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Hulkenberg: Where to, will he be in F1 in 2014? [Merged]


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#751 Anderis

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Posted 23 November 2013 - 20:49

Well, I would prefer to see him at Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren, Sauber, Williams, Lotus, pretty much everything else than Force India (excluding the smallest teams). I feel he would have more chance to get a podium-scoring car in any of those.

 

I feel sad for him. He is the only driver I'm very curious to see how would he do in a race-winning car. Being pretty much faultless, dominating his team-mates and putting some stand-out drivers in midfield cars for the last 1.5 years is anything what can be expected from a driver to deserve a shot at the top team.

 

Maybe I should stop underestimate Force India, though. I do it all the time since 2010. :p



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#752 Group B

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Posted 23 November 2013 - 20:51

Well, a month ago I would have said that was terrible news, but with the shenanigans at Lotus and Saubers money issues, it's probably the best place for him.

 

All things being relative you might be right; the Lotus is a better car right now, but might be no car at all by by March, while Sauber's cash transplant is looking murkier now too. At least a safe, decent midfield seat gives the chance to impress again.



#753 sopa

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Posted 23 November 2013 - 20:57

Well, I would prefer to see him at Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren, Sauber, Williams, Lotus, pretty much everything else than Force India (excluding the smallest teams). I feel he would have more chance to get a podium-scoring car in any of those.

 

I feel sad for him. He is the only driver I'm very curious to see how would he do in a race-winning car. Being pretty much faultless, dominating his team-mates and putting some stand-out drivers in midfield cars for the last 1.5 years is anything what can be expected from a driver to deserve a shot at the top team.

 

Maybe I should stop underestimate Force India, though. I do it all the time since 2010. :p

 

Force India is a decent team. Been either 7th or 6th in WCC in every season since 2010. It may seem optimistic to take Force India over, say, Lotus right now, but we could have a shift in performance in the future, especially with rule changes. After all, nobody expected Red Bull to become a top team in 2009 even though I don't think Force India quite has the finances to replicate something like that.

 

Also Force India's technical team seems quite stable, which can't be said about Lotus. I haven't really been into news regarding FI key people, but I don't think they have lost anyone important post-Gascoyne/Mark Smith era (around 2008-2009), while Sauber lost James Key last year, Matt Morris this year, and now Lotus lost James Allison. So I don't see a reason for FI to specifically struggle, while I see more concern for Sauber and Lotus, how can they adapt to new rules with new technical heads.


Edited by sopa, 23 November 2013 - 20:58.


#754 Anderis

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Posted 23 November 2013 - 21:09

Force India is a decent team. Been either 7th or 6th in WCC in every season since 2010. It may seem optimistic to take Force India over, say, Lotus right now, but we could have a shift in performance in the future, especially with rule changes. After all, nobody expected Red Bull to become a top team in 2009 even though I don't think Force India quite has the finances to replicate something like that.

 

Also Force India's technical team seems quite stable, which can't be said about Lotus. I haven't really been into news regarding FI key people, but I don't think they have lost anyone important post-Gascoyne/Mark Smith era (around 2008-2009), while Sauber lost James Key last year, Matt Morris this year, and now Lotus lost James Allison. So I don't see a reason for FI to specifically struggle, while I see more concern for Sauber and Lotus, how can they adapt to new rules with new technical heads.

Good post, but my concern lies somewhere else. I have no doubt Force India is capable of beating Sauber, or somebody, but can't stop feeling that Sauber, Lotus or Williams all give a better chance for Hulk to find himself in a car that is capable of more than just regular point-scoring finishes. Even if that chance is not that big in itself.

 

He will not make any better impression that what he has already made in another car with level of competitiveness that Force India has shown between 2010-2013. It will be still a matter of better team needing somebody like him.

He needs to get a car capable of scoring podiums at least and at last.

 

I can see Force India having a good season, finishing with something like 6th in WCC and with a couple of decent point-scoring finishes, but I really struggle to see them to be a regular podium contender. I can imagine Sauber and Lotus doing worse than that, but also better than that and from Hulk's point of view it makes little difference if he gets something like this or a bit worse, I'm afraid.



