The '14 driver transfer discussion/speculation thread

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Probably. But I still don't see the problem with age. Experience, certainly, but it's not like you suddenly gain magic driving powers upon turning eighteen.

Just imagine what the internet would have been like in 2000 when Raikkonen joined Sauber.

I never said there was a problem with age, just asked a simple question. Since everyone earlier was ranting 17 was too young, even with another year under his belt he still will be youngest driver potentially. I don't care about the age to be honest, I feel RB are always trying to get the youngest guys in their seats. It was more about the record rather than the experience for why I'm asking. If the guy can drive who cares about the age.

 

[mustafur]

Probably. But I still don't see the problem with age. Experience, certainly, but it's not like you suddenly gain magic driving powers upon turning eighteen.

Just imagine what the internet would have been like in 2000 when Raikkonen joined Sauber.

I would imagen that it would be close to this however, Kimi was 21 in 2000.

Max Verstappen is currently 16.

For all we know he could be in the middle of a growth spirt, its a very young age and there is no detriment to allow him to continue to hone those skills further before getting into F1, According to Autosport i think it was Redbull are looking at putting him in the young driver program as early as within a week or two and move him to carlins F3 team.

there is no mention of Going striaght to F1, only his dad Joss saying when given the opportunity you got to take it.

 

[mustafur]

It should also be noted back in 2000/2001 there was no F1 testing resttictions.

I do think the current formula is more friendly to younger drivers due to less demands on them physically, but 16 is at the stage where growth during the season as a person starts getting involved its that young.

heres the Autosport link i was talking about earlier:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/115289

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Did somebody say "silly season"?

Naoki Yamamoto, who drives for a Mugen/Honda team in Super Formula (previously Formula Nippon) has reportedly told a Japanese television programme that it is "not impossible" that he will be involved with McLaren in some capacity in 2015.

Now that the shock of that announcement has worn off, it's actually not that insane an idea. Yamamoto won the 2013 Super Formula title, and the series has attracted former Formula 1 drivers in the past. They're not big names, of course, but being able to compete with them is no small feat given some of the drivers that race in other series.

While I very much doubt that Yamamoto will race for McLaren, I do think they might take him on-board as a development driver and stick him in GP2 next year, probably replacing Izawa at ART.

 

[GTPorsche]

At the very least, he'd be named test/reserve driver for McLaren if that does pan out next year for him.

 

[SagarisGTB]

Yamamoto was rumoured to be the "Honda Super Formula driver going to GP2" before it was confirmed to be (surprisingly and puzzlingly) Izawa. Naoki is much younger and much better than Izawa.

But really, what's the point of going to GP2? Why go to GP2 to prepare yourself for a series you will never regularly race in? He's needed elsewhere. The Honda cupboard is getting to be pretty bare in Japan, he's clearly their best single-seater driver and, alongside Tsukakoshi and part-time Mako, is one of their best GT500 drivers. If he's able to take on a role at McLaren while continuing to race in Super GT and/or Super Formula (a la Buemi), that would be great, but potentially sacrificing his career for a bit part role in F1 is crazy.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Because maybe it's not enough for him anymore. Sure, he's got a good thing going in Japan, but why settle for that? Yes, going to Europe and racing in GP2 with one eye on Formula 1 is a huge risk. But it's better to take that chance and be disappointed than it is to pass on it and spend the rest of your life wondering what could have been. He might never get another opportunity to do it.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Another crazy story: according to the Italian media, Luca di Montezemolo will leave Ferrari and join Etihad Airways. And if some are to be believed, it wasn't voluntary.

It wouldn't surprise me if it proves to be true - they've fired everybody else, to no effect. Maybe it's time Luca left the team.

 

[jake2013guy]

I think Toro Rosso/Red Bull will kick Vergne out after this season. Buemi and Alguersuari had 3 years, I don't think TR/RB will give Vergne more. Especially with no RB seats.

Regarding the new team (Forza Rossa), who would they sign? I am pretty sure they have FIA agreement.

 

[mustafur]

I think Toro Rosso/Red Bull will kick Vergne out after this season. Buemi and Alguersuari had 3 years, I don't think TR/RB will give Vergne more. Especially with no RB seats.

Regarding the new team (Forza Rossa), who would they sign? I am pretty sure they have FIA agreement.

I would say its obvious by now, however unlike the previous ones i think Vergne is good enough to get another seat in a team, hes not a good qualifier but he has good race craft and imo the best wet weather driver on the grid.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

He would be a good choice for Haas and/or Forza Rossa if they wanted a driver with recent experience.

 

[GTPorsche]

Max Verstappen is now a Red Bull Junior Driver.

 

[spyrrari]

Max Verstappen is now a Red Bull Junior Driver.

Great news,hope he will do well and see him in f1 in a few years(2 maybe?)...



Spy.

 

[Pilitev]

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Not going those WRS red bulls look awesome

 

[prisonermonkeys]

That's a shame. He should have joined Mercedes, and tried to get his foot in the door the way Hulkenberg and Bottas did. The Red Bull programme tends to suck drivers dry - especially if they don't perform.

