29 replies to this topic

[JHSingo]

After a lean period for young British talent in F1 (with apologies to Max Chilton and Will Stevens), there could be as many as three new Brits on the grid in the near future. My question is simple: who do you rate highest?

 

George Russell - After winning the GP3 title last year, Russell is currently leading the F2 championship with four wins to his name at the time of writing. As a Mercedes junior, he has tested with the team and recently went fastest (for what it's worth in testing) at the Hungary test. Could be on the grid as soon as next year.

 

Lando Norris - Despite it only seeming to me like it was yesterday that Norris was racing in the BTCC supporting Ginetta Junior series, he's now in F2. He won his very first F2 race and has had a further six podiums, meaning he's currently second in the standings behind Russell. Reportedly was approached by Toro Rosso to replace Hartley earlier in the year, but McLaren are keen to hang on to him. He also impressed Fernando Alonso when they raced together at the Rolex 24.

 

Dan Ticktum - Ticktum's backstory is well known by now. Having served a year long ban for an incident in a British F4 race (no clear footage of the incident exists) that saw him miss most of the 2016 season, Ticktum is currently racing in F3. He's currently second in the points with three wins - just a point behind the championship leader. Red Bull is keen to get him on the F1 grid as soon as next year, but insufficient Super License points may prevent that. 

 

So, what do you think? No doubt one, or all three, will soon be declared as "the next Hamilton". 

[f1paul]

Really tough to say who's better out of those 3 British drivers.

 

I'd probably put it in the order of how you've put it above.

 

1. Russell

2. Norris

3. Ticktium

 

But Russell and Norris are probably about equal to be honest, Russell gets it for me because he's leading the championship and because he has performed much better than many expected.

 

For all we know, they could be the next Jolyon Palmer's of the world! Time will tell, I doubt it though. 

[Spillage]

I'll say Norris, but only because he's a couple of years younger. Not much to choose between him and Russell right now.

I've seen less of Ticktum. The most significant moment of his career to date seems to be that astonishingly dangerous driving got him banned. His temperament will always be questionable after that.

[Fastcake]

George Russell has impressed me much more than Norris in Formula Two this year (although I have missed a couple of races).

 

Norris seemed to remain in the lead mainly because he has not run into problems in a season beset with an unreliable car, whereas Russell has appeared to be much more "racier" for the past few rounds. I don't know enough about Ticktum, having only seen one F3 race this year.

Edited by Fastcake, 10 August 2018 - 22:18.

[RacingGreen]

Not sure who is the better prospect out of Lando and George at this stage as both show loads of potential but voted for George to break through first due to his extra year's experience.

 

Dan's win at Macau last year was one of the most exciting finishes I've ever seen but it was also one of the luckiest. Sure he is fast but there has to be more to it than that and a year in F2 would be the super licence system working as far as I'm concerned.

 

.....and you could have put London born Alexander Albon on your list of potential "British" F1 drivers as his performances have taken a real step forward this year. 

[jonpollak]

I'm in the Russell camp but Lando has the trajectory

[LeClerc]

Ticktum because that rhymes with rectum. What is there not to like?

[William Hunt]

You forgot Alexander Albon in the poll

[RPM40]

Norris overall, though Russell is having a better season this year. 

[Vettelari]

Tough call for me. All 3 would probably be in my top 5 list of junior drivers. Marcus Armstrong is my top ranked, but these 3 are in the mix behind him. If I had to make a choice, I think Russell is the best right now. With Norris (18) and Ticktum (19) being younger (Russell-20), their potential could be higher. Before this season started, Norris would have been an easy #1, but he hasn't impressed as much as I expected in F2. As for the most talented? I still want to say Norris, but each week that Russell beats him makes it more difficult to think that. Russell is turning into a superstar and doing it against one of the most talented collection of junior drivers I can remember seeing in one series. Russell, Albon, Markelov, Norris, Camara, Ghiotto, Aitken, De Vries, Gunther, Latifi, and Merhi have all shown signs of being F1 level talents at times in their careers.

It is eye opening to compare the talent in this year's field to a GP2 field like what SVD dominated against. Instead of possibly facing Max, Rowland, Ocon, Giovinazzi, Joel, and Stroll, he had Rossi and Sirotkin to contend with, due to them all having a different path available to take. That doesn't seem to be the case anymore. The dissolution of WSR and the new super license guidelines have led to the finest F2/GP2 field in memory, IMO.

Edited by Vettelari, 10 August 2018 - 22:51.

[William Hunt]

I don't think that this year's F2 / GP2 field is any stronger as previous' years fields.
Top team Prema even has the slow Sean Gelael and the underperforming de Vries in their cars: their weakest line-up so far and nowhere near their awesomeGiovinazzi-Gasly line-up.
Latifi is also only at DAMS because of his money and is having a poor year.
DAMS best ever line-up still remains Erik Comas - Eric Bernard (1989) and Erik Comas (title winner) - Alan McNish (1990) imho, but that was still in F3000 days.

