2014 Silly Season

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Parabolica

Back to the topic of the thread.

Will there be any opportunity for this years GP2 front-runners?

It was a shame for Sam Bird that he was the innocent victim of Mercedes GP's tyre-test punishment. I can't see anywhere for the current front-runners other than maybe Marrussia though.

---

Well James Calado's already been confirmed as Force India's new reserve and test driver, as for Bird, I think that him missing the tyre test wount harm him too much and of the current crop in GP2, those 2 are probably the ones with the biggest potential.

Mitch Evans is one for the future though but despite his young age, he's still managed 4 podium finishes in his first GP2 season so far, not bad going

The main issue though in GP2, GP3 and Renault 3.5 is very worrying if youre a follower of Italian drivers, In all 3 championships, there is currently only ONE full time driver racing, Giovanni Venturini, and he in GP3 at the moment is only 14th overall, the only other current Italian driver is Vittorio Ghirelli in GP2, and he's currently 30th without a point yet, it makes you wonder what the heck has happened to Italian drivers, Its a far cry from the late 80's when If I remember there was one Grand Prix when nearly half the grid was Italian

Go Prince Carlos ! :andrea:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Parabolica

It was obvious Vettel had quality, not so with Ricciardo.

---

Isn't this the point though, that Vettel will not be challenged TOO hard by Ricciardo? What they want is someone like Webber, quick enough to get solid points and threaten Ferrari/Mercedes/McLaren but not quite quick enough over a season to threaten their Wunderkind.

It looks increasingly likely that Sirotkin will be in the second Sauber seat, the other drive will probably be up for grabs if as suspected the Mexican money switches to McLaren for next season.

It sounds increasingly likely that Button will stay at McLaren, which leaves Kimi either back at Ferrari or staying with Lotus. Hopefully Hulkenburg will get whichever seat Kimi does not.

I'm just not sure Kimi is a Ferrari type person really. Probably a more interesting situation would have been Kimi back to McLaren, Button to Ferrari and Hulkenburg at Lotus.

But in the end I guess there won't be many changes and both Button and Raikkonen will stay where they are and hopefully Hulkenburg will go to Ferrari.

I really hope Ferrari don't keep Massa. Nothing against the guy, but he hasn't produced any really inspiring performances for ages.

I can see Sutil ending up at Sauber with Medion money if Force India go for Calado next year.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by steveaki13

Massa's only hope is bringing some money back to Sauber.Other than that I see him leaving F1.

---

I am curious where would he go next. It would be nice to see him at some kind of top level racing events, like racing LMP cars.

If Ferrari's team order is what destroyed Massa, then perhaps moving to another Formula 1 team that would treat him as their first driver would bring back hid mojo? It would be interesting to see him switching places with Raikkonen.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by zako85

I am curious where would he go next. It would be nice to see him at some kind of top level racing events, like racing LMP cars.

---

The Ferrari family like Massa immensely. I doubt they would drop him for someone else while Fernando is there.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dj_bytedisaster

The crucial break in Massa's career wasn't the accident, it was the 2010 German Grand Prix. He started 2010 with two podium positions, so he didn't lose much of his speed in the aftermath of the accident IMHO.

---

To be honest, I never felt Massa had spectacular speed after the accident except the odd occasion. Yes, he got two podiums in early 2010, but neither of them were spectacular drives. He has got podiums later too (2010, 2012, 2013). Also it is worth noting Alonso was new to the team, so still adapting to the car, yet outraced Massa immediately in Bahrain. Vettel got a car problem and others weren't in contention, so Felipe was second. In Australia Alonso finished right behind Massa, despite having an accident in T1 and dropping to the back of the field.

Standard Massa drives of the last 3-4 years, just Ferrari happened to be pretty good in the early part of 2010. And by Germany Massa had dropped behind Alonso in points by 67-98 already anyway. And that was despite Alonso making several mistakes and having the biggest period of underperfoming of his Ferrari career.

Perhaps the best drives of Massa since 2010 have been either China 2011 or Japan 2012.

I think the suggestion that Massa could keep driving for Ferrari in WEC or something like that, sounds sensible.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jens

To be honest, I never felt Massa had spectacular speed after the accident except the odd occasion. Yes, he got two podiums in early 2010, but neither of them were spectacular drives. He has got podiums later too (2010, 2012, 2013). Also it is worth noting Alonso was new to the team, so still adapting to the car, yet outraced Massa immediately in Bahrain. Vettel got a car problem and others weren't in contention, so Felipe was second. In Australia Alonso finished right behind Massa, despite having an accident in T1 and dropping to the back of the field.

Standard Massa drives of the last 3-4 years, just Ferrari happened to be pretty good in the early part of 2010. And by Germany Massa had dropped behind Alonso in points by 67-98 already anyway. And that was despite Alonso making several mistakes and having the biggest period of underperfoming of his Ferrari career.

Perhaps the best drives of Massa since 2010 have been either China 2011 or Japan 2012.

I think the suggestion that Massa could keep driving for Ferrari in WEC or something like that, sounds sensible.

---

I agree really, I think driving for Ferrari in WEC would be a sensible decision.

Meanwhile seen at FP2:

http://images.f-e-n.net/134494/5721d...87c4dd327b.jpg

:confused: :s tareup:http://i46.tinypic.com/hv9ul3.gif :p :