F1 Drive, Anyone? 25/06/2009 Over at F1 Fanatic, Keith Collantine has encouraged debate about which drivers are likely to enter F1 next year, now that there will (theoretically) be six more seats available. All the usual favorites turn up, the Danica Patricks and Jacques Villeneuves, the rising young hopefuls and the fading warriors of yesteryear, and there are even some new names added to the mix.Scott SpeedTwo thoughts occurred to me as I was reading. The first was that there seems to be a dearth of obviously exceptional talent in other formulae at the moment and, secondly, who would want to take the poisoned chalice that is entry to F1 with a completely new and untried team?No doubt we can all think of names that we would like to see in the game - we all have our preferred outsiders, after all. Personally, I think Gary Paffett and Paul di Resta deserve chances and my support for Scott Speed in F1 is well known. But my point is that none of the drivers mentioned stands out as an obvious choice. Who comes with the reputation of Hamilton, for instance, and who has a record that can compare with Kubica's? There are none that I can see.All too often, this forces us to turn to the past, to take up the cudgels for heroes whose F1 career was cut short (I suppose I must include Scott amongst those) and the names of Villeneuve, Montoya, Klien, de la Rosa and even Schumacher are suggested. But who are we kidding? Whilst some like Villeneuve and Klien would be eager to return, their reputations are busted by too many poor performances against team mates and others such as Montoya and Schumacher are just not coming back - it is pointless to mention them.Some of those names from the past may well get drives with new teams, thanks to their experience, but they are not going to set the world alight. At best, their return will be temporary, a journeyman's job of teaching the team about set up and strategy, helping a young team mate with the learning curve of F1, and they will be "let go" once their task is complete. Realistically and no matter how much we may hope for a miraculous rebirth of former glory, it is not going to happen.There is competition for the old hands from within the sport anyway. Barrichello and Fisichella are reaching the end of their careers and must be much more attractive to a fledgling team than the rejects of former seasons.No doubt there will be plenty of drivers so eager to get into the game that they will take any seat on offer. Yet history teaches that new drivers in new teams are little more than sacrificial lambs, destined never to be given cars worthy of their talents and to be cruelly thrown away at the end of the year. Who can forget, for instance, Perry McCarthy, ecstatic at entering the sport with Andrea Moda only to have his one opportunity wasted by a team that had problems qualifying, let alone racing? And Allan McNish, who did such a good job for Toyota in their first year only to be summarily ejected at the end of the year (yes, it still rankles).Only the truly gifted, the Ayrtons and Fernandos, survive such a harsh introduction to the sport. And I see none amongst the candidates, even though one carries the glorious Senna name. Of all worlds, the F1 scene must be amongst the most cruel and unforgiving and I can only wish the successful applicants the best of luck and the chance to display their talents beyond a single season.So it is with mixed feelings that I suggest that Scott Speed is the best candidate for a USF1 drive; the guy was given a terrible time in his sole F1 adventure and it is hard to wish anything similar on him again. He has the talent, of that I'm sure, but must admit that he may be right - there is more fun (and money) to be had in NASCAR...
Clive
verasaki Scott speed is the obvious choice but I am thinking that after emerging from that piranha pool intact and NASCAR rides as difficult to nab as F1 he may not be interested in round 2. I would love to see him vindicated, however. Personally, I am sort of hoping for Danica for the very perverse reason that I'd love to see the end to the hype. The woman is a decent enough driver but if the IRL were on the same par as what CART/Champ Car was in it's prime she'd be another back marker having a hissy. I think the problem is we (the U.S.) don't have a strongly supported feeder series that develops talent to a level that is capable of crossing series. Date Added: 25/06/2009
Clive Vera: Agreed that the US really needs more and stronger open wheeler feeder systems. I have great hopes of Alexander Rossi, however, who was really impressive in winning the Formula BMW championship last year. Given another year or two, I think Rossi could be one of those outstanding talents that takes F1 by storm.I agree too on Danica. There have been plenty of drivers in the past who did not seem anything special before they made it to F1 but have then improved exponentially - Mansell was one, for instance. And Danica, given all her promotional advantages, is certainly worth a try.And you have put your finger on why I would like to see Scott back in the sport - I want to see him vindicated! ;) Date Added: 25/06/2009
Haplo Any sport is about winning as much as losing, and (I know, I'm twitsted), I'd love to see Danica in USF1. I'll enjoy their failure so much...Sadly, USF1 bosses will prove to have a little common sense and won't put her to the seat. Date Added: 25/06/2009
Becken The guy is named Speed in a USF1 team. In terms of marketing (that is what they will need in the beginning) there’s nothing more promotional than that. I already can see some inspirited headlines…I don’t know how they can ignore him… But Scott wants the job? Date Added: 25/06/2009
