68 replies to this topic

[Jejking]

I think there are a number of drivers having the chance to become excellent:

 

- Ricciardo: If RB success continues, he has a good chance to impress - if not, he can learn and potentially impress against his next team mate after Vettel.

- Rosberg: He already is "kind of" excellent and just lacks the stats and a real WDC fight.

- Grosjean: Looked better end of this season. I still have doubts, but if he becomes the undisputed lead driver at Lotus, he can still build up an excellent career.

- Magnussen: Potential star driver at the beginning of his F1 career. I think he will get enough time at McLaren to show his worth even if he won't have a Hamilton/Vettel like start into F1.

- Hulk: Already impressive for a while, but obviously lacks a car to fight for podiums and wins.

- Perez: Still very young and could still improve and come back to a top team.

- Kvyat: Potential star driver at the beginning of his F1 career. The ingredients for a high rise over the next years are pretty much there, but lots of things can still happen.

- Bottas: Great talent and if he beats Massa his stock will rise.

- Bianchi: Has shown quite some potential early in the season, but still very early for a verdict.

 

The other drivers already have a WDC or are not on top of my personal list of future stars. Looking for the new stars is one thing which makes F1 interesting.

Ricciardo is a big ?, let's see how he will go in 14

I think Rosberg was still growing at Merc during his vs-Schumi stint, but he has a less steeper learning curve than Lewis. Also lacks a bit of real grit (which is unfortunate, he's really likeable and also very fast, but not as fast as Ham over a lap), which could cost him over the course of a season. Oh, he works very hard too

Grosjean, when he's in the zone he goes really well. But if he falls out of it, it might end up crashier again.

Magnussen, don't know.

Hulk is awesome, really gritty in fights and also very fast and intelligent. Hope he will get top cars under his *** soon!

Perez isn't stupid, but his temperament could cause some downs over the course of a season again. On his day he def. has the edge over Button, but stability is key while he's learning.

Kvyat, don't know?

Bottas, Finnish awesomeness too. He looks really cool, pressure isn't max on him but it's never off and he definitely is going to be a pain in the *** of his team mate in 2014.

Bianchi, underrated due to that crappy car. He shone in 2013 because he beat the living daylight out of Chilton. Was crash happy in GP2 but less prone I think now.

 

To be champs would now be Hulk and Bottas, they haven't completely proved that but they definitely could nail the car on their days on a consistent basis!

[george1981]

I think Magnussen seems to have the potential that his father had but in addition he's a got a lot more determination and work ethic. His performance next year will depend largely on how good the car is but I'd guess he'll score atleast 80% of the points total that Button gets. We should make a judgement on whether he can be considered excellent.

[sheogorath]

Even this is true, in terms of probabilities the guys under 24 have a higher chance of becoming Excellent. 

 

History doesn't back your statement at all.

 

Ayrton was 28 when he won his first WDC. Mansell was 33 when he was second in 1986 and 39 when he won his WDC and many others driver.

 

I find this notion that only young drivers have a chance to become WDC to be rather daft.

[emmanuelrubi]

I find this notion that only young drivers have a chance to become WDC to be rather daft.

 

As you can read in my post i said "in terms of probabilities the guys under 24 have a higher chance" i never said that only young guys have a chance to become WDC just sayin' you should read twice the post just in case ;)

 

And yeah you are probably right History doesn't back my statement at all but numbers do, think of this, a young driver (around 22,23,24) have higher chances to stay longer in f1 than lets say a guy 33,34,35 with higher chances of staying for a longer period of time you have more chances to fight for a WDC.

Edited by emmanuelrubi, 30 December 2013 - 04:08.

[Bruce]

I'd say that the "next ones" are Ricciardo, Grosjean, Hulkenburg, and -= I know - silly - but - Gutierrez. But I'll bet that there is someone we've never heard of out here who will puy all of these guys in the shade...

[Oho]

Dunno about that he went a little bit under the radar at Lotus (though not to you I know what you are like), people tend to think of his debut was when he outpaced Senna at McLaren!

 

Well for greater public perhaps but it seems he was well regarded on the paddock.

[Krchan]

I think Perez has potential. He's still young, he's agressive, and for me it's a real joy to watch him racing. Maybe his weaknes is inconsistancy, but he'll get over that. He made some stupid moves this season but also some brilliant ones like Button pass in Monaco and Hamilton-Raikkonen pass in India. I hope that the bad luck for him in F1 is over (by that I mean macca team & MP4-28) so we can see Checo fighting in front of the field.

