55 replies to this topic

[Tron]

Diniz raced for the Forti team, oh how could we forget!

 

But pay drivers have been going for as long as F1 has been around. In the 80s you had drivers like De Cesaris with lots of Marlboro Italy money behind him.

 

That was a lot of money De Cesaris brought with him as he was in F1 for a long time. Can't really remember if he was good? I recall his rivalry with Patrese and Alboreto though.

Edited by Tron, 20 September 2013 - 17:26.

[Fastcake]

Here's another question for everyone.

 

Who was the first?

 

The earliest one I recall is Pedro Diniz from the Petronus Sauber and then the Prost team.

 

Pay drivers are as old as the sport. In the early days anyone could buy a car and enter a race, though that's rather different from the modern concept.

[ReAlien]

Would Williams have really hired him if Maldonado brought nothing at all? No, they would have kept Hulkenberg-Barrichello for 2011 in this case or found another paydriver willing to pay. 2010 was Maldonado's fourth GP2 season. While a solid driver, Maldonado was never rated as a future F1 star at any time. Top teams would not have looked at him, maybe a backmarker would have if finances were not an issue. You can look at the fates of Pantano and Valsecchi, what happens to GP2 champions, who have been around in feeder series a long time and don't have sponsorship to proceed to F1.

 

But he actually won a race last year on a backmarker car. And he is quite fast(for a Williams car) on the track both qualy and race, isn't he?

btw. I hate the guy cause he acts like a blatant prick on a track while overtaking (only Perez succesfully challenges that position) and has a horse-like face. Sorry, that's personal. 

[DarthWillie]

That was a lot of money De Cesaris brought with him as he was in F1 for a long time. Can't really remember if he was good? I recall his rivalry with Patrese and Alboreto though.

If I recall correctly DeCesaris' father was connected or worked for Marlboro. Andrea could be quite fast, unfortunately that was between the regular brainfades and crashes 

[tormave]

Everyone but Raikkonen and Hulkenberg is a pay driver. I read from the news about these two - they aren't getting paid.

[deepsouth]

I think most of the current F1 field are in predominantly on talent... or at least, they have enough to justify their place. The only ones I doubt at the moment are Chilton and maybe the two Caterham drivers. But I realise it's hard to impress in a slow car.

 

Have to say though I was appalled at some of the names in the "young driver test", guys (and girls) who've not stood out at all being given track time ahead of far more deserving drivers. Made me pretty mad.