HRT yet to confirm Suzuka drivers
There are signs HRT may be consdering another change to their driver line-up ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix.
The team’s pre-race press release does not include quotes from their intended drivers. Similar statements from every other race thie year have done.
The team has already changed its driver pairing three times this year. They replaced Bruno Senna with Sakon Yamamoto at Silverstone, then Senna returned to replace Karun Chandhok from the next event.
At Singapore Yamamoto was replaced by Christian Klien. The team said this was because Yamamoto was unwell, but paddock sources reported otherwise, suggesting a sponsorsihp arrangement may have put Klien in the car.
As it’s Yamamoto’s home race this weekend (and assuming HRT’s original explanation was accurate) one would expect to see Yamamoto back in one of the cars in Suzuka.
But driver performance could play a deciding role as well. Klien out-paced Senna in Singapore, and Senna has been comfortably quicker than Yamamoto in their four appearances together.
The team have not yet responded to enquiries about their driver line-up.
HRT driver form guides
Karun Chandhok 2010 form guide
Bruno Senna 2010 form guide
Sakon Yamamoto 2010 form guide
Christian Klien 2010 form guide
2010 Japanese Grand Prix
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- 2010 Japanese Grand Prix: the complete F1 Fanatic race weekend review
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Ilanin said on 5th October 2010, 12:21
Isn’t there a maximum number of driver changes you can do in a single year?
And isn’t it three?
Xanathos said on 5th October 2010, 12:45
No, only the number of drivers you may use is limited to four and they can change around as much as they want, as long as they don’t use more than four drivers
Red Andy (@red-andy) said on 5th October 2010, 12:45
You can change drivers as many times as you like, but you can only use four drivers over the course of the season. So, technically, HRT could use any two of Senna, Chandhok, Yamamoto and Klien.
Ned Flanders (@ned-flanders) said on 5th October 2010, 17:22
I remember Prost used 5 drivers in 2001- Alesi, Mazzacane, Burti, Frentzen and Enge- so unless the rules have changed since then I’m not sure that’s correct.
Although since Hispania (presumably) don’t have a 5th driver on their books, that’s a moot point
Red Andy (@red-andy) said on 5th October 2010, 18:47
I can’t remember when the rule came in but it has definitely been in force for some years (obviously post-2001).
It’s in the Sporting Regulations, Article 19.1a:
“During a season each team will be permitted to use four drivers … Additional changes for reasons of force majeure will be considered separately.”
BasCB (@bascb) said on 5th October 2010, 20:13
Might be Prost did have to get some kind of allowance to run Frentzen and then when he left get a new driver.
CoolGav said on 6th October 2010, 12:31
I remember reading the autobiography of Perry McCarthy (the first stig), that said when he drove for the Andrea Moda team in 1992, Bernie/Balestre introduced this rule so that he couldn’t get replaced in the struggling team.
Mike said on 5th October 2010, 13:01
It may be a max number of drivers used, rather than max changes allowed. meaning they could bring back Chandok, Senna, Sakon or Klien many times without penalty….. But I could be very wrong.
Adrian said on 5th October 2010, 12:21
Klein and Chandock maybe?
Todfod said on 5th October 2010, 16:15
No way. As much as I hate to admit it, Yamamoto is definitely going to get one race seat. I would like to see Chandhok in the other seat, but my guess would be Klein.
Hare said on 5th October 2010, 22:48
I heard it could be Roman Abramovich and Paris Hilton?
damonsmedley (@damonsmedley) said on 6th October 2010, 2:30
I think that was for Abu Dhabi Hare. They’re easing into the big change you see.
Hare (@hare) said on 6th October 2010, 5:19
I heard HRT were asking drivers to BYOT?….. Bring your own tires?
