My name is James but in spanish classes was told its translation was Jaime so not too hard here either!

The same inititals as James Allen...

What I'm saying is that Jaime's name will fall into some common usage with the English commentators.

I reckon that will be Hay-me etc.

Alguersuari actually looks older than Massa in the TV interviews we just saw.

I guess Jaime's ultimate pace was hidden by that car failure or whatever it was at the end.

Bit unlucky, but thats F1. Wonder what they will do for the start. Personally I would start him from the pitlane. It's more important that he gets track time, so not worth the risk of him becoming a victim in any first corner incidents.

Indeed that would be a good idea, also allowing him to make more modifications.

downside is that he won't get the feel of a F1 race start and 1st corner "fight"

I don't agree I'm afraid.

He's playing with the big boys now, and that includes taking the race start.

Besides, he could pick up lots of places if he plays his cards right.

Did they say he did 111 laps on Friday? I'll be amazed if he doesn't suffer neck problems tomorrow - what an introduction to F1!

He's done 102 laps across three practice sessions, he did 82 yesterday.

Curiously though, James in Spanish also means "Santiago".

And in fact today is both Saint Santiago and Saint Jaime ;)

Anyway, JA's early stop was down o the Ferrari engine problems.

A pity, as he was on the way to set a good lap

ahhh. There is no such Saint Santiago. Santiago was not a saint and it is called only Santiago. You can use San Jaime or San Jacobo but not San Santiago.

BTW, Jaime, Santiago and Jacobo are the same name. In other languages this name is also the same as James, Jacques, Jakob, Iacopo, ...

I hope that from tomorrow on the topic on JA name finishes and we speak about his driving performances.

I was trying to put it simple, even if not strictly accurate. You are right that there is no Saint Santiago, as in fact the origin of Santiago are San Yago ;) (San=Saint)
Whats more, Saint Jaime as such doesn't exit either, while the Catalan version Jaume does.

But I was trying to say it directly, as most people here aren't spanish and would get messed up.

And yes, it also equals to Jacques (Villeneuve?) in French, Giacomo (Casanova?) in Italian, etc.

Anyway, back to the topic, a pity that JA suffered the engine problem. He would have been 20th anyway most likely or at least passed Q1, but would have certainly got much closer to Buemi's time.

Will be interesting to see his drive tomorrow, and I expect him to take the first corner calmly, just like he has done and said all weekend, and simply try to bring the car home, doing some progression in pushing he car further to its limits...and that his neck will resist too. Good side is that it won't be too hot tomorrow.

What are you expectations for his final position?

The irony is, with all the concern about Felipe Massa's health, all the frenzy over Alguersuari not being up to the task have disappeared and Jaime can have a nice quiet build up to his first race.

The irony is he showed a very mature drive, without making amateurish mistakes, and ended ahead of his teammate.

Yep, he was mighty impressive today.

Consistent and not all that slow.

Will be keen to see where he ended up in terms of the fastest race laps.

Interestingly both Jaime and Buemi and Raikkonen did their personal best fastest laps on the final lap of the race.

Must admit I was a bit skeptical but Alguersuari impressed me today - even beat his teammate.

I'm pleasantly surprised. Thought he'd be a lot slower.

I think Buemi had some sort of problem though.

He certainly had a problem at turn 2...

Alguersuari says he's happy with debut, and so he should be:

"I am very happy to have finished, but the last five laps were very difficult from the physical point of view," said Alguersuari. "I found it hard to keep the car on the pace, but I am very satisfied.

"P15 is not so bad, but the main objective was to complete the 70 laps, with no mistakes, maintaining my pace. I have learned a lot but I have to say there are some aspects of F1 which made me think, 'shit this is tough."

I actually think the title of this thread is very accurate now. Toro Rosso had better think twice - they may just have a future champion on their hands.

Let's face it, the expectations for him were so low today that as long as he didn't bin the car, or drive into Hamilton while being lapped, or be three seconds off his team mate people were going to be impressed ;)

He's a talented kid (if inexperienced), so those were never going to happen. It's what happens in a few races time, when people start expecting him to beat Buemi that matters.

anything is better than Bourdais, et voila. there we have it.

Yes, you can't ask for fairer than that. A very decent debut.

I must say iam now a fully paid member of jemie argasuaari fan club. He even managed to beat Buemi. Woo hoo!!

Really pleased his promising career doesn't appear to have suffered such a risky introduction - good drive and maybe there was something in the comment by the frankly ridiculous Holly Samos - "mature head on young shoulders"!

Helps put things into perspective.

Still, well done by Jaime.

Fair enough - the little that we saw of the STR's during the race included pics of Buemi losing it at turn 2.

Still a decent debut for Jaime tho - debatable whether Bourdais would have done any better...

After this excelent start from a 19 year who had never made a turn with a F1 car before Hungarian FP1, I must say:

Topic creator better think twice about Alguersuari

It is a bit of a shame the Massa story has blown Alguersuari's achievement into the background.

Normally Monday would be spent discussion how strong he'd been.

I feel somewhat smug in the knowledge that some of us said he wouldn't be as bad as some of the doomsayers were claiming.

