I've just been fascinated by this picture ever since it was taken: please log in to view this image Is it impossible to think that these groups help each other with their careers by giving certain favours on track because they're chummy with them on track. Is "trust" between drivers just because they're mates off track and they know they wont risk going over the top? I always considered the (Alonso, Webber, Button, De la Rosa, Di Resta) + (Lewis, Maldonado, Grosjean) group the largest and most influential in F1 who could boss their way around a bit more and make outsiders lives difficult if they crossed their paths on track. Away from the cameras they would have their own conversations on who to go against, for me this picture suggests that Alonso had a lot of people gunning for Vettel that year as Seb just seems to look isolated from that group and sits very far away from them as an option though. It's also interesting for me that Rosberg would rather sit with Perez, Glock, Vettel, Massa, Kamui than be anywhere near his "supposed" childhood BFF Hamilton. But also that Vettel is sitting right next door to Alonso's team mate. Sorry but sociology really interests me
This became one of my favourite F1 photos when I first saw it myself. There's only 19 drivers there though (maybe one to take the photo, although DR originally uploaded it so that'd be a bit weird as he's in the photo), can't really tell who's been excluded though, but I don't think Maldonado, Pic, Petrov or Heikki are in there. Interesting that some of the backmarker guys either didn't get invited or didn't want to come, although some of those strike me as 'lone wolf' types.
Kimi's not there either, is it not a GPDA meet up? If it is that would explain his and others absence. There's always a few drivers who are never part of the GPDA.
Also interesting thing to note: Kamui, Vettel, Glock and Rosberg are wearing the same clothes with a grey jumper and jeans?
Everyone on the right of the table is looking left and everyone on the left is looking right. Two separate clans of drivers me thinks! L: Timo Glock/Kamui Kobayashi/Daniel Ricciardo/Nico Hulkenberg/Dani Clos/Lewis Hamilton/Pastor Maldonado/Jean-Eric Vergne/Fernando Alonso R: Nico Rosberg/Felipe Massa/Sebastian Vettel/Sergio Perez/Bruno Senna/Pedro de la Rosa/Mark Webber/Jenson Button/Paul di Resta/Romain Grosjean GPDA dinner in 2012 Korea.
This is great! Haven't see this pic before, can't really make out who's at the back though, anyone know which order there in?
Ah too right Looks like: Left (front to back): Glock, Kobayashi, Ricciardo, Hulkenberg, No idea, Hamilton, Maldonado, Vergne (maybe), Alonso. Right: Massa, Vettel, Perez, Senna, De La Rosa, Webber, Button, Di Resta, Grosjean. Front: King Rosberg.
Massa is reaching back and copping handful of Vettel's lunch... the naughty boy. I don't sit next to the same person everytime we go out for lunch at work. We all just grab a seat, usually allowing the ladies to seat first, which would explain Brittney's position.
I was thinking about this more and more... and it's clear that driver syndicates DO NOT exist. If they did, they'd at least have had a small win on the Euro-Millions by now. FACT!
Another intersting topic Silver. I think 'syndicates' do exist to a certain extent. You can see it from how some drivers react to others out on the track where it is clear some make it easier for certain drivers to pass than others. Look at what Schuey did to Barrichello at Hungary a few years ago! Would he have done that to anyone else? Whilst they don't go as far as influencing a race result directly, as that would be a charge of disrepute, there is no doubt these buddy groups exist. Some are genuine, but others I think team up for psychological reasons if they both want to get into the skin of another driver. Alonso/Webber v Vettel for instance.
Clos apparently L: Timo Glock/Kamui Kobayashi/Daniel Ricciardo/Nico Hulkenberg/Dani Clos/Lewis Hamilton/Pastor Maldonado/Jean-Eric Vergne/Fernando Alonso R: Nico Rosberg/Felipe Massa/Sebastian Vettel/Sergio Perez/Bruno Senna/Pedro de la Rosa/Mark Webber/Jenson Button/Paul di Resta/Romain Grosjean GPDA dinner in 2012 Korea.
