104 replies to this topic

[jeze]

How far will this kid go? He jumps straight into ART's GP2 car and sets the pace during his first afternoon, as well as being third quickest before lunch! Add to that a Hamilton-esque domination of F3 Euroseries, as well as a more accomplished first year in the category last year, and I begin to sense that this guy can make it really far! Since he shares management with Felipe Massa, he has good links with Ferrari, so will perhaps Ferrari sign a similar dela with him to what they did with Felipe eight years ago!

I really hope Jules gets the chance to prove himself soon. Given that Hülkenberg won GP2 during his first year, that must be Jules's target for next year, and I reckon he could very well sweep the Asian Series too! Keep your eyes open, folks!

[Dolph]

He definitely seems to be the next Hulk/Hamilton/Rosberg.

[potmotr]

I agree.

I think this kid could achieve a hell of a lot, particularly with the Todt/Ferrari partnership.

I reckon Bianchi's management should take the Hamilton/Hulkenberg approach.

Don't rush Jules into F1. Give him a shot at taking the GP2 title too.

Then, in 2011, he'll be awesomely prepared and only 21 or so.

[glorius&victorius]

Jan Magnussen

[potmotr]

Jan Magnussen

Nah, Magnussen was a one off I reckon.

No real management to speak of, no life skills, but could drive an F3 car quickly.

He was exposed very quickly!

[noikeee]

ART do seem to pick all the talent, don't they? They do have the best car in F3 Euro, but looking at the record of the drivers that have come out of there, clearly it isn't all down to the technical side. Hamilton, Sutil, Di Resta, Vettel, Grosjean, Buemi, Hulkenberg, now Bianchi and Bottas. Plus Rosberg and Premat in GP2. That's one hell of a list.

Mind you, Jules wasn't the only rookie with good times today in GP2. Look at that list I think at least Vietoris and Pic did quite well too.

[Desdirodeabike]

Nah, Magnussen was a one off I reckon.

No real management to speak of, no life skills, but could drive an F3 car quickly.

He was exposed very quickly!

Not entirely true imo. He was the real deal talent wise. But his year off driving touring cars had wrecked his natural feel. Danish pundits who followed him closely said it wrecked his driving style for F1 type cars. When he came back to F1 in 97 the sting was gone unfortunately.

About Jules. A career of a certain Raikkonen comes to mind. 20 some professional races before entering F1. I hope he is the real thing. We need another raw talent after Kimi is gone.

[KWSN - DSM]

Nah, Magnussen was a one off I reckon.

No real management to speak of, no life skills, but could drive an F3 car quickly.

He was exposed very quickly!

I think that Jan can drive more than a F3 very quickly.

His failure in F1 was more the other parts you mention but I think in a different order.

No life skills
No management

I admit his talent was not such as I thought it to be before F1, but I actually think he was better than what he showed, but management would have helped.

[KWSN - DSM]

Jules is young, and should not be forced too fast in to F1, it has broken talented drivers before him.

ART is obviously a very fine team for young up and coming drivers to find them selves, but were he not to win the GP2 championship next season, I think that long term will be better for him, as he then will have an extra season worth of lower rank single seater racing before he is given a F1 seat.

I presume that Renault is looking longingly at him.

[crashgate]

Not entirely true imo. He was the real deal talent wise. But his year off driving touring cars had wrecked his natural feel. Danish pundits who followed him closely said it wrecked his driving style for F1 type cars. When he came back to F1 in 97 the sting was gone unfortunately.

About Jules. A career of a certain Raikkonen comes to mind. 20 some professional races before entering F1. I hope he is the real thing. We need another raw talent after Kimi is gone.

It has nothing to do with touring cars. Cigarettes killed that man. Horrible habit.

Same happend to Cadalora he just wanished after few years

[santori]

I suppose, as with Hulkenberg and Hamilton, rivals can point out that he's generally had access to the best equipment and support but, like Hulkenberg and Hamilton, he's matched the excellence of what he's been given.
He's done pretty much everything asked of him so far, he's at one of the best teams in motor-racing, with one of the best managers in motor-racing and I'm looking forward to seeing him in F1.

[midgrid]

Not entirely true imo. He was the real deal talent wise. But his year off driving touring cars had wrecked his natural feel. Danish pundits who followed him closely said it wrecked his driving style for F1 type cars. When he came back to F1 in 97 the sting was gone unfortunately.

Didn't he also break a leg in 1996? That can't have helped him. I also dimly remember that he had a big crash in the Stewart in 1997 pre-season testing that shook him up a bit, and may have affected his career.

