With yet another infuriating three-week break upon us, I thought this might be a good opportunity to ask what the members think of the rookies so far. There was a fair amount of controversy pre-season as it was felt that several of this year's intake were here for their money/connections rather than on merit. This created some bad feeling which was exacerbated by several popular drivers losing their seats to what were perceived as talentless usurpers. But how do we feel now, seven races into the season? And how fair is it to try to rate drivers who are handicapped not only by their inexperience but also by racing in inferior cars? Personally, it has been no surprise to see the two drivers generally considered to be in F1 on merit, Bianchi and Bottas, proving that they are capable of driving beyond the perceived capabilities of their cars; both have left convincing calling cards for the future. However, both Esteban Gutiérrez and Giedo van der Garde have both impressed me on occasion too; this despite them both having really disastrous races which have been destructive to their fellow competitors, as we saw from VdG only yesterday. On the other hand, he took his Caterham into Q2 in Monaco. Gutiérrez, I think it's fair to say, was generally considered the least deserving of the rookies but an 11th place in Spain ahead of Lewis Hamilton and a general trend of improvement over the course of the season so far makes me think he is better than he appeared. That just leaves Max Chilton and I don't know what to say: he seems like a waste of space to me, I've seen nothing that impresses me but, in common with all the rookies, we don't see much of them anyway except when they're being lapped. So, what do you think? I'd be interested to read your opinions. In summary: Bianchi Bottas Gutiérrez Van der Garde Chilton
Well obviously they all share the worst four cars on the grid but I think that Bianchi is there to stay for good until he retires now, and will eventually end up winning races at least. I feel like Bottas will go the way of Heidfeld, good, consistent gets podiums but never winning. Gutierrez could be like Grosjean, fast but erratic. He got the FL in Spain which was a surprise but I can't see him doing much more and will probably only last a few years maximum. Van der Garde shows his potential at times but again I can't see him lasting too long either. And Chilton is only in because of daddy and he doesnt deserve that spot, even if Bianchi is a god he shouldn't be getting lapped week in week out by him.
took me half an hour to scroll down that! 1)Bianchi - He is a star of the future going through the same process as many other past champions 2)Bottas - to be honest he is average in my opinion but seems to have friends in high places. 3)Chilton - Not as bad as expected but also average (at least not poor) 4)Gutierrez - not great but has actually been improving I think in the last few races but still doesn't deserve a seat in F1 5)VDG - has been great in some races though has been very poor in the rest. Pay driver nothing more
What are you seeing in Chilton that I've missed? As Bando says, Bottas has certainly benefitted from his connections. VdG is really quite old to be a rookie. Gutiérrez seems to have been promoted a bit too early but he seems to be learning. Bianchi really does seem to be a star in the making, as well as being
he is consistant. he doesn't come last all the time and doesn't make many mistakes. hes keeping it clean (Monaco aside) I don't think he is poor like... Nakajima or Karthekayen standards.
Bottas I expected big things before the season started and before Monaco I'd been a little disappointed with his performances. He'd been solid but pretty underwhelming, obviously hindered by the awful car Williams had given him. He'd done alright though, leading Maldonado 3-2 in qualifying for the first five races. Maldonado had generally looked quicker in races though and Bottas was leading the head-to-head thanks mainly to Pastor's many mistakes early on. He really came alive in Monaco though. He'd never driven there before at any level, and Maldonado as a street circuit specialist was a representative benchmark. He beat Pastor in qualifying and the race, and was battling with Hulkenberg until the last lap, and may have scored his first point if he hadn't mistaken Kimi for a frontrunner and pulled over. Montreal qualifying speaks for itself. If anything the race performance underlined that because he clearly had nowhere near the grip and traction of the cars around him in the dry. He defended as well as he could have in the race, and his pace was good compared to his teammate again. He looks the real deal. Bianchi vs Chilton They're their own benchmarks this season, and Bianchi is destroying his team mate. He's better than Chilton in all areas. It's hard to know to what extent Bianchi is brilliant and Chilton is terrible, but I think it's safe to say Bianchi has a future in F1 whereas Chilton isn't good enough. Gutierrez He struggled to begin with but I think he's improved as the season's gone in. It's tough for him, he has an excellent team mate and a terrible car so he's on a hiding to nothing really. He's not going to beat Hulkenberg and the car makes it impossible for either to really catch the eye. Hulk's always going to beat him in the wet so he's screwed if he thinks changeable conditions are going to help him out too. He's pretty average really. Van Der Garde He was shocking yesterday. He's had his moments, but lets face it, the guy's crap.
