Comments on: Sebastien Loeb tests GP2 car ahead of possible Abu Dhabi F1 debut (Pictures)

By: pidgit

pidgit — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:27:38 +0000

Sorry but he just won’t be competitive, people keep mentioning the Barcelona test where he finished 8th, but it was an end of season test where some cars (including Loebs) were running last years higher downforce spec, some this years low downforce and some a mix of both. It wasn’t a true representation of his or anyone’s pace. Given more testing I’m sure he could be competitive but on this occasion it’d be for publicity

By: Tec5nical

Tec5nical — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:50:04 +0000

Well, I am a F1 enthausiast, and I can’t bear any un-genuine F1 driver, running in it! It feels like taunting, under-estimating F1.
But, mentally, I believe Rally and F1 are completely different. U are a rally legend, so u could handle a 2 hour competition, managing tires, but u need to learn how to push a rear driving axle car to the limit in comparison to a 4wd; need to learn how to be sharp sharp in handling those small kerbs and turns like Japan’s, in a car double the hp, and 5G cornerings, WITHOUT those usual over-steerings in a rally car. Would U attack like the hell, and yet not making mistakes to get into top 10s?

By: DGR-F1

DGR-F1 — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 07:13:32 +0000

For sure, this is just a Red Bull publicity stunt. We are going to see old Loeb (and he is quite old too), sampling the likes of DTM cars, NASCAR cars, motorbikes and even airplanes before he finishes his rallying career.
I think his most sensible move would be to attempt the Paris-Dakar…..

By: Mark Hitchcock

Mark Hitchcock — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 18:21:56 +0000

Not really fair on whoever he replaces if this does happen.
ALG and Buemi both need experience of Abu Dhabi if they’re gonna be racing next year and considering how difficult it is to get and keep an F1 drive these days I certainly wouldn’t want to give up my seat so that some hotshot from a different category could give it a go for the fun of it.

By: mattB

mattB — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:02:15 +0000

I sorry JUGNU (and others) but this talk of Loeb and Rossi before that coming into F1 is utter rubbish. These guys are gods in their chosen profession and given time would be competitive in F1 but they don’t have time on their side. Loeb would be one of the oldest out there and Rossi is the same age as Kimi (150 GP starts, countless thousands of KM of testing IN ALL WEATHERS!). Rally drivers and motorcycle riders will never make a successful leap into F1 late in life, no matter how good they are. They won’t compete with drivers who have come up through the single seater ranks and F1 testing.
There’s no way on this planet Rossi would better Fisi in the Ferrari. I seriously doubt he’d even worry Badoer’s pace.
These guys (Rossi and co) are now so marketable that running around in the F1 midfield for 2 or 3 years would be disasterous for them when fans have such massive expectations of them coupled with complete ignorance of what it takes to race these machines.

By: JUGNU

JUGNU — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:37:25 +0000

Can’t wait to see Loeb in F1.
On other note, I am sure Rossi would have done as good job as fisichella if not better. At least for the last race, Ferrari should give the car to Rossi.

By: DC

DC — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:45:51 +0000

Maybe. Along similar lines, I’m beginning to wonder if some fortune-teller told Ron Dennis he would only win WDCs if he employed a Finn.

By: jose

jose — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:09:30 +0000

i did after his showing on the barcelona test. But after the manipulation of the rally of cataluña, and the poor showing at the jerez test, i couldn’t care less about him driving in f1.
I realy hope he loses the wrc in the last race.
I never liked team orders, and even less when a driver, takes a win they don’t deserve, without any shame.

By: Jim N

Jim N — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 09:50:14 +0000

I’d love to see Loeb race in F1, being clearly the best in rallying perhaps he’s exceptional enough to even do resonably well in F1. Very few drivers have even competed in both world class rallies and in F1…. and the only successful one that springs to mind is Stirling Moss who successfully competed in many rallies early (and late!) in his career with probably his best finish being 2nd in the Monte Carlo Rally in 1952

By: Nitpicker

Nitpicker — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 09:39:21 +0000

Colin McRae, world rally champion in 1995, sampled Martin Brundle’s Jordan in 1996, but did not compete in a race.

The poor devil. No wonder he didn’t bother again.

By: CovertGiblets

CovertGiblets — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 09:13:09 +0000

Those were exactly my thoughts Gwenouille!

I do think he’ll be quicker than the current crops of rookies though.

By: Gwenouille

Gwenouille — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 08:13:21 +0000

I’d love to see him try a race, but I have a major concern: imagine the title isn’t decided in Interlagos. The result and the race in Abu dhabi would be crucial. What if Loeb is involved in some crash or trouble involving either Barrichello, Button or Vettel ?
Wouldn’t that feel quite disturbing ?

By: Ronman

Ronman — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 07:08:21 +0000

I’d imagine more track time and familiarization with a new circuit would be a priority for Alguesari, since he should be racing with them next year.
strange this red bull tin business, they seem to give marketing, sports and business a whole new dimension…

By: GeeMac

GeeMac — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 06:03:08 +0000

Do you have to be called Sebastien to drive for Toro Rosso? I mean really!

By: usF1fanatic

usF1fanatic — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 04:50:26 +0000

I think this is more an effort to have only Sebastians driving for them. That almost makes as much sense as some of the driver decisions they have made in the past.

By: Fabio

Fabio — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 03:40:11 +0000

I think would very interesting, loeb is very skillful, why not give him a shot?

By: Brian

Brian — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 02:44:40 +0000

I have offened wondered how a Fighter pilot would handle an F1 car, and then I found this:
http://www.videosift.com/video/RAF-Pilot-Drives-A-Williams-Formula-One-Car

By: Florida Mike

Florida Mike — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 01:35:57 +0000

So STR wants to try a 30-something Frenchman named Sebastien, whose a current Multi-Year Champion in a leading racing series. At least Bourdais had single-seat, wheel-to-wheel, Hi-G, Hi power-to-weight experience. There might not be a better way to show the world how special F1 is than to give the “best of the rest” a chance.

On the other hand, maybe STR thinks Loeb will be better at staying away from the walls; last week had to be expensive for all of the Red Bull flavors.

By: HG

HG — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:51:34 +0000

I think it would be fantastic. He, along with all rally drivers, is fantastically skilled across all surfaces whilst taking in a constant stream of information. I hope he does get the chance, even if he’s off the pace, at least he will have done it. You only live once, and it is better to die with memories than regrets.

By: HG

HG — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:46:48 +0000

haha, i like your thinking