The Junior Series Thread

andrew · Post by **andrew** » 08 Sep 2014, 18:30

Shizuka wrote:Canamasas needs a "PR 101" lesson... but learning to race properly is much more important.

He is a combination of Hamilton and maldonado.

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 12 Sep 2014, 16:06

In case you were wondering if the news that Max Verstappen took Sainz's Toro Rosso has had any effect on him, well, Sainz has just gone and topped the first two practice sessions for FR3.5 at the Hungaroring. The first in wet conditions by 2.6 seconds, the second in dry conditions by over a second.

So yeah, the SAINZWINSLOL steamroller is still in operation.

Meanwhile, Ocon has acquitted himself pretty well in both sessions, running 7th and 8th, respectively.

Post by **Miguel98** » 14 Sep 2014, 12:47

And it looks like, after the practise times, Sainz didn't have the pace at all during both races. Obviously, it looks like Verstappen getting the Toro Rosso driver for next year has taken it's toll on Sainz's motivation: at a certain point in race 2, he actually had a train of cars following him.. Mehri closed in a lot, and the way Sainz's motivation has dropped, I wonder if Mehri can still win the title, which won't do wonders on Sainz's reputation. Damn you Red Bull and Helmut Marko.

Post by **mario** » 14 Sep 2014, 14:00

andrew wrote:
Shizuka wrote:Canamasas needs a "PR 101" lesson... but learning to race properly is much more important.

He is a combination of Hamilton and maldonado.

Canamasas has, quite seriously, compared himself to Alonso and Hamilton and claimed to have elements of their abilities.

“I have something of Alonso, [but] also perhaps something of [Lewis] Hamilton for that aggressiveness,” he claimed, “Let no one misunderstand me – I only have some elements of them, but I'm aggressive with that bit of intelligence required in what you're doing. I am very concise, very clear, about what I have done when I'm on track, and I am methodical…”

http://www.crash.net/f1/news/194504/1/c ... re-f1.html

Miguel98 wrote:And it looks like, after the practise times, Sainz didn't have the pace at all during both races. Obviously, it looks like Verstappen getting the Toro Rosso driver for next year has taken it's toll on Sainz's motivation: at a certain point in race 2, he actually had a train of cars following him.. Mehri closed in a lot, and the way Sainz's motivation has dropped, I wonder if Mehri can still win the title, which won't do wonders on Sainz's reputation. Damn you Red Bull and Helmut Marko.

There may be an element of Sainz Jr. losing some of his motivation, and thus performance, due to losing out on an opportunity at Toro Rosso - then again, in the past he has shown patches of inconsistent form even when such an issue wasn't present. I'd agree that, if Sainz Jr.s patch of bad form continues and Merhi continues on his current run of strong form, Merhi does have an outside chance of taking the title - he needs to overcome a 16 point deficit in the final two events, but it certainly isn't out of the question.

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 14 Sep 2014, 14:04

mario wrote:
Miguel98 wrote:And it looks like, after the practise times, Sainz didn't have the pace at all during both races. Obviously, it looks like Verstappen getting the Toro Rosso driver for next year has taken it's toll on Sainz's motivation: at a certain point in race 2, he actually had a train of cars following him.. Mehri closed in a lot, and the way Sainz's motivation has dropped, I wonder if Mehri can still win the title, which won't do wonders on Sainz's reputation. Damn you Red Bull and Helmut Marko.

There may be an element of Sainz Jr. losing some of his motivation, and thus performance, due to losing out on an opportunity at Toro Rosso - then again, in the past he has shown patches of inconsistent form even when such an issue wasn't present. I'd agree that, if Sainz Jr.s patch of bad form continues and Merhi continues on his current run of strong form, Merhi does have an outside chance of taking the title - he needs to overcome a 16 point deficit in the final two events, but it certainly isn't out of the question.

With both events consisting of 2 races, and the points system using the standard 25-18-15 etc., I'd say Mehri has a bit more than an outside chance.

On current form, he has every chance of taking the title away from Sainz - at this stage, I think the question is not whether Mehri can overcome the gap, but whether Sainz can regain his early-season form.

wsrgo · Post by **wsrgo** » 15 Sep 2014, 03:12

Salamander wrote:
mario wrote:
Miguel98 wrote:And it looks like, after the practise times, Sainz didn't have the pace at all during both races. Obviously, it looks like Verstappen getting the Toro Rosso driver for next year has taken it's toll on Sainz's motivation: at a certain point in race 2, he actually had a train of cars following him.. Mehri closed in a lot, and the way Sainz's motivation has dropped, I wonder if Mehri can still win the title, which won't do wonders on Sainz's reputation. Damn you Red Bull and Helmut Marko.

There may be an element of Sainz Jr. losing some of his motivation, and thus performance, due to losing out on an opportunity at Toro Rosso - then again, in the past he has shown patches of inconsistent form even when such an issue wasn't present. I'd agree that, if Sainz Jr.s patch of bad form continues and Merhi continues on his current run of strong form, Merhi does have an outside chance of taking the title - he needs to overcome a 16 point deficit in the final two events, but it certainly isn't out of the question.

