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What's Next for Jean Eric Vergne?


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#1 bourbon

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Posted 19 August 2014 - 12:10

I thought we could have a thread to discuss this as it is apparently of interest to many.

 

It is confirmed that Jean Eric Vergne has lost his Toro Rosso seat for 2015, but where will he go from here?  To another team as a driver or third driver?  Which team needs a driver of his caliber?

 

To another series?   How about DTM, sports cars or Formula E?

 

Will Total and/or Renault lend assistance? 

 

Discuss...


Edited by bourbon, 19 August 2014 - 12:14.


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#2 emmanuelrubi

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Posted 19 August 2014 - 12:12

I thought we could have a thread to discuss this as it is apparently of interest to many.

 

It is confirmed that Jean Eric Vergne has lost his Red Bull seat for 2015, but where will he go from here?  To another team as a driver or third driver?  Which team needs a driver of his caliber?

 

To another series?   How about DTM, sports cars or Formula E?

 

Will Total and/or Renault lend assistance? 

 

Discuss...

 

Toro Rosso*



#3 bourbon

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Posted 19 August 2014 - 12:14

Toro Rosso*

 

Too true, thanks, lol.



#4 Cyanide

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Posted 19 August 2014 - 12:16

I don't think Renault will care, tbh. They didn't give too much of a crap about Charles Pic, don't see how it would be different with Vergne. 

 

They have Grosjean who's a far more proven driver right now. 



#5 balmybaldwin

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Posted 19 August 2014 - 12:25

I still think he might end up at Lotus, as I woiuld be very surprised if Grojean doesn't get a better offer



#6 Doughnut King

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Posted 19 August 2014 - 12:29

DTM or sportscars seem the obvious choices. Indycar if he can find funds perhaps.



#7 sopa

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Posted 19 August 2014 - 12:31

I do think Formula E might be a very likely destination. If not this, then next year. After all, Buemi is already there.



#8 MrMan

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Posted 19 August 2014 - 12:31

If he went to another team, would he still have to sport the Red Bull helmet / sponsorship? If so I could see that being an issue with teams that are sponsored by other energy drink manufacturers.



#9 BCM

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Posted 19 August 2014 - 12:37

Whatever it is, it won't be F1. 

 

Shame because I think if he had better equipment I think he'd surprise people just as much as Ricciardo has done. In fact I think most of the guys who've gone through STR would be competitive in the right machinery.



#10 Jackmancer

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Posted 19 August 2014 - 12:46

I think he'll do great in Le Mans, like Buemi. 



#11 Ducks

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Posted 19 August 2014 - 12:50

I think he'd be very good in Le Mans, maybe join the Porsche team?



#12 UPRC

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Posted 19 August 2014 - 12:50

Toro Rosso rejects never stay in F1, that team destroys careers before they even begin. It's a shame because all of the drivers who have driven for the team in the last few years haven't been that bad at all. Maybe not exceptional, but far from bad.

 

Formula E would be a nice place for him to go, I think.


Edited by UPRC, 21 August 2014 - 10:37.


#13 DavidHeath461

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Posted 19 August 2014 - 12:55

If Vettel doesn't pull his finger out (see what I did there) then Vergne should replace him at Red Bull.

#14 discover23

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Posted 19 August 2014 - 13:10

Decent midfield driver..Very good in the wet. I think he should get another shot in a Sauber/Force India perhaps.. 



#15 JHSingo

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Posted 19 August 2014 - 13:15

I vaguely recall there were rumours last year linking him to Lotus. Perhaps if Grosjean's frustrated and moves on, he could end up there. Total would probably still want a French driver in the team. Other than that his chances don't look too great.



#16 Sennasational

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Posted 19 August 2014 - 13:59

unemployment-jobcentre-006.jpg



#17 LuckyStrike1

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Posted 19 August 2014 - 14:01

Sports cars

Indy car

DTM

GT Racing

Formula E

 

If he keeps some backing from Red Bull he has a lot of different options. 



#18 noikeee

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Posted 19 August 2014 - 14:02

I vaguely recall there were rumours last year linking him to Lotus. Perhaps if Grosjean's frustrated and moves on, he could end up there. Total would probably still want a French driver in the team. Other than that his chances don't look too great.

 

Massa to retirement, Button to Williams, Grosjean to McLaren, Vergne to Lotus. Or Button to retirement.

 

I'm seeing that as the only - slightly far-fetched - scenario in which he gets a Lotus ride. There's not many other realistic openings around, neither.

 

I'd much rather have him in Indycar or WEC than the utterly uninspiring Formula E...


Edited by noikeee, 19 August 2014 - 14:03.


#19 AcuraF1

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Posted 19 August 2014 - 14:04

Haas should snap him up. Are they allowed to test (once they have a car, of course) before testing for the 2016 begins?



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#20 sopa

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Posted 19 August 2014 - 14:08

If Sauber switched to Renault power units, I could see Vergne being a contender for a seat there. But it looks like Sauber stays with Ferrari PU's... I don't see Vergne beating Grosjean for a seat at Lotus. Maybe Caterham with Renault PU's? After all, experienced Kobayashi has been driving this year without much backing. But then again Caterham has a new ownership now and who knows, what their ideas are...



