59 replies to this topic

[mprtc]

Despite Timo Glock leaving Marussia so that the team could replace the German with a driver with a strong financial backing , the line-up remains uncertain.

The Russian-backed team had signed Luiz Razia for 2013 but the Brazilian did not feature during the second pre-season test amid speculation that his sponsor’s money had not materialized.

"Word on the street is that all is not well between Marussia and Razia and that another driver may end up racing for them," BBC's Andrew Benson mentioned on his Twitter page.

Speed Week reported that if Razia’s sponsors fail to pay, Narain Karthikeyan could be considered as a possibility for a replacement.

Tata, Karthikeyan’s long-time sponsor, had upped the Indian driver’s budget for 2013 with the 36-year-old even linked to a Force India seat this season as a result.


http://www.gptoday.c...w_in_the_frame/

[DutchQuicksilver]

Petrov seems more likely really.

[gm914]

[eronrules]

karthikeyan is turning into the new Barrichelo, even the empty seat beside me in the bus is linked to him.

[Vesuvius]

Apparently you guys don't know the strongest rumour is Kovalainen and he will likely test already saturday...

[mprtc]

if this becomes true then karthikeyan can easily beat his team mate

Edited by mprtc, 28 February 2013 - 17:37.

[DutchQuicksilver]

Apparently you guys don't know the strongest rumour is Kovalainen and he will likely test already saturday...

Why would he be? He has no sponsors and the reason Razia is let go is because of finances.

[300KPh]

Kovalinen for the seat , but then marussia need a pay driver

[Seanspeed]

if this becomes true then karthikeyan can easily beat his team mate

Wouldn't be so sure.

Chilton may not be anything special, but he's not a complete pushover, either.

[Longtimefan]

Oh no, not Narain.

Talk about scraping the bottom of the barrel.

[Sin]

Petrov please ...

[Disgrace]

Petrov seems more likely really.

Why? Caterham surely would have kept him if he still had money.

[Anderis]

Petrov seems more likely really.

If Petrov has enough money, he would've already secured a Caterham seat, I believe.

Edited by Anderis, 28 February 2013 - 18:57.

[lambylamby]

Oh dear mother of....... Karthikeyan better not be true or I'm getting into my car and driving to Banbury, and personally burning his fitted seat.

[Thrasymakus]

What I'm reading from this is: Someone said money, so someone said Karthikeyan, and that's enough to make it serious.

There's no way the cucumber is higher up the list than Heikki, Petrov and Bianchi.

[Anderis]

There's no way the cucumber is higher up the list than Heikki, Petrov and Bianchi.

Really? Heikki and Petrov didn't even manage to secure Caterham seat. They just don't have (enough) money. Karthikeyan apparently has. If Marussia were to have a solid driver that not necessarily has large backing this season, they would've kept Glock.

[Thrasymakus]

Really. Heikki would probably drive for free just to stay in the sport, which makes him a serious contender as a short term replacement at least, Petrov will please the Russian owners, and is known to have some (maybe not much, but some...) backing and experience, and Bianchi could come with sweeteners from Ferrari (but that's a bit of an unknown). Marussia are looking for a cheaper engine supply after all.

Plus I didn't see Razia as having as much cash to splash around as Karthikeyan, even before this all kicked off. Yet Marussia still picked him over Narain.

[Fastcake]

If Petrov has enough money, he would've already secured a Caterham seat, I believe.

As long as Petrov has some money, the fact that he is Russian could sway the owners - providing they care about nationality. I suspect that Petrov was simply outbid by Pic and van der Garde for the Caterham seat, as I don't believe he totally lost his backing. A competent driver anyway, far more than Karthikeyan ever was even at his prime.

[Alx09]

Needs more caps lock, you are not yelling loud enough.

Edited by Alx09, 28 February 2013 - 19:36.

[TheUltimateWorrier]

Why would he be? He has no sponsors and the reason Razia is let go is because of finances.

There were rumours last month Whitmarsh made a late attempt to get Kovalainen into Marussia (presumably with financial and other assistance from McLaren) but they were too late as Razia's camp close to finalizing. Perhaps with Razia's sponsors not delivering, McLaren really are serious about helping Heikki out.

if this becomes true then karthikeyan can easily beat his team mate

I'd love to see the Cucumber at Marussia, as it would give Chilton an easy teammate to help him look phenomenal .

[Jimisgod]

Karthikeyan is like a smell that won't go away how big is his moneypot?

[Kingshark]

Karthikeyan is like a smell that won't go away how big is his moneypot?

How big is Tata?

[NotSoSilentBob]

I hope Narain gets the seat.

[LHKEAT]

i personally believe their nation local hero, Petrov, will be in team may be after Heikki drive the 1st few races due to Razia sponsors money issue until there are new pay driver come in or team recieve Razia sponsor money. Do not forget Petrov have few personal sponsors from his country land and with high new potential sponsors deal to gain in near future for Marrusia, the Russian own team. Plus 2014 new Russian race debut surely they need a Russian driver in a Russian team.

So i would be surprise if Petrov land the final seat in the grid in the end. Currently more likely Heikki would be driving for them in 1st few races with aid from Mclaren effort until Marrusia get big fish.

[ensign14]

Oh dear mother of....... Karthikeyan better not be true or I'm getting into my car and driving to Banbury, and personally burning his fitted seat.

I have visions of Karthikeyan reading this post and trying to catch you up. And failing.