With both events consisting of 2 races, and the points system using the standard 25-18-15 etc., I'd say Mehri has a bit more than an outside chance.

On current form, he has every chance of taking the title away from Sainz - at this stage, I think the question is not whether Mehri can overcome the gap, but whether Sainz can regain his early-season form.

Any chance for Ghostly to overcome the par of them and do a Kimi?

AustralianStig · Post by **AustralianStig** » 17 Sep 2014, 13:19

GP2 to have DRS from next year:

http://www.gpupdate.net/en/gp2-news/316 ... next-year/

Kinda seems a bit of a weird move. There's plenty of overtaking in GP2 is there not? The whole "we are just doing this to prepare drivers for F1" is a weird explanation too - surely it's not that hard to learn how to push a button when you get a beep in your ear...

Shizuka · Post by **Shizuka** » 17 Sep 2014, 13:37

The funny part is that there are drivers getting to F1 without going to GP2. Good job, FIA.

DanielPT · Post by **DanielPT** » 17 Sep 2014, 14:47

Shizuka wrote:The funny part is that there are drivers getting to F1 without going to GP2. Good job, FIA.

Funnier still, those drivers are doing great regardless.

andrew · Post by **andrew** » 17 Sep 2014, 15:49

AustralianStig wrote:GP2 to have DRS from next year:

http://www.gpupdate.net/en/gp2-news/316 ... next-year/

Kinda seems a bit of a weird move. There's plenty of overtaking in GP2 is there not? The whole "we are just doing this to prepare drivers for F1" is a weird explanation too - surely it's not that hard to learn how to push a button when you get a beep in your ear...

WHY!!!!???

Post by **Bobby Doorknobs** » 17 Sep 2014, 17:07

AustralianStig wrote:GP2 to have DRS from next year

Yes because it had such a great reception when they introduced it in F1. :roll:

Post by **Ataxia** » 17 Sep 2014, 18:33

No point complaining about it until you've seen it in action, really.

I don't like the idea of DRS in GP2 myself, but understand the rationale. It's another thing for the drivers to think about and get used to, I suppose. If that helps GP2 drivers get into F1, it can only be a bonus.

Although people have suggested that GP3 needs something similar across various social media, the rear wings are already quite shallow...

RealRacingRoots · Post by **RealRacingRoots** » 28 Sep 2014, 07:55

Give the GP2 and GP3 cars Hanford Devices. Make them harder to drive and promote passing by making massive slipstreams. Problem solved.

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 09 Oct 2014, 09:52

CARMEN JORDA IS BEING REPLACED FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON. BY DEAN STONEMAN.

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 09 Oct 2014, 10:27

Salamander wrote:CARMEN JORDA IS BEING REPLACED FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON. BY DEAN STONEMAN.

Yes, because it needs an F2 champion and GP3 race winner to replace someone as talented as Carmen Jorda!

Post by **Ataxia** » 09 Oct 2014, 15:00

dr-baker wrote:
Salamander wrote:CARMEN JORDA IS BEING REPLACED FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON. BY DEAN STONEMAN.

Yes, because it needs an F2 champion and GP3 race winner to replace someone as talented as Carmen Jorda!

GP3 has a problem; who's going to occupy last now?

Captain Hammer · Post by **Captain Hammer** » 11 Oct 2014, 06:40

Stoneman and Vandoorne super-impressive in Sochi. Both of them need a Formula 1 seat ASAP m

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 11 Oct 2014, 10:15

Incredibly dominant race from Stoneman. Makes you wonder what he could've been doing had he had that car all year...

Post by **Miguel98** » 11 Oct 2014, 13:45

And Palmer wins the 2014 GP2 Title, after Nasr made a (very) pathetic race. Vandoorne was the star of the race though. He's incredibly good. He had a miscommunucation with the team, and he stayed out when he should've comed in, and ended up driving like a mad man, lapping to 1.5 to 2 seconds a lap every lap. Give him a F1 drive, he's amazing.

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 11 Oct 2014, 13:50

I still don't think Palmer is particularly good, or as skilled as Nasr, but he deserved this title far more than Nasr did. Nasr had several opportunities to make good ground in the title race - Palmer was solid but not bulletproof - and failed more often than not.

As for Vandoorne, well, I've already put my opinions on him in the silly season thread.

Captain Hammer · Post by **Captain Hammer** » 11 Oct 2014, 13:52

Palmer is the new di Resta. He's okay, but nowhere near as good as he thinks he is.

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 11 Oct 2014, 13:58

Captain Hammer wrote:Palmer is the new di Resta. He's okay, but nowhere near as good as he thinks he is.

Agreed - having Richelmi in the other car downplays how good DAMS really is. They are the best junior single-seater team out there at the moment.

Alextrax52 · Post by **Alextrax52** » 11 Oct 2014, 15:22

Salamander wrote:
Captain Hammer wrote:Palmer is the new di Resta. He's okay, but nowhere near as good as he thinks he is.

Agreed - having Richelmi in the other car downplays how good DAMS really is. They are the best junior single-seater team out there at the moment.

Makes you wonder what Vandoorne could have done in that car doesn't it

So now that Palmer can't do GP2 anymore where will he go next?