#21 GoGro

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Posted 19 August 2014 - 15:54

If Grosjean leaves Lotus, Vergne could replace him (in any case it will be french driver alongside Maldonado, with Ocon & Pic also contenders).

 

But he could deserve a shot at Sauber, Force India and the two backmarkers that are Marussia and Catheram.

 

In any case, he has unfortunately little chance to be on the grid next year.

 

There is growing criticism among french fans against Renault (and Total, even though they help Grosjean) for not protecting enough french drivers: in the 3 teams powered by Renault next year, we may not see a french driver.


Edited by GoGro, 19 August 2014 - 15:56.


#22 SonJR

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Posted 19 August 2014 - 16:02

Like some others mentioned: Lotus is an option if Grosjean leaves, seeing as there were rumours about this last year, although it's to establish to what extent those were there because of the gone Boullier and leaving Renault.

 

A test gig at Red Bull might be an option, although not a likely one, seeing as they seem to be happy with Buemi and vice versa. Vergne also doesn't seem like the type to take up that role after being spurned, unlike Buemi.

 

Can't see him landing elsewhere, unless Caterham land someone with a lot of money and can 'afford' to have a non-paying driver. Otherwise, WEC.



#23 Riverside

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Posted 19 August 2014 - 16:03

I guess this would be a little  representative of his mood heading to Spa .....

 

 

 

803719621257983631.jpg



#24 MikeV1987

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Posted 19 August 2014 - 16:08

Williams should pick him up and say goodbye to massa.



#25 RealRacing

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Posted 19 August 2014 - 16:36

DJing?



#26 RealRacing

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Posted 19 August 2014 - 16:37

If Vettel doesn't pull his finger out (see what I did there) then Vergne should replace him at Red Bull.

Yes, and diResta will replace Alonso at Ferrari and Petrov Hamilton at Mercedes...



#27 thegamer23

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Posted 19 August 2014 - 16:57

Team Lotus replacing Grosjean (if he leaves for McLaren or Force India). 
If not, who knows..
Maybe WEC or Formula E 



#28 turssi

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Posted 19 August 2014 - 19:50

unemployment-jobcentre-006.jpg

 

Is that where one signs up for Formula E?



#29 SpartanChas

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Posted 19 August 2014 - 19:59

Formula E. 



#30 HaydenFan

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Posted 19 August 2014 - 20:02

http://www.rkc.fr/en/

 

Back to the family kart circuit? 



#31 NoSanityClause

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Posted 19 August 2014 - 20:02

He will replace JV at French TV, so it will be JV out of FTV, JEV in.



#32 Ferrari_F1_fan_2001

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Posted 19 August 2014 - 20:09

Sauber or Lotus. Dont see Grosjean staying (Mclaren maybe?) and neither Sauber driver looks too great either.

He is as good as Ricciardo IMO.

it is amazing what a confidence boost can do for an F1 driver. JEV deserves another shot.

#33 GoldenColt

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Posted 19 August 2014 - 20:43

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Dang, beat me to it. :p



#34 David Lightman

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Posted 19 August 2014 - 20:50

Genuinely surprised that anybody cares in the slightest where he ends up. What excitement has he ever brought to a GP weekend?

#35 midgrid

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Posted 19 August 2014 - 20:57

Is that where one signs up for Formula E?

Yes, it's certainly very green.



#36 midgrid

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Posted 19 August 2014 - 20:58

Genuinely surprised that anybody cares in the slightest where he ends up. What excitement has he ever brought to a GP weekend?

What kind of attitude is that?  As a serious racing fan, I care about all aspects of the sport.



#37 bourbon

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Posted 19 August 2014 - 21:02

Genuinely surprised that anybody cares in the slightest where he ends up. What excitement has he ever brought to a GP weekend?

 

ne pas être méchant.  :p

 

I think they would look to his talent and results before his lack of excitement.



#38 GoldenColt

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Posted 19 August 2014 - 21:06

 

I think they would look to his talent and results before his lack of excitement.

 

Which doesn't really make it easier to see why anyone should miss him being on the grid...



#39 sopa

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Posted 19 August 2014 - 21:49

To be honest, I personally I am more concerned about Sainz jr than Vergne. Vergne sort of already got his chance and we have a rough idea, how good he might be. But we could never know about Sainz.



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#40 Dolph

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Posted 19 August 2014 - 22:13

Toro Rosso rejects never stay in F1, that team destroys careers before they even begin. It's a shame because all of the drivers who have driven for the team in the last few years haven't been bad that at all. Maybe not exceptional, but far from bad.

 

Formula E would be a nice place for him to go, I think.

 

Yeah, Vettel and Ricciardo are prime examples. :rotfl:

 

 

Buemi, Alguersuari and Vergne got a measly 3 years in F1. They've been give 2-3 years to prove themselves to be top drawer. They haven't. What awful-awful treatment. :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

 

The reason they don't stay in F1 is the same they actually reached F1 - Red Bull sponsorship money. Without it they in the same position as everybody else, who doesn't have a rich relative. But only with the difference that they can say they have had 3 years of F1 experience.
 



