Klien takes Yamamoto’s place at HRT again
Brazilian Grand Prix
Christian Klien, HRT, Singapore, 2010
Christian Klien will make his second race start of 2010 for HRT.
He replaced Sakon Yamamoto at the team for the second time this year having also replaced the Japanese driver at Singapore.
On that occasion the team said Yamamoto was suffering from food poisoning. After missing Singapore, Yamamoto returned to drive at his home race two weeks ago.
Asked why the drivers had been changed again a HRT spokesperson said:
We have four drivers and the team decides at every GP which one is in each car. This time, the team has decides to give another opportunity to Christian.
Karun Chandhok has also driven for HRT this year, but hasn’t been in the car since the British Grand Prix.
Klien said:
I am very happy to get a second opportunity to do another Grand Prix here after Singapore and I hope that we are doing a good weekend with positive results.
Christian Klien
2010 Brazilian Grand Prix
- 2010 Brazilian Grand Prix: the complete F1 Fanatic race weekend review
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- Poor pace spells end of McLaren’s title hopes
- Hülkenberg eighth after pole position
- Mercedes seal fourth in constructors’ championship
- Brazil sees most race finishers since 1952
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- Kubica frustrated by Hülkenberg’s defence
Image © Motioncompany
Sav said on 4th November 2010, 14:32
Glad it’s not Senna. Would have been really cruel to take his home race away from him. Still, is there no rule preventing teams from doing this without a good reason as it’s getting annoying now? (money is not a good reason)
Chris P said on 4th November 2010, 14:34
Nope they can use upto 4 drivers in a season. I guess so long as they have an F1 super license and no penalties preventing them entering the race.
BasCB said on 4th November 2010, 17:42
I suppose, their few Sponsors would very seriously object if Senna were not to drive in the Brazilian GP.
US_Peter (@us_peter) said on 4th November 2010, 18:01
Instead he’ll just be made to look ridiculously slow again by Klien.
Felipe Bomeny (@portugoose) said on 4th November 2010, 23:02
HRT are probably using Klien as a desperate effort to snatch tenth place from Lotus and Virign because Yamamoto won’t deliver and the money for tenth place obviously is more than whatever Yamamoto is bringing in.
Mike said on 5th November 2010, 2:05
I agree, Brazil is usually an event filled race, and with the possibility of rain, they just might have a chance at a good finish if they are really lucky.
Sideshow Bob said on 5th November 2010, 3:00
So one hot qualifying in Singapore makes you think Klien is somehow a great driver? I’m thinking fluke more than anything else. If he were so great I think he would have a seat…
LucaBadoerFan said on 4th November 2010, 14:36
yes! i’m very happy about this. after klien’s strong performance at singapore (compared to senna, given that he’d been away from driving in anger since 2006).
i’d really like klien to get a race seat for next year. possibly along de la rosa at hrt.
Todfod (@todfod) said on 4th November 2010, 14:55
Im happy for Klein too. He deserves another shot after out qualifying Senna by more than a second.
LewisC said on 4th November 2010, 16:52
Agreed.
Not quite true to say he hasn’t been racing in anger though; he’s had regular and succesful runs in sportscars.
Adam Tate said on 5th November 2010, 10:13
That would be a much improved line up for the team. Though ultimately, the car is what will determine the rate of HRT’s progress next year.
Red Andy (@red-andy) said on 4th November 2010, 14:38
My guess is that HRT will be hoping for a crazy attritional race, and guessing that Klien is more likely to keep it on the island than Sakon. That way Klien can quietly circulate and pick up an eleventh place, which would give them that coveted P10 in the constructors’ championship.
It’s a long shot but worth a go. Though Klien’s not much use either IMO.
macahan said on 4th November 2010, 14:43
Was hoping to finally see Karun in the car again. But second option is Klein imo.
Hopefully Karun gets to drive in Abu Dabhi at least.
ed24f1 (@ed24f1) said on 4th November 2010, 14:57
I don’t think Karun will be able to drive in the Abu Dhabi test, because I think he will not qualify as a young driver because of his GP starts.
hawkfist said on 4th November 2010, 15:00
I think he’s referring to the actual Grand Prix, not the testing :o
macahan said on 4th November 2010, 17:51
Yepp for him to actual drive the car in the Abu Dhabi GP..
Alexi said on 4th November 2010, 14:44
Good luck for Bruno Senna them… last place when racing at home should not feel so good.
Alexi said on 4th November 2010, 14:44
*then I meant :P
Scribe (@scribe) said on 4th November 2010, 14:47
“Oh look Bruno, your career!”
“Where?”
“Oh just going over that hill, wave!”
If Klien does him again like Singapore, thats the end for the poor guy.
dyslexicbunny said on 4th November 2010, 14:49
My first thought: Does it really matter who drives?
Congrats to Klein. I really think Yamamoto is the weakest of their 4. I’m also glad for Senna that they didn’t pull him. And poor Karun. I really hope he’ll get a drive next year.
DeadManWoking said on 4th November 2010, 15:49
LOL, agreed bunny; just like it doesn’t matter to me who the guy is that is driving the truck that sweeps my street!
Scribe (@scribe) said on 4th November 2010, 15:59
You see where it says fanatic? unfortunatley it matters. Wouldn’t have it any other way.
TBH right now it doesn’t matter, but the offseason is just around the corner, an you wouldn’t belive what you’ll pay attention to at that point.
