The '14 driver transfer discussion/speculation thread

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Speculation is rife that Verstappen will get FP1 outings this year ahead of a full drive in 2015. An announcement is supposedly coming before the Belgian Grand Prix, and could be made as early as tonight.
 
If I had a headlines-I-didn't-expect-to-see-this-evening list, this would be fairly near the top... but it's reported by Autosport, so we'll see.

Autosport
Andre Lotterer linked to Caterham F1 drive for Belgian GP
By Jonathan Noble Monday, August 18th 2014, 17:43 GMT


Three-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner Andre Lotterer could make a surprise Formula 1 debut with Caterham at this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix.

AUTOSPORT understands that the German, who has most recently enjoyed success as an Audi factory LMP1 driver and in the Japanese Super Formula championship, is in contention to secure a drive for the Leafield-based team at Spa-Francorchamps.

Caterham is undergoing a restructure under new owners, and the outfit made it clear in recent weeks that it was open to the possibility of changing its driver line-up.

It is also eager to shake things up in its bid to secure 10th place in the constructors' championship, with the team due to deliver a major upgrade package to its car this weekend.

One option being considered is for Lotterer to be brought in to create a fresh dynamic on the driving front.

It is likely he would replace Kamui Kobayashi, who has been told that there are no guarantees he will retain his seat until the end of the campaign.

A deal is not in place yet though, and it remains possible that the team could retain its current drivers in the event that an agreement with Lotterer cannot be reached.

Lotterer has not been behind the wheel of a contemporary F1 car since his time as a Jaguar test driver more than a decade ago, having had numerous outings for the team between 2000 and '02.

However, his recent frontrunning performances in Super Formula, including the 2011 title, mean he has plenty of recent single-seater experience.

If the German is to take part at Spa, however, he will need releasing from his commitments in Japan with TOM'S, with a race due to take place at Motegi this weekend, as well as well get permission from Audi, which he races with in the World Endurance Championship.

He will also need to get a Super Licence, which he qualifies for having finished as runner-up of the Super Formula Championship last year.

Lotterer won Le Mans in 2011-12 and this year, and is also the reigning WEC co-champion.
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http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/115433
 
STR must be like "Smoke weed every day" when you sign up Verstappen...

EDIT: Oh dear lord, for a moment I thought we were talking about Jos Verstappen.

So it is true then, I seem to be smoking weed every day.
 
It has just been confirmed he's the STR driver for next year, and if the paperwork is OK, will be joining from this weekend.
 
Wow this is crazy, one week he is in their junior program and the next week he is bumping out JEV for a seat. I guess Marko didn't believe car break downs for the past two years were beyond his control.

Also did Marko have a thing for putting in younger and younger drivers in a car, I don't mind as long as they can perform but he seems to do it as a theme more than anything. I mean they leap over Sainz Jr and Costa.

I'm not too worried about JEV I feel he can find a seat unlike Buemi and Algersuari
 
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Wow that was quick ! I think Kyvat is doing pretty good too. Another battle of the young guys at Toro Rosso next year...should be good.
I must admit I too am now wondering what's happened to Sainz Jr ? I thought he was really next in line for Red Bull. I hope he can get his chance soon too, but seems like Red Bull has signed up all the big hyped young guys but have nowhere to put them all.
 
F3 to F1 is more Button/Alguersuari territory than JEV territory. Nevertheless, it's amazing that in one month the boy has gone from punting Ocon out the lead of an F3 race to being on the F1 grid. Also, slightly scary.
 
SagarisGTB
F3 to F1 is more Button/Alguersuari territory than JEV territory. Nevertheless, it's amazing that in one month the boy has gone from punting Ocon out the lead of an F3 race to being on the F1 grid. Also, slightly scary.
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Yeah but it took button some time to get going though I think the teams weren't always the best. Jamie I just think was hype and always a mid ringer.

My issue with F3 jumps is that they are quite risky in them panning out. Also I feel that none of these guys that do jump from F3 want to end up like Magnussen (Jan). The biggest potential F3 runner ever that never went anywhere.
 
Button's problem was that while he was talented enough to handle the car, he wasn't mature enough to handle being catapulted into the spotlight. F1 Rejects had a feature article (a few years ago now) looking at how he went off the deep end.
 
Hi guys, can you try help me clear something up, i'm confused.

As far as I knew, to be in F1 you had to have a super licence. But in order to have a super licence you had to be 18. This is partly why Sergey Sirotkin didn't get the drive, as he wasn't 18 so no super licence.

Now that Max Verstappen is coming in next season, how is he able to race when he can't get a super licence?

Maybe i'm missing something?
 
Hard to believe a 16 year old kid with only a year of racing experience will have the maturity and mental focus to compete in F1. I don't want to sound like a cynic since he's obviously very talented but this can go very, very wrong.
 
Wow. Didn't see that coming.

I don't think age itself is an issue here, I'm more worried that he only has 40 "car" races under his belt. Even Kimi had 100+, and he was considered a shock choice by Sauber. Not to mention that Verstappen isn't even winning F3, far from it. He's a ways off Ocon, a fellow rookie. If I were Red Bull I would have taken Sainz Jr, Lynn, or even Gasly (because normal and fighting moves don't affect him :P) and given Max another year or 2 to develop.

On a different note, it wouldn't surprise me if we see Sainz Jr. in F1 next year as well, probably at Caterham.
 
DirtyNurbKing58
Hi guys, can you try help me clear something up, i'm confused.

As far as I knew, to be in F1 you had to have a super licence. But in order to have a super licence you had to be 18. This is partly why Sergey Sirotkin didn't get the drive, as he wasn't 18 so no super licence.

Now that Max Verstappen is coming in next season, how is he able to race when he can't get a super licence?

Maybe i'm missing something?
Click to expand...
There is no minimum age requirement, as you do not magically acquire driving skills on your eighteenth birthday. You either need to win or place in selected championships, or complete 300km of testing (with a few conditions). Sirotkin missed the drive because he did not earn a licence.
 
Very Surprsing, no doubt Max is a talent that would do well in F1 but this feels rushed tbh and I would expect a rough first year with maybe a few races where he shows extreme speed, Redbull have to find a seat for Sainz though as he is currently dominating the top F1 feeder series.
 
DirtyNurbKing58
right, ok. I just remember something at the time that he didn't have it and couldn't get it until he was 18
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Um no he could get it but Sauber needed to have the testing time to give him the ability to run by a certain date, they failed to meet this date they themselves set and thus he didn't get the seat. I think he didn't earn the license. Also something about the russian partners he has was a financial issue too that probably played in.

Edit: PM seems to stand by him not earning it and usually PM is right.

I do know of a few guys that are probably sitting at home not too happy right now.

sain-lynn-gasl-redb-rbri-2014.jpg
 
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