Andre Lotterer to Caterham for Belgian GP?
Discussion
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/115433
Quite a strange one this. 3 time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner for Audi possibly replacing Kamui Kobayashi this weekend.
Quite a strange one this. 3 time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner for Audi possibly replacing Kamui Kobayashi this weekend.
Very strange. He doesn't bring any sponsorship so it isn't a financial decision and he has no recent F1 experience so I can't really get my head around the logic of this decision. Sure, he's a great driver, but there are several others I'd be picking before him if I wanted to mix things up a bit - Kovalainen, Buemi, Algusuari, di Resta, di Grassi, Sam Bird, even Ant Davidson. It just seems crazy that a 32 year old rookie is considered a good option to pick from the available drivers!
rubystone said:
I'd have thought he brought money. Why change otherwise? Van der Garde has piles of cash after all...or his father in law does.
Yeah, seems strange not to just put VdG in the car, it's not like he's Taki Inoue and is far more likely to finish well than someone who hasn't driven an F1 car since Max Verstappen was 5 years old.Also struggling to understand why Lotterer would want to be involved with Caterham, and how does it affect his position with Audi. A bit bizarre and a left field choice.
Always thought the reason Lotterer, Treluyer and Fassler are successful is because Audi Sport provides a good car and a good environment. All the best to him though if he decides to go for it.
Always thought the reason Lotterer, Treluyer and Fassler are successful is because Audi Sport provides a good car and a good environment. All the best to him though if he decides to go for it.
maybe its a Caterham development role. Lotterer has driven more miles than most in the most advanced hybrid race car in the world, maybe Caterham want him to develope their car. with no in season testing, using a race weekend he can rack up quite a few miles.
This season has a hell of a lot more chassis electrics, powertrain modes and differnt driving techniques to any preious year.
This season has a hell of a lot more chassis electrics, powertrain modes and differnt driving techniques to any preious year.
This is one of those decisions that doesn't seem to make any sense.
As has been commented above hes got no F1 experience and while he's raced at the highest levels in endurance racing I don't see how that makes him the best choice for this seat.
Having missed all the pre-season testing he's really going to struggle over a race weekend.
As has been commented above hes got no F1 experience and while he's raced at the highest levels in endurance racing I don't see how that makes him the best choice for this seat.
Having missed all the pre-season testing he's really going to struggle over a race weekend.
He must bring money or have a connection to someone who is bringing something to the table for this year or next. We don't know who really owns the team do we?...It is not beyond the realms of possibility that Kolles is playing a longer game here. Whatever people say about him, he isn't a mug...
rubystone said:
He must bring money or have a connection to someone who is bringing something to the table for this year or next. We don't know who really owns the team do we?...It is not beyond the realms of possibility that Kolles is playing a longer game here. Whatever people say about him, he isn't a mug...
Looks like Hype Energy Drinks could be putting some money into Andre getting the drive.http://www.hype.com/news/f1-dream-a-reality-for-lo...
There's a nice piece by Joe Saward about why he got the drive.
As to everyone who asks why he wants to just jog around the back - imagine if over the next couple of races he manages to do something with it, drag a notable performance out of it, put it in Q2, drive it beyond the car's limits. Maybe even score a point. Why then he'd be the new Alonso.
Having said that it seems unlikely, even for a three times LeMans winner.
As to everyone who asks why he wants to just jog around the back - imagine if over the next couple of races he manages to do something with it, drag a notable performance out of it, put it in Q2, drive it beyond the car's limits. Maybe even score a point. Why then he'd be the new Alonso.
Having said that it seems unlikely, even for a three times LeMans winner.
suffolk009 said:
There's a nice piece by Joe Saward about why he got the drive.
As to everyone who asks why he wants to just jog around the back - imagine if over the next couple of races he manages to do something with it, drag a notable performance out of it, put it in Q2, drive it beyond the car's limits. Maybe even score a point. Why then he'd be the new Alonso.
Having said that it seems unlikely, even for a three times LeMans winner.
Well looking at the WEC calandar, if he was to do more than one race (Only confirmed as one race), then he wouldn't be able to do the race at Singapore (6H of COTA), Sochi (6H of Fuji), and Austin (6H of Shanghai).As to everyone who asks why he wants to just jog around the back - imagine if over the next couple of races he manages to do something with it, drag a notable performance out of it, put it in Q2, drive it beyond the car's limits. Maybe even score a point. Why then he'd be the new Alonso.
Having said that it seems unlikely, even for a three times LeMans winner.
Any news on what car number he will use?
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