2014 Silly Season Thread

SgtPepper · Post by **SgtPepper** » 24 Jan 2014, 10:48

Ferrim wrote:Final nail in the 2014 Silly Season: Eric Boullier joins McLaren as a new team principal.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/112254

Thread-ending event as I ever saw one.

Well I didn't see THAT coming!

Yannick · Post by **Yannick** » 24 Jan 2014, 10:48

Ferrim wrote:Final nail in the 2014 Silly Season: Eric Boullier joins McLaren as a new team principal.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/112254

Thread-ending event as I ever saw one.

Wow. That really makes you wonder what's going on at Enstone. Who is going to fill the void Eric Boullier has left? Somebody from within the team? Or a former team principal (Flavio Briatore? David Richards? Colin Kolles even?)

Looks like GenII Capital Racing does not spell Capital with a capital C anymore. I hope ProDrive picks up the team when it becomes available for the symbolic 1 Pound Sterling. They should start looking for sponsors for next season now already.

roblo97 · Post by **roblo97** » 24 Jan 2014, 11:24

Ferrim wrote:Final nail in the 2014 Silly Season: Eric Boullier joins McLaren as a new team principal.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/112254

Thread-ending event as I ever saw one.

That is game over for Lotus IMO

SgtPepper · Post by **SgtPepper** » 24 Jan 2014, 11:47

roblomas52 wrote:
Ferrim wrote:Final nail in the 2014 Silly Season: Eric Boullier joins McLaren as a new team principal.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/112254

Thread-ending event as I ever saw one.

That is game over for Lotus IMO

What's that coming over the hill...is it a monster? Is it a monster?

Jocke1 · Post by **Jocke1** » 24 Jan 2014, 12:02

Ron Dennis has just released a public statement for Whitmarsh:
http://youtu.be/VDW0ZnZxjn4

rachel1990 · Post by **rachel1990** » 24 Jan 2014, 12:04

Jocke1 wrote:Ron Dennis has just released a public statement for Whitmarsh:
http://youtu.be/VDW0ZnZxjn4

I know we are only 24 days into the year but that may be my quote of the year

Brawn to Lotus then- But he may want to be paid

fjackdaw · Post by **fjackdaw** » 24 Jan 2014, 12:07

My hat flew off in the manner of Laurel and Hardy.

kowalski · Post by **kowalski** » 24 Jan 2014, 14:55

Just thinking about the teams and how they have fared with their driver changes in the off-season...

Winners:
Caterham - 2 good signings, a big step up in quality. Shame they have no carry over from last season but it seems they learnt a lesson about experience drivers being a good thing.
Ferrari - No question swapping Mass for Kimi is a step up but how will the 'team' work together?
Force India - Wow! Great line up, two of the best young drivers on the grid.
Red Bull - Webber struggled last year. New blood seems like it will be good for everyone. Nice to see the 'Red Bull Program' get a second driver to the top team too.
Williams - Lets hope Massa get's himself back on form with a quality young driver along side him.

Losers:
Lotus - A good line-up but with a few question marks. Losing Kimi has to be a downer though.
Sauber - Sutil is solid but he's no Hulk.
Toro Rosso - Left with one 'rejected by the big team' driver and a new 'keep the sponsors happy' driver.

Meh:
Marrusia - Yeah, probably a decent decision.
McLaren - Could be a good decision. Button needs a real kick up the arse so let's hope they have found the new Hamilton
Mercedes - Dullest team on the grid keep with the same drivers.

go_Rubens · Post by **go_Rubens** » 24 Jan 2014, 15:12

Shizuka wrote:What the hell is going on?
But wait, there's more! Juncadella is Force India's reserve driver. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/112253

I have only one thing to say:

fjackdaw · Post by **fjackdaw** » 24 Jan 2014, 15:15

kowalski wrote:Mercedes - Dullest team on the grid keep with the same drivers.

They're a very strong pairing, though, no reason at all to change it.

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 24 Jan 2014, 16:15

kowalski wrote:Caterham - 2 good signings, a big step up in quality. Shame they have no carry over from last season but it seems they learnt a lesson about experience drivers being a good thing.

I fail to see how Marcus Ericsson could ever qualify as a good signing. He's got less to recommend him than Max Chilton. That said, gaining Kobayashi could turn out to be a big win for them

go_Rubens · Post by **go_Rubens** » 24 Jan 2014, 16:28

Salamander wrote:
kowalski wrote:Caterham - 2 good signings, a big step up in quality. Shame they have no carry over from last season but it seems they learnt a lesson about experience drivers being a good thing.