[DanardiF1]

Webber was heading for 33 when he got first taste of winning races back in 2009 and fighting for the championship a year later.

 

And Mark himself considers himself to have been at his peak in his Jaguar days. Maldonado has shown little to no growth as a driver from his GP2 days, which you would think then that now at 28 it's just not gonna happen... he's too dangerous, too inconsistent and too arrogant to make any growth as a driver.

[Hans V]

Perez and Maldonado are lost causes as they seem unable to learn from their mistakes or take any form of critic. Ricciardo will turn out good I think - and he has a major advantage vs. Vettel which Webber didn't have. Vettel will not have the advantage of the blown diffuser he has been so very good in utilizing - and which Webber never could come to grips with. Bianchi might be excellent as long as he don't get stuck in backmarker cars. Magnussen, especially given that McLaren is prepared to take a chance on him despite lack of testing etc. is a sign of something special, which I hope will turn to greatness. Hulkenberg of course, but he is nearly there, he only needs the mahinery. Of the guys knocking on F1s door Frijns, VanDoorne and De Vries looks really good. As does Verstappen Jr. And Pierre Gasly. And I still believe Da Costa has a bright F1 future, but may need a mental trainer to be able to perform at his top level consistently.   

[Jon83]

Jejking - good point Re Rosberg. I really like him and as a Ferrari fan, would have been delighted to see him join the team. But I do feel that he lacks killer instinct.

 

The problem is that in the day and age of fast-degrading tyres and DRS, it can be diffciult to tell. There is so little proper racing these days (or at least it feels like that)

[noikeee]

I'd say that the "next ones" are Ricciardo, Grosjean, Hulkenburg, and -= I know - silly - but - Gutierrez. But I'll bet that there is someone we've never heard of out here who will puy all of these guys in the shade...

 

I believe Gutierrez has the potential to improve considerably, but he just started his F1 way too far back for me to be able to imagine him coming near champion level.

[Maikel0230]

Despite the fact there are a lot of pay drivers waiting for a chance I'm still pleased to see guys like Grojsean or Peréz, agressive, fast, real racing cunning, perhaps they are still a bit inconsistent, but I think they can fix that trough experience. I see a great future for these guys.

 

Hulkeberg though has made quite the impression on me, I knew he was good but this year has been excellent. It's a pitty the top teams have passed him over (again!). This kid has it in him to become a great champion, of course it remains to be seen if he can actually do it but the signs are clear for anyone out there to see.

Edited by Maikel0230, 30 December 2013 - 17:56.

[SebnandoKimilton]

Bottas and Bianchi.

 

I also have a good feeling about Kvyat.

[jrg19]

I hope magnussen shows us something special next season.

[Module]

Bottas (24) and maybe Kvyat (19), I'm weirdly excited over Kvyat

 

Bianchi (24) ofcourse althou I started to get worried in the last part of the season as Chilton (22) seemed to be getting nearer..

Grosjean (27) but he's soon 28, same age as Hamilton and Rosberg and still very inconsistant so maybe he is just too old

Magnussen (21) could be something good and seems to have a much more suitable attitude to things than Perez (23). On attitude I would place Gutierrez (22) above Peres

I'm not one of those who is overly impressed by the Hulk (26) and I think he's good races are overly hyped

 

In the end thou, we have Vettel (26) still a junior and HAM and ROS at 28. I think that the top 4 teams, when BUT, ALO and RAI leave will fill the seats with the next generation so Bottas, Kvyat, Bianchi. Magnussen and Ricciardo are ofcourse already in theese teams. So Hulk will be without a top seat.

[Jon83]

Grosjean, Hamilton and Rosberg are still a couple of years away from what I understood was widely regarded as a racing driver's "peak"

 

Regarding the attitude of Perez - I think we'll see a positive change there in 2014.

[billm99uk]

Frijns, if he ever gets a drive.

 

Marciello, if he can get his head in order.

 

Calado, ditto.

[jjcale]

I am looking forward to seeing DR against SV in quali.... that should be entertaining

[Jackmancer]

One to watch; Nyck de Vries (no stranger on these forums). Currently in Formula Renault 2.0. First race weekend; 2 poles, 2 fastest laps and 2 wins.