Thought he had an excellent weekend and was particularly impressive in the race, trailing the likes of Fisichella and not letting him out of his sights.

I feel even more smug about knowing how to say his name.

And for being able to correctly spell the name of the team he drives for as well?

I feel smug for still holding my belief that Brendon Hartley is the quicker of the two.

Whether Hartley would have the discipline to put together such a quick and controlled weekend as Alguersuari did in Hungary is another question.

Sure hope we get to find out this season.

Seems Tost wants Alguersuari in Q2 by Monza
http://www.planet-f1.com/story/0,18954,3213_5459986,00.html

Turning up the pressure already.

Probably not a bad thing, as it seems Alguersuari appears to respond well it.

I agree with you that Hartley is the quicker of the two.

I'd give Alguersuari the edge on discipline. (I'd love to see Hartley at Monaco, he's in a class of his own on street circuits)

Can't see Red Bull giving him a chance unless JA really screws up and Hartley wins most of his Euro F3 races, both unlikely.

The way things are going for Hartley, Buemi will be sacked in the middle of next year and replaced by Ricciardo.

I saw Hartley driving Monaco in World Series by Renault this year and he was awesome.

Second quickest in first practice, first time he'd seen the place.

Was on for a top qualifying spot, but clipped the barrier and damaged the car and I think therein lies the problem...

How certain are we that he has said exactly what the reporter said after all reporters are known to change meanings.
I could just as easily see Tost saying we expect he will be making it into Q2 by Monza and the reporter writing Toro Rosso team boss Franz Tost has given Jaime Alguersuari another two races before the rookie is expected to fight for a place in Q2.
Both in the end say the same thing but also come across very differntly.

I see Alguersuari has managed to bag himself pole position in FR3.5 in the Algarve today, almost 0.5s quicker than second place Oliver Turvey. I reckon he must be buzzing with confidence from his F1 outing last weekend.

Other Red Bull Junior Programme driver, Aussie Daniel Ricciardo, lines up last after an engine failure. I reckon he's one to watch out for in the future as well, has impressed me the times I've seen him in action.

Is Ricciardo replacing Hartley?

Yup, he is with Hartley on F3 Euro Series duties.

Interesting quote from Tech 1 boss Simon Adabie:

Oh alright, I'll do it.

Red Bull should have kept Hartley in the Renault 3.5 Series and used him part time in the Formula 3 Euro Series where his performance is fast turning into a joke. Earl Bamber would be keen for a one off drive with Tech 1, unfortunately he hasn't got any money. I believe Ricciardo has also been confirmed for the final round of the R3.5 Series as well.

I think Carlin were keen on having him in F3 Euro cuz they are still kinda new to that series and they want a driver they know and is proven to lead the team. Unfortunately, F3 Euro competition is stiffer than British F3 nowadays and Hartley's lack of consistency is just making matters worse. Haven't been watching the coverage this weekend, but he's only qualified 20th, and finished 22nd in Race 1, while falling to 11th in the standings.

And really, he wasn't doing much better in WSbR. He was 17th or something in the standings before he had to switch to focus on F3 Euro.

Anyways, it looks like Algueruari is really getting a boost in confidence, as he compliments his pole position with 3rd in the Sprint, and a win in the Feature. He's now 3rd in the standings.

While I totally agree with you, I was thinking from the driver's point of view rather than the teams. Hartley was showing a constant improvement in Renault 3.5, something he has been unable to do in the Formula 3 Euro Series. While I still rate Brendon as the quicker driver, Jamie is the better all round package and his performances are going from strength to strength. Ricciardo seems to be the Red Bull driver on the move now and the likely winner of this year's British F3 Championship. I'll be very surprised to see Hartley supported by Red Bull next year, I guess he could always join his mates in the Aussie V8 Series or even Indy Lights.

There's still hope for him. Rob Wickens went through the same sort of struggles last year doing the exact same double-duty as Hartley is doing, and he's still backed by Red Bull. He was just as inconsistent and mistake-prone. Though, to be fair, Wickens did at least win races in both series.

But when Hartley is on form he is still far quicker than Alguersuari IMO.

You only had to witness Alguersuari's tantrum on the podium after race one at the Donginton final last year to know that.

It was awful.

Hmm? Do tell.

I remember Brendon pushed Jamie all the way in race one to finish under a second behind.
Race two went all Jamie's way, Brendon picked up a puncture and Oliver was back in 20th on lap one.
Luck seems to go Jamie's way when it really matters.

I watched the race one podium at Donington last year.

Alguersuari won, with Hartley second.

Alguersuari was being presented with his trophy when Hartley popped his champagne bottle and began spraying it around.

With a face like thunder, Alguersuari spun around and got stuck in to Hartley for doing this.

As the came off the podium this conversation was still ongoing before Alguersuari stalked off.

It was quite a full on incident and I was surprised it never came up in any of the reports.

I'm sure it stemmed from more than a champagne dispute!

There is a heap of tension between those guys.

Both were really close on track, and both racing to impress Red Bull and take a step towards the future.

But you can't fault Alguersuari. He's the one who is doing the business now.