I fail to see how Marcus Ericsson could ever qualify as a good signing. He's got less to recommend him than Max Chilton. That said, gaining Kobayashi could turn out to be a big win for them

Ericsson is not a good signing for Caterham. I don't see why they went with him in the first place. A better option would be Kovalainen alongside Kobayashi or maybe someone else. Give Alexander Rossi another year in GP2 and he'll likely be a better signing than Ericsson in my opinion. I see a great season long battle between him and Chilton.

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 24 Jan 2014, 17:15

go_Rubens wrote:
Salamander wrote:
kowalski wrote:Caterham - 2 good signings, a big step up in quality. Shame they have no carry over from last season but it seems they learnt a lesson about experience drivers being a good thing.

I fail to see how Marcus Ericsson could ever qualify as a good signing. He's got less to recommend him than Max Chilton. That said, gaining Kobayashi could turn out to be a big win for them

Ericsson is not a good signing for Caterham. I don't see why they went with him in the first place. A better option would be Kovalainen alongside Kobayashi or maybe someone else. Give Alexander Rossi another year in GP2 and he'll likely be a better signing than Ericsson in my opinion. I see a great season long battle between him and Chilton.

They signed him because of his money... that's the only logical explanation. But even then, there has to be more qualified pay drivers than him...

wsrgo · Post by **wsrgo** » 24 Jan 2014, 17:53

Salamander wrote:
kowalski wrote:Caterham - 2 good signings, a big step up in quality. Shame they have no carry over from last season but it seems they learnt a lesson about experience drivers being a good thing.

I fail to see how Marcus Ericsson could ever qualify as a good signing. He's got less to recommend him than Max Chilton. That said, gaining Kobayashi could turn out to be a big win for them

While in all of Chilton's career, he has had only one good season (2012), Ericsson has had several (2007-09). I refuse to count 2009 as a good season for Chilton because he finished 4th in British F3 on his 3rd attempt, Ericsson was 5th in a stronger field on his first attempt, and with a less proficient team.

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 24 Jan 2014, 17:58

wsrgo wrote:
Salamander wrote:
kowalski wrote:Caterham - 2 good signings, a big step up in quality. Shame they have no carry over from last season but it seems they learnt a lesson about experience drivers being a good thing.

I fail to see how Marcus Ericsson could ever qualify as a good signing. He's got less to recommend him than Max Chilton. That said, gaining Kobayashi could turn out to be a big win for them

While in all of Chilton's career, he has had only one good season (2012), Ericsson has had several (2007-09). I refuse to count 2009 as a good season for Chilton because he finished 4th in British F3 on his 3rd attempt, Ericsson was 5th in a stronger field on his first attempt, and with a less proficient team.

Considering the vast majority of drivers Ericsson beat in those years accomplished very little to nothing of worth in relation to F1, I remain unconvinced.

good_Ralf · Post by **good_Ralf** » 24 Jan 2014, 18:44

I don't follow GP2 very closely but Freeze-O-Kimi has said a lot on this forum how in the early stages of 2013 Ericsson was incredibly unlucky. On that basis, he deserves a chance and I'm convinced he'll do a decent job. Often a largely unproven driver plucked from the junior categories has shone once he gets to F1.

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 24 Jan 2014, 18:56

good_Ralf wrote:I don't follow GP2 very closely but Freeze-O-Kimi has said a lot on this forum how in the early stages of 2013 Ericsson was incredibly unlucky. On that basis, he deserves a chance and I'm convinced he'll do a decent job. Often a largely unproven driver plucked from the junior categories has shone once he gets to F1.

Maybe he was unlucky, but his results in the latter half of the season don't impress me any more than the title contenders, who I already strongly believe didn't do enough to warrant an F1 seat on merit.

Post by **mario** » 24 Jan 2014, 19:20

fjackdaw wrote:
kowalski wrote:Mercedes - Dullest team on the grid keep with the same drivers.

They're a very strong pairing, though, no reason at all to change it.

Exactly - they have two complimentary drivers, one of whom is counted as amongst the fastest drivers and the other considered to be the most intelligent and technically capable, who can push each other hard and still have a strong and friendly working relationship. Why would you want to change such a line up? Only Ferrari probably have a line up of comparable or greater strength, and one that comes with a very hefty price tag to match.

DanielPT wrote:
Ferrim wrote:Final nail in the 2014 Silly Season: Eric Boullier joins McLaren as a new team principal.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/112254

Thread-ending event as I ever saw one.

That seems to me like another nail in Lotus coffin, unfortunately.

As from the McLaren perspective, I can see why they went for him. Boullier has been doing a great job in a shorter than rival teams budget. So they most likely went with picturing what he could do having access to proper resources.