[jeze]

I suppose, as with Hulkenberg and Hamilton, rivals can point out that he's generally had access to the best equipment and support but, like Hulkenberg and Hamilton, he's matched the excellence of what he's been given.
He's done pretty much everything asked of him so far, he's at one of the best teams in motor-racing, with one of the best managers in motor-racing and I'm looking forward to seeing him in F1.

I have no idea how much better the ART car has been, but in general, he seems to be at least half a second faster than anyone at most races, which is even more incredible, when F3 cars are so similar as they actually are, adding the fact that the tracks DTM use are never longer than Hockenheim's 2.842 miles. That makes it quite incredible watching Bianchi ripping a field up by one second a lap at Zandvoort. Had there not been reverse grids, he'd be likely to match Hamilton's win record, and he looks to share Lewis wet weather skills, as well as Schumacher's skill to keep pace up a full race distance.

[noikeee]

Where do you watch F3 Euro? The site I use for downloading races doesn't have a lot from this season, and what it has, is with russian commentary. :\

Didn't know Bianchi has looked THAT quick.

[jeze]

Where do you watch F3 Euro? The site I use for downloading races doesn't have a lot from this season, and what it has, is with russian commentary. :\

Didn't know Bianchi has looked THAT quick.

I am lucky. The Swedish channel Canal + sends all races live alongside its DTM coverage, so I've got to see a few races with Bianchi. In general I stuff the second race, because they are boring with the fatsest drivers stuck behind slower drivers, unable to do anything! For talent scouting, the first race is better!

[jeze]

It has nothing to do with touring cars. Cigarettes killed that man. Horrible habit.

Same happend to Cadalora he just wanished after few years

Was Magnussen a chain smoker even during his F1 days? Given how fast body fitness levels detoriate with smoking I can see what trouble that must have been.

[pingu666]

I thinkso. hes still doing sportcars i think, i remmber him with panoz, and now he is/was with GM and there vette's

[jeze]

I thinkso. hes still doing sportcars i think, i remmber him with panoz, and now he is/was with GM and there vette's

He's racing Corvettes in GT2 in ALMS these days, he has won the GT1 class at Le Mans lots of times. He also won the Danish Toruing Car Championship last year. I really hope Bianchi will do better than that in the future, though. Somehow I don't think Bianchi likes to

[potmotr]

Interesting moment happened in Spa.

Nicholas Todt brough Bianchi into the Ferrari pit in FP1.

Ferrari's media manager saw this, walking straigh up to Todt and tore strips of him.

Rumour at the time was that Ferrari might take a real wild card decision and replace Badoer with Bianchi for the rest of the season.

[noikeee]

...and the other rumour around was that Ferrari was going to start a young drivers program and sign Bianchi for it. I could definitely see that happening.

[jeze]

...and the other rumour around was that Ferrari was going to start a young drivers program and sign Bianchi for it. I could definitely see that happening.

I think that's very likely. I can really see Bianchi in a Ferrari maybe 2012 or 2013!

[ivanalesi]

All 3 of ART's line-up this year Bianchi, Bottas and Guttierez are exceptional drivers, it's all down to management and luck. I believe Bottas' ultimate pace is superior to Bianchi's, but we will see.
Obviously I'm excluding Tambay, but even before his footy accident he didn't show anything.

[JSDSKI]

This kid related to Luigi Bianchi or that family?

[JSDSKI]

It has nothing to do with touring cars. Cigarettes killed that man. Horrible habit. Same happend to Cadalora he just wanished after few years

Cigarettes, you say? Years ago you'd walk a long way to find a racing driver who didn't smoke!

[William Hunt]

This kid related to Luigi Bianchi or that family?

Yes he is part of the Bianchi family, related to Belgian 1960s aces Lucien (not Luigi) and Mauro Bianchi. He is the grandson of Mauro and the grandnephew of Lucien who died at Le Mans in 1969. Lucien scored a podium place in Monaco '68 with a Cooper. The brothers were also great in rallying and sportscars and featured in the Michel Vaillant comics in the '60s. Jules doesn't have the Belgian nationality though because he was born in Nice. I really want to see him in F1, not just because of the legendary Bianchi name but mainly because he is incredibly talented.

Edited by William Hunt, 08 October 2009 - 03:45.

[KWSN - DSM]

Yes he is part of the Bianchi family, related to Belgian 1960s aces Lucien (not Luigi) and Mauro Bianchi. He is the grandson of Mauro and the grandnephew of Lucien who died at Le Mans in 1969. Lucien scored a podium place in Monaco '68 with a Cooper. The brothers were also great in rallying and sportscars and featured in the Michel Vaillant comics in the '60s. Jules doesn't have the Belgian nationality though because he was born in Nice. I really want to see him in F1, not just because of the legendary Bianchi name but mainly because he is incredibly talented.

