Who's going to replace Kubica

[woof]

BMW have a bit of a problem
Thankfully Kubica only has a broken leg - but that will put him out for at least 6 weeks (probably much more to get back to fitness)

They have Timo Glock and Sebastian Vettel on the books as test drivers - can't see either of them being able to step up

What about a temp loan of Shuey - LOL

Actually I think James Rossiter - just signed up as the 3rd driver this weekend

Edited by woof on Sunday 10th June 20:27

[FourWheelDrift]

Vettel, he did a good job last year in the Friday sessions.

[woof]

ignore me - James signed to Honda

[Andy Mac]

woof said:

What about a temp loan of Shuey - LOL

Be interesting to see what he can do in a lower end team...

[woof]

Andy Priaulx of course tested for a while and was doing the occasional demo run
wouldn't be surprised if they considered him

[Mr_Thyroid]

I think the team rate Vettel pretty highly.

[cbcbcb]

What about Jensen Button? He looks to have had enough of (not) driving for Honda.

[deevlash]

Id have thought vettel, he was meant to be in the team next year with Kubica, but heidfield being bloody good has thrown a spanner in the works. Sebastian Bourdais as a leftfield choice?

[LocoBlade]

99% sure it will be Vittel, as mentioned above Vittel is pencilled in to race next year as they really rate him. I suspect most 3rd drivers alo have some kind of contract that says they are in the seat if either of the two race drivers isnt able to drive, otherwise whats the point in being named the 3rd driver.

[woof]

when Shuey broke his leg - wasn't Massa the third driver but they hired in Mika Salo instead

and from memory was way quicker than Irvine !

Not sure if Vittel has tested for a while though - Glock was last in the car i think

Edited by woof on Sunday 10th June 21:28

[LocoBlade]

I dont think Massa was on the scene in 1999 was he?

Im sure there are examples where the "3rd" driver didnt get the drive, but I think in these days of huge sponsorship etc, if I was a personal sponsor of a 3rd driver in F1 Id want some guarantees that my driver would get the race seat if it became available.

[castex]

I think I'd like Berger to do the job himself.

[Mr_Thyroid]

woof said:

when Shuey broke his leg - wasn't Massa the third driver but they hired in Mika Salo instead

and from memory was way quicker than Irvine !

Edited by woof on Sunday 10th June 21:28

In '99 Luca Badoa was the test driver but the team didn't think he was mentally strong enough. From my memory Mika Salo actually drove pretty pathetically apart from in Monza and most notably Hockenhiem where he was heading for a win until he was asked to move over to help Irvine with the championship. Must've been absolutely gutting for dear old Luca, he should've got that drive.

[fozzi]

LocoBlade said:

I dont think Massa was on the scene in 1999 was he?

Im sure there are examples where the "3rd" driver didnt get the drive, but I think in these days of huge sponsorship etc, if I was a personal sponsor of a 3rd driver in F1 Id want some guarantees that my driver would get the race seat if it became available.

Luca Badoer was the test driver who got overlooked.

[UK_WS6]

Andy Mac said:

woof said:

What about a temp loan of Shuey - LOL

Be interesting to see what he can do in a lower end team...

,
,
Now that would really throw the cat (lion) amongst the pigeons.

[AndrewD]

castex said:

I think I'd like Berger to do the job himself.

You think STR would agree with you?

[LocoBlade]

fozzi said:

Luca Badoer was the test driver who got overlooked.

Yep, I just think now though the "3rd driver" role is more defined in most teams than it was back then, from what I recall its only in the last few years (since they had the original format Friday testing?) that we've heard the term "3rd driver" used regularly to describe drivers who are at all the races on standby etc.

[freedman]

castex said:

I think I'd like Berger to do the job himself.

Whats Berger got to do with it??

[LocoBlade]

Someone is a year or two behind the times, as Berger is no longer at BMW

[LocoBlade]

Looks like he might not even need replacing.....

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/59642

BMW say no broken bones and out of hospital tomorrow, amazing!