1704 replies to this topic

[Lukin83]

Sadly, it looks like Kubica is out of F1 for a while. Discussions on who should replace him popped out in about 4 different threads already, so I guess it deserves its own.

Lotus Renault has no less than five reserve drivers, the first one in line to the seat is Bruno Senna. Would that be right choice? For a couple of races? Perhaps yes. For car development period? Nope. For a longer period? Certainly not the safest option.

Personally I'd go with someone more experienced, and it looks like this is the direction LRGP is going. According to Laia Ferrer, a Spanish F1 journalist Heidfeld and De La Rosa have been contacted.
http://twitter.com/#!/laiaferrer/statu...318407482482688

Pedro de la Rosa y Nick Heidfeld posibles sustitutos de Robert Kubica, Renault ya se ha puesto en contacto con ellos!!
42 minutes ago

Edited by Lukin83, 06 February 2011 - 19:34.

[Group B]

May I suggest you add a poll?

[racingENGINE]

May I suggest you add a poll?

GOOD SUGGESTION.. my vote is on Kimi Raikkonen!

[Andrew Hope]

If he's going to miss 1-10 races - Bring in Heidfeld/de la Rosa/Fisichella/etc. Someone, in short, who can develop the car.

If he's going to miss the season - Give it to Senna for a few races, and if he isn't impressive, give it to Grosjean.

Both a return for Bahrain and this being a career ending injury seem fairly unlikely by latest news reports, but if he is out indefinitely and for one season at least, then it might be worth looking at someone like Sutil or Glock.

[Disgrace]

Senna. He is the contracted third driver. If Renault don't promote him, he may as well quit and would call into question why they bothered hiring him in the first place.

I'd rather they promote Grosjean but he cannot afford another career-destroying post crash-gate 2009 experience. He is also doing GP2, and should hopefully contend for the title which will be better for him in the long term.

The rest of the drivers we saw at the team launch are Gravity pay-drivers. The likes of Ho-Ping Tung have no place near F1.

Edited by Disgrace, 06 February 2011 - 19:28.

[Ruf]

GOOD SUGGESTION.. my vote is on Kimi Raikkonen!

Juan Pablo Montoya! Jacques Villeneuve!











What! Someone will eventually say that...

[Peter Perfect]

Juan Pablo Montoya! Jacques Villeneuve!











What! Someone will eventually say that...

I was going to suggest Jos myself...

[ivand911]

They sign Senna as reserve driver, not long term or permanent driver. He know he didn't have chances in this team for next two years. My pick in Heidfeld. He was right on the pace with Sauber.

Edited by ivand911, 06 February 2011 - 19:31.

[BiH]

should be poll


if kubica is out few races Senna obviously

more then few races Heidfeld or possibly Hulkenberg?

[Lukin83]

May I suggest you add a poll?

Done.

[ryan86]

Senna. He is the contracted third driver. If Renault don't promote him, he may as well quit and would call into question why they bothered hiring him in the first place.

I'd rather they promote Grosjean but he cannot afford another career-destroying post crash-gate 2009 experience. He is also doing GP2, and should hopefully contend for the title which will be better for him in the long term.

The rest of the drivers we saw at the team launch are Gravity pay-drivers. The likes of Ho-Ping Tung have no place near F1.

If they think Robert will be ready for the race after Monaco, say, I'd say no problems with putting Senna in, but if over the next few days and weeks the news turns to Kubica's injuries being either permanent or longer-term, for example, all of 2011, then Renault aren't looking to temporarily fill a hole with a third driver, they may be looking at having to find a replacement lead driver and you're taking a risk if you make that driver Petrov or Senna, because they are a mixture of not ready and probably not good enough.

[H0R]

Nigel Mansell

[TurboKeb]

Senna for me, anyways it's not for the entire season.. just a couple of GP's.
And we could see what he could do in a decent car!

Edited by TurboKeb, 06 February 2011 - 19:34.

[BiH]

Done.

double poll

since renault have said that senna will fill in the role for now and might hire someone if he is out longer

[Lennat]

Heidfeld appears to be the obvious choice. Sure, Bruno is contracted as reserve, but if the team want to unlock the potential of that possibly very descent car they have to get a proper driver. A Bruno and Petrov pairing would be a joke.

[Francesc]

They sign Senna as reserve driver, not long term or permanent driver. He know he didn't have chances in this team for next two years. My pick in Heidfeld. He was right on the pace with Sauber.

De la Rosa wasn't any worse.

[phil1993]

Bring back Piquet

[Mandzipop]

Give Senna a chance for a couple of races and see what happens. If he is useless get in Heidfeld.

[artista]

Bring back Piquet

Which one of them?

[One]

Bring back Piquet

Kimi

[Paolo]

Heidfeld. He was close to Kubica when paired together. Senna has not enough experience, he would be a suitable replacement for Petrov, not for RK.

