1789 replies to this topic

[Kyo]

Glad to see Vandoorne at the top.

 

Next year might have a pretty good field.

[William Hunt]

The difference in performance that Vandoorne showed between the ART car and the DAMS car clearly indicates that the ART car is simply not working that great.

[deepsouth]

The difference in performance that Vandoorne showed between the ART car and the DAMS car clearly indicates that the ART car is simply not working that great.

 

Well Sam Bird was near dead-last for Russian Time in one of the sessions I'm pretty sure, the team that won the teams championship, but that doesn't automatically mean the Russian Time car isn't working that great. I'd love to read lots into these testing times but I don't think we can sadly.

[KingB]

Well Sam Bird was near dead-last for Russian Time in one of the sessions I'm pretty sure, the team that won the teams championship, but that doesn't automatically mean the Russian Time car isn't working that great. I'd love to read lots into these testing times but I don't think we can sadly.

Sam Bird was dead last in even three of his four session. Thursday morning he was 24th out of 26

[billm99uk]

Sam Bird was dead last in even three of his four session. Thursday morning he was 24th out of 26

 

Well it's Russian Time, remember. Team probably told him to slow down as they only needed 24th (If you've been following Will Buxton's ongoing beef with the uninspiring nature of the team's radio messages this year, this will make sense!)

[KingB]

Daniel Abt confirmed at Hilmer

 

so i hope 2014 we can see, what he's really capable of

[Yhamm]

Richelmi & Palmer are confirmed at DAMS for 2014

[Anja]

It's now or never for Palmer. He should be one of the main competitors for the title next season.

[froggy22]

I think both Palmer and Richelmi should be in the fight. I know Richelmi is not the most exciting racer, but he can be quite consistent. i think he could have a season like Leimer had.

[dau]

I think both Palmer and Richelmi should be in the fight. I know Richelmi is not the most exciting racer, but he can be quite consistent. i think he could have a season like Leimer had.

That doesn't exactly sound spectacular.

[HistoryFan]

I think Richelmi will be better than Palmer of they have the same support. 

[Yhamm]

yeah, I dont expect much of those 2 drivers, I think it's a disappointing lineup for DAMS

[billm99uk]

Richelmi & Palmer are confirmed at DAMS for 2014

 

Don't see why they're bothering at the moment frankly. It's pretty obvious a third year winner in GP2 isn't going to be picked up without a large wad of cash. Quite fancy Palmer for the title though and I'm such Richelmi win win a race of two (but doesn't have a lot to offer F1)

Edited by billm99uk, 29 November 2013 - 16:41.

[Starchild]

Disappointing.... I was expecting Vandoorne there, but again they chose experience (and money) over talent.

 

so, Vandoorne in ART than?

[William Hunt]

Me too I am very dissapointed that DAMS didn't go for Vandoorne. Maybe he will be at ART now but ART was struggling with set-ups all year and Abt had a dreadful season there. DAMS at the moment has a more competitive car.

[Thespianoid]

Vandoorne going to ART will be disastrous. He'll be viewed as disappointment when ART struggle yet again. 

[SpartanChas]

Hopefully vandoorne can get ART and be a contender for the title.

Will be pleased if Palmer can win too, but I can't see the sense in forking out for a fourth season when we've seen the last two champions fail to make F1 anyway.

[BackmarkerUK]

Hopefully vandoorne can get ART and be a contender for the title.

 
I wouldn't want Vandoorne to have his career ruined by a poor season in GP2 just because the other drivers have more experience. But another season in Formula Renault 3.5 will be viewed as a disappointment if he doesn't win the championship.  I think it would be better for him to spend a season in DTM (and get paid for it), the WEC or GT Series where expectations aren't so great.  Though then he then runs the risk of falling off F1's radar.  It's something of a shame for him that Pérez's seat became available this year, when he wasn't ready for it.