Clive Haplo: It's certainly true that the USF1 bosses are very sensible. If they give a drive to Danica, it would be for the promotional money she brings but there could also be an element of curiosity to see how she'd get on. In fact, I think we'd all like to see that! Date Added: 25/06/2009
Clive Becken: Well, Scott has said that he is not interested in a return to F1. I just think that, given a chance with a US team and a lot of persuasion, it could happen...Probably just wishful thinking, however. Date Added: 25/06/2009
Steven Roy I rarely disagree with Clive but for the second day in a row I do. I think there is a great deal of talent outside F1 that has suffered due to the lack of available seats in F1.I have spent years extolling the virtues o Paul Di Resta. Surely McLaren can't ruin the career of another Scottish driver.Nico Hülkenberg has shown in a number of categories that he has some serious ability and I am amazed at the progress made by Bruno Senna given that he lost ten years of exerience in the wake of the deaths of his uncle and father.I would love to see Jacques Villeneuve back in a car with slicks and serious mechanical grip. THe best part of his career was ruined by stupid technical regulations and the BAR disaster.Tonio Liuzzi deserves another chance and there are others with experience as F1 testers such as Lucas di Grassi and Romain Grosjean.I think it is a shame that F1 is limited to 13 teams as there are more than enough drivers of the appropriate standard to fill more seats.I have ignored drivers who would be considered too old to make an F1 comeback but no-one who has watched sportscars in the last year or so can doubt that given a chance Allan McNish, Franck Montagny and Stephane Sarrazin could give many of the current incumbents a run for their money.F1 may not realise it but you only have to listen to anyone involved in sportscars to realise what a friver McNish is. He should have taken championships from Schumacher rather than had his talent and ability ignored by F1. Montagny drove to second at Le Mans this year with a broken leg. Ten days before the race he stood on a football at the Peugeot training camp and broke his fibula yet he was still clearly the fastest Peugeot driver throughout the race. Date Added: 25/06/2009
Lobo Somewhere I remember reading that one of the candidates was Graham Rahal, and yes he is Bobby Rahal's son. Not too accomplished it seems but with plenty of connections. Date Added: 25/06/2009
Clive Steven: Actually, I don't think we are too far apart on this one. Starting from the top:Paul di Resta - I know how you have championed his cause and, in fact, it is because I respect your opinion that I would like to see him in F1. But, if you look at his record, it isn't that impressive - a Euroseries F3 championship and that's it. Plus he went the DTM route which is almost a guaranteed dead end. He may be as good as you say but doesn't stand out above many others lining up for a job. Which is all I'm saying.Nico Hulkenberg - I've seen him race in GP2 and was underwhelmed, I'm afraid. Someone with a reputation as big as his should be doing better, particularly in a series that doesn't have any outstanding talents this year.Jacques Villeneuve - Maybe the slick tyres would help him but his last few years were not impressive, especially at BMW Sauber. That is what sticks in everyone's minds - those years when he was beaten by team mates, whatever the reason for it.Vitantonio Liuzzi - Was well beaten by his team mate, Scott Speed, in 2007. Considering how Speed was viewed by most, that doesn't say much for Liuzzi's abilities. Personally, I think he is better than we realise but I would say that, wouldn't I? Speed beat him... :DGrosjean - Has looked handy in most of the GP2 races this season but that may be a result of having little opposition. Both Hulkenberg and di Grassi haven't really given him a hard time.McNish, Montagny and Sarrazin - all too late, I'm afraid. F1 treated them unfairly but, once a driver resigns himself to sports cars and LMS, the chance of F1 glory has departed. All three can be classed as wasted talent, the might-have-beens of F1 history - they are not really amongst those I'm writing about in this post.All of which is a bit hard, I know, but I believe it to be realistic. I'd be happy to be proved wrong by any of them. Date Added: 25/06/2009
Clive Lobo: Yes, Graham Rahal is being mentioned as a possible for the USF1 team. But where are the results to impress us? No championships, 9th and 17th in his two seasons of Indycar racing - not really the stuff of legends, is it? And that's without even considering the poor record of previous converts from CART/Indycar/Champ Cars to F1... Date Added: 25/06/2009
Uppili I am going to throw in one name which probably will not be endorsed by mnay, perhaps even ridiculed for having been brought up...The name in Narain Karthikeyan...oh yes...i am an unashamed fan of his.I believe his only season in F1 (2005) was a season of two parts; before Colin Kolles and after Colin Kolles. For the first half of the season when the underfunded Midland Jordan was under the watch of Trevor Carlin, he was confident in his approach and giving a run for their money to some of his rivals who were driving for better funded teams. He set 12th fastyest lap in the hopeless Jordan in Imola, which was faster than the factory Toyotas! And then with the exit of Trevor Carlin and entry of Colin Kolles, everything fell apart. Their eventual split at the end of the season was so acrimonious with name calling that made you wonder if it was Max Mosely in the guise of Colin Kolles.And it is ironic now that NK drives for Colin Kolles in the LeMans Series! The first race of the LMS that he took part, he qualified that LMP2 car sixth overall. And his performances in Brands Hatch A1GP races for the last two years in succession in an underfunded car shows that he can perform at top flight motor sport under the right circumstances.Sadly though, most F1 fans will only see him as a "one time pay driver" who does not deserve a second shot at F1 without looking into the details.... Date Added: 25/06/2009