Lucien was actually born in Italy, moved the Belgium as a 12 year old kid, and gained Belgian Nationality. His christian name was Luciano Bianchi.

[jeze]

Are Jules's parents coming from Belgium, or is his mother purely French?

[KWSN - DSM]

Are Jules's parents coming from Belgium, or is his mother purely French?

Born in Nice.

Since his Father is bound to be the brother of Lucien (Luciano), then I will venture Philppe to have been born in either Italy or Belgium, but since then moved to France.

I think that Jules is a real Frenchman.

[The Ragged Edge]

The old adage, "form is temporary, but class is permanent" will apply to Jules Bianchi, if he really is any good. IMO, I haven't been wrong about the long term prospects of a F1 driver, except for my assessment of Felipe Massa, in my almost 30 years of watching F1. I knew he was fast, but my error came in underestimating the speed of Schumacher. During pre-season testing, you will have some idea how fast any individual driver is. But you will know by mid-season if that driver really has the X-Factor and is capable of going places. Jules Bianchi will be no different. Who didn't know Piquet was a dud by mid-season 2008? Or Bourdais was not the real deal in the same year? True talent always shines. You cant keep it down for long. Where as "form" is somebody like Jenson Button.

Edited by The Ragged Edge, 08 October 2009 - 11:18.

[Youichi]

Interesting moment happened in Spa.

Nicholas Todt brough Bianchi into the Ferrari pit in FP1.

Ferrari's media manager saw this, walking straigh up to Todt and tore strips of him.

Rumour at the time was that Ferrari might take a real wild card decision and replace Badoer with Bianchi for the rest of the season.

I bet Bianchi is very glad he didn't step into the Ferrari....

Hopefully he'll do GP2 next year, and then be Ferrari test driver/drive for one of the new minnows.

[jeze]

http://www.autosport...rt.php/id/79335

He appears rather confident of securing the F3 title at Dijon this weekend, and so would I. It would be surprising if Vietoris would be able to reach his points tally, even without Bianchi competing, and it will be enough just scoring six points less than Vietoris in order to secure the crown. When the title is clinched, I expect an announcement that he'll be racing in GP2 Asia at Abu Dhabi. It would be really exciting seeing him there. I hope he'll get Jérôme d'Ambrosio as team mate next year, to beat him would be a good benchmark if he faile dto win the title during the first year!

[jeze]

http://www.autosport...rt.php/id/79340

Looks at though Bianchi may have to watch his back next year, he might get a team mate who seems to be very fast! Go Marcus

[HulkenbergRules]

He is not as good as you think and doesn't deserve a thread of his own. Remember Hulkenberg destroyed him in equal cars last year.

[jeze]

He is not as good as you think and doesn't deserve a thread of his own. Remember Hulkenberg destroyed him in equal cars last year.

Which was Hülkenberg's third year in F1, compared with Bianchi's first. Also, Bianchi is one year younger than what Nico was last year, so I think he's very well set even with those judgement standards.

[RF1 fan]

Which was Hülkenberg's third year in F1, compared with Bianchi's first. Also, Bianchi is one year younger than what Nico was last year, so I think he's very well set even with those judgement standards.

+1

[Brawn BGP 001]

Which was Hülkenberg's third year in F1, compared with Bianchi's first. Also, Bianchi is one year younger than what Nico was last year, so I think he's very well set even with those judgement standards.

Don't you mean F3.

[potmotr]

Bianchi appears very good.

His career parth from here should be progressive, rather than racing the Alguersuari way into F1.

I think Hamilton, Rosberg and Hulkenberg have shown the merits of progressing through the classes.

[HulkenbergRules]

Which was Hülkenberg's third year in F1, compared with Bianchi's first. Also, Bianchi is one year younger than what Nico was last year, so I think he's very well set even with those judgement standards.

Wrong; It was Hulkenberg's second season. By the way, Hulkenberg was also the fastest driver in F3 in his first season but just made too many mistakes. Bianchi, on the other hand, did not shown himself to be the fastest in his debut season. Not only did Hulkenberg beat Bianchi in equal cars last year, but he had more raw pace than him too.

[osborn]

Wrong; It was Hulkenberg's second season. By the way, Hulkenberg was also the fastest driver in F3 in his first season but just made too many mistakes. Bianchi, on the other hand, did not shown himself to be the fastest in his debut season. Not only did Hulkenberg beat Bianchi in equal cars last year, but he had more raw pace than him too.

Given your username I expect you to be biased but you're bending facts somewhat here. What about in 2007 when Grosjean beat Hulkenberg fair and square? Bianchi also won the F3 masters at his first go last season too (ahead of your man), so raw pace on the big stage is not an issue.

