookie in a top team.

Otherwise through history you get Jacques Villeneuve at Williams in 1996, Renault doing it back-to-back in 2007 and 2008 with Kovalainen and Piquet Jr respectively, Williams taking Montoya in 2001. Even Jos Verstappen made his debut in a top 3 team that ended up being title contenders in his debut season.

 

[MagpieRacer]

Kevin Magnussen at McLaren in 2014 would count. McLaren were still a top team at the time, having just had a poor 2013 it wouldn't be worth calling them not top yet. The fall off in 2014 was strong, but it would still be a rookie in a top team.

Otherwise through history you get Jacques Villeneuve at Williams in 1996, Renault doing it back-to-back in 2007 and 2008 with Kovalainen and Piquet Jr respectively, Williams taking Montoya in 2001. Even Jos Verstappen made his debut in a top 3 team that ended up being title contenders in his debut season.

Yeah good shouts there, especially the Renault ones, Kovalainen going into the constructors champions as a rookie, completely forgot about that.

 

[RACECAR]

And not long ago people were moaning about all the old guys blocking the opportunities.
3 true rookies plus Bearman and Doohan, a quarter of the grid. I predict many big repair bills and sleep-deprived mechanics.

As if the rediculous calender and sprint race weekends weren't already doing them in.