The '13 driver transfer discussion/speculation thread op updated 16/10
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If Bottas gets a full-time drive in 2013, I'm wondering who will replace him as Williams' development driver. Bottas would be the second driver promoted to a full-time race seat in three years, and both he and Nico Hulkenberg are/were highly-rated; after all, Bottas won the 2011 GP3 title. In Williams' position, there are two drivers I'd be looking at closely: Kevin Korjus and Conor Daly.
Yes, I know I placed Korjus at Toro Rosso in my predicted grid on the previous page, but that was only because I was at a loss to fill the void at Toro Rosso. If a Toro Rosso driver were promoted to Red Bull, then Toro Rosso would have a problem in the way none of the Red Bull YDP drivers - Sainz, Williamson, Kyvat, etc. - are really ready for Formula 1. So I put Korjus in.
If I were Williams, I'd be looking at Korjus because he's partnered with Jules Bianchi in Formula Renault. Bianchi is highly-rated, and is doing an FP1 programme with Force India this year. There were even rumours that Ferrari was trying to buy Kamui Kobayashi out of his Sauber seat to place Bianchi there. So if Korjus beats Bianchi in FR3.5, it's going to be a stunning endorsement of his abilities. He also tested for Lotus Renault GP at Abu Dhabi last year, and the team seemed pretty happy with him. If Williams keep going with Renault engines, then they'd get a lot of consideration with the Formula Renault teams. And he's only nineteen, so he could afford to take a season as a Williams development driver.
The other driver I would be looking at is Conor Daly. He's racing with the Lotus-branded ART Grand Prix in GP3 this season, as did Bottas last year. ART have dominated the series for the past two years, and their best-performing drivers - Rossi, Gutierrez, Bottas, Stanaway and Calado - have all gone on to big things. So Daly is in the box seat. Unfortauntely, part of this is marketing; Daly stands out because he is American, whereas his team-mates - Abt and Vainio - are German and Finnish, and there are already plenty of Germans and Finns in Formula 1.
Yes, I know I placed Korjus at Toro Rosso in my predicted grid on the previous page, but that was only because I was at a loss to fill the void at Toro Rosso. If a Toro Rosso driver were promoted to Red Bull, then Toro Rosso would have a problem in the way none of the Red Bull YDP drivers - Sainz, Williamson, Kyvat, etc. - are really ready for Formula 1. So I put Korjus in.
If I were Williams, I'd be looking at Korjus because he's partnered with Jules Bianchi in Formula Renault. Bianchi is highly-rated, and is doing an FP1 programme with Force India this year. There were even rumours that Ferrari was trying to buy Kamui Kobayashi out of his Sauber seat to place Bianchi there. So if Korjus beats Bianchi in FR3.5, it's going to be a stunning endorsement of his abilities. He also tested for Lotus Renault GP at Abu Dhabi last year, and the team seemed pretty happy with him. If Williams keep going with Renault engines, then they'd get a lot of consideration with the Formula Renault teams. And he's only nineteen, so he could afford to take a season as a Williams development driver.
The other driver I would be looking at is Conor Daly. He's racing with the Lotus-branded ART Grand Prix in GP3 this season, as did Bottas last year. ART have dominated the series for the past two years, and their best-performing drivers - Rossi, Gutierrez, Bottas, Stanaway and Calado - have all gone on to big things. So Daly is in the box seat. Unfortauntely, part of this is marketing; Daly stands out because he is American, whereas his team-mates - Abt and Vainio - are German and Finnish, and there are already plenty of Germans and Finns in Formula 1.
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Maldonado P2. Senna P18 after a spin on his final flying lap.
What was that about the Williams not being competitive and Bruno Senna being secretly brilliant?
What was that about the Williams not being competitive and Bruno Senna being secretly brilliant?
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Dude, it was qualifying, I'm guessing Maldonado will sink like a lead ship during the race, wouldn't be shocked to see Maldonado and Senna finish right next to each other.
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- jcm-16
Seismica
Yes, it was a silly mistake. If he messes up like this consistently, then it should end his career. Just once, not that big of a deal, it's happened to lots of drivers. If he'd been on the options for his first hotlap he would've made it to Q2 and possibly further. Bad call from the Williams on his first hotlap. Him messing up his second chance was stupid though, his fault entirely. We'll see how he does in the race, hopefully a Williams 1-2
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First thing I thought of when I saw that was how bad it made Senna look, and the second thing was how much you would be gloating about how right you think you are.
Senna made a mistake, alright. But considering the fact that the Williams has been recently good at this track, a lot of big hitters being knocked out in Q2, Vettel and Schuamcher not turning laps, and everyone else spending more time trying to conserve tyres than anything else in Q3, it's not all that surprising. In other words, that is not the genuine pace of the Williams.
Maldonado was over half a second from pole. If Button and Webber weren't knocked out, it's safe to say that they would be somewhere between that gap, and so would Vettel and even Schumacher if they turned competitive laps. I do have to hand it to him though, i'm impressed with his performance.
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I'd just like to throw this out there but with Mclaren's latest cock-up one could rightly assume that Hamilton may be looking at Red Bull and Mark Webber's claimed move as an oppurtunity to move to a title winning force.