Nobody has ever come into Euro F3 and walked it in their first year, Hamilton, Vettel, di Resta, Grosjean, Hulk etc. have all needed at least one year before stepping up and cleaning up. Bianchi is showing performance to match all of the aforementioned names, if not better in certain cases.

Edited by osborn, 09 October 2009 - 12:19.

[ivanalesi]

He's into his 3rd season in cars, last year against Nico he was in his 2nd in cars! In his 1st season in FR2.0, he won the French championship, which is quite remarkable for rookie driver ;) Not many have managed this, I have to scratch my head, but I think he was the 1st to win FR2.0 championship on his debut after Massa and Raikkonen in 2000.
Quite an impressive young driver, I want to see him in Macao this year, but so far he's also driven only in the best teams! SG in FR2.0 France and ART in F3ES!

[jeze]

Wrong; It was Hulkenberg's second season. By the way, Hulkenberg was also the fastest driver in F3 in his first season but just made too many mistakes. Bianchi, on the other hand, did not shown himself to be the fastest in his debut season. Not only did Hulkenberg beat Bianchi in equal cars last year, but he had more raw pace than him too.

http://sv.wikipedia....sterskapet_2006

I'm unsure about your Swedish, but it's quite clear that Nico participated in the German F3 Cup in 2006, finishing fifth in the standings. He might have had, but had Bianchi been a year older and started together with Nico back in 2007, then I think their battles would have been really interesting! 2008 was Nico's fourth years in cars, while Bianchi is in his third now. That's the difference. I think they are pretty similar in terms of talent, but Bianchi seems to have that something.

[KWSN - DSM]

I think that both Nico and Jules show tremendous upside, I do not understand why anyone would try to make either less of an apparrant talent than they obviously are.

Will either or both make it to F1?

Will either or both win F1 Grand Epreuves?

Will either or both become WDC?

Who knows, but why the need to belittle either of them?

There have been many 'can't miss' drivers entering F1, there surely will be again. Will Jules and Nico be one of those? We don't know, and will not know for the next 3 - seasons.

[noikeee]

Just to clarify, here's a summary of Bianchi and Hulk's careers after karting.

Nico Hulkenberg
22 years old
2005: German FBMW champion (+ 3rd place in FBMW World Final)
2006: 5th in German F3
2006-2007 winter offseason: A1GP champion
2007: 3rd in F3 Euroseries (+ F3 Masters win)
2008: F3 Euroseries champion (+ 2nd in the F3 Masters)
2008-2009 winter offseason: 1 win in 4 races in GP2 Asia
2009: GP2 champion

Jules Bianchi
20 years old
2007: French FR2.0 champion
2008: 3rd in F3 Euroseries (+F3 Masters win)
2009: F3 Euroseries champion (+2 wins in 4 races in British F3; 4th in the F3 Masters race)

from driverdb.com

[jeze]

He's looking good for wrapping it up tomorrow. Here are the qualifying times:

1, Jules Bianchi 1'10.111
2, Jean-Karl Vernay 1'10.502
3, Valtteri Bottas 1'10.523
4, Mika Mäki 1'10.773
5, Andrea Caldarelli 1'10.809
6, Marco Wittman 1'10.903
7, Christian Vietoris 1'10.905

Source:http://www.forix.com

Bianchi now has a 24 point cushion, which hands him the title if he just drops one point to Vietoris tomorrow. Given the start positions, I think only a stall at the start can stop a Bianchi wrap-up tomorrow!

[jeze]

That was a crazy race indeed, but it looks assured now, although I'll never know where Vietoris got that speed from. Not the first time the stewards jinxed Bianchi, though. Van der Zande's crash defititely wasn't worthy of a safety car, and if it was, then I wonder why the SC didn't come out when Tambay and Coletti clashed at the same place, with the cars stranded much closer to the track itself. The stewards seem determined to keep the Championship alive as long as possible

[RF1 fan]

Great race from Jules!

[chrisj]

I hope Vatanen beats Todt in the FIA election, so Todt takes over the Renault team and Bianchi meets him there in 2011, after winning GP2 next year.

[midgrid]

It's been confirmed that Bianchi will move up to GP2 with ART for the GP2 Asia series and next year's main championship.


http://www.autosport...rt.php/id/79402

[jeze]

It's been confirmed that Bianchi will move up to GP2 with ART for the GP2 Asia series and next year's main championship.


http://www.autosport...rt.php/id/79402

Great news Anything less than Hülkenberg's performance this year would be underwhelming, so no pressure then

[noikeee]

Normal and deserved. Wish him well in GP2.