[speedmaster]

As a Brazilian I would like to see Senna driving for few races so that we may judge him better... but surely I want Robert to have a full recovery and back to racing in a few races. He is a heck of a good driver and deserve a better luck. So, Senna for some races that will shut his career off or show to the grid that it was the car that sucked...

Get well soon Robert !!!!

[racingENGINE]

their name from left
- Jan Charouz (reserve driver)
- Bruno Senna (reserve driver)
- Gerard Lopez (GENII Capital CEO, current 100% shareholder of LOTUS RENAULT GP)
- Eric Boullier (Team Principal)
- Romain Grosjean (reserve driver)
- Ho-Pin Tung (reserve driver)
- Robert Kubica (first team driver)
- Vitaly Petrov (first team driver .. not in the picture, busy with something else)
- Fairuz Fauzy (reserve driver.. not in this launch event because need to attend GP2 Asia Series official test in Abu Dhabi – Yas Marina Circuit)

[Ellios]

I'd like to see Hulkenberg - accepted he is contracted FI

I thought Senna was terrible last season, even though he was driving a mid range gp2 car.....

so I'll vote for quick Nick - vast experience required at time like this over young and unproven....


Can't see Kimi coming back but that would be awesome

Edited by Ellios, 06 February 2011 - 19:38.

[phil1993]

Which one of them?

Both of them

[Disgrace]

... they may be looking at having to find a replacement lead driver and you're taking a risk if you make that driver Petrov or Senna, because they are a mixture of not ready and probably not good enough.

This is why we have to give them a chance. Inexperienced pairings have paid off before: Jordan in 1997, Benetton in 1998 and Sauber in 2001 spring to mind.

[Group B]

Senna for me, anyways it's not for the entire season.. just a couple of GP's.

Er, where'd you hear that?

[Ruf]

Bring back Piquet

For some reasons I suspect that Piquet (either of them) isn't really on top of Renault's choice lists. Actually not on the list at all.....

[phil1993]

+ is it just me or does Bouiller look like a man who is constantly slightly pissed off?

[PayasYouRace]

Senna. He is the contracted third driver. If Renault don't promote him, he may as well quit and would call into question why they bothered hiring him in the first place.

That's pretty much how I think it should be. The whole point of being a reserve driver is that you step in when one of the main drivers in unable to race. Exactly the situation we have. For it to be anyone outside their reserve driver group would be a slap in the face.

[Lotusseven]

http://twitter.com/B...072198697000960

[onewingedangel]

Put Senna and Grosjean in the car during testing and see how they fare.

If Senna impressed Honda enough to consider him over Barrichello for 2009, last years performance in the Hispania may have been a case of the car doing him no favours.

And Grosjean, I feel, has the potential to be a top guy - and in retrospect may have benefitted from finishing the 2009 season in GP2 rather than taking the second seat in the Renault which again did him no favours.

I think either man has the potential to really surprise, but on balance, it may be better for Senna to have the first shot, and for Grosjean to take the year to really concentrate on winning the GP2 title.

[Tsarwash]

I suspect that Kubica is out for the season at the very least. Hulkenberg would be a good choice for a short term replacement, but for longer they need somebody with more experience. Not Heidfeld, he is not fast enough. Kimi would be a perfect and suitable long term replacement but I really do not think that he is bothered about F1 in the slightest and would want to return. Maybe they could wrench Jamie Alguersuari from Torro Rosso. He would be good for the team.

[NSV]

First of all, thats sucks for Rob big time. Hope he'll get well soon. Back to the topic at hands, the heart says give Grosjean a try, the mind says Heidfeld.

[CaptainJackSparrow]

Give Senna the ride until RK is back, RK is out for a few races to up to 6 months, so Bruno, here is your chance to show your stuff. The r31 is one hell of a ride to get.

[Fastcake]

I would give Senna the seat. He deserves a shot in a decent car.

[RiDE]

Senna... if he turns out like Badoer then put Heidfeld in. I don't think Kimi would drive for them after Renault went public with their private talks.

Edited by RiDE, 06 February 2011 - 19:43.

[ryan86]

This is why we have to give them a chance. Inexperienced pairings have paid off before: Jordan in 1997, Benetton in 1998 and Sauber in 2001 spring to mind.

I disagree about Benetton 1998 working. Wurz's career fizzled out mid-season, as did the team and whilst Fisi went on to have a good career, the team kept on getting worse with Fisi/Wurz at the wheel until it started to turn around 2002.

[Ruf]

I suspect that Kubica is out for the season at the very least. Hulkenberg would be a good choice for a short term replacement, but for longer they need somebody with more experience. Not Heidfeld, he is not fast enough. Kimi would be a perfect and suitable long term replacement but I really do not think that he is bothered about F1 in the slightest and would want to return. Maybe they could wrench Jamie Alguersuari from Torro Rosso. He would be good for the team.

I would agree with your analisys but Jaime isn't really an old salt either...