DeadManWoking said on 4th November 2010, 16:16
Right you are, Scribe. And that truck driver could still sideswipe my parked car!
dyslexicbunny said on 4th November 2010, 17:07
Well I’m still interested in who drives but I don’t think anyone could have a decent drive in it. I hope they blow everyone’s socks off with massive improvements but we’ll just have to see.
I got no problems with the offseason. NCAA hoops starts in the States.
OEL said on 4th November 2010, 17:39
Would Alonso beat di Grassi in a HRT?
Hamish said on 4th November 2010, 21:14
Does a bear deficate in the woods?
Ned Flanders (@ned-flanders) said on 4th November 2010, 14:50
I don’t really rate Klien that highly- if he was anything special he ought to have beaten David Coulthatd while the two were teammates at Red Bull.
But his reputation went up a notch after his impressive drive at Singapore, so if he can repeat that perfomance at Interlagos then he could be putting himself in the shop window for 2011
Scribe (@scribe) said on 4th November 2010, 16:22
I don’t know that i rate Klien but he trashed Senna, so while his reputation wasn’t harmed by it it’s more what’s happened and might happen to Senna’s that I find relavant.
DaveW said on 4th November 2010, 14:58
Basically, they are running out of chances to pull a coup on Lotus, so they are trying something new. Senna is rubbish but they can’t take him out for Brazil. It’s good Senna keeps his seat for the home race but not so nice for him that he will get dusted by his teammate. After all, Yamamoto crushed him in qualifying in Korea and I expect he will be further embarassed by Klien.
Griggs said on 4th November 2010, 15:19
Yes, because it’s the worst thing in the world when a rookie gets beaten by an experienced team-mate?
Come on DaveW, why do you have to be so negative in every post you make?
rankx11 said on 4th November 2010, 15:22
“The German driver” … Austrian, not German.
chris sz said on 4th November 2010, 15:35
keith,
according to this dutch news site, dutchman Giedo van der Garde is signing this weekend in interlagos a contract with virgin racing for next year.he is replacing di grassi.
http://www.rtl.nl/(/actueel/rtlnieuws/)/components/actueel/rtlnieuws/2010/11_november/04/binnenland/misschien-weer-nederlander-in-f1.xml
they say its almost sure according to a belgian newspaper…
http://www.lalibre.be/sports/formule-1/article/621063/d-ambrosio-double-sur-le-fil.html
my french is not so good so i can’t understand what they are saying here.
Icthyes (@icthyes) said on 4th November 2010, 16:07
The second one is hilarious if you translate it with Google.
Prateek727 said on 4th November 2010, 19:18
Crikey. I shudder to think what of the translation nightmare that produced ‘regular bleeding’
Red Andy (@red-andy) said on 4th November 2010, 20:15
They need to be more careful where they put their baguettes, I think.
Journeyer (@journeyer) said on 4th November 2010, 16:33
van der Garde? This doesn’t add up for me. As third driver, maybe. But right now, if anyone’s replacing di Grassi for 2011, it’s going to be Jerome d’Ambrosio.
Christopher Vissing said on 4th November 2010, 15:38
That’s what i’m talking about! Nice to hear! Give us Klien and Karun in Abu Dhabi..
RobertG said on 4th November 2010, 16:10
yeah, best 2 drivers in HRT this season :)
Ned Flanders (@ned-flanders) said on 4th November 2010, 16:35
The idea that Karun Chandok outpaced Bruno Senna while they were teammates is the biggest myth of the season…
Gavin Campbell said on 4th November 2010, 17:22
To be fair its hard to pick the drivers apart at this team due to their inexperience (the team that is) and their shocking reliabilty.
But Bruno has comprehensivly beaten Karun before (GP2 comes to mind)
RobertG said on 4th November 2010, 19:17
No its not. Karun showed better results, and was outqualified by Senna just when he got problems with car. He finished more often…
Icthyes (@icthyes) said on 4th November 2010, 21:28
Depends on how far you’re spinning it. Karun slightly edges Bruno in the situations where you can directly compare them (i.e. when neither retires and their qualifying).
Considering their supposed respective talents though (Senna beat Chandhok on GP2), to even be close to Chandhok is an embarrassment for Senna. Unless someone wants to claim Karun is a mini-Kobayashi ;)
amar said on 10th November 2010, 15:14
@Ned Flanders
MYTH??
if you are saying “myth of the season” then naturally gp2 doesn’t count…
karun has outperformed senna in many races(to be precise 6-1)
when retirements excluded its 2-1…
in at least 2 races (MONACO,turkey)senna’s position from which he retired was lower than karun’s.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65) said on 4th November 2010, 16:10
What they should be asked about is why Karun got sacked…
because they effectively sacked him…
RobertG said on 4th November 2010, 16:14
it would be funny if he would replace Bruno
East Londoner said on 4th November 2010, 16:21
.
Lies. If that’s the case, poor Chandhok should have got a few more races.
Journeyer (@journeyer) said on 4th November 2010, 16:36
Follow the money. Always follow the money.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 4th November 2010, 17:00
It’s what Bernie mumbles in his sleep.
Adam Tate said on 5th November 2010, 10:17
Lol @ Keith, Follow the money, I can see Bernie mumbling it now!!!!
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys) said on 4th November 2010, 23:24
“Hello. My nmae is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.” is a much more famous quote by the same writer.
Adam Tate said on 5th November 2010, 10:18
I am reading a book by that same writer for my screenwriting class, and I must say it’s fantastic.
Adam Tate said on 5th November 2010, 10:19
“Hello, my name is Juan Pablo Montoya. You killed my career. Prepare to die.”
JPM to Ron Dennis anyone?