There is a suggestion that McLaren are not just after Lotus's personnel, but possibly also chasing the same sponsors too - AMuS have claimed that Lotus and McLaren are both chasing investment from the same Japanese investor (suggested to be Sony, but not in any way confirmed). I agree that Boullier's work at Lotus has been quite solid given the endemic problems the team have had, so I can see why McLaren would be interested in him - that said, what is interesting is that it suggests that Ross Brawn, for whatever reason, is not rushing back to the sport.

CoopsII wrote:Lopez as Team Principal? Although its sad for a team once on the verge of greatness I expect a wholly Rejectful year with that inexperienced loon in charge

There are some indications that Lopez would be splitting his role with that of other personnel within Lotus, so it might actually prove to be less of a shift than you might expect.

Backmarker · Post by **Backmarker** » 24 Jan 2014, 20:00

mario wrote:There are some indications that Lopez would be splitting his role with that of other personnel within Lotus, so it might actually prove to be less of a shift than you might expect.

If they hadn't lost James Allison then he could have done the job. Or they could have promoted Alan Permane anyway, he's been at Enstone since 1989 and been working his way up. Or they could look to other motorsport series (which is where Christian Horner and Eric Boullier came from) - Richard Dutton's done good things with Fortec for example.

Jocke1 · Post by **Jocke1** » 24 Jan 2014, 20:45

Salamander wrote:I fail to see how Marcus Ericsson could ever qualify as a good signing. He's got less to recommend him than Max Chilton.

go_Rubens wrote:Ericsson is not a good signing for Caterham. I don't see why they went with him in the first place.
I see a great season long battle between him and Chilton.

Salamander wrote:They signed him because of his money... that's the only logical explanation.

wsrgo wrote:While in all of Chilton's career, he has had only one good season (2012), Ericsson has had several (2007-09). I refuse to count 2009 as a good season for Chilton because he finished 4th in British F3 on his 3rd attempt, Ericsson was 5th in a stronger field on his first attempt, and with a less proficient team.

Salamander wrote:Considering the vast majority of drivers Ericsson beat in those years accomplished very little to nothing of worth in relation to F1, I remain unconvinced.

Career Stats

Chilton
Races entered: 191
Wins: 11
Podiums: 36
Pole positions: 15
Fastest laps: 5
Race win percentage: 5.76%

Ericsson
Races entered: 158
Wins: 17
Podiums: 48
Pole positions: 23
Fastest laps: 20
Race win percentage: 10.76%

Post by **mario** » 24 Jan 2014, 20:59

Backmarker wrote:
mario wrote:There are some indications that Lopez would be splitting his role with that of other personnel within Lotus, so it might actually prove to be less of a shift than you might expect.

If they hadn't lost James Allison then he could have done the job. Or they could have promoted Alan Permane anyway, he's been at Enstone since 1989 and been working his way up. Or they could look to other motorsport series (which is where Christian Horner and Eric Boullier came from) - Richard Dutton's done good things with Fortec for example.

Permane has indeed been suggested as one figure who might take over some of the technical aspects - he is already the trackside operations director, so he could probably integrate some of those functions into his existing role.

Jocke1 · Post by **Jocke1** » 24 Jan 2014, 22:33

Caterham has announced that Marcus Ericsson will get two days at Jerez, Kobayashi and Frijns gets one day each.

wsrgo · Post by **wsrgo** » 26 Jan 2014, 04:20

Jocke1 wrote:Caterham has announced that Marcus Ericsson will get two days at Jerez, Kobayashi and Frijns gets one day each.

Amt. of money you bring = no. of km's in testing?

go_Rubens · Post by **go_Rubens** » 26 Jan 2014, 06:17

Jocke1 wrote:Caterham has announced that Marcus Ericsson will get two days at Jerez, Kobayashi and Frijns gets one day each.

Meh. It's all about Kobayashi really

Well, this makes me question how much seat time Ericsson has actually got in F1.

AdrianSutil · Post by **AdrianSutil** » 26 Jan 2014, 08:38

go_Rubens wrote:
Jocke1 wrote:Caterham has announced that Marcus Ericsson will get two days at Jerez, Kobayashi and Frijns gets one day each.

Meh. It's all about Kobayashi really

Well, this makes me question how much seat time Ericsson has actually got in F1.

Ericsson needs to get to grips with an F1 car again. Kobayashi doesn't need time to gel, he'll just banzai in Australia.

Post by **mario** » 26 Jan 2014, 08:54

go_Rubens wrote:
Jocke1 wrote:Caterham has announced that Marcus Ericsson will get two days at Jerez, Kobayashi and Frijns gets one day each.

Meh. It's all about Kobayashi really

Well, this makes me question how much seat time Ericsson has actually got in F1.

Ericsson appears to have shared a car with Mike Conway during the three day post season Young Driver Test in December 2009, probably due to him taking the Japanese Formula 3 title earlier that year. Basically, he has had about 1.5 days worth of seat time more than four years ago, so perhaps it is not surprising that he is being given a bit more test time right from the start.