MacLeod said on 5th October 2010, 12:21
They need the money so i think Klien and Yamamoto. Japan wants something japanese to hold so Yamamoto for public relations and adv.
magnafw07 said on 6th October 2010, 1:35
Actually, no, even the Japanese don’t care about Sakon. He is not mentioned in their TV coverage at all.
My wife (who is Japanese) thinks people are embarrassed by him, and just pretend he doesn’t exist.
Adam Smith said on 5th October 2010, 12:23
Klien and Chandhok for me
nik (@nik) said on 5th October 2010, 17:53
Japanese Grand Prix ….
f1fan said on 5th October 2010, 12:34
me thinks it will be yamamoto and klien
LewisC said on 5th October 2010, 15:02
That’s what my money would be on. Kolles can’t have been amused that Klien stuffed Senna in qualifying…
ajokay (@ajokay) said on 5th October 2010, 12:35
Zig and Zag? Ant and Dec? Two sacks of rice?
I bet Yuji Ide & Taki Inoue. I couldn’t think of a more capable all-Japanese lineup!
Mike said on 5th October 2010, 13:03
I dunno, I’d willingly put Ide against Sakon….
Neil said on 5th October 2010, 12:38
Klien and Yamamoto are the drivers that should have been in the cars all season. The other two didn’t deserve the seats.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys) said on 5th October 2010, 12:44
Yamamoto deserved his seat? Sorry, but I’d say Klien/Chandhok was the better combination.
Todfod said on 5th October 2010, 20:12
Klien and Senna. Chandhok did bring the car home but at a snail’s pace.. and he was convincingly out qualified by his teammate.
US_Peter (@us_peter) said on 5th October 2010, 20:19
He consistently outpaced Senna in races though. I think Klien/Chandhok would’ve been the best pairing.
magnafw07 said on 6th October 2010, 1:37
Klien and Yamamoto sounds perfect to me.
Bottom rung team, one pay driver to fund the racing, and one experienced racer to develop the car.
I would have run that line up all year.
Ubaid Parkar said on 5th October 2010, 12:42
Yeah. I had spoken to Klien and he just confirmed Sakon would be back in Japan. He didn’t mention who the other driver would be!
James said on 5th October 2010, 12:53
I doubt the Hispania drivers even know whether they’ll be driving any more. I bet Senna is at the point where he’s asking Colin Kolles if he should pack his race suit or not now…
Lustigson said on 5th October 2010, 13:08
How about Takuma Sato and Christian Klien?
Chris P said on 5th October 2010, 13:21
The rate Sato is wrecking Indy cars at the moment, he had better come with a nice big wedge to replace the HRT he will no doubt trash. Then again there can’t be much of any worth in that piece of junk.
James said on 5th October 2010, 13:23
Hispania have used the maximum number drivers the rules allow for this season.
Mike said on 6th October 2010, 3:16
Hell, least Sato crashes because has some spirit….. I’m talking to you Sakon…
dangarcia said on 5th October 2010, 13:14
Maybe I have made this up but didn’t HRT state after the Silverstone/Senna issue that Senna would be in the car for the rest of the year?
MacLeod said on 5th October 2010, 13:18
Money can change someone mind very fast.
US_Peter (@us_peter) said on 5th October 2010, 20:21
They did, but as MacLeod said^.
You can’t take anything Collin Kolles says to the bank.
Dan Selby said on 5th October 2010, 13:16
Klien and Yamamoto would certainly make the most sense given the circumstances.
Griggs said on 5th October 2010, 13:58
Surely on the performance side of things you make Klien the number one driver and Senna the rookie…
Fixy (@fixy) said on 5th October 2010, 14:00
Possibly Klien – Yamamoto for this race, then back to Senna – Klien.
Chris P said on 5th October 2010, 14:26
Why does nobody want Karun back? Keep him on 5Live?
codesurge said on 5th October 2010, 15:08
Kolles misses listening to Karunipedia!
I do hope he gets a chance to get back in the seat though. If not this year, then perhaps next year with Bernie’s backing.