I can't believe that Force India and Caterham are yet to release who will be driving for 2013. We are approximately 2 weeks away from cars starting to be released!
I might be missing something - but - what is the connection between Bernie and increase of pay drivers? " title="hmm" />
From my best knowledge F1 is cheaper for teams now than it was 10 years ago when there were less pay drivers. The problem for teams is not really Bernie, but lack of companies that have a lot of money to blow on advertising and promotion. and it is less to do with Bernie, more with general economic situation and more strict legislation (in terms of alcohol and tobacco).
good example - Williams. They were in shit situation for many years (in terms of WCC) but RBS was supporting them with generous contracts for no particular reason apart from vanity of RBS CEO. Then RBS went bust. so the contract had to end.
Vodafone - very rich company, but cutting their motorsport contracts now. So we might see even McLaren having troubles with money.
Honda, Toyota, BMW left sport - little to do with Bernie. it was their own agenda and direction. Well actually evil dwarf always told us not to rely on big motor companies.
And all this has little to do with Bernie (can't believe I am almost defending him )
Bernie actually should get a credit for making F1 more visible, increasing audience with right TV contracts and by this maintaining interest from those sponsors that decide to invest in ads in F1
Back to Heikki - he is a fantastic guy. But there is no such profession - 'fantastic guy'. He needs to be one step higher in his talent for someone paying him in current situation. it is not the first time when he knew that situation was against him. Once it was McLaren calling him. Another time he got in Caterham who expected to have 40mil budget cap. In McLaren he didn't perform as it was expected. In Caterham - budget cap never happened (and it was 3 years ago). 3 years - enough time to realise that if you are not top driver, you might need to pay. Heidfeld was a good example and warning for many.
I bet one of the reasons Glok is still in Marussia - he is not saying in every interview 'I will not pay'.
I also feel that the increase in pay drivers has more to do with the economic situation coupled with lack of sponsors (which is also directly related to the poor economic situation). Some teams seem immune to the situation currently. Ferrari seem to sell as many road cars as they can build. And in fact have a 'waiting list' that most people can't even get their name on for a new car. It also helps that they arguably have the largest fan base in the world. Which would make sponsoring their team more attractive. Red Bull also seems immune. The Austrian-based energy drink giant must be making some serious cash. Rumour in the paddock is " title="rb" /> has the largest workforce and is the greatest spender for their F1 program.
I have to agree with D that Bernie has actually tried to help this situation. There have been multiple meetings with team principles in regards to cost cutting in the sport.
but this increase in pay drivers is annoying...what really hit me was that Kamui could not get a seat...and really, what will happen when this generation of talents goes away? do we see a new generation coming in? " title="dunno" />
ZitatDenorth wrote: Back to Heikki - he is a fantastic guy. But there is no such profession - 'fantastic guy'. He needs to be one step higher in his talent for someone paying him in current situation. it is not the first time when he knew that situation was against him. Once it was McLaren calling him. Another time he got in Caterham who expected to have 40mil budget cap. In McLaren he didn't perform as it was expected. In Caterham - budget cap never happened (and it was 3 years ago). 3 years - enough time to realise that if you are not top driver, you might need to pay. Heidfeld was a good example and warning for many.
I didn't mean that Heikki should get the seat only because he is a good guy! It is about what Gascoine said about Heikki, that he didn't show enough respect to the team. It is BS! Maybe Heikki's Management company was too aggressive trying to get him to a bigger team. " title="dunno" /> I think that every driver wants to be in a big team that can provide a good car.