[charly0418]

 
I wouldn't want Vandoorne to have his career ruined by a poor season in GP2 just because the other drivers have more experience. But another season in Formula Renault 3.5 will be viewed as a disappointment if he doesn't win the championship.  I think it would be better for him to spend a season in DTM (and get paid for it), the WEC or GT Series where expectations aren't so great.  Though then he then runs the risk of falling off F1's radar.  It's something of a shame for him that Pérez's seat became available this year, when he wasn't ready for it.

 

And he aint going to McLaren next year as he's managed by Jenson Button. Looks like his only hope is a team that picks up Honda engines for 2015

Edited by charly0418, 29 November 2013 - 20:57.

[KingB]

http://www.motorspor...n-13121901.html

 

looks like Binder signed with Arden

[KingB]

Arthur Pic joins Campos

[Jackmancer]

Robin Frijns is not racing in 2014. To be honest I think this is where his career stops. No sponsors, and Caterham might be gone from the grid in 2015.

http://www.autosport...t.php/id/112390

[HistoryFan]

Perhaps we will se him racing at Caterham at the end of the season...

[billm99uk]

Perhaps we will se him racing at Caterham at the end of the season...

 

Only if someone's cheques start bouncing...

[swerved]

Wow, only 40 years old! RIP.

 

http://www1.skysport...ed-away-aged-40

[charly0418]

Really sucks, I think Russian Time has an actual chance of becoming an F1 team in the future. Hope they keep it up

[HistoryFan]

I think the money came from Mazepa.

 

Has anyone details about his racing career?

[KingB]

http://www.motorspor...a-14020702.html

 

Great! Force India making their own GP2 team - with Daniel Abt and Facu Regalia

[olliek88]

Meh. Glad they're forming a partnership with Himler, always good to see an F1 team guiding young talent but i wish it wasn't that "talent" they were looking after this year. 

[bideford1]

[dau]

Meh. Glad they're forming a partnership with Himler, always good to see an F1 team guiding young talent but i wish it wasn't that "talent" they were looking after this year. 

Abt or Regalia?

[olliek88]

Both, they're not bad drivers at all but its hardly the most ambitious pair of drivers to run if the idea is to promote them to your F1 team. I'd happily be proven wrong but i suspect neither are F1 standard.

[ezequiel]

I hadn't noticed, but the Force India cars already had featured the Varlion logo in the Jerez test. Varlion is Regalia family's company.

[charly0418]

Both, they're not bad drivers at all but its hardly the most ambitious pair of drivers to run if the idea is to promote them to your F1 team. I'd happily be proven wrong but i suspect neither are F1 standard.

 

Given some of the other driver lineups I feel like I cant complain about this one. Both certainly deserve to be in GP2 based on talent alone

[charly0418]

These F1-GP2 parterships are incredibly good for the series I feel. GP2 teams get some help and are now given drivers with some talent that might have an F1 future. Of course we got a very crappy driver in ART pairing Stoffel but at least they got a very good driver with no budget

[olliek88]

Given some of the other driver lineups I feel like I cant complain about this one. Both certainly deserve to be in GP2 based on talent alone

 

I agree, both have shown enough they deserve to be at this level but the young driver programs from the midfield teams always seem to settle for decent drivers but rarely more. If i were Force India it'd have gone for Pascal Wehrlien, who is very talented, and probably Mitch Evans who's got potential too and at least some experience at this level but then its easy when you're sat in an arm chair.

[charly0418]

I agree, both have shown enough they deserve to be at this level but the young driver programs from the midfield teams always seem to settle for decent drivers but rarely more. If i were Force India it'd have gone for Pascal Wehrlien, who is very talented, and probably Mitch Evans who's got potential too and at least some experience at this level but then its easy when you're sat in an arm chair.

 

Mitch is going to be in GP2 this year I'm pretty sure

[Anja]

There's a GP2 2014 thread already: http://forums.autosp...gp2-2014/page-3

[ClubmanGT]

Mitch is going to be in GP2 this year I'm pretty sure

 

He seems confident enough. He told speedcafe that they have a couple of teams talking to them. 

[BackmarkerUK]

He seems confident enough. He told speedcafe that they have a couple of teams talking to them. 

 

I have a feeling he's going to be Raffaele Marciello's team-mate at Racing Engineering.