Senna name to return to F1?

[MrKipling43]

Grandprix.com said:

The word in F1 circles is that GP2 frontrunner Bruno Senna is in talks to become the BMW Sauber test driver next season. The German sports newspaper Sport Bild says that Senna might even be picked to replace the struggling Nick Heidfeld but there is not likely to be any decision on that until Senna has tested a car and shown what he can do. Senna has the power of the name behind him and has done well in Formula 3 and GP2 and so F1 is the next obvious step with a test driver being the best option. Racing for a smaller team is possible if money can be found but the danger of that is that a driver's talents are not spotted by the bigger teams.

A BMW test drive is a sensible move as the team is expected to keep Robert Kubica. There are two test drivers already in Christian Klien and if Nick Heidfeld is replaced (and there is no guarantee that this will happen) then Klien might be promoted to a race drive and the team would need a new tester.

http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns20514.html

[stephen300o]

Seems like a nice guy and improving rapidly, still quite inexperienced in cars, but then again it didn't hurt Kimi Raikkonen too much.
He'll end up in F1 sooner or later, so with such similar hats will Hamilton or Senna change their design?

Edited by stephen300o on Friday 27th June 19:41

[RobFerrari]

Great guy, seems like a good prospect for the future. Ive been a fan since i saw him warning a F430 Race car around Silverstone, amazing driving!

[Plug550]

Met the fellow at Goodwood a couple of years ago when drove his uncle's Lotus up the hill. A really nice guy, with all the time in the world to chat and sign autographs for everyone.

However, the name is no guarrantee of success, but I certainly wish him well.

[Racefan_uk]

BMW Sauber's current test driver, Marko Asmer, wiped the floor with Bruno Senna in F3. The only reason they'd take him at this point in his career would be marketing and financial, unless he really has come along that much in the last couple of seasons.

He's very talented, but there are better young drivers out there who would be a better immediate replacement for Heidfeld.

[Jungles]

Racefan_uk said:

BMW Sauber's current test driver, Marko Asmer, wiped the floor with Bruno Senna in F3.

That's a very harsh assessment.

The 2005 season was when both Asmer and Senna were in the championship simultaneously. At the time, Asmer was already in his second season, while Senna was in his debut season. Furthermore, Asmer was generally a more experienced racer than Senna.

In Asmer's debut season, 2004, he was 10th in the championship with no podiums.
In Senna's debut season, 2005, he was 10th in the championship with 3 podiums.

In Asmer's second season, 2005, he was 4th with no race wins and total of 6 podiums.
In Senna's second season, 2006, he was 3rd with 5 race wins and total of 9 podiums.

Now in GP2, