The '14 driver transfer discussion/speculation thread

  • Thread starter NotThePrez
  • 607 comments
  • 32,907 views
Rossi is only a frontrunner by default due to no other American talent being available at the moment, aside from possibly Conor Daly but I see them being equal on talent as both have been heavily inconsistent in GP2. Either way, Haas needs a veteran F1 driver, and filling both seats with Americans isn't going to do them any favors as a first-year start-up.
 
vetteman24
he is now a front runner for a Haas seat in '16
Click to expand...
Don't make me laugh. Rossi has been trying to break into Formula 1 for years. He's probably been around for longer than Caterham, and he still hasn't made it. I wouldn't call him a front-runner for the Haas seat - I'd call him a desperate signing by Haas.

And I seriously doubt Haas will take an American driver for the sake of having an American driver if there are two other, better options out there. He might have said he wants an American driver, but he said that eighteen months before he had to commit to anyone, and there hasn't been a single case of a team hiring someone on the basis of their nationality rather than their talent, and having that decision work out for them. Why do you think Ferrari haven't taken an Italian driver, despite bemoaning the lack of one in the sport?
 
Ousting Sato from that team in the process, I assume...

Edit: Not necessarily ousting, as Sato is focusing on Auto GP instead, and will be back for the next GP2 race in Hungary, or so the team says.
 
So was it just an issue with Fernades not letting his team develop and just trying to make money as a business? I just don't get how you have some of the biggest names in technology sponsoring you to various capacities and not utilize it to beat a team that doesn't have the same ability (Marussia).
 
Remember, Marussia started its life as Manor Grand Prix, a mildly-successful Formula 3 team. They had experience running a racing team before entering Formula 1, so they have obviously been able to better-utilise their resources. Caterham clearly approached the sport with a business mindset.
 
Max Verstappen and Esteban Ocon are reportedly in the Hockenheim pit this weekend; Verstappen visiting Red Bull, and Ocon with Mercedes. Assuming that they are there for talks, I'd guess Ocon would replace Massa at Williams, while Verstappen would join Sainz Jnr. at Toro Rosso, with Kvyat going to Red Bull if Vettel moved to Ferrari, provided a vacancy were to become available.
 
prisonermonkeys
Max Verstappen and Esteban Ocon are reportedly in the Hockenheim pit this weekend; Verstappen visiting Red Bull, and Ocon with Mercedes. Assuming that they are there for talks, I'd guess Ocon would replace Massa at Williams, while Verstappen would join Sainz Jnr. at Toro Rosso, with Kvyat going to Red Bull if Vettel moved to Ferrari, provided a vacancy were to become available.
Click to expand...
Lol both are too young to be considered yet, this is only Verstappens first season in Cars.

its likely they are both getting put into each others respective driving program.
 
mustafur
Lol both are too young to be considered yet, this is only Verstappens first season in Cars.
Click to expand...
The best drivers are the ones who are naturally fast - and natural speed tends to present itself very, very quickly. It might be Verstappen's first season in open-wheel cars, but consider the implications of that: he's second in European Formula 3, a series the FIA rates as being equal to GP2 and Formula Renault 3.5.

As for age, Ocon is 17 and Verstappen is 16. Both have birthdays in September, so Ocon, at least, would be "old enough". Although I have always felt that the legal definition of when someone is an adult is a poor yardstick to use for when someone is considered old enough to handle Formula 1, since the legal definition only takes into account physiology across the population, rather than individual maturity - which is what will decide their ultimate success or failure.

its likely they are both getting put into each others respective driving program.
Click to expand...
Is that your final answer?

Two minutes with Google will tell you that Ocon is a) already a member of the Gravity programme, and b) open to moving to Formula 1 if an opportunity presents itself.
 
I suppose there's 2 sides to it really, whilst it is possible for one or both to move into F1 it's also equally unlikely. As far as experience goes, Raikkonen only had 23 car races to his name prior to moving to F1.
 
prisonermonkeys
Max Verstappen and Esteban Ocon are reportedly in the Hockenheim pit this weekend; Verstappen visiting Red Bull, and Ocon with Mercedes. Assuming that they are there for talks, I'd guess Ocon would replace Massa at Williams, while Verstappen would join Sainz Jnr. at Toro Rosso, with Kvyat going to Red Bull if Vettel moved to Ferrari, provided a vacancy were to become available.
Click to expand...
Isn't Ocon a Lotus junior driver?
 
prisonermonkeys
Max Verstappen and Esteban Ocon are reportedly in the Hockenheim pit this weekend; Verstappen visiting Red Bull, and Ocon with Mercedes. Assuming that they are there for talks, I'd guess Ocon would replace Massa at Williams, while Verstappen would join Sainz Jnr. at Toro Rosso, with Kvyat going to Red Bull if Vettel moved to Ferrari, provided a vacancy were to become available.
Click to expand...

I hope you are an oracle. I'd love to see a decent Dutch driver in a not too shabby car.
 
prisonermonkeys
The best drivers are the ones who are naturally fast - and natural speed tends to present itself very, very quickly. It might be Verstappen's first season in open-wheel cars, but consider the implications of that: he's second in European Formula 3, a series the FIA rates as being equal to GP2 and Formula Renault 3.5.

