Grand Prix Rejects

Backmarker wrote:

wsrgo wrote:

UgncreativeUsergname wrote:So... is it me or are the top five GP3 drivers generally better than the top five GP2 drivers? That's just wrong.

2010 was close...Maldonado, Perez, Bianchi, Clos and Bird.....versus Gutierrez, Wickens, Mueller, Rossi and Haryanto...

Also 2011: Grosjean, Filippi, Bianchi, Pic and van der Garde...versus Bottas, Calado, Melker, Müller and Quaife-Hobbs. Of the GP3 drivers only Bottas and (possibly) Calado show real quality, whereas Grosjean, Bianchi, Pic and van der Garde have all made it to F1 and acquitted themselves reasonably well. I think it's a little too early to judge the class of 2012 or 2013 from GP3 yet, though both years have seen GP2 with a weak(ish) grid.

watka wrote:We look at the 2 rookies confirmed for next year, one is from GP3 and another from FR3.5. Vandoorne is probably the highest rated driver not moving up, and he's from FR3.5. Da Costa, who was for a while a shoe-in for the Toro Rosso seat, is also FR3.5. Sirotkin, who might move up is FR3.5. The closest that GP2 have to a driver moving up is Ericcson, who is only being considered for a Caterham seat and the move would be financially motivated.

Says a lot about GP2.

wsrgo wrote:True that...GP2 grids have become worse and worse.

DanielPT wrote:

watka wrote:We look at the 2 rookies confirmed for next year, one is from GP3 and another from FR3.5. Vandoorne is probably the highest rated driver not moving up, and he's from FR3.5. Da Costa, who was for a while a shoe-in for the Toro Rosso seat, is also FR3.5. Sirotkin, who might move up is FR3.5. The closest that GP2 have to a driver moving up is Ericcson, who is only being considered for a Caterham seat and the move would be financially motivated.

Says a lot about GP2.

wsrgo wrote:True that...GP2 grids have become worse and worse.

There is actually a good explanation for that: Money. GP2 is getting too much expensive and the teams are obviously having trouble to find sponsors. This makes them resort to pay drivers which is forcing the more talented guys with less money to drift somewhere less expensive, like FR3.5. Given that this championship has now proved to be a good final step into F1, teams prefer to go there for their Junior programs. In conclusion, GP2 is pay driver galore.

wsrgo wrote:Jolyon Palmer will switch to DAMS for the 2014 GP2 series season, and will be partnered by Stephane Richelmi. http://www.paddockscout.com/palmer-makes-dams-switch-for-2014/

wsrgo wrote:the 2014 GP2 and GP3 calendars have been revealed..

OsellaFA1L wrote:Well Simon Trummer got another year at Rapax. He must be rich as he has been quite slow over the last couple of years

Backmarker wrote:Toyota Race Series has confirmed its first driver. It's Pedro Piquet, a 15 year old Brazilian driver, and the youngest son of the Nelson Piquet who won F1 championships.



He looks like he's only 12.

wsrgo wrote:Glad you specified that

Wonder which series he will be doing full-time next year..

Backmarker wrote:

wsrgo wrote:Glad you specified that

Wonder which series he will be doing full-time next year..

He's tested in F3, so probably that.

Backmarker wrote:

wsrgo wrote:Glad you specified that

Wonder which series he will be doing full-time next year..

He's tested in F3, so probably that.

go_Rubens wrote:Is there any source on his karting record at all? I'm particularly imterested, as I well, was a fan of Nelshino. I guess I have hopes for the Piquet name elsewhere now!

wsrgo wrote:Formula Renault 2.0 has made 16 the minimum age of participation, doubt F3 would allow 15-year-olds to participate, but I have no knowledge of an official age cap.

Backmarker wrote:

wsrgo wrote:Formula Renault 2.0 has made 16 the minimum age of participation, doubt F3 would allow 15-year-olds to participate, but I have no knowledge of an official age cap.

The only minimum age I know of is that anyone under 14 isn't allowed in the pitlane. I think that you can drive in F3 as long as your country's motorsport governing body will give you the appropriate license. Remember Matheo Tuscher - he competed in F2 when he was only 15.

wsrgo wrote:Jack Harvey will participate in Indy Lights for next year...http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/111856

Specially relevant because Harvey was in GP3 this year, and with the backing of Racing Steps Foundation, I expected him to stay in the F1 junior ladder. Wish him all the very best for a future career in the USA.

go_Rubens wrote:

wsrgo wrote:Jack Harvey will participate in Indy Lights for next year...http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/111856

Specially relevant because Harvey was in GP3 this year, and with the backing of Racing Steps Foundation, I expected him to stay in the F1 junior ladder. Wish him all the very best for a future career in the USA.

