Dean Stoneman

[Norfolkit]

(Mods -I know that technically he's not in F1 but obviously that's his aim and he's getting closer).

Dean Stoneman has joined the Red Bull junior programme and will be in FR 3.5 next year. I think that's brilliant news after it looked as if his illness may have wrecked his career (obviously could have been a lot worse that that).

To come back after that and having to sort of restart his career again takes a bit of doing.

Interesting that Red Bull feed more drivers through FR 3.5 rather than GP2.


http://www1.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/9711487/br...

[Smollet]

Always been impressed before his troubles and more so since. The real deal imo and he does remind me a bit of Our Nige at times in his physical appearance

[m444ttb]

Fingers crossed the RedBull route leads to a Torro Rosso seat when the current lot are shipped out.

[AMD87]

Jamie cleland wasn't a fan of his after his antics in the carrera cup though and he was given a ban....

[Ahonen]

He was comfortably the most impressive driver in GP3 last year. To change teams at the end of the year and take pole and win immediately was superb.

[rubystone]

I'm very glad he has been picks up. He has the right mix of talent, drive and determination to go all the way.

[Crafty_]

Great news, I have followed him since Formula Renault. He did a great job in GP3 given the car he was driving, the late season switch must have been a revelation - if Manor had gone down a race or two earlier he could have easily been GP3 champ.

The Red Bull Academy can be a bit of a poison chalice - they are hardly shy about ditching drivers they don't need/like, hopefully he can get all the way to F1.

[rubystone]

Crafty_ said:

The Red Bull Academy can be a bit of a poison chalice - they are hardly shy about ditching drivers they don't need/like, hopefully he can get all the way to F1.

Yes, and they also have favoured teams, not all of which operate at the highest standards. Get placed with one of them and you can go from hero to zero in one season. But they have picked up Dean at the ripe old age of 24 and I think they have done that because they know they have a rounded driver already. I think he could step into an STR in 2016

[RobM77]

Great news - thanks for the update. I shared a garage with him a while ago and know people who've raced with him and he seems like a really nice guy, as well as being very quick of course!

[Allyc85]

Massive smash for Stoneman in F3.5 testing, very lucky to get the all clear after that!

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/117919

[btcc123]

Allyc85 said:

Massive smash for Stoneman in F3.5 testing, very lucky to get the all clear after that!

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/117919

So he is a bit like Mansell then.