F1 Fanatic

For me, the ideal situation would see Jaime Alguersuari and Heikki Kovalainen at Force India – a combination of youthful potential and cool-headed experience could pay dividends for them. Also, Paul di Resta makes my teeth itch for some reason – I just have never been able to make myself like him…

I reckon Timo Glock will probably go off to DTM – he has said that he doesn’t like F1 as it is, and I think he will stay true to those words and enjoy racing in a different, exciting series. I could easily see Vitaly Petrov taking the other seat at Marussia – possibly on a multi-year deal, which would look great for Russia: A Russian driver at a Russian team driving at the Russian Grand Prix (Sochi 2014 – should it go ahead). Plus, if he can get his sponsorship sorted out, he could do well there. Add to that the improvements we saw from Marussia in 2012, and it would be a more attractive option for him.

Finally, the seat at Caterham – with my assumption that Kovalainen and Petrov would both be elsewhere, Caterham have already got a good driver with them as a test driver in the shape of Giedo van der Garde, who showed himself well at the Young Driver Tests at the end of last year. In my view, though they would have a relatively inexperienced team with him and Pic, they both show potential, and could really shine…it would be best for Caterham to take Razia on as a reserve driver, and give him a few outings on various Fridays in the season.

Just read this: http://www.newsonf1.co.uk/2013/news/Jan/article_Glock_to_BMW_no_Marussia_move_for_Vitaly_Petrov.html
Ok, its not the most modern website and it may look inaccurate, but recently it has got things right before official confirmation, so I do believe that Petrov may not move to Marussia for now.

Stig- Timo may not like F1 as it is (meaning pay for a drive I assume??) but surley better to be on the grid than not on it??

Guys like Senna, KK, Petrov, Timo Clock, Heiki and the like will go this year- but do you think they would rather run at the back (Like Pedro De La Rosa did) or be out of F1??

I reckon better to be in F1 than not to be. IMO.

Nick- It doesnt make sense to me. Cant Timo with all his years (about 100 GP I think) bring some cash?? And cant Heiki????? I hope Senna brings cash and gets a drive but seeing these guys via for the worst seat shits me- but what I am saying is that I think they would rather driver F1.

If Koyba leaves for a year can he come back?? Nico did (and will do great) but I think KK is not quite the same. If he goes we may not see him again at F1 level.

Nick- It doesnt make sense to me. Cant Timo with all his years (about 100 GP I think) bring some cash?? And cant Heiki????? I hope Senna brings cash and gets a drive but seeing these guys via for the worst seat shits me- but what I am saying is that I think they would rather driver F1.

While Heikki has said he doesn’t ‘want’ to pay for a seat, I also think for both Glock and Kovalainen it’s pretty difficult to find personal sponsors who are willing to pay the amount drivers like Senna or Maldonado bring. Don’t forget, while Germany and Finland might be doing fine economically, there aren’t a lot of sponsors from either country and those who are there, are deeply committed to a team already. It’s hard to find companies in the Western part of the world and as an experienced GP driver, it must be harder to explain to some CEO or Marketing Manager why, after all those years, you need money to retain that seat or even convince them you’re still improving as a driver.

Formula One always has more drivers looking at it and even who deserve to be there based on performances in feeder series, but we’ve seen a lot of competent drivers out of F1 in the past due to all kinds of circumstances. If you’re not a Vettel-Hamilton-Alonso-Raikkonen kind of driver, after a couple of years, it will be harder to find a seat. It has always been that way, except for pay drivers at financially unstable teams. And right now, a lot of F1 teams need money, perhaps more than they need experience, no matter how much their needs to develop should mean otherwise.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Di Resta loses his seat; he loses it to a pay driver.

I think we’re in for a good silly season for 2014 as well. Kobayashi will be looking for a comeback, there will be more GP2 and WSR 3.5 graduates looking for a seat, what will Webber do, etc, etc…

Apparently the latest silly season – or stupid season; you’ll see why that’s appropriate in a moment – rumour is that Vitaly Petrov and Kamui Kobayashi will move to Force India to create an “all-Asian” team. At least, that’s what the Times of India would have us believe.

It does make sense on a certain level. If Force India were to be bought out, Petrov and Kobayashi would be the two drivers with the most sponsorship and the most experience available. There are, however, richer drivers out there, so it would only make sense if Force India’s new buyers were already quite well-off financially.

People are even saying ‘Spyker owed Giedo van der Garde something for 2007′, implying that he might head off to Force India.

Well, that’s just absurd. For one, the team underwent a change in ownership at the end of the season, and Michiel Mol – one of the original backers of the Spyker F1 project – controls just 10% of the team. And secondly, van der Garde caused no end of trouble for the team when he signed on to be their test driver after signing up with Super Aguri, and though he ultimately stayed with Spyker, they would have had to pay for the privelige.

Mind you, these were the same people that kept saying Jos Verstappen had a shot at BAR/Honda because of the 1999 testing.

I’m guessing that these people are ardent Dutch fans, then? I suppose the Netherlands need someone to make up for Christijan Albers, but van der Garde? Really?