Kimi couldn't be bothered at all, even if he could be bothered to return to F1. I can easily see Coulthard more beneficial to the team than him, since we're talking about experience and team building.

[TooTroublesome]

Coulthard could commentate for the BBC from the cockpit?

[Disgrace]

- Jan Charouz (reserve driver)

Not good enough: did not prove anything in F3.5 last year, and was part of the hapless Auto GP field that was owned by Grosjean.

- Bruno Senna (reserve driver)

Contracted third driver, who possibly hasn't been given a proper chance even if he didn't trash his team-mates last season, which he really should have.

- Romain Grosjean (reserve driver)

Contracted third driver, who definitely hasn't been given a proper shot after coming into a demoralised post-Crashgate team in a useless Renault that hasn't been developed for months. Destroyed the Auto GP field after missing an entire third of the season, contended for GP2 championship, a GP2 Asia champion.

- Ho-Pin Tung (reserve driver)

Pay-driver, useless in GP2 last year if at all relevant.

- Fairuz Fauzy

Pay-driver, only there due to the Proton connections to Lotus and really hasn't much of a place in F1. Hasn't done much since A1GP folded.

Take your pick!

[TurboKeb]

Er, where'd you hear that?

Sorry. I'll correct it. "I PERSONALLY expect Robert's recovery to be done after a couple GP's"
Happy now?

Edited by TurboKeb, 06 February 2011 - 19:49.

[jals99]

According to F1today.nl, Fisico has the best chances.
But as I understand, it is just their opinion.

Edited by jals99, 06 February 2011 - 19:47.

[denthierry]

I must admit, i'd love to see what Senna is worth in a decent car... but i fear this is too much too quick for him.
Then i must admit i'd love to see Kimi return too, but given how things went not so long ago between him and Renault management, i fear this won't happen.
So, if none of these two... then who? None of the other choices presented have ever caught my heart... :-/

[Tombstone]

C'mon Bernie, have another crack at driving in F1.

http://en.wikipedia....ionship_results

Edited by Tombstone, 06 February 2011 - 19:49.

[Coral]

Bruno Senna should be given his chance. I would love to see what he could do in a decent car. If after a few races he is not good enough then he can be replaced, though not with Heidfeld, he has had his chance.

[Fortymark]

I have a "Senna boner" since I was a kid and I really wished Bruno would be something special too
but sadly he seems like a journeyman. They way CK blew him away speedwise jumping into that car
(after a few years away from the sport) convinced me that Bruno isn´t a top driver.

Also, when Ross Brawn choised a driver to resque his own team/money he toke Rubens over Bruno
in 2009.

[racingENGINE]

I suspect that Kubica is out for the season at the very least. Hulkenberg would be a good choice for a short term replacement, but for longer they need somebody with more experience. Not Heidfeld, he is not fast enough. Kimi would be a perfect and suitable long term replacement but I really do not think that he is bothered about F1 in the slightest and would want to return. Maybe they could wrench Jamie Alguersuari from Torro Rosso. He would be good for the team.

kimi raikkonen!

[Zava]

I can't see a reason why they couldn't give it to Senna. if Kubica fell out for a short time, then it should be the reserve driver's role, and if he is long term out, then I think it would be reasonable only if they found one who is better than him BY FAR, if they find someone who's better only by an inch (maybe even has a place as a test driver somewhere) then there wouldbe no point to abandon Senna.
let's see all candidates!

Heidfeld: he's a good driver, but nothing extra, I don't see him turning the world upside-down as Kubi would do. plus, Robert would get a heart attack when they tell him, that his (so far top3 looking) car is given to his favourite teammate

Hulkenberg: he's not much more experienced than Senna, plus he's got an established place at force india (rumoured that his contract contains a 2012 race seat) imagine if Kubi comes back mid-season, and Hulkenberg's left with no team, no seat for next year. is it worth him?

de la Rosa: seriously. his story is over.

Grosjean: behind Senna on the list, smaller and not as fresh F1 experience, etc

Raikkönen: although him replacing Kubica would make me (and a lots of Kimi-Kubi fans) the most happy from this list(but still sad about Robert, before you come at me!), I just can't see it happening:
1, around september, when renault used Kimi for some press presence, he really got pissed with them
2, I think he invested a lot in Ice1 Racing, I don't think he'd leave that in vain.
3, he now hates f1, and would only think about coming back if they'd offer him Webber's place?

Fisichella: it is true that he drove for renault in 05-07, but I think his f1 career is also done, I can't see renault picking him over Senna.


so no, either of those, I voted for Senna.

[CaptainJackSparrow]

The thing is, the r31 could be a *really* good car, one of the contenders this year. Kubica was fastest in Valencia and whilst some of that is RK, whoever ends up keeping the seat warm for Robert could have a real chance to sell themselves in F1, because that's a car that can make the podium and even win potentially.