17 replies to this topic

[charly0418]

Someone in another thread mentioned something very interesting, he was hoping and praying Perez did good this season in order for top teams to "open" their eyes and finally start looking at young drivers for their seats.

Obviously it's been a bit static at the top, Hamilton/Button had been together for 3 years, Alonso/Massa for 4 years counting this season and Webber/Vettel for 5 years now. And while I don't know if Perez will do good this season (many think he will fail like Kovalainen) I'm glad the top got shaken up a little as I was getting tired of watching the same top team/driver combinations.

Now next year becomes even a "sillier" season with all the potential seats available.

McLaren: Buttons contract runs out
Ferrari : 1 year deal for Massa
Red Bull: 1 year deal for Webber
Lotus: 1 year deal for Grosjean

Of those 4 the only one that seems very unlikely to leave is Button, he'll probably do good and get a new contract with Mclaren, but the other 3 are in my opinion seats that teams will be actively seeking a replacement for in 2014.

Now talking about Perez, obviously it's a big "if" that he does good this season, but I don't think a top 4 finish in the championship is unrealistic, after all, McLaren could be the best car in 2013. If he does good I could see a whole new shake up in drivers for 2014, there's the strong rumor of Hulkenberg already having a 2014 seat at Ferrari, maybe one of the Toro Rosso drivers steps it up this season, teams could be interested in one of this year rookies (Bottas, Gutierrez, Bianchi (?) ), Di Resta and Maldonado could be options as well.

It just seems that the top teams are playing it safe every year with their drivers (yes, that could just say "we already have the top drivers possible, why the heck should we change") but if Perez succeeds teams might start looking at some young guns and look for more speed instead of reliability (like Grosjean! wooo!) Again, if Perez does well teams could "wake up" and start looking for WDC talent instead of drivers that just "do their job" like Webber and Massa (sorry to fans of them but its true!)

Anyways, what do you guys think? Is the 2014 grid going to have a ton of young drivers?

[tkulla]

I don't think it's likely to be a doorway for others. Perez would have to beat Button for that to happen, and the most likely to benefit would probably be Kobayashi, who was competitive with Perez at Sauber. And by benefit I mean he might find a seat somewhere on the grid, not in the top teams.

Hulkenberg seems most likely to join the top teams in 2014, but if he's too impressive this year I can't see Fernando okaying that move (and it does seem that he has a veto).

I suspect Webber will get one more season after next year simply because the Red Bull juniors won't be ready for prime time. I think Antonio Felix da Costa will be the next RBR driver and he's going to need a year at Toro Rosso to prepare.

The second Lotus seat could open up if Grosjean doesn't find a way to add discretion to his speed. This could be the place for Hulkenberg.

[nada12]

Hamilton, Raikkonen, Vettel, among others, were all less experienced than Perez when they got their top seats. Why would Perez of all people open any ways in that context? I'd say the way's already been paved and he's actually the one who gets the benefit of the doubt from McLaren, because their recent history with inexperienced drivers is quite good.

[Disgrace]

Top teams have always been open to young drivers if they're good enough. McLaren have Raikkonen, Kovalainen and Hamilton in recent times to suggest they employ inexperienced drivers (although Kovalainen was certainly not first choice.) Before that, Coulthard. Ferrari are certainly more conservative although that is more down to driver policy since '96. They haven't snapped up a top young rookie since Alesi in '91. They did try to attain Raikkonen though.

Red Bull are very different as they employ predominantly quite rightly from within their own programme. I do expect to see a new young driver next to Vettel for 2014 myself.

[Group B]

If Hulkenberg continues through 2013 as he ended 2012 then I'd bet very good money he'll be in one of those seats for 2014, but which one is harder to say.

[wrcva]

I hope he'll succeed but for all practical purposes he is the new generation pay driver. If it was not for Santander's mandate, he would not have a seat at McLaren. Essentially he will be Massa V2.0 for Mexico, as the bank needs Mexico just as badly as Massa has been needed and untouchable because he is Brazilian... I think it will be a huge success for Perez if he can be as good as Massa has been... we'll see. Too bad for Di Resta for having the wrong nationality for "commercial considerations"... as Martin puts it. I do miss the days when driving talent and raw speed were the core requirements for driving a good car...