Guilherme Teixeira Instead of thinking about who's gonna drive for the new teams next year, I'm thinking about who's gonna race on the current teams next year, for there will be a lot of changes in the current driver line-up, probably at McLaren, Williams, Renault and Toro Rosso. Please check my blog and see my article about that :)(I'm sorry for the propaganda, really....)I love your site Clive, congratulations. Date Added: 25/06/2009
verasaki hmmmm. does this mean we haven't seen the last of piquet lite or bourdais? groan. i 'fess, i haven't been watching the new talent, i just sort of hope it's out there. funny this, i recall a discussion either here or on another site last year or the year before when we were all professing amazement at the really great younger drivers who were hitting the sport all around the same time- heidfeld, kubica, hamilton etc. is it really that cyclical or is there a general demise in the quality of the various other series that f1 draws from? Date Added: 25/06/2009
Clive Uppili: There are so many drivers who pass through F1 hardly noticed because they never had a decent chance. Kathikeyan may well have been one (I confess I was not watching him closely and am not qualified to judge therefore) and I know exactly how you feel, being a Scott Speed supporter myself. Thank you for broadening my knowledge of Narain's career. Date Added: 25/06/2009
Clive Guilherme: Thank you, your comment is much appreciated and it is always good to see now F1 blogs being started. I had a read of it this morning and meant to leave a comment - but became involved in other things and it slipped my mind. I will return, honest! Date Added: 25/06/2009
Clive Vera: I think it goes in cycles really - I can recall other years when several future stars have entered F1 and others in which none of the new drivers became any more than competent journeymen. Just one of those things, I suppose.As for Piquet and Bourdais, I would guess that the entry of so many new teams must increase their chances of remaining in the game - any experience becomes important to a new team in such circumstances. It's just unlikely they will keep their present seats however... ;) Date Added: 25/06/2009
Fractal I have to pull you up on a point of grammar. This sloppiness must stop, there can be no excuses. Stop it. "the Danica Patricks and Jacques Villeneuves," or "Ayrtons and Fernandos,". No. This will not do. They are NOT plural. If you mean 'The likes of Danica P.... etc, then say so. Good Lord, have you learned nothing? ;)Anyway, that aside; I would like to enter a plea for the 'Bought drive'. In past years this was a rather splendid feature of racing. And, whilst it may not be the promotional grab of the century, there could be some mileage in it.Many in the past have tried their hand at it; witness Nicholas Andreas Lauda, He bought his way into the sport. This is to name but one, there are of course, many.That's it really, all the above named deserve (in their way) a place but todays commercial world will dictate..Lets hope that the real winner is racing.AFC Date Added: 25/06/2009
Clive Fractal: Ooh, a challenge on my own turf! The thing is, one has to know the rules of grammar before being granted liberty to break them - and my artistic licence is fully paid up and duly authorised. If I want to invent lots of little Sennas, I will do so! :DI agree on the matter of pay drivers. There have been great ones, my favourite being Jonkheer Carel Pieter Antoni Jan Hubertus Godin de Beaufort, a Dutch aristocrat who bought a 1961 Porsche 718 F1 car when they left the sport - he raced them for a couple of years afterwards. So well did he do in the outdated machine that Porsche offered him the much better 804 model of 1962. Jonkheer de Beaufort was a gentleman, however, and too humble to think himself worthy of the last Porsche F1 car - he turned them down and carried on racing the bulbous older model. He was killed in 1964 during practice for the German GP, still driving his beloved old 718. Date Added: 25/06/2009
Leslie Anthony Davidson for his testing/set up/speed & Sato for the laughs.Cheers. Date Added: 25/06/2009
Clive Leslie: I'll certainly go along with Sato getting a seat for laughs! :DDavidson disappointed me during his brief F1 adventure with Super Aguri, however - I had hoped he would prove quicker than Sato but there was little to choose between them in the end. Date Added: 25/06/2009
Leslie I see the the odious Mosley is back on the bugle again.( F1 Fanatic & Pitpass)Which reminds me "what is brown and black and looks good on a lawyer?"Cheers. Date Added: 26/06/2009
Clive Leslie: Yes, Max just cannot let it go.But I give up - what is brown and black and looks good on a lawyer? Date Added: 26/06/2009
Leslie A Doberman Date Added: 26/06/2009
Clive Leslie: Ah yes, of course. :D Date Added: 26/06/2009
Andrew Max cannot be bloody serious.Max has turned F1 into a laughing stock.Hell, USA today even compared the sportto a soap opera... When USA today issues criticismon F1 you know it's bad. Date Added: 26/06/2009
Guilherme Teixeira What about Giorgio Pantano?I think he has a pretty good chance a Campos. He has experience and a GP2 title under his belt... Date Added: 26/06/2009
Clive Guilherme: Pantano is available, of course, but I think his chances were spoiled by his previous foray into F1. He did not have a very competitive car but his performances were less than impressive, to say the least. Sometimes you only get one chance... Date Added: 26/06/2009
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