Renault sign Yamamoto as test driver

[ShiftingGears]

It is embarrasing for a team like Renault to hire someone for money only.

Not doing them any harm.

[SGWilko]

It is embarrasing for a team like Renault to hire someone for money only.

Well, they were not the ones being embarrased winning the WDC twice in a row, on an average budget now, were they?

[jens]

May it create a speculation?

As there have been rumours about Renault's departure from F1 for some time, then maybe it hints that Nissan will replace them on the grid? After all, both car manufacturers are in alliance. Sure it looks unlikely now, but strange things have happened before.

Renault has several test drivers now (besides mentioned 3 also Parente?) - makes me wonder whether it's really worth hiring so many of them?

[woody2goody]

I reckon his experience, which equates to almost a full season of Grands Prix, could be useful for him to pass on to the younger drivers such as Grosjean and di Grassi, regardless of what people perceive as his lack of ability despite being in the worst car on the grid for the past two years.

All this without prior testing of the car.

[Garry Walker]

Not doing them any harm.

Well, the reason Renault hire Sakon was money. So yes, I think it is somewhat embarrassing for a top team to do such a thing.

Well, they were not the ones being embarrased winning the WDC twice in a row, on an average budget now, were they?

How is that RELEVANT to hiring sakon the champion?

May it create a speculation?

As there have been rumours about Renault's departure from F1 for some time, then maybe it hints that Nissan will replace them on the grid? After all, both car manufacturers are in alliance. Sure it looks unlikely now, but strange things have happened before.

Renault has several test drivers now (besides mentioned 3 also Parente?) - makes me wonder whether it's really worth hiring so many of them?

Sakon was brought in for one thing only - his mum leads one of Renaults sponsors and Renault were a few millions short on money. The only testing Sakon will do will be demonstration runs and possibly straight line testing.

I reckon his experience, which equates to almost a full season of Grands Prix, could be useful for him to pass on to the younger drivers such as Grosjean and di Grassi, regardless of what people perceive as his lack of ability despite being in the worst car on the grid for the past two years.

All this without prior testing of the car.

di Grassi and Grosjean especially are much better drivers than someone like Sakon, so what you said has nothing to do with it. If they want to learn from someone, there is Alonso.

[SGWilko]

How is that RELEVANT to hiring sakon the champion?

Erm, errr, ahhhh, errmm, perhaps, given that Renault are keen on keeping costs down, they hire a pay tester to that end.

It requires a little thought to work that out, but not too much.

[Garry Walker]

Erm, errr, ahhhh, errmm, perhaps, given that Renault are keen on keeping costs down, they hire a pay tester to that end.

Exactly what I have been saying. It is just my opinion, that for such a top team, doing that is a bit embarrassing.

If Ferrari hired Ide, I would think that is embarrassing as well.

[ShiftingGears]

Well, the reason Renault hire Sakon was money. So yes, I think it is somewhat embarrassing for a top team to do such a thing.

It gives Renault someone to offload their demo runs and straight line tests on, so their drivers can focus on more important things. It's a win-win situation. Looks like a pretty smart deal to me!

[SGWilko]

Exactly what I have been saying. It is just my opinion, that for such a top team, doing that is a bit embarrassing.

If Ferrari hired Ide, I would think that is embarrassing as well.

Renault is (or certainly was) partly state owned. Ferrari are still relying on the bottomless pit that is fag money, so budgets are not an issue.

And anyway, aren't Ferrari 'special' so FOM chucks money at them anyway..

[woody2goody]

If Ferrari hired Ide, I would think that is embarrassing as well.

Yamamoto is much better than Ide.

When I mentioned the other drivers learning from him, there are probably useful things he can pass on to them that Alonso wouldn't necessarily have the time/want to help them with.

I never said he was better than grosjean or di grassi but for all i know he could be as i've seen di grassi race about twice and tbh never heard of grosjean before this year.