Russian Time has a great racer and overtaker with Markelov but Makino, who wasn't impressive in F3, in the other car.
Honestly I don't think this year's F2 field is vintage at all, there have been better seasons and the year with Vandoorne certainly wasn't weaker (Rossi is a really good driver and he finished runner up with half of the points of Vandoorne, Rossi is still in the title fight in IndyCar this year).
It still remains to be seen if Norris & Russell turn out to be as good as their hype, unlike a certain Charles Leclerc they still haven't done a single F1 race, I personally would love to see Albon in F1: I think he is underrated because everybody is talking about Norris & Russell but Albon is doing just as good as them this year and he already has 3 pole positions (Norris has just one, Russell also three).

Edited by William Hunt, 10 August 2018 - 23:13.

[jonpollak]

Ticktum because that rhymes with rectum. What is there not to like?

 

No, Tictum rhymes with victim not rectum. You perv.

[Vettelari]

William, I understand your point but just so happen to disagree. To be fair, neither of us will really know how good the field is for a few years anyway. I think you'll be surprised, but I've been wrong before. Years ago this field would have been split between GP2 and WSR. Plus, pay drivers would not have had any need to build up points in F2. I think that has funneled everybody into F2. Somebody like Fukuzimi would be in F1 right now without the super license rules, yet in this field he is amongst the slowest on the grid.

Edited by Vettelari, 10 August 2018 - 23:54.

[Bart]

No, Tictum rhymes with victim not rectum. You perv.

I'm with LeClerc on this one. Butt out.

[maximilian]

Ticktum because that rhymes with rectum. What is there not to like?

 

Yeah, but Norris rhymes with clitoris, so that's a CLEAR winner.

[noikeee]

I'm still gonna say Norris because he's slightly younger (than Russell) and blitzed through all the categories, hasn't shone in F2 only. But Russell definitely has thrown his name very solidly into the mix this season, he's been simply better than Norris this year IMO. Whether that will translate to a better career overall... dunno, I'm still just about marginally favouring Norris.

 

Ticktum, it's too early to say. He's definitely quick, but I need more info. "That incident" will always weigh on him though - massive red flag even if he was just a 16 year old kid. It just shows massive self-control issues IMO. So maybe he can be world class quick and quicker than those other 2 guys, but sooner or later that side of his personality that allowed him to do something that crazy, will backfire on him. And in a ultra-competitive massive-pressure environment like F1, in which you can't hide at all, I find it hard to believe he won't face serious trouble due to it in one shape or another.

[PeterScandlyn]

You got some new teams up your sleeve JH?

[aray]

As of now i think Norris as overall better prospect. Russel simply found a sweet spot with his ART car. I am not demeaning him as he won GP 3  last year quite commandingly. Perhaps it is head and tail between them in terms of abilities.

[messy]

Norris is still THE prospect but Russell has done an amazing job of making him look rather ordinary in comparison this season. But looking at the bigger picture, on overall junior career up to this point, age and potential I'd still say Norris is the top prospect. Thing is, to break out of his shadow on terms of British juniors Russell had to do exactly what he's doing right now and it's likely to equal two, not one, really promising young Brits in F1 so that's great.

For me Tinktum hasn't proven anything like as much yet, but he's clearly very rated by Red Bull. I just haven't quite seen that 'wow' moment from him yet that Norris and Russell have done this year. Albon worth a shout too.

Edited by messy, 11 August 2018 - 07:02.

[balage06]

Norris has more potential maybe, but Russell is the more "complete" driver at the moment. I hope he'll land in an F1 seat next year, but I'm still a bit pessimistic about his chances.

[GodHimself]

Charles Leclerc.

 

 

 

PS Nationalism sucks.

[P123]

It's between Russell and Norris. For this season, Russell has been the more impressive of the two, but perhaps Norris has a bit more potential in him.

[OvDrone]

0 votes for Ticktum; good.

[ANF]

Russell/Norris. There's nothing to choose between them.

[A3]

Ticktum because that rhymes with rectum. What is there not to like?

 

You didn't vote!

[Risil]

Yeah, but Norris rhymes with clitoris, so that's a CLEAR winner.

 

Channelling Seinfeld here, aren't we

[TomNokoe]

Whenever I look at Russell, he looks like a boy. He's so slight.

For that exact reason, I choose Norris.

[NixxxoN]

Both Norris and Russell are promising, perhaps Norris a bit more considering he's almost 2 years younger. Ticktum hasnt won anything so far (only the Macau GP due to luck)

Edited by NixxxoN, 11 August 2018 - 11:34.

[TennisUK]

Ticktum hasn't really achieved anything of note bar winning Macau last year, aside from doing well in Euro F3 this year. Is the field in Euro F3 this year any good? Given his best results in a championship thus far are 7th in FR Eurocup last year and 6th in MSA Formula back in 2015, I'd suggest the field is probably not great.

 

Both Russel and Norris look good, but I think Norris isn't quite there yet, mentally.

[LeClerc]

You didn't vote!

Being a forum member of some standing, I try not to overdo it with my considerable influence 😁