I'm a huge Montoya fan myself and, for me, he's the great Should've-been. And of course, based on the evidence we have, JPM is more talented than Maldo. But, I'm vary wary of making too many comparisons based on their coming from neighbouring countries. Temperamentally, I see similarities based not so much on coming from a similar environmental background but more on a typical Latin tendency to react explosively in an instant. No, I don't think Maldo would be missed as Montoya was (or still is), I doubt I'd miss him as much myself. However, I'd like to see Pastor have the chance to develop and mature in a competitive car because I believe he has more to offer. In some ways the Maldo/Montoya comparisons are unfair: JPM arrived with a positive reputation at a time when many F1 fans were desperate for someone exciting to watch, someone who could perhaps end the tedium of Schumacher domination; in the end, of course, that man was Alonso but JPM was a fans' driver and, in a way, his failure (if one can call it that) fed into the Montoya mythology. Maldonado, on the other hand, was tainted as soon as he arrived, by money and the Brundle line of punditry which said that he was merely a pay driver, lucky to be on the grid, and demonstrably inferior to the great Latin hope of that moment, Sergio Pérez. In other words, we were media-primed to rate Montoya and to dismiss Maldonado.
This is true to some degree, but Monty's impact was effective immediately where'as Maldo's could be considered less so, to the point of almost being dismissed, by me anyway, per-hap's I am being too hasty, surely not.
JPM was a legend. Loved his driving style and always pushed Schumi when he had a chance. [video=youtube;eqr9U4u2j7w]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqr9U4u2j7w[/video] One of my favourite JPM moments.
No pies for the Renault powered guys! Renault warned Formula 1 rivals 2014 weight limit would be an issue
Massa has confirmed he is in talks with Williams. Not sure that's the best place for him as they hardly have a history of being luvvy-duvvy to their drivers and Massa does seem to be the kind of guy who likes a reassuring arm around him.
Brundle said in Suzuka that the Hulkenburg-Lotus deal was done but today he says Hulkenberg is back on the market. So maybe the talks with Quantum failed or maybe Brundle realised his sources were incorrect - did Eddie get it right again? If Hulkenburg isn't going to Lotus, that would open the door for Massa or Maldonado. Today there is a rumour that Massa has signed a five year contract with Williams. Five years is hard to believe, but I could see Maldonado going to Lotus and Massa at Williams.
Never 5 years! Maybe a 2/3 year deal with an option at best, but I struggle to see how they could afford him, especially of they are to lose Maldando.
deadwood team signs deadwood driver with ridiculous contract length... too much deadwood clumping together... Dam it!
Sounds like Alonso is unhappy with the McLaren rumours: "We are second (in both drivers and constructors championship), which half of the grid would not even dream of. There have been other teams. like McLaren, who do not dream nor arrive at the podium." http://www.lasprovincias.es/formula...o-felicidad-equipo-absoluta-201310241641.html
Kevin Magnussen believes he is ready to drive for a top team Suppose it makes a change from Sirotkin saying he's not ready...
I would love this to be true, not that I've anything against Serotonin but I read somewhere that he's not ready.
Sirotkin recently gave an interview saying he felt more ready for F1 now... I'm not entirely sure where people are getting these other interviews from
http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2013/10/15141.html Q: Lotus is now the most attractive drive available for 2014. For you, who is for you the next best thing to Kimi? EB: Grosjean. Q: We are talking about the vacant seat. Grosjean is already on your payroll. EB: Nico Hulkenberg. Q: Will you sign him? EB: I would love to. This is the recommendation that I gave to my board. He also says that Hulkenberg's size would only be a problem if you had a problem with the weight of the car, which he doesn't believe Lotus will. Perhaps it's just Mercedes with the bulky engine.
Nico is very very obviously the best candidate for the job, they'd have a hard time denying that. Still lets see if they're able to resist Pastor's millions before we get too far ahead of ourselves.
Really looking forward to next season now this one's pretty much done. I think there'll be a lot more race winners next season and that form will change a lot more. Hopefully Hulkenberg will be confirmed as a Lotus driver in the next few days, I think I'm as excited by the prospect of Hulk vs Grosjean as I am Kimi vs Alonso. McLaren will be back near the front next season I think.
Pastor Maldonado and his PDVSA backers are in the final stages of talks that will secure their exit from Williams, and clear the way for Felipe Massa's arrival. After weeks of speculation about the future of the Venezuelan driver, who has endured a troubled time at Williams this year, high-level sources have revealed he will be racing elsewhere next season. Although it is understood a deal to leave Williams has not yet been finalised, it is anticipated that matters will be resolved imminently to allow Maldonado to sign a contract elsewhere. Maldonado has already held 2014 talks with Lotus, Sauber and Force India, with the £20 million per season backing of the oil company a major attraction. His hopes of a Lotus deal rest on the team not pulling off an investment deal with Quantum Motorsports as that tie-up would provide the outfit with the financial means to secure its preferred option of Nico Hulkenberg. The other teams are in no rush to finalise their plans, and are now awaiting confirmation from Maldonado that he is a free agent. Although PDVSA's original five-year deal with Williams runs until the end of 2015, it is understood there will likely be an agreement reached to ensure the team is compensated for the change of plans. I'd like to see Hulk at Lotus so I hope they can pull off the Quantum Motorsports deal. I do rate Maldonado to a certain degree and I hope he can get into Force India or Sauber, both of who could do with the money. As for Massa... he showed yesterday that he has something left in him, I hope he can come away from Ferrari and prove himself again. He's been a broken man for years but he can still come back from it!
