Disappointing Drivers

Paul Hayes · Post by **Paul Hayes** » 20 Oct 2009, 17:04

Heidfeld, sadly, does fall into this category I suppose. I have always liked him, and always thought he'd be a winner, but it's never quite come together for him. I hope he does find a drive for next year.

Trulli is probably another one from the same ilk - remember when he stood in for Panis at Prost in 1997, and was greatly feted by all and sundry.

jonnyeol · Post by **jonnyeol** » 21 Oct 2009, 21:56

Phoenix wrote:Probably the biggest dissapointing ever would be Ricardo Rosset.

Yes, he was 2nd in Formula 3000 in 1995 (admittedly quite a weak year for the series) and the F1 mags were rating him quite highly pre-1996 season. It never happened, did it?

I'd cautiously mention Karl Wendlinger, who was able to beat Schumacher in junior fomulae, but never managed to recover from his Monaco 1994 accident.

Post by **DemocalypseNow** » 21 Oct 2009, 22:05

jonnyeol wrote:
Phoenix wrote:Probably the biggest dissapointing ever would be Ricardo Rosset.

Yes, he was 2nd in Formula 3000 in 1995 (admittedly quite a weak year for the series) and the F1 mags were rating him quite highly pre-1996 season. It never happened, did it?

What about Vincenzo Sospiri, the person who beat Rosset to said championship? Was he rated highly at all?

noisebox · Post by **noisebox** » 21 Oct 2009, 22:22

How about Marco Apicella - he spent forever in F3000, finally got his F1 shot at Monza for Jordan, all going well so far... only to get swiped at the first chicane on the first lap and never race in F1 again! More like a disappointing career I guess, but worth a mention.

noisebox · Post by **noisebox** » 21 Oct 2009, 22:24

Phoenix wrote:Probably the biggest dissapointing ever would be Ricardo Rosset.
Nick Heidfeld could also fall into this category.

I have to disagree with you on Heidfeld, I've always rated him. He's almost always had very quick team mates and never shown himself up against them. I think given the right car he is still a potential race winner. If I was running one of the new teams he'd be top of my list.

midgrid · Post by **midgrid** » 22 Oct 2009, 13:54

kostas22 wrote:
jonnyeol wrote:
Phoenix wrote:Probably the biggest dissapointing ever would be Ricardo Rosset.

Yes, he was 2nd in Formula 3000 in 1995 (admittedly quite a weak year for the series) and the F1 mags were rating him quite highly pre-1996 season. It never happened, did it?

What about Vincenzo Sospiri, the person who beat Rosset to said championship? Was he rated highly at all?

Not particularly highly, as it took him four years to win the title. The mid-1990s was probably the worst period in International F3000's history for drivers failing to progress to F1, or failing to make any further progress if they did.

Phoenix · Post by **Phoenix** » 22 Oct 2009, 14:25

noisebox wrote:
Phoenix wrote:Probably the biggest dissapointing ever would be Ricardo Rosset.
Nick Heidfeld could also fall into this category.

I have to disagree with you on Heidfeld, I've always rated him. He's almost always had very quick team mates and never shown himself up against them. I think given the right car he is still a potential race winner. If I was running one of the new teams he'd be top of my list.

Yah, for sure, because he's a very safe driver. Problem is, he's just that, a safe driver, somewaht fast, but he also was far too "shy" to put real fights for winning races when he had a good car. He's more a defence driver than an overtaker. And having quick teammates is not an excuse, he's an elite sportsman.

And I give another two well-known names for the list: Michael Andretti and the post-1997 Villeneuve.

Collieafc · Post by **Collieafc** » 24 Oct 2009, 00:03

Until this year I would have said Jenson Button...

But I would agree with Trulli, Fisi, Frenzen, Montoya as well. I will also be controversial and say Jacques Villeneuve too. The fact he didnt lead a single lap after winning the 1997 title makes you wonder just how much of it was down to the car.

I will also say Nico Rosberg too...

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 24 Oct 2009, 11:46

Collieafc wrote:I will also say Nico Rosberg too...

If Rosberg doesn't achieve next year... then I'lll be forced to agree. I did always have optimism for Button, though, feeling that he ever had a good car, then he would do it...

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 24 Oct 2009, 12:43

dr-baker wrote:
Collieafc wrote:I will also say Nico Rosberg too...

If Rosberg doesn't achieve next year... then I'lll be forced to agree. I did always have optimism for Button, though, feeling that he ever had a good car, then he would do it...

IMO, I think Rosberg's quite similar to Button in that regard. If he gets a car that suits him, he'll do the business.

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 24 Oct 2009, 16:19

BlindCaveSalamander wrote:
dr-baker wrote:
Collieafc wrote:I will also say Nico Rosberg too...

If Rosberg doesn't achieve next year... then I'lll be forced to agree. I did always have optimism for Button, though, feeling that he ever had a good car, then he would do it...

IMO, I think Rosberg's quite similar to Button in that regard. If he gets a car that suits him, he'll do the business.

Pretty much the point I was trying to make. Cheers!

GinShaiman · Post by **GinShaiman** » 24 Oct 2009, 22:30

Martin Brundle (except 2nd half of '92)
What if he hadn't smashed up his feet in '84?
What if he'd been given a decent car?
What if Flav kept him on for '93?
Undoubtably a great racer if not a great qualifier (except in sports cars) one wonders how much '84's Dallas accident hampered the rest of his F1 career.
He performed miracles at Tyrell, Brabham, Zakspeed and Ligier but never really got a decent shot in the top flight. He was at Maclaren at the wrong time and was replaced at a rising Benetton by a fading Patrese.

rffp · Post by **rffp** » 24 Oct 2009, 22:39

Back in 1989, there was one guy that caught my eye in the early races. In San Marino he did a great qualifying and placed his car in the top-10 while his veteran teammate that was once a championship contender DNQed. He did a some good races in the 1st half of that season before equalling his teammate in utter mediocrity and car smashing.

Well, that guy was Olivier Grouillard...

No comments!

midgrid · Post by **midgrid** » 26 Oct 2009, 19:35

Grouillard's an odd one - in the 1989 edition of AUTOCOURSE, the Brazilian race report says something like "Ligier have uncovered a real gem in this young Frenchman" and the first few races continue in that vein as he comprehensively outperforms Arnoux, but by the end of the season he's turned into another backmarker, anonymous but for his habit of baulking the leaders.

Bleu · Post by **Bleu** » 27 Oct 2009, 16:51

Young...he turned 31 late in his debut season.

midgrid · Post by **midgrid** » 28 Oct 2009, 19:16

I guess Alan Henry forgot about that when he wrote the report... :lol:

DonTirri · Post by **DonTirri** » 02 Nov 2009, 09:13

From a Finn point of view you must say Salo.

at F3 he was racing head to head with Häkkinen, some rated him even higher than the other mika abilitywise.
but then he went DUI, lost his chance to drive in F1 in 91, went to japan for few years and emerged from a career of momentary flashes but general mediocrity in Lotus, Tyrrell, Arrows, BAR, Ferrari (HE DESERVED THAT WIN DAMMIT!), Sauber and Toyota.

and to imagine... they really DID rate him higher than häkkinen once upon a time.

Bleu · Post by **Bleu** » 02 Nov 2009, 10:48

Salo's F1 career went badly wrong when he made that move to Arrows. He had other options which mostly would have been better.

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