Less than three months before the start of the 2011 FIA Formula One World Championship, there are still 4 seats available in the pinnacle of motorsport. At the moment, there are 3 new names on the grid in 2011: Jérôme D'Ambrosio, Sergio Pérez and Pastor Maldonado.
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segedunum wrote:There's already talk that Renault could go with someone more 'experienced' than Senna. Who that is one cannot say. However, unless Renault can find someone to drive the wheels off that car like Kubica then their hard work and hopes could all unravel.
That's why i bet renault woun't think twice about spending some budget getting "the" driver for the job.
With Kubica seemingly out of the frame for possibly the whole year, they really are in the hunt for a 1-year-contract racedriver, aren't they? That opens up a whole new region of possibilities. They could choose to not honor Senna as the substitute seeing as the term would be a year.
It will have to be either Heidfeld or Raikkonen, no messing. Renault have a great, great deal riding on getting some success this year and Senna and Petrov don't cut it. None of their reserve drivers were intended to be a replacement for Kubica and whoever comes in needs to have the experience to drop right into what Kubica was doing.
Kimi doesn't want to return though.
If he was up to fitness psychologically and physically, i would like to see him in the car as well.
But i don't think the motivation is there for him to be on top of his game in F1 again.
Heidfeld looks like a sharper, race ready driver at the moment. Or even fisichella who can do well with a good car.
If we ignore our own desire though, Senna is actually the man in line to take the seat. Boulier made it clear when he put Senna as 3rd driver, i don't think he'll renege on the deal an his word.
Yes, but in a sense, don't they now need a 2nd/1st driver, and not a 3rd driver?
On the Kimi thing, isn't Kimi his own team boss now in WRC? Iceman Racing or somesuch name?
If it were me, I'd bring in Heidfeld for the next test. There's far too many new parts on the car to develop at this point to trust the job to the relatively inexperienced. I'd switch between Heidfeld and Petrov (given his experience with the team) and evaluate the situation then.
I think nowadays the reserve driver thing is a bit fake. Anyways their situation is not to have a driver to stand in in-case someone has a bad flu, we are now talking at least about a whole season here.
Raikonnen will not be Kubica's replacment. He has stated previously that he has no wish at present to return to F1 and is having too much fun rallying.
Of all the drivers available to Renault Senna is the only sensible option. Having raced last yer he will be up to race speed and fitness a hell of a lot quicker than Grojean, who relative to other drivers wasn't all that great anyway.
Kimi Raikkonen = Good and fast driver, however has said he is done with F1 and has a WRC program to run. Not run in 2010. Odds:4/10
Nick Heidfeld = Proven quality driver, run in 2010 has Pirelli milage. However not a race winner in over 190 GPs. Odds: 6/10
Pedro De La Rosa = Quality tester, has Pirelli milage, and has run in 2010. However no win in 12 years driving. Odds 5/10
Bruno Senna = Has driven in 2010, however that was for Hispania, unproven in a quality car. Marketing mans choice. Odds 8/10.
Romain Grosjean = Last driven in 2009, is he a team leader, has Pirelli milage from GP2 testing. Odds: 7/10
Nico Hulkenberg = Driven in 2010, has Pirelli milage, talented, possibly not leader quality yet. Force India settlement needed. Odds: 7/10
Adrian Sutil = Quick, pirelli milage, lacks technical knowledge however. Can lead a team. Force India Settlement needed. Odds 7/10
Tonio Liuzzi = Technically on the money, not a proven team leader, Pirelli milage. Free agent. Odds: 8/10
Mark Webber = Can lead a team, race winner, pirelli milage. Would he give up a Newey car??? Odds 6/10
One thing is for sure, renault have limited choices and limited time to get a driver, and get him time in the R31. They need a decision tomorrow many have reported, as they will neat a seat fit then as well ideally, as if the seat fit is on Wednesday, the driver will more or less let a day go by to Senna who will have a seat ready for Saturdays running as it was to Petrov Thursday/Friday and Kubica on Saturday/Sunday. Id recon that program is now looking like Vitally remaining on his days with Senna & Grosjean splitting the weekend running.