We all saw how mad Lewis was with the pit stop troubles that affected both himself and Jenson in the last few races and after putting the car on pole with none of his closest rivals anywhere near, to then have it taken away because the team under fueled the car, well this could be the turning point.
We all saw how mad Lewis was with the pit stop troubles that affected both himself and Jenson in the last few races and after putting the car on pole with none of his closest rivals anywhere near, to then have it taken away because the team under fueled the car, well this could be the turning point.
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- jcm-16
Forster
Yeah, McLaren sure is doing stupid things this year. I think the pressure is really getting to them, and I'm sure that Hamilton is extremely upset with this latest problem. If they'd simply put enough fuel in the car, Hamilton would've gotten pole anyway. Sure, his lap would've been a tenth slower, but he still would've had the pole! How many points do McLaren need to throw away before they get their act together
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/mar/15/lewis-hamilton-f1-mclaren-future?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487
**** happens, but it's happening way too often at McLaren. I guess it didn't help hiring Sam Michael to iron out these small, silly mistakes that are very costly, especially this season.
**** happens, but it's happening way too often at McLaren. I guess it didn't help hiring Sam Michael to iron out these small, silly mistakes that are very costly, especially this season.
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I'm guessing he didn't read the article, which quotes Hamilton as saying his future with McLaren depends on the outcome of the first four races of 2012.
However, knowing The Grauniad, I wouldn't be suprised if Hamilton said that his future with McLaren depends on the outcome of the first fourteen races of 2012.
However, knowing The Grauniad, I wouldn't be suprised if Hamilton said that his future with McLaren depends on the outcome of the first fourteen races of 2012.
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- mrvajj
In before pm blames Senna for that crash.
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- F1fan1
That is not helpful in the slightest. Stop flame baiting.
ROAD_DOGG33J
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I think Schumacher should hang it up this year. I doubt he can get close to another championship and there's plenty of fresh talent looking to move up.
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I don't think Schumacher will re-retire without getting at least one race win, to demonstrate that his comeback was at least partially worth it.
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Mika Salo has reportedly spoken with Frank Williams about Valtteri Bottas, and came away under the impression that Bottas will be given a race seat some time this year.
At a guess, I'd say Williams would put him in the car once they get back from Canada. Monaco can be an intimidating place to make a debut, and Bottas has never driven the Montreal circuit. It makes sense to put him in the car for his debut at a circuit he knows, like Valencia.
I'm getting this information second-hand, though.
At a guess, I'd say Williams would put him in the car once they get back from Canada. Monaco can be an intimidating place to make a debut, and Bottas has never driven the Montreal circuit. It makes sense to put him in the car for his debut at a circuit he knows, like Valencia.
I'm getting this information second-hand, though.
In the articles Frank Williams said to Salo:
- Bottas should be racing in a car
- It shouldn't take long until he is racing
article
I think they are trying to get a seat for both Senna and Bottas somehow. Sacking and destroying a newcomer like Senna is not a proper thing to do in my books. So I hope Frank won't let Senna leave F1 without proper future plans.
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That all depends if he can get a win though. Rosberg has set a precedent, so it's a tough act to follow in that you would 'expect' Schumacher to win in a car which has won at least one race; the potential is there.
Has he opened up talks about a contract extension yet?
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RTSolvalou
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I've pretty much had my fill of Senna, I've given him a fair trial myself, But I'll agree with a decision to drop him if it comes to that, and if that happens, I don't think he'll be back. He really needs to polish up super soon.
I like the Petrov-to-Sauber for 2013 idea.
I like the Petrov-to-Sauber for 2013 idea.
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- Ardius_
Who said he was a newcomer? All he said was that it isn't proper - and I agree that is isn't. A contract should mean something (although the contract could include a performance clause - say achieving X% of points per race or whatever).
Sadly contracts mean nothing in F1 and if you aren't flavour of the month, you can be dropped like a stone.
I like how people are now all like "oh well, drop him who cares" after his teammate wins a race and he DNFs. But after Senna finishes 6th and 7th in Malaysia and China all he gets is a "well done but needs to be better".
Like one race makes peoples mind up regardless of past results (this goes both ways - I'm looking at you Peter).
I expect to see people asking for Kobayashi to be fired when Perez wins a race and Kobayashi DNFs. Or Raikkonen fired after Grosjean wins a race. Because yes, it is almost that stupid.
Thats not to say Senna doesn't need to better - quite clearly he is making far too many mistakes and he had a very bad weekend in general in Spain. But equally I don't see why he suddenly needs to be fired.
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http://www.ferrari.com/English/Form...f1-never-give-up-especially-in-formula-1.aspx
An official post from the scuderia ... Massa "up or out" by the end of the Monaco GP?
(btw, Adam Cooper links all this with Adrian Sutil's visit to the F1 paddock ... I don't believe AS could be an option, but with Ferrari you never know )
An official post from the scuderia ... Massa "up or out" by the end of the Monaco GP?
(btw, Adam Cooper links all this with Adrian Sutil's visit to the F1 paddock ... I don't believe AS could be an option, but with Ferrari you never know )
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