Silly Season 2013 - 2014. Predicting the 2014 Grid

RtN · PostPosted: Mon Sep 23, 2013 12:08 pm

Apparently Eddie Jordan gave a prediction of the 2014 grid during the qualifying show this past weekend.

Having seen it typed up, most of it seems very conservative; almost all the seats which aren't confirmed he either puts the driver already there back in (Grosjean, Gutierrez, both Williams drivers, both Caterham and Marussia drivers), or he gives multiple choices (he lists 3 drivers who could replace Raikkonen, for example).

This conservative pattern has one notable exception; di Resta is not listed as a Force India driver. Jordan believes that Sutil will retain his seat and Hulk and Felipe will fight over the other. It seems to me to be a very bold prediction when compared with the rest of the grid, and of course, it was Eddie's team. Does he know something that we don't?

Gaara · PostPosted: Mon Sep 23, 2013 12:57 pm

Could be that Di Resta's had enough of the idiocy there?

kals · PostPosted: Mon Sep 23, 2013 1:37 pm

I cannot see Di Resta ending up elsewhere, unless McLaren dump Button for 2014. Which is 99.9% not going to happen.

Tobias · PostPosted: Thu Oct 10, 2013 9:29 am

Quote:

Villeneuve urges Sauber to hire Barrichello
9 October, 2013

Former F1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve has urged Sauber to think again after the Swiss team ruled out signing veteran Rubens Barrichello for 2014.

Team boss Monisha Kaltenborn in Korea quashed rumours Brazilian that veteran Barrichello could mount his return to Formula 1 next year with Sauber, with the help of an eight-figure sponsorship purse.

1997 world champion Villeneuve, however, said Sauber should not dismiss the former Ferrari and Williams driver so hastily.

“Rubens would be worth considering,” he is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport.

“Why would a team boss ignore the experience factor so easily? 2014 will be a complex year,” said the French Canadian.

“Barrichello would always be better than [Esteban] Gutierrez,” Villeneuve insisted. “What has he given to Sauber until now? Nothing. Look at him compared to Hulkenberg.”

Outspoken Villeneuve, now a Formula 1 television pundit, also recently chided the talents of Caterham’s Charles Pic.

On French television, it was put to Villeneuve – a staunch critic of ‘pay-drivers’ – that Frenchman Pic had denied that he is in fact a pay-driver.

Villeneuve hit back: “Then he should explain why he and not Kovalainen is in that car.”

Finn Heikki Kovalainen, in the running to return to the race seat in 2014, will in fact be driving Pic’s car in Friday morning practice at Suzuka. (GMM)

kals · PostPosted: Thu Oct 10, 2013 1:26 pm

Quote:

F1 fans urge Villenueve to f*ck off!

Bleu · PostPosted: Thu Oct 10, 2013 9:28 pm

I wonder why this candidate didn't come to Villeneuve's mind when talking about experienced drivers.

RtN · PostPosted: Sun Oct 13, 2013 4:22 pm

@CroftyF1 wrote:

Hulk to Ferrari. Alonso to McLaren. Chilton to Force India. Magnussen to Marussia

David Croft has either gone tonto or is playing a joke on his followers.

kals · PostPosted: Sun Oct 13, 2013 5:01 pm

3/4 of that I approve of.

Fish88 · PostPosted: Sun Oct 13, 2013 5:04 pm

Chilton to Force India, hahahahahahaha. That one made me laugh the most.

RtN · PostPosted: Sun Oct 13, 2013 5:06 pm

Herbert retweeted it and also added Massa to Lotus.

kals · PostPosted: Sun Oct 13, 2013 5:14 pm

Tobias has posted the Massa to Lotus link a few times in the past couple of weeks.

phil1993 · PostPosted: Sun Oct 13, 2013 6:22 pm

EJ also seemed to suggest that Maldonado's relationship with Williams has broken down. Although PDVSA is tied in to Williams until the end of 2015.

There's just several permutations - If Alonso really is off to McLaren in 2014 then it frees up the seat for Hulkenberg. Similarly, without the dire need for sponsorship courtesy of Honda's return, McLaren may opt to tell Perez to sling it and sign Hulkenberg.

Seems funny that outside of the top four, only Pic and Bianchi have been officially confirmed for 2014.

RtN · PostPosted: Thu Oct 17, 2013 9:16 pm

Di Resta's manager adds weight to EJ's assertion posted further up the page.

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/o ... CMP=twt_gu

StanV · PostPosted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 11:05 am

Stoffel Vandoorne has revealed in the Belgian press that STR contacted him in September to be a 1-year replacement for Ricciardo. He has refused (courtesy of his management) to focus on a McLaren-future. Most likely he's going for an extra F3.5 season m, eyeing the championship. No GP2 as, and I quote: "McLaren doesn't feel anything for that category". Being reservedriver is another option.

Fish88 · PostPosted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 11:07 am

StanV wrote:

Stoffel Vandoorne has revealed in the Belgian press that STR contacted him in September to be a 1-year replacement for Ricciardo back. He has refused (courtesy of his management) to focus on a McLaren-future. Most likely he's going for an extra F3.5 season m, eyeing the championship. No GP2 as, and I quote: "McLaren doesn't feel anything for that category". Being reservedriver is another option.

That doesn't show very much confidence in the drivers they currently have in their driver development program (Da Costa) if true.

ellis · PostPosted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 11:45 am

di Restas issue is perception. When Force India doesn't balls things up, he actually does really well. But when they balls it up, he gets vocal about it. He has the right to be vocal about it, but its maybe not the smartest thing because it makes him look like he's complaining too much. He might have the right to do it, but really, it isn't that smart. Combine that with a rather bland personality and the perception of him is poor.

Compare that to Sutil - the perception is he's brilliant. Look at Australia when he ran at the front. But the reality is that strategy was stupid and he was always going to fall back. When the strategy played out, he was only 2 seconds ahead of di Resta, in a slower car at that point. Paul was told not to overtake him. So really, di Restas strategy/drive was better at Australia, but Sutils drive was praised. Similarly, Sutil isn't complaining when Force India balls it all up. He could do, but he isn't.

Perception is king. The reason Paul has more points is he's a better driver. But the perception is Sutil is doing a better job.

Gaara · PostPosted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 1:30 pm

Di Resta has messed up plenty of times on his own when FI hasn't buggered things up.

kals · PostPosted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 1:37 pm

Di Resta has screwed up no more than any other driver on the grid. Plus no-one is saying he's 100% foolproof. Anyway, FI have screwed him (and Sutil) over with dumb strategy much more than Di Resta has made his own mistakes.

Gaara · PostPosted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 1:53 pm

What counts against Di Resta were those three straight retirements that were down to his mistakes.

Tobias · PostPosted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 2:19 pm

and what about those countless mistakes by his team that, if they hadn't happened, should have seen him score good points?

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Silly Season 2013 - 2014. Predicting the 2014 Grid

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