#755 sopa

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Posted 23 November 2013 - 21:26

If it is just the matter of leaving an impression, Hulkenberg can easily leave a strong impression while racing for 5th and 6th positions as well. After all, in terms of 2015 silly season we are talking about him moving teams once again, be it from Sauber, FI or Lotus. And people in the know already have an idea, how good he is, so 3rd, 6th or 10th position doesn't change opinions that much. On occasion Force India can do what Sauber/Lotus have done and threaten the top as well. In Brazil last year Hulkenberg was challenging for the win. In late 2009 Force India was very good and you could get the feeling that after the Belgian GP and Fisi's second place the car potential wasn't maximized properly. Also di Resta was fourth in Bahrain this year, being in contention for podium for some time during the race.

 

I think the "impression" that Sauber, Lotus and Williams could be offering better cars, lie largely in 2012. But we will see with 2014 regs. In 2008 you could say that Renault has a greater chance of offering a more competitive car than Red Bull just because Renault had a proven track record in 2005-06. But it didn't quite work like that. When we predict 2014, we can't predict based on past terms and impressions. It will be a clean sheet.

 

I think Force India is a bit underestimated. I think Hulkenberg can get a podium in that team as well, if not multiple ones next year. Especially in a wet race. We will see, but I don't feel FI has less depth in the team to shine than the other cash-strapped midfielders even when we are talking about "highs", not just median consistency. So far yeah, FI hasn't got any podiums since 2010 unlike the other three, but it could change. F1 is always in change. FI/Spyker/MF1 had got only 1 point during 2006-2008 and it may have seemed they can't get out of backmarker status, but they did.



#756 Pyrone89

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Posted 23 November 2013 - 21:49

I am stunned why people keep talking about a Ferrari seat opening in 2015.

 

Ferrari their press release on the Kimi return clearly stated (http://formula1.ferr.../news/back-kimi)

 

"Maranello, 11 September 2013 – Scuderia Ferrari announces that it has reached an agreement with Kimi Raikkonen. The Finn will join Fernando Alonso in the driver line-up for the next two racing seasons. - See more at: http://formula1.ferr...h.7g22nmfk.dpuf"

 

Now they have confirmed that in 2014 and 2015 Raikkonen and Alonso will be their drivers, how does anyone think of a Ferrari seat earlier than 2016.

Talking about Vettel to Ferrari in 2016 (or both Hulkenberg and Vettel to Ferrari in 2016) makes sense, but not all this stuff about a 2015 Ferrari seat.



#757 Massa

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Posted 24 November 2013 - 05:08

http://www.nextgen-a...ndia,70007.html

 

 

It's in french, it said the deal is done and FI have just to announce it, Hulk will drive for them next year. It's seems Di Resta is out.

 

It said Maldonado is between Lotus and Sauber.... Like Perez. If Perez sign at Lotus, it will be with his sponsor, Telmex.



#758 baddog

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Posted 24 November 2013 - 06:08

At least it keeps him in the sport and out of the 'dead zone' at the back.



#759 jstrains

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Posted 24 November 2013 - 15:11

According to Lauda on RTL it will be so that Hulkenberg will join FI



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#760 Massa

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Posted 24 November 2013 - 15:28

Yes,it's done, with Sutil

 

http://motorsport.ne...deal,70011.html



#761 krobinson

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Posted 24 November 2013 - 15:32

Yes,it's done, with Sutil

 

http://motorsport.ne...deal,70011.html

Why Sutil instead of PDR? 



#762 sennafan24

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Posted 24 November 2013 - 15:34

Why Sutil instead of PDR? 

money.jpg



#763 metz

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Posted 24 November 2013 - 15:45

That's quite an exaggeration. I believe that most of people agree that the best performers over past few years are all in top5 teams, with maybe one or two exceptions.

Based on his performance so far in less than top equipment, most might agree that NH is overall a better driver than half the grid

That makes your assumption 50% wrong.

For fun, ignoring equipment, rank this years drivers.

If you don't find Hulk in at least the top half you are not objective.



#764 TheUltimateWorrier

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Posted 24 November 2013 - 15:46

moneypicture

 

Also, to break Pierluigi Martini's pointless record of 118 races without a podium finish. By breaking such a record, Sutil can have his picture next to the word mediocrity in the dictionary.


Edited by TheUltimateWorrier, 24 November 2013 - 15:47.


#765 Melchiot

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Posted 24 November 2013 - 17:52

expect Hulk to totally **** Sutil



#766 Massa

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Posted 24 November 2013 - 19:24

WOW

 

http://www.nextgen-a...ndia,70030.html

 

It said that tomorrow Lotus will announce Maldonado, but the huge rumors said that Hulkenberg will be at FI with..... PEREZ !

 

it's strange because Sutil is sure to be on the grid next year with Force India, and even say he has a contract with them for next year.