As for age, Ocon is 17 and Verstappen is 16. Both have birthdays in September, so Ocon, at least, would be "old enough". Although I have always felt that the legal definition of when someone is an adult is a poor yardstick to use for when someone is considered old enough to handle Formula 1, since the legal definition only takes into account physiology across the population, rather than individual maturity - which is what will decide their ultimate success or failure.


Is that your final answer?

Two minutes with Google will tell you that Ocon is a) already a member of the Gravity programme, and b) open to moving to Formula 1 if an opportunity presents itself.
Click to expand...
the European Formula 3 despite what the FIA says is more closer to GP3 although the later has attracted better teams and would be very close to GP2 level(Bottas and Kyvat the latest to progress).

F3.5 is the pinnacle of the feeders for the last few years on talent, GP2 is pricing itself out of that comparison but is still above GP3 and easily F3.


The last time a driver went from F3 straight to F1 was when F3.5 was much smaller and was basically at its place and British F3 was actually considered by most to be the best F3 series, now it's 2nd tier compared to it.

No respectable team will take either driver unless they prove them selves in F3.5/GP2 or GP3(depending) mainly due to driver development more rather then lack skill as I think both will make it to F1 eventually.

Verstappen is a sure thing if he gets in the Redbull program and will likely get it by the end of the kyvat Cycle(whether he makes it to RBR or gets sacked)once Sainz replaces Vergne.
 
Last edited:
The ownership change was the reason he was let go at Caterham. I wouldn't expect to see him get a seat at Carlin in GP2 though. Nasr and Leal are locked in I'd say. I don't expect him to remain at Campos either with Sato returning this week.
 
If i Was Bottas, i would only leave Williams for a seat in a Mercedes, Redbull or Ferrari.

On the other hand surely Williams will replace Massa, they are paying him top money for atleast their standards and he is easily outperformed by Bottas, If i was them I would go outside the box and sign Vergne who is likely to be sacked from STR due to having no where to put him and having to promote Sainz.
 
Last edited:
mustafur
If i Was Bottas, i would only leave Williams for a seat in a Mercedes, Redbull or Ferrari.
Click to expand...

I would too but I doubt they'll open up. Maybe Ferrari. I think the prospect of McLaren would be good as long as they're a factory team which they soon will be.
 
LMSCorvetteGT2
I would too but I doubt they'll open up. Maybe Ferrari. I think the prospect of McLaren would be good as long as they're a factory team which they soon will be.
Click to expand...
I would definitely consider it it if i was him, Go for a factory tour see what they have planned and come to an conclusion compared to Williams and or other offers.

I think Williams will be a safe bet to be a strong team next year, despite being no where since the BMW days they are still quite a decent sized team they just needed some direction and thats where Pat Symonds has been the Revelation.
 
MildAshers
McLaren should build a good car before thinking about chasing someone who is currently in one of the top cars this season.
Click to expand...
Easier said than done. Bear in mind that they are getting works funding from Honda next year, and that Williams' recent history has been dominated by inconsistency from year to year; 2012 and 2014 were good years, but 2011 and 2013 were among their worst.

Ultimately, it will come down to what Bottas wants. McLaren doesn't have anything to offer Williams (unless they give up Vandoorne), but at the same time, Bottas could be waiting for years if he wants to go to Mercedes. Neither team can offer the other anything they want, and both teams involve a calculated risk on Bottas' part.
 
prisonermonkeys
Easier said than done. Bear in mind that they are getting works funding from Honda next year, and that Williams' recent history has been dominated by inconsistency from year to year; 2012 and 2014 were good years, but 2011 and 2013 were among their worst.

Ultimately, it will come down to what Bottas wants. McLaren doesn't have anything to offer Williams (unless they give up Vandoorne), but at the same time, Bottas could be waiting for years if he wants to go to Mercedes. Neither team can offer the other anything they want, and both teams involve a calculated risk on Bottas' part.
Click to expand...
2011 wasn't a good year tbh, in fact this has been williams best season without a factory backing since the 80s(or 1998)which shows how much restructure change has helped the team, they havent just kept up development they are argubly one of the best team this year in that department.

Williams started 2009 in a similar way but fell back down rapidly after they couldn't keep up the development, this year has shown massive promise in this crucial area, that really seperates the top teams from the Midfeilders.

F1 has shown us that while money is good the right people in the team is vastly more important, It's why Toyota and Jaguar was massive Failures as they spent with no real direction, and why Renault won two titles with what was really a shoe sting budget(roughly Half of both those other teams would in a season)in Factory Team standards. I would still be a bit iffy with Mclaren because they lost quite a few people over the years and the loss of Paddy Lowe has hit them quite hard, they do have some of the best facilities on the grid the only issue is the technical talent they still have in their arsenal.
 
Last edited:

Similar threads

Jimlaad43
Formula 1 Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
2
Replies
32
Views
4K
AshenGraey
AshenGraey
TenEightyOne
2021 F1 Driver Thread
46 47 48
Replies
1K
Views
97K
McLaren
McLaren
VulcanSpirit
2022 Touring Car Discussion Thread - TCR, BTCC, etc.
4 5 6
Replies
167
Views
26K
Har1MAS1415
H
Famine
  • Sticky
GTPlanet Fantasy Formula One 2024
2 3
Replies
72
Views
10K
noshog
noshog
Famine
  • Locked
GTPlanet Fantasy Formula One 2023
4 5 6
Replies
177
Views
26K
Touring Mars
Touring Mars

Latest Posts

Back