[mprtc]

I have visions of Karthikeyan reading this post and trying to catch you up. And failing.

waiting eagerly to see karthikeyan ending chilton's career

[HistoryFan]

If Razia is out of the seat before driving his first Grand Prix - was there a similar case in the past?
I know Inoue should drive for Minardi and was out before Melbourne, or Trulli last year - but they both drove some F1 races...

[ryan86]

Eric Helary and Emannuel Collard I believe were signed by Larrousse for 1995, but the team went tits up before they got to drive.

[jals99]

Eric Helary and Emannuel Collard I believe were signed by Larrousse for 1995, but the team went tits up before they got to drive.

Comas was also signed

[Rosberg]

A quick update via Sky Sports News' Rachel Brookes on the situation at Marussia:

"We've been told that we may hear something from Marussia later today, and that will either be confirmation that Luiz Razia is in the seat for Melbourne or, as we have been hearing, that another driver may take that seat - such as Heikki Kovalainen."

Lets see if anything will be announced.

[ensign14]

One of the signed drivers at Larrousse was Christophe Bouchut. I don't remember the other driver not being an F1 newbug so I assume he was alongside Comas.

Others who lost their seat pre-drive: Ricardo Londono, Katsumi Yamamoto and Akihiko Nakaya (all missed out on superlicence), Oliver Gavin (paperwork balls-up), Karl Oppitzhauser (entry to Austrian GP refused), Masami Kuwashima (gazumped by Binder, but at least he managed to take part in a practice session).

Edited by ensign14, 01 March 2013 - 10:48.

[Rosberg]

Karthikeyan is like a smell that won't go away how big is his moneypot?

A bad smell more like ;)

[mprtc]

A bad smell more like ;)

that smell is far better than kovalainen's smelll or chilton's smell .... you just cannot stand those smell

[Rosberg]

I can't stand the money smell, that's why Chilton stinks!

[Wingcommander]

I can't stand the money smell

And yet you watch F1?

[Rosberg]

And yet you watch F1?

Please lighten up, it's a joke..

[Petroltorque]

waiting eagerly to see karthikeyan ending chilton's career

What makes you think Karthikeyan is under consideration? His career in F1 is over. The need for Marussia to scrape the bottom of the barrel by choosing money over talent has partly lessened now that they will get Column 3 payments.
That's not to say that they don't need a monied driver but they should look at candidates like Valsechi or Bianchi. Choosing Karthikeyan would be akin to a sick dog returning to its vomit.

Edited by Petroltorque, 01 March 2013 - 11:23.

[Rosberg]

What makes you think Karthikeyan is under consideration? His career in F1 is over. The need for Marussia to scrape the bottom of the barrel by choosing money over talent has partly lessened now that they will get Column 3 payments.
That's not to say that they don't need a monied driver but they should look at candidates like Valsechi or Bianchi. Choosing Karthikeyan would be akin to a sick dog returning to its vomit

Would love to see Davide Valsecchi racing in F1 but what about Jerome D'Ambrosio? It's a long shot but would also be good to see him racing.

[dau]

What makes you think Karthikeyan is under consideration? His career in F1 is over. [...]

That's what we thought in 2005 and 2011 though, isn't it?

[ensign14]

Thinking of the never-driving bit, there were a couple of others; Antonio Bernardo, who apparently bought an Ensign drive in 1976 despite having zero pedigree (and I mean zero - I can't find any trace of a career for him), and Jorge Bagration, who had an entry for a Spanish GP that never materialized, although he had a car painted up in sponsor colours.

[Rob]

I know Inoue should drive for Minardi and was out before Melbourne, or Trulli last year - but they both drove some F1 races...

The Japanese economy was still suffering from the fallout of the Kobe earthquake in 1995 and Inoue's money evaporated.

[ApexMouse]

waiting eagerly to see karthikeyan ending chilton's career

Chilton doesn't have a career. He has however far his dad's money will get him and then he's out.
Narain is the same. he gets as far as his money goes then it's the door.

[mprtc]

Chilton doesn't have a career. He has however far his dad's money will get him and then he's out.
Narain is the same. he gets as far as his money goes then it's the door.

don't you know his career has started

[jals99]

Oliver Gavin (paperwork balls-up),

Gavin was supposed to drive in Australian Gp 1995 for Pacific, but superlicense was delayed due to paperwork.

Edited by jals99, 01 March 2013 - 12:26.

[ApexMouse]

don't you know his career has started

And ended when the team folded. No drive as the other teams had money. Then team comes along that needs money, so he gets a drive. Nobody has ever taken him on his driving ability. Same with Chilton.

A career implies it is undertaken by a professional. Karthikeyan is not paid for his services, therefore cannot really be called a professional. He wont ever get a job based on his ability.

[Petroltorque]

Game, set and match to apexmouse. Non of the serious publications are suggesting Karthikeyan is under consideration.

[Fabien Pousset]

Gavin was supposed to drive in Australian Gp 1995 for Pacific, but superlicense was delayed due to paperwork.

There were conflicting reports on that, IIRC. Some sources said Gavin's sponsors just didn't pay up, a la Razia.

[Brandz07]

Chilton doesn't have a career. He has however far his dad's money will get him and then he's out.
Narain is the same. he gets as far as his money goes then it's the door.

Money alone doesn't win you GP2 races.

[schumimercamg]

It does amuse me the amount or rubbish that is spouted by people who haven't raced competitively.

Karthikeyan may not be the elite in F1 terms but the guy is still a very very good racing driver and will possess car control that most people on here could only dream of. Classic case of people underestimating how good ALL of these guys are. Same happens in football all the time.

[Topsu]

Karthikeyan is 36? A future WDC.