Silly Season 2013/14

[Sebp]

Good news, at least he's not off the grid. I hope he scores more points alone than the whole Lotus Team put together.

[Kiril Varbanov]

Drink from the source - http://www.forceindiaf1.com/news/detail ... -year-deal

[JimClarkFan]

^At least he is still in F1

but fuuuuuarrrrrkkkkkkk, when he is ever going to get a break

eddie jordon correct again, why do we doubt him.

[wesley123]

Evidently a multi year deal. I understand Nico wanting some stability but really? I suppose that won't matter if Ferrari comes knocking in a year or two.

I don't think any of the big teams would try to contract him anymore.

Hulkenberg might be a bigger talent than Vettel, but he simply missed the boat on that one. Since his debut in F1 in 2010 he drove three seasons for three different teams. A rookie, or a beginning driver needs the stability to fully grow. Hulkenberg did not, instead opting for the best deal possible at the time. He pretty much threw away his learning platform for a better contract for a year, and really. Which of the WDC's have ever switched teams that fast? I cannot think of anyone. They all had multiple years at the same team. Alonso grew with Renault, Hamilton grew with McLaren, Vettel in the Toro Rosso and so on.

Hulkenberg missed the vital experience in a stable platform just to have the better car for the moment, and in my opinion pretty much handicapped his future while doing so.

[JimClarkFan]

Evidently a multi year deal. I understand Nico wanting some stability but really? I suppose that won't matter if Ferrari comes knocking in a year or two.

I don't think any of the big teams would try to contract him anymore.

Hulkenberg might be a bigger talent than Vettel, but he simply missed the boat on that one. Since his debut in F1 in 2010 he drove three seasons for three different teams. A rookie, or a beginning driver needs the stability to fully grow. Hulkenberg did not, instead opting for the best deal possible at the time. He pretty much threw away his learning platform for a better contract for a year, and really. Which of the WDC's have ever switched teams that fast? I cannot think of anyone. They all had multiple years at the same team. Alonso grew with Renault, Hamilton grew with McLaren, Vettel in the Toro Rosso and so on.

Hulkenberg missed the vital experience in a stable platform just to have the better car for the moment, and in my opinion pretty much handicapped his future while doing so.

Vettel left Torro Rosso after 1 season to a better team with Red Bull, Alonso left Manardi after 1 season to move to a better team in Red Bull, and Hamilton was already in arguably the best team when he entered F1.

I attribute zero blame to Nico Hulkenburg, but I completely agree, he could be a bigger talent than Vettel. Like you said, wrong place, at the wrong time.

[SectorOne]

The thing is, Hulkenberg is one of the few that knows the value of his own stock.
It won´t always do him favors but i think he knows his future in Formula 1, whoever it may be with, is certain.

[marcush.]

i don´t think he did wrong at all .
He went to Williams and was pretty much involved in everything long before he drove a race for them ,he bided his time and as he finally got his race deal he delivered -only to get ousted in favour of MrMoneycrashdonado.
He accepted a reservedriverrole with FI to save his career and got a race deal the following year -again fully delivering on his promise.
Now he spent a season with Sauber ,also delivering the goods -I´m sure not even messias himself would have fared any better in this car and he beat both FI drivers as well ....so the decision was not a bad one thanks to the second season half.

What is important -he has not taken any time to adapt integrate and deliver-we have heardof top pilots -namely Hamilton-who admitted to have trouble to adapt to the new team and the material ....Hulk jumps in and is there .

Force India has Mercedes as technical partner -we do not know if DAI has offered anything to VJ to make Nico a bit more of an a ttractive proposition on the commercial side..Paul di Resta may well have brought similar benefits with him ? Maybe we see here a bit of action from Wolff behind the scenes as it is not unlikely that he was a driving force behind the signing of Maldonado and chopping Hulk out -which was a mistake big time.

Mercedes needs to secure talent for a time after Hamilton or Rosberg who both could or could not move on -Honda ,Ferrari ,you never know .

[ringo]

Hulk needs the right management. Maybe flavio or Nick Todt.

[marcush.]

I´d rather say it´s a matter of having a lobby.On the other hand Vettel has not any of that ?
I´d guess a guy like Hulk should be good enough to to be able to use the half chance which now and then arises-and he could win a race for force India already next year..

[NAPI10]

Why FI waiting to confirm Perez? Must be financial negotiations…I don’t see PDR retaining that seat (Sutil is out of question).
Sauber in a complete mess ; neither money nor talent.

[Racer X]

Hulk at Force India. Thats going to be good for both. Cant say i see any bad side for either. I wonder now who will take the second seat. Perez we all expecr but i bet their negotiating the money side of things. Well we will see if FI gets Perez his funds will help build a better car as the season goes on. Which is where FI loses gound as the season moves forward.

So we will see. How it goes.

[ScottB]

Is it not possible that the top teams just don't rate him that highly?

I mean, Mclaren could have went for him last year, or this year. I suppose it could be argued that Perez brought some money, but Magnussen definitely doesn't. Ferrari persevered with Massa, and favoured an aging Kimi.

I'm not saying he isn't good, he undoubtedly is, but perhaps the top teams don't believe him to be a future champion in waiting? Otherwise why haven't they signed him?

[Mandrake]

What is important -he has not taken any time to adapt integrate and deliver-we have heardof top pilots -namely Hamilton-who admitted to have trouble to adapt to the new team and the material ....Hulk jumps in and is there

Totally agree with you on this one Marcus. It's probably his biggest USP. By switching teams he might not have shown consistency regarding his drive, but whereever he went, he got the car to the max. A shame we didn't see him in the Lotus, I have little doubt he would have performed differently than Heikki.

Now let's hope FIndia will "nail" their car under the new rules again, just like in the beginning of this year, then we'll the him challenging for the Top6

[SectorOne]

Is it not possible that the top teams just don't rate him that highly?

I mean, Mclaren could have went for him last year, or this year. I suppose it could be argued that Perez brought some money, but Magnussen definitely doesn't. Ferrari persevered with Massa, and favoured an aging Kimi.

I'm not saying he isn't good, he undoubtedly is, but perhaps the top teams don't believe him to be a future champion in waiting? Otherwise why haven't they signed him?

Mclaren - Perez was on the podium a few times and he had money with him. Hulkenberg had neither.
This year Martin said he made a slight mistake which more or less forced him to bring in Magnussen to Mclaren, the plan was so field him in another team first.

Ferrari - has no money problems so they will go after the creme which undeniably is Raikkonen.

Mercedes - locked in tight

Lotus - Money is priority number 1. So who is the most talented with the biggest wallet, not Hulkenberg.

Red Bull - they have their path with Ricciardo.

[Racer X]

2012 at the end of that season Perez did seem to have alot of potential. Well sponsored and 3 podiums. That has always been something that maid me understand why McLarwn tookhim.given the drivers market at the time.