2011-12 Silly Season

Post by **phil1993** » 09 Dec 2011, 07:29

Makes us look good as I said on Twitter last night he was signed

Also, I swear I have missed every driver announcement so far through being out or asleep

Mar · Post by **Mar** » 09 Dec 2011, 08:06

I don't like this news

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to see the kid back in F1, I think he deserves a 2nd chance. But having Boullier as his team boss and manager makes me very nervous. I don't know if that could end up being a nightmare for Kimi, for Grosjean or for both of them, but the conflict of interests for Boullier is evident.

After the crash-gate, the FIA promised they were going to take measurements so this never happened again. And it happens again in the same team!

François · Post by **François** » 09 Dec 2011, 08:13

That's fantastic news, very excited about it!

It's great for Grosjean, a talented guy with a lot of potential; he'd better impress, though: he's gotten a well-deserved second chance but he might not get a third one, especially at Lopez-Boullier GP where drivers always seem to be on ejection seats.

It's also fantastic for the sport's french viewers and broadcasters. We hadn't had a Frenchman in a team capable of scoring half-decent results since... Alesi at Jordan in 2001? Panis at Prost GP in 1997? Or, arguably, Bourdais in 2008 (but the good results didn't come from his side of the garage). It's good that the country doesn't lose touch with the sport (since the French GP is totally not happening, and Renault is not quite Renault anymore).

It's also good for LRGP, it seems at least that this winter's driver decisions were that of a top outfit, gambling on good drivers to deliver good results and keep the sponsors coming. Sucks for Petrov but with increasing russian involvement in the sport, he should find his way back somehow; as for Bruno Senna, it looks like he won't remain onboard, not even as a third driver. He rightfully took his second chance when offered but, in a very tricky situation (ask GRO how he feels about joining an ailing outfit mid-season with the ban on testing...) he failed to impress sufficiently, arguably making one too many mistake on his last race at Interlagos. I don't think he'll get a third opportunity now, hard luck.

Lastly, it's good for F1Zone who took quite a gamble by announcing it early yesterday, even though it was specified as a "report"!

iceman1 · Post by **iceman1** » 09 Dec 2011, 08:33

I am happy for him. He deserves another chance after a great 2011 season.

This time i posted the news on the site only 4 minutes after the official announcement

Romain Grosjean confirmed at Lotus - Interview (09.12.2011)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... redirect=1

Adam · Post by **Adam** » 09 Dec 2011, 09:32

Feel happy for the guy despite that I slightly liked Petrov. His first chance in F1 wasn't really fair taking into account he got thrown mid-season to the car (and partnering a driver like Alonso). Hope he has a nice future in F1

Post by **KevC** » 09 Dec 2011, 09:58

The musical chairs continue then

I would think Petrov and Senna are speeding to Frank Williams' door as we speak. I think sadly it'll mean we've seen the last of Rubens. He deserved a proper send off from the pit lane rather than just being left without a seat in the off season.

Another possibility though is that Toro Rosso might want to take them both. Buemi and Algesuari have hardly set the F1 world alight.

frubbs · Post by **frubbs** » 09 Dec 2011, 12:19

It is a fair decision.
Senna had his chance, started well, but then made more mistakes than he should.

I think he should try to stay as 3rd driver. He will not find a seat in other team at this point of the silly season...

sleenster · Post by **sleenster** » 09 Dec 2011, 14:40

Boullier had to get his way with Grosjean since he had no say in the Raikkonen decision

On the face of it, Raikkonen and Grosjean seem to be a great line-up, a former world champion and a GP2 champion. But the thing is that neither one of them have actually driven full time in F1 within the past 2 years...

iceman1 · Post by **iceman1** » 09 Dec 2011, 16:00

Petrov is not happy

François · Post by **François** » 09 Dec 2011, 17:00

Kevin Clark wrote:Another possibility though is that Toro Rosso might want to take them both. Buemi and Algesuari have hardly set the F1 world alight.

I wouldn't think of it as a possibility for Petrov or Senna. The main purpose of STR is to allow promising members of the Red Bull junior driver programme to graduate into F1, and then to RBR if they turn out to have spectacular talent. It seems Red Bull are already trying to promote Ricciardo and Vergne to full-time F1 seats for next season, and debating whether to oust current STR drivers to make room; hiring "outside" drivers at STR would make no sense.

Post by **phil1993** » 09 Dec 2011, 20:04

I just find this musical chairs game incredible. Vitaly Petrov is a pay driver. He's alright, not great and got 2 years.

But Jaime Alguersuari is 21 years old. He's still incredibly young yet he may well end up on the scrapheap. It's mental. Give these guys time.

And RoGro deserves his shot
http://www.f1zone.net/news/grosjean-des ... nce/10941/

donald29 · Post by **donald29** » 11 Dec 2011, 10:30

http://youtu.be/gfQAEq55Gzw

Mar · Post by **Mar** » 11 Dec 2011, 21:41

f1enigma says Bianchi could get the 3rd driver seat in Force India

frubbs · Post by **frubbs** » 12 Dec 2011, 12:26

Mar wrote:f1enigma says Bianchi could get the 3rd driver seat in Force India

i thought Hulk would be it...

Post by **KevC** » 12 Dec 2011, 14:15

Hulk is likely to get a proper drive, not be the reserve.

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2011-12 Silly Season

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