Which of this year’s GP2 drivers – and teams – could be in Formula 1 soon?
Lucas di Grassi could be the next driver to win the GP2 title en route to F1
The GP2 championship kicks off at the Circuit de Catalunya this weekend with 26 drivers hoping to follow the likes of Lewis Hamilton, Timo Glock and Nico Rosberg into Formula 1.
But it’s not just the drivers who are looking for places in F1 – several of the teams are eyeing a step up under the 2010 budget capping regulations. Which of these names might we see in F1 next year?
Kamui Kobayashi
Toyota test driver and recently-crowned GP2 Asia champion. Kobayashi won the GP2 sprint race at Catalunya last year but didn’t make it to the top step of the podium again throughout the year.
With a strong campaign this year he’s got to be favourite to step up to F1 with one of the Toyota-powered teams, potentially as a replacement for struggling countryman Kazuki Nakajima.
Lucas di Grassi
Championship favourite: he was strong in testing, had an excellent part-season in the GP2 last year, and was runner-up in 2007. Di Grassi drives for Racing Engineering, who took Giorgio Pantano to the title last year.
Di Grassi was dropped from Renault’s test team at the end of last year in favour of Romain Grosjean. But with Fernando Alonso tipped to join Ferrari in 2010, and question marks over Nelson Piquet Jnr’s future with the team, there could be room for di Grassi at Renault yet.
Romain Grosjean
Driving for Addax, which as Campos last year won GP2′s teams title, Grosjean is another tip for the title. And, like di Grassi, he will have his eyes on a Renault drive. We could be in for a highly entertaining battle between the pair.
Nico Hülkenberg
Williams test driver with some impressive credentials from the junior formulae. He won the F3 Euroseries last year comfortably, then in four GP2 Asia starts he took two pole positions out of two, and registered a win, a third and two fourth places.
The GP2 main series runs different chassis, so he might struggle compared to the more experienced drivers early on. But keep an eye on him to see if he manages a Sebastien Buemi-style run of improvement throughout the season, that might entice Williams into taking a punt on him sooner rather than later.
The teams
Paul Jackson, team principal at iSport, has said his team will consider F1′s new budget capping rules before deciding whether to enter the sport.
His team is running last year’s World Series by Renault champion Giedo van der Garde in GP2 this year. But an F1 effort on their part would be likely to include Bruno Senna, who was runner-up in GP2 with iSport last year.
Another team that has been linked to F1 is Addax, which is owned by Spaniard Alejandro Agag. He was linked to a take-over of Super Aguri when the team collapsed last year.
There have also been rumours about the ART team moving up to F1. It is run by Jean Todt’s son Nicolas. And last week Autosport claimed Super Nova was talking to Cosworth about an F1 engine supply.
GP2 is being broadcast on Setanta Sports in Britain this year.
Will you be watching GP2 this year? Who’s your tip for success?
For a guide to all the drivers confirmed so far see here: GP2 2009 drivers and teams in pictures
Image (C) GP2 Media Service / LAT
MN said on 5th May 2009, 19:56
I think next year we’ll see Adam Carrol, Lucas Di Grassi and Maybe Nico Hulkenburg.
santori said on 5th May 2009, 20:27
Don’t count out Jérôme d’Ambrosio. He outscored Kobayashi in the main series last year (perhaps a question of chassis?) and would have been closer to him in Asia if not for some bad luck.
Matthew said on 5th May 2009, 21:22
I reckon di Grassi will have a shot this year though I prefer Nico Hulkenberg to win. di Grassi is more seasoned than anyone else, if not talented.
ART does not look good from what I have seen in the test and I am a bit sad that Nico might need another year in GP2…
Gman said on 5th May 2009, 23:44
I guess I don’t realize how lucky I am when I watch GP2 on SPEED before the F1 races, when many of you in other parts of the world need to pay extra to get it or don’t get it at all.
Many of the current GP2 field will be in F1 someday. With Schumi’s management team behind him, Hulkenberg may have the best shot of anyone. di Grassi is another one of those guys who everyone feels is required to be in F1for the sport to be complete- a full season in GP2 will tell if he’s capable of putting together a complete resume. Kobayashi has his name on a Toyota seat for all intents and purposes when Jarno eventually retires.
Jay Menon said on 6th May 2009, 2:09
Too bad we don’t get GP2 in Asia, at least we don’t in Malaysia. Star Sports did show GP2 Asia for a couple rounds at least.
Haven’t been watching much else other than F1, but I did have peep on A1 GP. In a field with largely poor drivers, Neel Janni stands out, he’s proven to be a class above the rest. That Adam Carrol fella doesn’t look too shabby either.
Williams 4ever said on 6th May 2009, 18:11
Jay I remember Astro/ Local channel (same one that aired ITV’s F1 feed) broadcasting Jr Formulae when I lived in KL couple of years ago.
Steve K said on 6th May 2009, 6:37
How has Karun Chandhok burned his bridges with Force India. I could find no article when I googled his name and the team together. Link?
HounslowBusGarage said on 6th May 2009, 8:40
If Max and Bernie are right and we do have three new teams next year, *and* we have two or three retirements from exisiting drivers, there could be eight or so drivers new to F1 for 2010.
That’s a third of the field.
What are the winter and pre-season testing restrictions? Could we have one third of the drivers with remarkabley limited experience of an F1 car for the first race of 2010?
Super Aguri said on 6th May 2009, 12:29
@Keith – You seem to have forgotten that the Hamiltons practically lived out of McLaren Center at Woking when Lewis was not racing ( and Anothony two timing with Ron). The kind of Simulator time he got at Woking before he stepped foot on circuit would make any driver die to be in his position as development driver with McLaren. (Of course it was typical of Lewis and his PR skills to say he didn’t gain much from Simulator, and didn’t like it that much). Ron was all over press start of 2007 season, about how he had groomed Lewis to know F1 rules better than any driver on the grid and about hours and hours Lewis had spent diligently using Woking resources.
Number 38 said on 6th May 2009, 14:35
AN EXCELLENT point Super Aguri … and in light of recent events at Australia and disrespecting Ron Dennis at Prince of Bahrain party and the Dennis acheivement awards, it’s obvious Mr. Hamilton M.B.E. still has a lot to learn about being a man!