At McLaren Heikki was in Hamilton's shadow. I remember the MTV3 guys say in every guali:" Again the made Heikki drive with a heavy car (full tank of petrol)."They treated him as the sedond driver. " title="angry" /> " title="sad" />
I haven't lost all hope for Heikki yet! " title="pray" />
Suomileijona, of course you didn't. and my post wasn't about what you said. more about my personal view. and I agree he is a great guy. but he didn't really outperform Petrov (what I want to say - he did, but not by a good margin) this year and I think it might show his current level, since Petov was always considered ... a bit ... average (although I think he did quite well for a guy who didn't go through normal karting route, it is just not enough to fight on the edge of performance fighting for 0.001 like top guys constantly do). and this, plus current difficulty with the economy gives a difficult situation for a team and drivers. BUT - when it was easy to find sponsors for bottom 2 teams? Actually - never. I think that in this situation loyalty (even if in interviews mainly) is a big thing, since team CAN chose and driver usually not. And it was may be one to many interviews when he was talking that he wouldn't pay, without outstanding performance on the track to interest the team.
thank you, Olga. not saying that I know the truth sometimes I have quite complex chain of thoughts (not flawless ) that is difficult to explain and others are out of patience before I even express the way I think. Even my wife " title="ha" /> Plus, often when I start expressing something it give the impression (in the beginning) of the opposite to the actual conclusion that I intend to say. May be I am just full of BS " title="ha" /> " title="ha" /> and like talking just for sake of talking
I'm not thinking which driver deserves the seat. I wish the that the team would choose Heikki. " title="pray" />
I think that there shouldn't be any paying drivers st all. Mka Salo said it well: "Everyone else in the teams gets paid, why should the drivers be paying for driving in the teams!"
ZitatPedro de la Rosa 'can't wait' to start Ferrari Formula 1 role By Pablo Elizalde Wednesday, January 16th 2013, 12:59 GMT
Pedro de la Rosa says he is extremely motivated by his new role at the Ferrari team after being signed as a development driver for the 2013 Formula 1 season.
De la Rosa joins friends and fellow Spaniards Fernando Alonso and Marc Gene at the Maranello squad after being left without a racing seat when the HRT team failed to find a buyer at the end of 2012.
The 41-year-old Catalan will assist Ferrari with its simulation programme, and he admitted he cannot wait to get started.
"It is amazingly motivating to be working for a team like Ferrari, not just because of what it represents in the history of Formula 1 and motoring in general, but also because it will be a completely new and very stimulating experience for me," said de la Rosa.
"I really hope I can get to work as soon as possible and to help in the development of the car. I am happy to be collaborating with Fernando again and also to be working with Felipe [Massa].
"There's not much time until Australia, but there is a lot to do and I am available to help the team from right now."
De la Rosa has a total of 104 grand prix starts to his name, with his best result a second place in the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix, where he raced a McLaren.
DE LA ROSA'S F1 CAREER
1998: Becomes Jordan test driver after winning Formula 3, Formula Nippon and Super GT titles in Japan.
1999-2000: Arrows race driver.
2001-2002: Starts '01 as Prost test driver before replacing Luciano Burti at Jaguar from Spanish Grand Prix.
2003-2009: McLaren test driver. Makes several starts in place of Juan Pablo Montoya in 2005 and '06, and takes first podium in Hungary '06.
2010: Makes surprise racing return with Sauber, but dropped after Italian GP.
2011: Becomes test driver for Pirelli for a spell, before rejoining McLaren as reserve. Makes a one-off return to a Sauber race seat to deputise for injured Sergio Perez in Canada.
2012: Back on the grid again with HRT, but team folds at end of season.
Heikki Kovalainen says he is still negotiating with Caterham for a chance to remain with the outfit for 2013, despite Mike Gascoyne's recent comments.
The team's chief technical officer claims the Finn hasn't done himself any favours in securing a seat, and should have shown more respect, rather than focusing on a move to a top team.
Kovalainen though brushed the comments aside and insists he will remain friends with Gascoyne.
"I have always had a good relationship with Mike, and will continue to do so", he told Finnish station MTV3. "Mike is experienced and professional, and I've worked with him for a long time."
Talking about his prospects, he says he is still negotiating with those that make the final decision.
"Fact. I do not negotiate with him [Gascoyne] I talk to Tony Fernandes and Cyril Abiteboul.
"Right now we continue the negotiations and I think of nothing other than Formula 1, so let us first play the game until the end and when we know the outcome, we can think about the next steps."
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Mon Jan 14, 2013 3:36 pm
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