This but with that last two swapping places.. Chilton maybe "safe" but he ain't quick, so Marussia aren't having to pay shed loads for new wings and what not but with Captain Slow at the helm they aren't going to threaten the midfield! Van der Garde , need I say more? I think Esteban will do OK, he's got speed, a year under his belt, bit more race craft and I think he'll surprise a few. Bottas, loads of potential! Bianchi, if he's not in a decent midfield car next year I'll eat my hat (the one made out of M&Ms!), future WDC/Winner of many races!
Chilton has once or twice kept up with Bianchi though, Esteban with a driver like Hulk. Bottas is going up against a GP2 champion and beating him. Binachi is good but he is only up against Chilton, Esteban and Bottas have it tougher with their team mates.
Bianchi is clearly good, but Chilton is not as bad as some make out. Guitierrez is bad and sliding out of Canada on pit exit (assume nothing mechanical) was just another rookie mistake, from a lot of rookie mistajes that have happened this season. VDG the same. Chilton has kept it clean, consistent (Monaco aside) and whilst slower than Bianchi, is not Karthikeyan slow. Bottas has impressed on occasion, Bianchi looks the best as he does beat Chilton everywhere, but until we see Bianchi against one of the regulars, it is hard to know just how good he is. Do Ferrari have the confidence to put their faith in him next season as Massa's replacement?
Also, I think a lot of the antipathy towards EG was because he 'took' Kobayashi's seat and that Sauber was seen as too good for him but this year's Sauber is awful.
OK, i would say: =1. Bianchi - looks a talented driver, currently serving his time in a poor car, much like Alonso did with the Minardi. I think he'll get a decent seat eventually, but may have to do another season in the Marussia, as the hype around him seems to have died down a little now. =1. Bottas - He's beating Maldo, who's regarded pretty highly, and not making many errors either. Yesterday showed that he can race too, even though he went backwards (the car's fault), he did put up a spirited defence, especially against Sutil 3. Gutierrez. I was really hard on him before, but the last few races, he's starting to catch up to Hulk a little. The problem he has though is that Hulk is always nowhere during the 1st half of the season, and wakes up from race 10 onwards. If he can hang on to Hulk in the 2nd half of the season, he may have a future 4. Van Der Garde. He's erratic, but must have some speed in him, as he can beat Pic, who some of you seem to rate quite highly (i have proof if you wish to deny this). Needs to stop making stupid errors though. 5. Chilton. Nepotism at it's worst. Really slow.
I don't think any of the rookies have been terrible so far. I think there is a lot of antipathy towards Gutierrez, vdG and Chilton due to the perception that they bought their seats but compared to some of the drivers we've had on the grid in recent seasons - and past seasons for that matter - they're excellent. Gutierrez took Kobayashi's seat, but this year's Sauber is awful, it's the only car close to the Williams, his pace in the wet was not bad. van der Garde has shown he does have some pace but there's no way Caterham will get close enough to the midfield to show his true pace until they get some new design ideas. Chilton was running very well in Monaco and that's not the only time he's been beating Bianchi, who is tipped as a future WDC. For the record I think he was unlucky in Monaco to hit Maldo. Note also that he is bringing the car home consistently.
too early to tell for 3 of them tbh, but I'd say Bottas & Bianchi have futures in F1, as to the other 3 all I can say is I'd rather them on the grid than Williams 'young' driver.
Would you venture that any of these three shows any sign of potential or improvement? I always value your opinion, you know that
lol. well Bianchi and Bottas both had pretty much a full season of FP1 in an F1 car, so really they should be a bit better, Chilton, apart from Monaco, has kept himself out of trouble, yeah he's only in the car because of his dad, but who wouldn't take that opportunity (although it annoyed me when he said in an interview he was in it by merit), he's got a couple of seasons to improve. Van der garde, can you teach an old dog new tricks? We shall find out, i think probably not, he's gotta improve a lot if he's gonna stay in F1 another season. Gutierrez, has shown some good pace, but can be erratic, time will tell if he can put in some consistency and I think he'll probably get another crack next year
Until after I made this thread I wasn't aware that VdG is the same age as Lewis. I wonder where his money is coming from; it seems unlikely that they're be investing in his potential.