Jocke1 · Post by **Jocke1** » 26 Jan 2014, 09:31

wsrgo wrote:
Jocke1 wrote:Caterham has announced that Marcus Ericsson will get two days at Jerez, Kobayashi and Frijns gets one day each.

Amt. of money you bring = no. of km's in testing?

Amt. of talent you bring = no. of km's in testing

Basetornado · Post by **Basetornado** » 26 Jan 2014, 11:24

Jocke1 wrote:
wsrgo wrote:
Jocke1 wrote:Caterham has announced that Marcus Ericsson will get two days at Jerez, Kobayashi and Frijns gets one day each.

Amt. of money you bring = no. of km's in testing?

Amt. of talent you bring = no. of km's in testing

The more talent the less testing? Or are you trying to blaspheme and say Banzai has less talent then 6th in GP2

Jocke1 · Post by **Jocke1** » 26 Jan 2014, 11:31

Basetornado wrote: are you trying to blaspheme and say Banzai has less talent then 6th in GP2

KK is great, but Marcus Ericsson is the chosen one.

TomWazzleshaw · Post by **TomWazzleshaw** » 26 Jan 2014, 11:33

Jocke1 wrote:
Basetornado wrote: are you trying to blaspheme and say Banzai has less talent then 6th in GP2

KK is great, but Marcus Ericsson is the chosen one.

No, Ericsson is not the chosen one. Nobody could ever take that title away from the ever-stylish MaxiTaxi.

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 26 Jan 2014, 15:18

Wizzie wrote:
Jocke1 wrote:
Basetornado wrote: are you trying to blaspheme and say Banzai has less talent then 6th in GP2

KK is great, but Marcus Ericsson is the chosen one.

No, Ericsson is not the chosen one. Nobody could ever take that title away from the ever-stylish MaxiTaxi.

Does the ever-stylish MaxiTaxi pay the MaxTax of any taxi driver due to his talent behind the wheel and therefore fares collected?

Faustus · Post by **Faustus** » 27 Jan 2014, 11:54

So Daniel Juncadella is going to be Force India's test and reserve driver, no doubt due to his connections in Mercedes:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/112293

So what happens to James Calado?

roblo97 · Post by **roblo97** » 27 Jan 2014, 12:19

Faustus wrote:So Daniel Juncadella is going to be Force India's test and reserve driver, no doubt due to his connections in Mercedes:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/112293

So what happens to James Calado?

One can presume its a case of adios amigo for the young Brit.

Faustus · Post by **Faustus** » 27 Jan 2014, 14:19

roblomas52 wrote:
Faustus wrote:So Daniel Juncadella is going to be Force India's test and reserve driver, no doubt due to his connections in Mercedes:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/112293

So what happens to James Calado?

One can presume its a case of adios amigo for the young Brit.

Must be, but I thought he was signed for 2014.

go_Rubens · Post by **go_Rubens** » 28 Jan 2014, 18:16

So what's this rumor about Martini becoming Williams' title sponsor all about?!

Alextrax52 · Post by **Alextrax52** » 29 Jan 2014, 22:46

Bernie has well and truly lost it

watka · Post by **watka** » 29 Jan 2014, 23:06

Freeze-O-Kimi wrote:Bernie has well and truly lost it

Why doesn't he just decide how many points the races are worth as the season progresses? Heck, some Grand Prix might even be relegated to non-championship status.

SgtPepper · Post by **SgtPepper** » 30 Jan 2014, 00:09

Freeze-O-Kimi wrote:Bernie has well and truly lost it

Let's just hope he wants to eventually extend the double points rule to all the races.

CoopsII · Post by **CoopsII** » 30 Jan 2014, 07:39

watka wrote:
Freeze-O-Kimi wrote:Bernie has well and truly lost it

Why doesn't he just decide how many points the races are worth as the season progresses? Heck, some Grand Prix might even be relegated to non-championship status.

Or after the seasons finished? I genuinely believe Bernie is losing his grip. After so many years of making F1 what it is (or what it was) he now appears to be making it into a farce. I cannot believe the Bernie who owned Brabham would consider these notions anything other than ridiculous.

go_Rubens · Post by **go_Rubens** » 30 Jan 2014, 21:25

CoopsII wrote:
watka wrote:
Freeze-O-Kimi wrote:Bernie has well and truly lost it

Why doesn't he just decide how many points the races are worth as the season progresses? Heck, some Grand Prix might even be relegated to non-championship status.

Or after the seasons finished? I genuinely believe Bernie is losing his grip. After so many years of making F1 what it is (or what it was) he now appears to be making it into a farce. I cannot believe the Bernie who owned Brabham would consider these notions anything other than ridiculous.

Money called...