Comments on: Lucas di Grassi poised to take Renault seat off Nelson Piquet Jnr for 2009

By: Gman

Gman — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 05:22:18 +0000

Rabi, I did not previously know of that condition in the contracts- good bit of information on your part. I knew their was some major cash assosiated with Piquet but wasen’t sure how that worked out, so thanks for the details.

By: Jean

Jean — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 13:39:09 +0000

Renault will be making a big mistake dropping Piquet for Di Grassi . Provided they keep Alonso , Piquet will be much better next year , but still no threat to Alonso , which is ideal in a way. They have the budget , the know-how and the double world champion , all they need is the car to be winning again , and I don’t think they are so far back anymore. They need to maximise development of the car this winter to adapt to the new rules , while Piquet has to maximise on his fitness , which I think is really his biggest problem. Di Grassi needs to prove himself further in one more year of GP2.

By: schumi the greatest

schumi the greatest — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 12:43:56 +0000

I dont undersatnd why renault keep giving rookies drives every year, if they did it with di grassi next year it would be the 3rd season in a row that renault have gone into the season with at least 1 driver never raced in f1.

Surley if the di grassi deal goes ahead its because alonso is staying. I t all depends on what he’s doing, the renault has been getting better over the season and despite the lucky victory he would have been very competitive anyway.

Piquet to be honest hasnt been very good, hes had a few races but his pace in qualifying has been poor. He makes alot of mistakes but he hasnt exactly got the raw pace to compensate for that either, so other than for sponsorship reasons i dont see why they would keep him for next year, or why torro rosso would want him, bourdais has done a better job imo.

Another intresting factor is that alonso has apparently signed a letter of intent to join ferrari in 2010, now i know raikkonen has been signed with massa until then but, with raikkonens awful performance this year, it might have been a ploy to get him to support massa’s tittle bid and whether he stays for 2010 could depoend upon next years performance.

just a hunch but like last year everything depends on what alonso does, i cant see him going to honda because that would be hit miss, he could end up further down the field than this year! bmw im not so sure about because i dont think after last years episode with hamilton that alonso would want to go head to head with a driver who might be able to match him.

be intresting to see what happens anyway

By: Keith Collantine

Keith Collantine — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 10:41:55 +0000

Sumedh -

He probably wants a Takuma Sato + Honda engines + lot of Japanese sponsors combo pack.

That didn’t work out so well for Super Aguri.

By: Rabi

Rabi — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:52:46 +0000

@Gman. It’s a well known fact that the only reason why Alonso is at Renault is because of Carlos Slim’s sponsorship of Briatore’s team after Renault refused to pay Alonso’s high wages. Don’t forget he’s the highest paid driver on the grid ($61 million a year over his two-year contract at Renault source: http://racing.timesofindia.indiatimes.com//Renault_make_Alonso_highest_paid_F1_driver/articleshow/2614931.cms?)

But Carlos Slim placed a condition which was that the second driver must be of South American nationality. So basically Kovaleinen had to go based on this fact alone and it also meant that Grosjean could not be brought in who I’m sure would have been Renault’s preferred choice.

However that was then and this is now, with Renault winning and ING getting good exposure on ITV (which was hilarious the way that happened) Flavio may find Renault more accepting in taking on Alonso’s salary next year.

Otherwise why do you think Piquet hasn’t been shown the door yet?

By: Shahriar

Shahriar — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 06:28:21 +0000

thats gonna be bad….
if renault doesnt improve their car…
de grassi is a gud driver, deserves a better car…
i wonder where wud alonso go

By: Sumedh

Sumedh — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 06:21:39 +0000

I doubt Berger is interested in getting a Piquet + Renault combo pack.

He probably wants a Takuma Sato + Honda engines + lot os Japanese sponsors combo pack. Otherwise, Takuma Sato wouldn’t be testing for STR.

Piquet might become a test driver again, Di Grassi partnering Alonso.
Alonso, I think is almost confirmed at Renault, esp. after the win.

By: Smitty

Smitty — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 05:51:06 +0000

Di Grasi was by far the best driver in this year’s GP2 season imo. To miss 6 races and finish just behind the runner-up is great feat and has shown such maturity after a dodgy first year.

Di Grassi will be going to Renault, but I can’t see Piquet going to Toro Rosso, not even as a test driver. Buemi-Boudrais is likely to be the line-up for 2009, and Buemi-Sato is also a slight possiblity. And I don’t think the Renault engines will go over to Toro Rosso either, I see Berger being strong enough to resist such a swap.

By: Polak

Polak — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:21:01 +0000

La Canta: Senna stated that he wants to be in a race seat for 2009. This means its either racing F1 or GP2. I don’t think he will be satisfied with a testing role. It would be ironic if he turns down a test seat to remain in a feeder series like his uncle did with Ron Dennis. Ron actually swore he would never have anything to do with Ayrton Senna after that slap in the face, but we all know how that turned out.

By: Gman

Gman — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 03:50:02 +0000

Rabi,

I agree that Alonso’s decision dose have a great deal to do with the moves, but my only question is why dose Renault need a driver of South American nationality in a race seat? Sure there are many talented guys from Brazil, but there’s also many others from countries around the world who would be just as quick and do just as well.