 

[mustafur]

That's a shame. He should have joined Mercedes, and tried to get his foot in the door the way Hulkenberg and Bottas did. The Red Bull programme tends to suck drivers dry - especially if they don't perform.

I would expect a driver not to get through if they dont perform regardless.

I think Redbull has lessened there stance compared to before, they have been uncharacteriscly easy on Sainz jnr and it seems to have payed off as now he looks to set to be the First Redbull driver to win the F3.5 Title.

Out of all the drivers they have dropped only Robert Wickens was a bad choice imo, and it backfired quite badly when 2 years later he beat Vergne and Ricciardo to the F3.5 Title.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

The Dutch media are reporting that Verstappen will race for STR in 2015.

Christian Horner has sung the praises of Daniil Kvyat.

The Italians claim Vettel recently bought a Ferrari (with personalised number plates) for his father.

Coincidence?

 

[spyrrari]

The Dutch media are reporting that Verstappen will race for STR in 2015.

Christian Horner has sung the praises of Daniil Kvyat.

The Italians claim Vettel recently bought a Ferrari (with personalised number plates) for his father.

Coincidence?

Tbh,i dont really trust the source who wrote this in the papers this morning...they are known to hype things !

Also it doesnt really say he will be driver,test driver,friday driver or whatever...i think that,when this news will be official,it will meen he is linked to the team for the future...

But time will tell,if he really will be racing for TR,i am going to jump in the air...amazing!

If so,he will beat the all time youngest driver record by almost 2 years...

fingers crossed for this to happen,and also fingers crossed that if this would happen he wont have a year full of crashes and mistakes due to his unexperience and pressure of being in F1 at such a young age...

time will tell...very excited nevertheless...



Spy.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Some of Franz Tost's latest comments suggest JEV's seat at Toro Rosso is in jeopardy - unless he can get a "big result", and soon.

 

[craigatm]

Some of Franz Tost's latest comments suggest JEV's seat at Toro Rosso is in jeopardy - unless he can get a "big result", and soon.

It's only what we all expected really. Now we'll see if this will act a wake up call for Vergne; or if he will crack under the pressure. If I'm to be painfully honest though, I'm expecting the latter. As soon as Ricciardo was announced as Webber's replacement, Vergne just seemed to loose motivation; as if he could already see the writing on the wall! I can only imagine for the next few months he's going to have Forza Rossa on speed dial...

 

[GTPorsche]

Felipe Nasr thinks a seat at Sauber might be possible in 2015.

http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/314781/nasr-says-sauber-possible-for-2015/

 

[TenEightyOne]

Luca De Lizard denies that both Alonso and Raikkkkonnnnnnen could put themselves on the market for 2015. Silly season doesn't get much sillier, everyone knows Luca's going first

 

[SilverArrow]

Luca De Lizard denies that both Alonso and Raikkkkonnnnnnen could put themselves on the market for 2015. Silly season doesn't get much sillier, everyone knows Luca's going first

That's exactly what I was going to say...

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Felipe Nasr thinks a seat at Sauber might be possible in 2015.

http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/314781/nasr-says-sauber-possible-for-2015/

Simona de Silvestro and Sergey Sirotkin have also recently suggested that a seat might become available.

Luca De Lizard denies that both Alonso and Raikkkkonnnnnnen could put themselves on the market for 2015. Silly season doesn't get much sillier, everyone knows Luca's going first

He's right - it's far more likely that Ferrari will put Raikkonen on the market first. Raikkonen has already said that he thinks 2015 will be his last season in Formula 1, and given his underperformance this season and his price tag, I can't see any team being willing to commit to him.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Felipe Nasr thinks a seat at Sauber might be possible in 2015.

http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/314781/nasr-says-sauber-possible-for-2015/

I do to since Adrian's money and performance isn't all that much

 

[CinnamonOD]

I'd put Gutierrez out, I've always said he was not ready for F1, maybe he would do well with a decent car, because 2013 and this year's Saubers are nothing compared to 2010-2012 (Do not even mention BMW )

But he has not shown anything spectacular in these almost two years in F1

I also think Sutil is not going to be around next year

 

[craigatm]

I'd put Gutierrez out, I've always said he was not ready for F1, maybe he would do well with a decent car, because 2013 and this year's Saubers are nothing compared to 2010-2012 (Do not even mention BMW )

But he has not shown anything spectacular in these almost two years in F1

I also think Sutil is not going to be around next year

Last seasons Sauber was dreadful at the start of the year, but the team developed it into a rather competent machine, as the year went on. In fact during the second half of the season Hulkenberg was often best of the rest, behind the top guns! Although it would have been daft to have expected something similar of Gutiérrez during his debut the season, the fact that he didn't get anywhere close speaks volumes in my mind. I don't think he deserves another chance.

Also I can say the same for Sutil. It seems like no amount of freshness in the sport can keep him from hanging about like a bad smell! Something tells me he needs to be ousted...

 

[GTPorsche]

Sutil probably should have been gone years ago.

 

[mustafur]

I think Williams may put Nasr in Massa's seat.

Sauber imo should get Simona or Sirotkin(they are going to need money) and team whoever they go choose with someone like Kobayashi, or Vergne who will be able to maximise the point scoring ability.