#41 Lennat

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Posted 19 August 2014 - 22:58

It's hard to criticize Red Bull when their young driver program has given us what could be considered the two last top drivers into F1 in Vettel and Ricciardo. 

 

Why would they hang on to descent drivers when they are looking for superstars? 



#42 hollowstar

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Posted 19 August 2014 - 23:00

F1 is over for him, unfortunately. I could see him go to IndyCar. 



#43 BCM

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Posted 20 August 2014 - 00:47

Yeah, Vettel and Ricciardo are prime examples. :rotfl:

 

 

Buemi, Alguersuari and Vergne got a measly 3 years in F1. They've been give 2-3 years to prove themselves to be top drawer. They haven't. What awful-awful treatment. :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

 

The reason they don't stay in F1 is the same they actually reached F1 - Red Bull sponsorship money. Without it they in the same position as everybody else, who doesn't have a rich relative. But only with the difference that they can say they have had 3 years of F1 experience.
 

 

To be fair Buemi and Alguesuari didn't fail in my opnion. There was simply no room at the inn (ie RB itself) when the artificial clock of 2 years that Marko has on drivers ran out. I was never a fan of either, but if Webber had left earlier they would have been decent replacements for him. I think they both suffered in comparison to Vettel getting lucky in the rain in 08. I'm a Ricciardo fan, but let's be honest he never looked likely to win in the STR. Marko's expectation that someone should be able to do that again was/is fantasy. It was a combination of Monza being consistently one of STR's best tracks, them having a better powerplant than the RB team itself and the weather. After that "all" Vettel really had to do was get a decent start and keep it on the island. Fair play to him he did and the rest is history.

 

In two years time (or perhaps earlier if Vettel pulls the pin next year) we'll be discussing the demise of either Kyvat or Verstappen at RB's hands, because whomever doesn't get the RB gig is going to get Vergned.

 

Edit: Actually if I were Kyvat or Verstappen I'd be trying to line up a plan b immediately because it's 100% obvious what happens to the one who doesn't get the gig. In fact in 2 years time they could both be Vergned over someone outside the programme like almost happened to Ricciardo/Raikkonen.


Edited by BCM, 20 August 2014 - 01:07.


#44 Thomas99

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Posted 20 August 2014 - 01:49

I think Force India would be his best shot. Hulkenberg to Ferrari or McLaren?



#45 Thomas99

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Posted 20 August 2014 - 01:50

It's hard to criticize Red Bull when their young driver program has given us what could be considered the two last top drivers into F1 in Vettel and Ricciardo. 

 

Why would they hang on to descent drivers when they are looking for superstars? 

Exactly. They are looking for world champion capable drivers. They know Vergne is a B+ driver but they want A level talents.



#46 F1matt

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Posted 20 August 2014 - 10:26

Firstly I would like to wish JEV good luck in whatever he chooses, F1 just hasn't worked out for him, he isn't the first and he won't be the last, if it was me I would jump into another series, formula E or Sportscars, DTM than stay in F1 as a third driver or trying to scrape millions of dollars to drive at the back of the grid.


I hope we don't have a thread like this in two years time for Verstappen.

#47 Miggeex

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Posted 20 August 2014 - 10:35

He's a great stable driver. Just bad timing with everything.

 

You need to be in the "sync" when contracts are ending with other drivers. There are good examples of good drivers that were out of sync with the contracts and were never available when other teams asked for them. And also when being in the development program with some team like RB, it takes some balls to leave in the right moment. 



#48 noikeee

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Posted 20 August 2014 - 10:54

Genuinely surprised that anybody cares in the slightest where he ends up. What excitement has he ever brought to a GP weekend?

 

What excitement did Ricciardo ever bring to a GP weekend before getting his Red Bull seat? (admitedly Dan looked slightly better in the Toro Rosso than Vergne, but still doesn't invalidate my point)



#49 Nemo1965

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Posted 20 August 2014 - 11:01

What excitement did Ricciardo ever bring to a GP weekend before getting his Red Bull seat? (admitedly Dan looked slightly better in the Toro Rosso than Vergne, but still doesn't invalidate my point)

 

The point is (with all this second tier and first tier drivers) the difference between the very best (Vettel, Hamilton, Alonso) and someone like Jean-Eric Vergne is very, very small. It is not that Ricciardo at Toro Rosso blew our minds out, he was JUST a little better than Vergne in most area's. We can only look at the races and at the results, very general impressions. Red Bull knows everything about the drivers, from apex to exit-speed, reaction-times, bloodpressure, ****-and pisslevel during the day (joke, joke!), tyre and bodytemps (half joke), andsoforth. Sensible F1 teams make decisions based on details to the 9th degree.

 

Really, we must forget the idea that the drivers that Red Bull are looking for are going to blow their respective teammates away. People like Vergne, Buemi, Alguesari are too good to be blown away.



#50 Mart280

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Posted 20 August 2014 - 11:14

Whats next for JEV...hmm....Friday mornings FP1 next to Croft in the Sky commentary box, followed by Formula E and Sports cars and then everyone will have forgotten about him.