[Mauseri]

No, but by failing he would make it more difficult for pay drivers to get top drives in future. In my opinion he is not terribly fast or reliable.

Actually I hope he fails.

Edited by Mauseri, 26 December 2012 - 23:39.

[Dolph]

No, but by failing he would make it more difficult for pay drivers to get top drives in future. In my opinion he is not terribly fast or reliable.

Actually I hope he fails.

Nice!

[Rybo]

Not at all. Top teams aren't as cash hungry, and don't need to take young and unproven talent. F1 is first and foremost a business and the teams are there to make money. Ferrari, McLaren, and ATM Red Bull Racing kept their line ups for so long because there wasn't anyone better. Hamilton getting fed up at McLaren will only show that while everyone in F1 is fast the special ones are in another league.

[BillBald]

I hope he'll succeed but for all practical purposes he is the new generation pay driver. If it was not for Santander's mandate, he would not have a seat at McLaren. Essentially he will be Massa V2.0 for Mexico, as the bank needs Mexico just as badly as Massa has been needed and untouchable because he is Brazilian... I think it will be a huge success for Perez if he can be as good as Massa has been... we'll see. Too bad for Di Resta for having the wrong nationality for "commercial considerations"... as Martin puts it. I do miss the days when driving talent and raw speed were the core requirements for driving a good car...

What do Santander have to do with Perez?

[teejay]

Di Resta is incredibly over rated. Incredibly. How many top teams chased him?

None.

Perez has opened no doors.

Talent > age - if Lewis and co are still the best into their 30's, why replace them?

[boldhakka]

Younger drivers don't bring any inherent advantage just because they're younger. Teams will hire and keep the best drivers they can get, regardless of young and old.

[Group B]

Di Resta is incredibly over rated. Incredibly. How many top teams chased him?

None.

Perez has opened no doors.

Talent > age - if Lewis and co are still the best into their 30's, why replace them?

Di Resta's problem wasn't lack of money, it was being crushef by his team mate.

[V8 Fireworks]

Younger drivers don't bring any inherent advantage just because they're younger. Teams will hire and keep the best drivers they can get, regardless of young and old.

The "old hacks" like Massa and Webber and Button (even with WDC) aren't so perfect, are they though?

All three are very inconsistent , just like your average upper-midfield journeyman driver such as Fisichella ( surprise surpirse .. couldn't possibly be their actual talent level ;) )

[Jimisgod]

Not at all. Top teams aren't as cash hungry, and don't need to take young and unproven talent. F1 is first and foremost a business and the teams are there to make money. Ferrari, McLaren, and ATM Red Bull Racing kept their line ups for so long because there wasn't anyone better. Hamilton getting fed up at McLaren will only show that while everyone in F1 is fast the special ones are in another league.

They took Massa in 2006, who had exactly zero podiums in his 3 seasons at Sauber. Perez had 3 more in 1 less season, I hardly see how he is more likely to fail.

The idea of a "top tier" of drivers is a huge joke. There are just good cars. Button was out at sea in 2007 and 2008 in Honda junkers, but come 2011 and he beat Hamilton fair and square. More points than Lewis over 3 years, too.

Hamilton chucking a tantrum and moving to Mercedes will show that drivers are replaceable and need to be very special indeed to assist in building up a team, and even that assistance is very limited.

[P123]

Drivers are replaceable? What a revelation. The history of F1 shows clearly that drivers are replaceable. Besides, McLaren have JB anyway, even if Perez fails (not sure you can compare him so favourably with Massa as to do so ignores the difference in the competitiveness of the cars they drove).

[rasul]

there's the strong rumor of Hulkenberg already having a 2014 seat at Ferrari

Hulkenberg is too tall for Ferrari. Ferrari's engineers certainly don't need additional headache.

[Juan Kerr]

Hulkenberg is too tall for Ferrari. Ferrari's engineers certainly don't need additional headache.

depends how long his legs are compared to his back and whether he has normal length Femurs. I'm way over 6ft but only because my Fibs and Tibs are very long, my knees are as close to me as most average men sitting in F1 position. Fittin in an F1 car is not just about how tall you are.