Kubica's replacement... (It's Heidfeld!)

Renault are truly effed if they cannot get a driver with the testing abilities and experience of a driver like Kimi, Nick or Nico H. I really don't think their army of reserves are up to the task of development. With an auspicious start at the first test, they have to look outside their current line-up. Not saying that they will, but it would be a disaster IMO.

I can even see them poaching a driver like Sutil, Glock, Trulli, or Kovalainen. Either would clamor out of their current contract for a chance to be a regular Q3 participant. For their part, Renault needs a steady, proven professional.

They might do wonders with a guy like Fisichella, who is not past his sell-by date.

No doubt about it--the phones at Renault are ringing off the hook.

Poor Robert! To be trapped in a car with serious injuries for over an hour--must have been excruciatingly painful.

but again hrt is so slow that its pointless which of the teammates is quicker... The cars break half the time and are not consistent to drive at all surely. Senna is not deserving in the sense that hes been around a long time and is consistently quick, but he is deserving in the sense that he was good enough to make to to F1, he deserves a shot in a half decent car to show what hes really got. most everyone else mentioned in this thread has had a shot in a decent car and did nothing special. so its time for another mediocre driver to drive in a mediocre car and get mediocre results! ;) then again maybe he'll surprise us and become another felipe massa. Renault has been a front runner (in the mid pack) ever since 2007... Kubica and alonso had a lucky win or 2 because the circumstances (luck) went their way, but i dont think anyone should expect renault to challenge for wins or even podiums (against mc, ferr, rbr)... no matter the driver.

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Originally Posted by keysersoze

Poor Robert! To be trapped in a car with serious injuries for over an hour--must have been excruciatingly painful.

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Roberts co driver said he (kubica) lost consciousness almost immediately (from the severe pain). wondering if most of that hour he was totally out of it, passed out. in and out of consciousness maybe.

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Originally Posted by Kevincal

but again hrt is so slow that its pointless which of the teammates is quicker... The cars break half the time and are not consistent to drive at all surely.

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That is completely unsubstantiated, and there is nothing to suggest that your statement is remotely true.

Senna got absolutely destroyed by Klien as soon as Klien stepped in the car. As alluring as having a driver named Senna in a Lotus Renault might be for sponsors, I can't see how the equivalent loss of competitiveness throughout the whole year would make it worth it for the Renault team, should Bruno be hired for the entire year.

Raikkonen would be perfect to just come in and drive. But that would mean abandoning the WRC save for Sweden, can't see that happening though. I also can't see Renault paying Raikkonen a lot to bring him in for only a year. But it could be good for Kimi if he would like to go with RBR for 2012.... :vader:
Fisi is the next best choice and with Flav out of the picture he might just make it back and give it one last parting shot before he's gone for good.
NH is the only other viable candidate. Senna would be a good marketing choice, but Renault needs a decent driver which he certainly is not the only thing he has going for him is his name.

Give it 24 hours and we'll start hearing JV rumors again...

My order of preference would be:

Kimi
Nico Hulkenberg
Nick Heidfeld

I doubt Kimi would step in for a 1-year deal in a mid-field team. But it would be good for him. And how awesome would it be to have 6 world champions on the field? Has that ever happened?

My money is on the young guns. Toro Rosso hit a jackpot with Vettel; ditto when Renault chose Fred albeit the 25% to Flav has more to do than anything else. Lets not forget Lewis. The bottom line is, choosing an experienced driver is a damage control measure and may backfire. Fisi was struggling with the Ferrari having won a runner-up position in SPA. The same could be said about De La Rosa in Sauber last season. Hulk is the obvious choice; Chanduk will be a good second choice and maybe Michail Aleshin or Estaban Guerreri. Senna may have an outside chance but I just don't see it in Grosjean. If they really have to go for an experienced driver, Nick is the obvious choice. Fisi will be up to the task even though he hasn't been driving but he knows the team better than any other drivers on the grid. Last but not least, Luca Badoer and Gary Paffet. These guys deserved a chance. If I could have it my way, Kimi's the guy and Massa.

I'd like to see Bruno in a Lotus, people are judging him too harsly based on a single qualifying session. But the best possible choice, I have to admit, is Heidfeld, he is not spectacular, but is extremely consistent. But as I don't like him at all, I prefer Bruno or Grosjean.

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Originally Posted by foxystoat

May aswell get Mansell back as Jacques !
I hope they go with Heidfeld or try and loan Hulkenberg from Force India or even Chandhok.

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Of the above probably the only one worth taking a chance on over Jaques would be Hulkenberg. I can't understand the continued interest on this forum for Heidfield - Simply he has not won sh!t and he has had some decent cars. Jacques is much better than Nick and has much more knowledge of set up. JV would not wad up your cars and the media would be worth the price. But knowing renault they will pick a loser and blame the whole season on Kubica injuries.

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Originally Posted by Roamy

Of the above probably the only one worth taking a chance on over Jaques would be Hulkenberg. I can't understand the continued interest on this forum for Heidfield - Simply he has not won sh!t and he has had some decent cars. Jacques is much better than Nick and has much more knowledge of set up. JV would not wad up your cars and the media would be worth the price. But knowing renault they will pick a loser and blame the whole season on Kubica injuries.

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I can't understand the continued interest on this forum for Jaques he was hopeless in his last years in formula 1 & its now 6 years since he was in a car making him nearly 40. If he was slow and getting beaten by teammates at 33 & 34 he is going to be even worse now. His time is long gone look how Schumacher struggled last year after a couple of years out the car & that was with him finishing at the top of his game not at the bottom.
I would take Senna /Grosjean ahead of Jaques they would destroy him & they are no where near good enough to be Renault's lead driver, if they aren't careful they will end up right down the grid purely down to drivers. Heidfeld at least would give them some idea of the pace of the car & score regular points even if he isn't spectacular.

There's still uncertainly about the likely length of Kubica's absence, so I imagine the situation will become clearer as he recovers. As has been said, Senna is an ideal short-term replacement - as well as a marketing wet dream - so I would predict they start the season with him and see (a) how he performs and (b) how Robert recovers.

If Bruno does the business then there's no need to replace him; if he's hopeless and Kubica looks like being absent for the long-haul then Renault can look for a replacement.

The inevitable talks of Villeneuve by a couple of old-timers who can't let go is laughable: there are dozens of better drivers available without resorting to someone who hasn't been any good for over a decade.