Post by **Bobby Doorknobs** » 11 Oct 2014, 15:34

Freeze-O-Kimi wrote:
Salamander wrote:
Captain Hammer wrote:Palmer is the new di Resta. He's okay, but nowhere near as good as he thinks he is.

Agreed - having Richelmi in the other car downplays how good DAMS really is. They are the best junior single-seater team out there at the moment.

Makes you wonder what Vandoorne could have done in that car doesn't it

So now that Palmer can't do GP2 anymore where will he go next?

Well, he has his sights set on F1, so there's just one question: How much money has this guy got?

Captain Hammer · Post by **Captain Hammer** » 11 Oct 2014, 15:41

His dad is Jonathan Palmer, who runs MSV. So probably a lot.

So now that Palmer can't do GP2 anymore where will he go next?

Hopefully home.

Post by **Miguel98** » 11 Oct 2014, 15:42

Palmer, bar getting an F1 seat, which in my opinion, looks unlikelly, might find himself a contract in WEC or, more probably, in Formula E.

andrew · Post by **andrew** » 11 Oct 2014, 21:35

I don't think palmer or nasr will get f1 seats, been in gp2 too long, stoffel and Lello on the other hand. I believe if they both stay in next year they will contest the tile between Eachover and whoever is in the dams

watka · Post by **watka** » 11 Oct 2014, 22:40

Miguel98 wrote:Palmer, bar getting an F1 seat, which in my opinion, looks unlikelly, might find himself a contract in WEC or, more probably, in Formula E.

I'm not convinced that Formula E is either a career step or somewhere that pays a decent salary, most of the drivers there just want to be involved with something exciting.

Post by **Londoner** » 12 Oct 2014, 09:16

That midfield pack of destiny in GP2 just now.

But more importantly, Fake Sato finally scores points! You know, Auto GP champion and all that.

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 12 Oct 2014, 09:17

Good win for Reed--- err, I mean Marco Sorensen in the GP2 sprint race.

Post by **Ataxia** » 17 Oct 2014, 15:47

As expected, the Caterham GP2 team has been sold. Status Grand Prix have signed an agreement to buy them; the Status name will appear in GP2 in 2015.

dinizintheoven · Post by **dinizintheoven** » 18 Oct 2014, 10:16

Given that Status are run by Teddy Yip ("junior", presumably), why didn't they call themselves Theodore Racing?

The Theodore TY01 and original (pre-nose-job) Caterham CT05 are almost like father and son...

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 18 Oct 2014, 12:47

BEITSKE VISSER FINISHED FIFTH!

Oh and some guy called Sainz won the title or something but who cares about that.

Post by **Londoner** » 18 Oct 2014, 16:15

VISSER!

In other news, British F3 has finally died, and I don't think anyone really cares, considering they were down to just 5 entries this season.

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 18 Oct 2014, 16:43

East Londoner wrote:VISSER!

In other news, British F3 has finally died, and I don't think anyone really cares, considering they were down to just 5 entries this season.

It's a sad, albeit inevitable, day.

RonDenisDeletraz · Post by **RonDenisDeletraz** » 18 Oct 2014, 20:59

BEITSKE VISSER FTW

Captain Hammer · Post by **Captain Hammer** » 19 Oct 2014, 03:45

Watching MotoGP at Philip Island, I'm struck by how well-organised the Moto2 and Moto3 series are. The feeder series to Formula 1 is a convoluted mess, with a bad move putting paid to a driver's chances of moving up. The "official" route should be Formula 3, then GP2 (renamed Formula 2), then Formula 1. Get rid of the rest, and offer support to the junior teams. It will get rid of the journeymen drivers who have more money than talent - because I have noticed tgat the one thing Moto2 and Moto3 don't have is a Sergio Canamasas.

girry · Post by **girry** » 19 Oct 2014, 09:31

Don't know about that, because fully emulating MotoGP's feeder series system would only mean that GP2 would get dominated by the Liuzzi's, Valsecchi's and di Grassi's of the world insteat of Cecotto jr. and Canamasas. Furthermore, the actual cause of journeymen isn't the messiness of the ladder, but the fact that even junior single seaters are quite bloody expensive to run.

To my understanding (and could be wrong, appreciate if someone corrects), bikes are way more affordable, which automatically fixes many problems already.

RAK · Post by **RAK** » 20 Oct 2014, 12:00

giraurd wrote:To my understanding (and could be wrong, appreciate if someone corrects), bikes are way more affordable, which automatically fixes many problems already.

That was my understanding; former 125cc 2-stroke Grand Prix bikes still get run at road racing and minor circuit racing events across the UK and Ireland at the very least, along with some newer Moto3 machines. If those sorts of bikes are within the means of road racers, who to be fair are not racing for great payouts, then I don't expect they're all that expensive compared to Formula 3 cars.

Of course, more powerful 600cc and 1000cc superstock machines are less expensive again.

Post by **Ataxia** » 24 Oct 2014, 14:48

Does anyone have a set of the Formula Renault 3.5 regulations at all? I am currently in need of them, and if someone has a link for me then I will love them forevermore.