GP3

Fumanelli said he could not compete “for budget reasons” and is already looking forward to next year and future opportunities. I didn’t remember that Cregan’s dad was the race organiser… how co-incidental…

Looking good for Kvyat so far.

Red Bull are suddenly looking very smart in choosing Kyvat. A good start to Daniil’s Toro Rosso career; this should reduce any speculation he was chosen for reasons other than his talents as a driver.

Kvyat is a well deserved GP3 champion – the last 3 meetings he has really dominated. As Marko would say – he’s only getting faster, and he even looks like a spit of Vettel. Maybe he will be the Vettel replacement… he did the finger after taking the title! Kvyat-Ricciardo is a direct replacement for Vettel-Webber! Felix da Costa was just unlucky – if there was a seat for 2013 he would have had it. Now he’ll be the next Buemi – simulator/test driver.

Regalia was a bit unlucky to lose 8th and a shot at race 2 win, but maybe he was optimistic to overtake Sainz off track. He would probably have passed him anyway on track. Sainz and Niederhauser were unlucky – Sainz did move a bit, trying to do a Vettel Turkey 2010 and pressure for the racing line. But they really needed reverse grid pole to improve the end of their seasons. As did Zamparelli – 3rd 9th place Feature finish of the year, amongst 10ths as well! Instead we have Kujala on pole for tomorrow… I do hope Ellinas wins the final race or podiums. We’ll then have an interesting GP2 grid for next year with Ellinas, Vandoorne in there..

Ok I’m just going to come out and say it, having had my doubts about him for some time. Despite a turn of speed, Sainz Jr suffers from a fatal lack of race craft. On his results over the last couple of years , he probably deserves to be dropped from the Red Bull junior team. But I suspect his famous name and some influential backing will save him, and we’ll see him in a Red Bull backed car in WSR 3.5 next year.