2013 Formula One Discussion

[phil1993]

Yeah, 2014 is obviously a concern for them, especially as they don't currently have an engine contract. Razia is an experienced head though - even if he is a rookie! - and he's very good at saving tyres.

[mikhailv]

All I can say is, Caterham should have a walk in the park to 10th place. Pic, albeit a single year, wasnt half bad in the Marussia. He alone could secure 10th on a good race, the Caterham will be better than the Marussia.

This is the only reason I dont like the last 3 teams, they arent there to win, they know it, they arent even there to move forward because they cant afford to and STR arent meant to. Its harsh, but Minardi had morals, and they were a team you could really root for, a charm, personality.

Same with Jordan; Williams have become the new jordan really in the sense of willing a midfield on.

[Edi96]

Don't underestimate Marussia. They will improve thanks to KERS and have some decent engineers. Hopefully they won't get into financial troubles.

[phil1993]

QPR today spent £12m on a defender, who they'll pay about £80,000 a week.

What a shame that money can't be spent on Caterham.

[Edi96]

QPR has to avoid relegation. In PL they get about £42million from TV money. Losing that would almost kill the club and therefore I completely understand why Tony goes all-in. He has to invest right now. Otherwise the money he already spent is gone. (Samba is a great addition to the squad and an excellent replacement for Ryan Nelsen).

Caterham's budget should be ok thanks to the 10th place and Charles Pic.

[mikhailv]

Don't underestimate Marussia. They will improve thanks to KERS and have some decent engineers. Hopefully they won't get into financial troubles.

I think the problem with Marussia is, Richard Branson created it as a toy. He was saying that he was paying far too much per race sponsoring brawn, £250k a race, and it lasted what, 15 races? so thats £3.75k? Yet he went and funded 40 million minimum for Marussia and got zero from it? Fool. They were all brought under false pretenses of £40mil budget cap.

I feel sorry for the workers, i really do because they dont come to F1 to fail. They probably get paid pittance compared to some and they work their arses just as hard as RBR do I suspect. But they just shouldnt be there.

And I agree phil, £12millions plus at least 52 times 80k, thats another £4.1million. 16 million could get Caterham then half a second leap onto STR.

But as Edi said, QPR face extreme losses should they fail. In a way, its like saying that Mallya shouldve sold Kingfisher airlines and used the money to give FI a budget like Ferrari.

[phil1993]

Van der Garde confirmed at Caterham.

[donald29]

Unsurprising, but a shame.

[majidasadi]

well then,both Caterham and Marussia are going radical in terms of driver line-up,seems like they are not thinking about 2013,I think the battle of these two teams will be more exciting than ever,the gap between the two teams will be very narrow this season.

[phil1993]

The elephant in the room at Force India
http://www.f1zone.net/news/force-indias ... oom/17587/

And I'm the one laughing at 1:36 (in red)


The guy in the next shot is old forum member @TommyB89 who now runs WTF1, give him a follow

[donald29]

Hulkenberg really is a massive coup for Sauber. I think they've signed the most likely future WDC.

[phil1993]

Driver turnaround in 2013 is astonishing.

Only 8 drivers have raced in more than 2 full seasons.

Hulkenberg, Perez, di Resta and Maldonado are entering their 3rd season
Grosjean, Ricciardo starting their 2nd full season, have done half a season extra
Pic, Vergne starting their 2nd season
Van der Garde, Bottas, Chilton, Gutierrez (Razia and Bianchi probably) are rookies.

That's an astonishing and worrying turnaround of drivers. To me, the likes of Vettel still seem fairly new - easy to forget this is only his 6th full season!

F1 has a very good crop of top drivers, but the frequent change means some slip through the radar without a shot - which is worrying.

[Vlad-SRB]

Well, at least we'll see loads of crashing!

[tderias]

Its good news and bad news really. Its good news for the GP2 folk. I don't reckon we've had that much promotions from feeder series in the 2000s as much as we've seen in the past 3 years

[marcus666]

Ok, Im quite curious... ...what will happen to Kova, Petrov and Senna?? Even if I want Kova in FI it doesn't look quite realistic right now. But where else? Shall they all join Mercedes DTM team? or any FIA WEC Team?