2012 Predictions / Driver Line-up / News etc...

Honestly thought Alguersuari was going to keep his seat.
Reckon he'll take the vacant HRT seat then...

On the plus side, Ricciardo is a genuine talent. Not so sure about Vergne, but give him time.

 

Shocked yet excited by Toro Rosso's decision. I'll be a lot more interested in the Toro Rosso intra-team battle than I would have been.

I get the comments about the two lads not deserving to be booted out, but Toro Rosso aren't a charity and neither driver looked like being "the next Vettel", both Vergne and Ricciardo have shown their talent through the lower formula, and more is expected of them than was of Jaime and Buemi. Webber will probably retire next year and if they want to promote from within time is running out to have a look a Vergne and Ricciardo.

 

But the thing is... Alguersuari DID look really talented at times.
It makes no sense to have a Young Driver Programme that boots people out every two years and retains a 35 year-old Australian.

 

I have to say this. It may sound like a 'know-it-all' comment but I promise this is not my intention.

Early on, I suggested in this forum, as well as others, that neither Alguesuari nor Buemi were consistent enough. Both had good performances occasionally, and in particular, Alguesuari had some good races towards the tail-end of the season, but he has never looked a seriously better prospect than Buemi; and in my opinion, neither of them have looked a better prospect than Ricciardo (for instance).

It is not good news for them of course, but F1 is a cut and thrust sport which rarely grants a special ticket (Schumacher being the most obvious exception).

Senna may yet prove to be another example, but before the title deciding race at Suzuka, I suggested that race was his most important opportunity; and he missed it - big time. So, I am not surprised that he is not a confirmed driver, especially under the questionable leadership of Boullier - because his actual driving (not a product of the car dynamics as I explained a few months ago in this forum) has always tended to look rather untidy. I hoped he would do better and have celebrated his recent improvements.

After all of the above, perhaps my greatest surprise concerning Senna is to hear that Boullier considers him a reasonable prospect as a test driver! - This makes me question Boullier's judgement even further, since the best test drivers tend to be those who are most consistent in every respect - including, consistent, repetitive placing of the car on the track, at every turn on every lap: not a strong point for Senna. I actually feel he is a more natural racer than test-driver; the very antithesis of Pedro de la Rosa and Alex Wurz.

 

I think STR were right to replace Buemi with Riccardio, as Buemi has had long enough and hasn't really proved that he is anything special. I however think that Alguesuari should have been given more time, as he had such a strong end to the season that I thought that he would have been able to take that form into the new season, and score some solid points early on. After a long time of looking poor and error strewn, Alguesuari looked very good at the end of the season, so he should count himself unlucky.

As with Senna, its pretty clear that he got himself into F1 off the back of his relations. He didn't look anywhere near as good as Heidfeld whom he replaced, so its fair to say performances weren't winning him the seat last season. There's bound to be another team however wanting his money, so he probably will get a drive next year.

Just to respond to previous comments, I read that Hulkenburg and Di Resta are going to be confirmed soon at Force India.

 

lol, I think the decision proves that Marko is looking for a top driver and would rather experiment with unknown quantities than retain decent drivers. Alguersuari is only 21 and has potential. To me, Marko comes across as a ruthless dictator with a fetish for Vettel.

I think we'll find out tomorrow. The latest rumours are that Bianchi will become Force India's 3rd driver (which should give him some practice time on Fridays).

 

I agree that is the right call. They really need to have a replacement for Webber lined up for 2013 and they must have decided it wasn't either of them. I am suprised one wasn't kept one as a benchmark however. It hard to tell how well a driver is doing when his closest comparison is also an unknown prospect.

This is probably the key to the market at the moment. I had read rumors that they want sutil after his late season performances but had already given Hulkenberg a contract.

It could yet be Sutil-Di Resta.

 

I agree with your view on the Helmut…

 

http://twitter.com/#!/PaulHembery/status/147163688976134145
http://twitter.com/#!/PaulHembery/status/147167826950627328

 

I think it was the right thing to do for STR. Ricciardo and Vergne look very promising where as Buemi has been nothing special and algae was close but still had flaws. out of the 2 Algae deserves to stay in F1 somewhere.

Come on we all know Buemi only got the seat via a mix up by the Red Bull scouts...

Scout: "I think Sebastian is a good driver, sign him up"
---Scout walks away---
Team Boss: "uh? which one? Vettel? Buemi? Bourdais?"
Advisor: "lets sign them all, I mean... One of them has to work right?"

 

Sutil without a drive then! Surely he has to be first choice for Williams?

 

I am sorry for Buemi, so much promise - loved watching him racing as far up the field as Rosberg at times.
But I wish the best for him.

 

I don't know reliable Jake's information is, but interestingly enough he doesn't mention the 2 Force India seats:

http://twitter.com/#!/jakehumphreyf1/status/147096650408656896

 

Shocker of a decision, seems to be the norm these days.

 

They should have kept the same line up. Hulkenberg is overrated.

 

Admittedly in retrospect he should never have been kicked out of Williams... but he is still vastly overrated.
Guessing Di Resta will take over as team leader?

 

How is he overrated?

GP2 Champ.
A1GP Champ.
Scored a Pole position in his debut season
done well (and better than Maldo) against his experianced team mate.

 

Giorgino Pantano won GP2 a couple of seasons back I think...
Took a fluke pole position in his debut season
Scored less than half the points total of a 39 year-old

He has talent, and should not have been replaced by Maldonado, under any circumstances, but he is not going to be an improvement on Sutil.

 

How did he fluke a pole position?

 

Its less to do with him being a bad driver, more to do with the insanely high opinions of him.

He has an impressive lower formula record and yes he did better than Maldonado (not hard)

But for a start Barrichello was experienced, but he was also over the hill and he beat Hulkenberg. The pole position was a freak thing, Down the setup on his car (look at his race).

Now lets look at Di Resta and Sutil (many people have said sutil did not deserve the sack and it should have been hulk-sutil) Di Resta compared much better to sutil in his rookie season than Hulkenberg to Barrichello in my opinion and i would say that Sutil is faster than Rubens. Sutil meanwhile has been consistantly impressive for two years. None of them deserve to make way for him.

Im not saying he's a bad driver. He isn't. Nor did he deserve the sack from williams, but i just dont get the Hype. Maybe he will prove me wrong, but he im my opinion he is not the next big thing.