12 replies to this topic

[Overtax]

The season is over and between all the Sebastian/Fernando/Kimi/Lewis is the best bashing, it is time to determine if a new future champion knocked on the door this year.

 

What I want to know is, who do you think was the best Rookie of this season? And which drivers passed their Rookie-exam and are allowed to come back next year?

 

This is my list:

1. Jules Bianchi - Showed great pace immidiatly

2. Valtteri Bottas - Great last two races, stood up against his more experienced teammate.

3. Giedo van der Garde - Strong second half of the season, maybe the most suprising Rookie this year.

4. Esteban Gutierrez - Was expecting more, was way overclassed by his teammate, should have done slightly better especially in the second half of the season.

5. Max Chilton - Been destroyed by his Rookie teammate, does not qualify for the title Rookie of the year IMO.

 

Jules, Valtteri and Giedo deserve another opportunity next year IMO, in other words I think Esteban and Max failed their Rookie-exam.

 

What are your thoughts on this years Rookies?

 

 

[Gorma]

Bottas stood out couple of times (canada and cota). Others not so much.

[Collective]

- Bottas was outstanding in a couple of occasions, Montreal and COTA. 

 

- Esteban was great in Japan, good qualies in Korea and COTA -despite the 10 places penalty-, but should have done better relative to teammate... even if it's fantastic Nico Hulkenberg, the battle was too lopsided.

 

- Bianchi started out great but the way Chilton closed the gap didn't reflect that good about his development.

 

- VDG and Chilton both improved at a decent rate.

 

Besed on above I would say Bottas was clearly the rookie of the year and anyone thinking differently should have his head checked by a qualified professional.

Edited by Collective, 25 November 2013 - 19:50.

[enilykss]

Probably Bianchi, he was straight on the pace. Bottas is an honourable mention as well.

[Andrew Hope]

The most interesting thing Bianchi did all year was get out of his car and let it drive itself.

 

For the season as a whole, Bianchi > van der Garde > Bottas > Gutierrez > Chilton.

 

I'd be fine if they all got another year, but wouldn't be sad if none of them did. Bottas probably has the biggest upside long-term.

[Jon83]

- Bottas was outstanding in a couple of occasions, Montreal and COTA. 

 

- Esteban was great in Japan, good qualies in Korea and COTA -despite the 10 places penalty-, but should have done better relative to teammate... even if it's fantastic Nico Hulkenberg, the battle was too lopsided.

 

- Bianchi started out great but the way Chilton closed the gap didn't reflect that good about his development.

 

- VDG and Chilton both improved at a decent rate.

 

Besed on above I would say Bottas was clearly the rookie of the year and anyone thinking differently should have his head checked by a qualified professional.

 

Not sure Chilton ever closed the gap. Bianchi had a couple of poor weekends later in the season but he still ended the season easily beating him. 

[GT Racing Online Magazine]

Bottas and Bianchi stood out and that's quite hard with the current tier of teams, they both seem to have potential to do well if put in better machinery - both have some question marks though, Bottas reminds me of Kovalainen with his calm demeanor and Bianchi should have been scrubbing the floor with Chilton more than he did towards the end of the year  -  Overall not a bad class of rookies, but it's just very hard to shine nowadays - the rest seem to have potential of competent journeymen, no one screams "SHould not be in F1 under any circumstance!"

[Disgrace]

I think they all warrant another season in all honesty, but Bottas is the only one I can really envisage fighting for the championship.

[Jimisgod]

1. Bottas - beat the highly rated (after 2012) Maldonado in my mind. Car was a ****, unfortunately.

2. Bianchi - fast from the gate, kind of drifted in the 2nd half.

3. VDG - had some epic displays and some below average races. A surprise and seemingly better than Pic.

4. Chilton - clean and not totally thumped by Bianchi.

5. Gutierrez - disappointment, only got close to Hulk once or twice. Too messy. No need to return in 2014.

[Ross Stonefeld]

How much of Bianchi's value is beating Chilton though. 

[Jimisgod]

How much of Bianchi's value is beating Chilton though.

That is a concern, Jules needs to beat a rated teammate.

[LoudHoward]

How much of Bianchi's value is beating Chilton though. 

 

There's not else to judge him on in that car. Sure, doesn't mark him down as the next world champion by default, but it's about all he could possibly do imo.

[REDalert]

Bottas and Bianchi stood out and that's quite hard with the current tier of teams, they both seem to have potential to do well if put in better machinery - both have some question marks though, Bottas reminds me of Kovalainen with his calm demeanor and Bianchi should have been scrubbing the floor with Chilton more than he did towards the end of the year  -  Overall not a bad class of rookies, but it's just very hard to shine nowadays - the rest seem to have potential of competent journeymen, no one screams "SHould not be in F1 under any circumstance!"

I agree mostly, but I think Bottas is not like Kovalainen, Kovalainen is too soft, but Bottas seems to be very confident without any arrogance. Calm, but very confindent and focused, but not soft at all..

 

Bottas and Bianchi are the drivers I`d like to see in competetive teams in future and Bottas would be my driver of the year.