Good. That means he has a 1/9 chance of winning and getting into IndyCar. He'll probably crush everyone next year unless he has a hard time getting used to the Indy Lights car. But it was common once for drivers in Indy to get to F1 that way... I still have hope for him to get to F1.

Wizzie wrote:

go_Rubens wrote:

wsrgo wrote:Jack Harvey will participate in Indy Lights for next year...http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/111856

Specially relevant because Harvey was in GP3 this year, and with the backing of Racing Steps Foundation, I expected him to stay in the F1 junior ladder. Wish him all the very best for a future career in the USA.

Good. That means he has a 1/9 chance of winning and getting into IndyCar. He'll probably crush everyone next year unless he has a hard time getting used to the Indy Lights car. But it was common once for drivers in Indy to get to F1 that way... I still have hope for him to get to F1.

Matthew Brabham called. He'd like to have a word with you.

go_Rubens wrote:

Wizzie wrote:Matthew Brabham called. He'd like to have a word with you.

Brabham, eh? I don't know of that name being associated with IndyCar, but I suppose you may be right.

pi314159 wrote:

go_Rubens wrote:

Wizzie wrote:Matthew Brabham called. He'd like to have a word with you.

Brabham, eh? I don't know of that name being associated with IndyCar, but I suppose you may be right.

Matthew Brabham dominated the last Pro Mazda Championship season, winning 13 out of 16 races, and scoring 15 podiums.

go_Rubens wrote:Brabham, eh? I don't know of that name being associated with IndyCar, but I suppose you may be right.

Ataxia wrote:Binder's a bit of an enigma; it's hard to show how good you are with the Lazarus lot preparing your cars. Hopefully he can do an alright job for Arden...

Ataxia wrote:Binder's a bit of an enigma; it's hard to show how good you are with the Lazarus lot preparing your cars. Hopefully he can do an alright job for Arden...

Freeze-O-Kimi wrote:

Ataxia wrote:Binder's a bit of an enigma; it's hard to show how good you are with the Lazarus lot preparing your cars. Hopefully he can do an alright job for Arden...

Your point is backed up by the fact that Lazarus were the only team over GP2/GP3 to not achieve a podium last year

pasta_maldonado wrote:

Freeze-O-Kimi wrote:

Ataxia wrote:Binder's a bit of an enigma; it's hard to show how good you are with the Lazarus lot preparing your cars. Hopefully he can do an alright job for Arden...

Your point is backed up by the fact that Lazarus were the only team over GP2/GP3 to not achieve a podium last year

Without Freezy around to provide us with valuable insights like this, and often over looked facts that really alter your perception of a situation, I don't know what I'd do.

Freeze-O-Kimi wrote:

pasta_maldonado wrote:

Freeze-O-Kimi wrote:Your point is backed up by the fact that Lazarus were the only team over GP2/GP3 to not achieve a podium last year

Without Freezy around to provide us with valuable insights like this, and often over looked facts that really alter your perception of a situation, I don't know what I'd do.

Not funny McDonalds

Freeze-O-Kimi wrote:

pasta_maldonado wrote:

Freeze-O-Kimi wrote:
Your point is backed up by the fact that Lazarus were the only team over GP2/GP3 to not achieve a podium last year

Without Freezy around to provide us with valuable insights like this, and often over looked facts that really alter your perception of a situation, I don't know what I'd do.

Not funny McDonalds

Ataxia wrote:Binder's a bit of an enigma; it's hard to show how good you are with the Lazarus lot preparing your cars. Hopefully he can do an alright job for Arden...

Ataxia wrote:Some neewwwwwws!

Arthur Pic (Charles' little bro) is going to be racing for the returning Campos Racing team in 2014.

East Londoner wrote:

Ataxia wrote:Some neewwwwwws!

Arthur Pic (Charles' little bro) is going to be racing for the returning Campos Racing team in 2014.

Blimey, GP2 must be struggling when they can only get "half a Pic" into their series I'll get me coat

But yeah, should be interesting to see what he can do. That said, a cursory glance at his Formula Renault 3.5 results seems to indicate that he fluctuates in form during a season.