Formula 1 2013

[dori34]

if it is, good on him (ricciardo) will be an awesome stepping stone for him and i wish him all the best and that he succeeds!

another Aussie doing us proud.

[gts-4 dreamer]

Definetly an upgrade from a toro. In a bit of a shadow though.

[tweety bird]

i lol'd.

[ctjet]

looking like more and more reputable sources are reporting that Disco is locked into that second seat

yeah... im happy about

would have been great to see kimi and seb go head to head

but Dan is a great guy, a lot of potential, makes sense that RBR stick to their young driver program

[chef_stagea]

Bump

[tweety bird]

Kimi isn't going to red bull next year.

(confirmed on autosport).

[ctjet]

you get the feeling like he was asking for that outlandish salary again

[ctjet]

Kimi is still clearly looking to move

Only place I see him going would be to replace massa and team up with fernando

While good in theory will be an extremely difficult team to manage

[dori34]

tickets booked for Austin, Texas

WOOHOOO cannot wait!

anyone been there last year? any tips?

staying in San Antonio and have a hire call so will be driving to Austin.

[ctjet]

isn't that an hour and a half drive?

[Owgasm]

Kimi to Ferrari please then.

[dori34]

Ctjet, yeap, well approx 1hr 20mins,

so has anyone been?

i hope kimi stays at Lotus

[Roy]

Pretty pumped that Dan looks to be lining up in a good seat for 2014. Now for Lotus to confirm Romain and I am set for guys to barrack for next year

[hrd-hr30]

you're a masochist Roy!

Initially I thought RBR would be mad not to sign Kimi if they had the chance, but I've been convinced by others that you really only want one top flight driver per team. Looking back at how RBR almost let 2010 slip away by having 2 drivers stealing points off each other and the same happening at other teams, eg McLaren in 07, I'm convinced you want one guy who is clearly faster and No1 in the team if you want to win driver's championships. Ferrari showed how it's done with Schumacher & Irvine/Barichello.

That's why Vettel ignored the team orders in Malaysia - you don't give away points to your team-mate if you want to win championships. And particularly not if you're faster!

And that's why RBR aren't signing Kimi or Fernando. That talk was just to get under the skin of the other teams.

[djr81]

you're a masochist Roy!

Initially I thought RBR would be mad not to sign Kimi if they had the chance, but I've been convinced by others that you really only want one top flight driver per team. Looking back at how RBR almost let 2010 slip away by having 2 drivers stealing points off each other and the same happening at other teams, eg McLaren in 07, I'm convinced you want one guy who is clearly faster and No1 in the team if you want to win driver's championships. Ferrari showed how it's done with Schumacher & Irvine/Barichello.

That's why Vettel ignored the team orders in Malaysia - you don't give away points to your team-mate if you want to win championships. And particularly not if you're faster!

And that's why RBR aren't signing Kimi or Fernando. That talk was just to get under the skin of the other teams.

Well if they narrow their focus enough it probably does make sense to run a number 1 & a number 2 driver for some team principals. But for everyone else and for the sport it is hopeless. The Schumacher years did so much damage to the F1 that I dont think it could reasonably withstand that sort of shortsightedness again. Teams should run the combination of the best two drivers they can afford. Sure some can only afford one gun and a pay or second string driver (Look at Lotus for example) but I havent ever thought of Red Bull as short of cash.

Yes there are years where having two number one drivers cost teams - 1986 for Williams is probably the standout example. On the flip side 1988 would have been dire if it wasnt for Senna/Prost, instead it was one of the most absorbing years ever.

But the constructors championship is worth actual dollars to the teams. Even more if you have the system rigged like team cheater Abu Dhabi.

Oh and Vettel didnt ignore the radio calls because he was worried about the championship. He did so because he is a selfish git.

All that aside, go Dan.

[Roy]

Would have been interresting watching Kimi go head to head with Vettel....but it robs another competitive team of a top driver meaning Lotus would probably fall back and not be challenging and making good racing...and I think Kimi would have struggled with quali pace and ultimately ability to beat Vettel.

You are all speaking of Dan as through he is a 100% No.2! He is quick in quali and at Silverstone given a chance showed like Bottas he is very mature and able to race wheel to wheel and be tough in defending but not stupid...and can also put decisive moves on people when you have a tyre/speed advantage.

I will wait to the 5th GP next year to see how much a No.2 Dan will be. At the moment I think he has the potential to have the sort of quali pace to put him on the same row if not higher than Vettel and from there we can see how it all goes.

I am VERY happy that Kimi stays at Lotus and Dan has the potential to put himself up against the best benchmark in F1 at the moment. Surely that is the challenge of any young, arrogant sportsman...to test yourself against the best. NOT to only position yourself against people you know you can beat

[djr81]

With the best will in the world (And Dan is a Perth yocal, so you know, go Dan etc etc) ze German has a few wins and other things to his name whereas Dan is coming from the B team. Yes Ricciardo does have some good performances to his name, particularly in quali. But like all sports any amount of success in lower formula or in lesser cars at best only gets you access to the next rung on the ladder.

Hoping Lotus does go ok next year. Just not sure how they are to pay for it all.

[wolverine]

Two fast drivers taking points off other teams seems to make sense to me.

[hrd-hr30]

You are all speaking of Dan as through he is a 100% No.2! He is quick in quali and at Silverstone given a chance showed like Bottas he is very mature and able to race wheel to wheel and be tough in defending but not stupid...and can also put decisive moves on people when you have a tyre/speed advantage.

He's damn near a No2 at Torro Rosso! Sure he's faster than Vergne in qualifying, but behind on points again this year and finished well behind on points last year despite having far less retirements both seasons. I can't see him mixing it with Vettel.

[Roy]

Hang on....he gave JEV his points finish in India. Fuel problem robbed him off points in Monza....if you go back to last year Dan was flat our robbed of points so it was very close. Dan had more points finishes despite being robbed in Monza to boot.

The race pace is an interesting thing. That is something that will be interesting to see when you cant hide behind the car and away from the cameras. It appears as though JEV has superior race pace but again...there is cause for doubt as to the merit of that claim when you consider Dan gets everything out of the car in quali but in the race ulitimately falls back to the general pace of the car...putting JEV and Dan on similar points of the track at the end of the race. PLUS the fact that Dan is higher up often the team split strategy and stops and put Dan on teh more agressive. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesnt.

I read an article in an online magazien I subscribe too that says Dan has the pace that they back to get the job done with agreesive strategy. They dont put JEV on the agressive strategy as he has shown to clash more often in passing and is starting further back so less point.

So, its not a reason or an excuse but a consideration as to the respective race paces. When you look at the live timing Dans pace is gernally better until he hits the faster pack and then often gets backed up whilst JEV in free air cruises up to a spot of two behind.

And agree that lower formula means a lot less in F1...Dan has not done a lot in Jr formula so god knows he needs to perform in RBR....but I think there is loads of promise there with repsect to his attitude and pace. Its up to him how close he can get to Vettel in races.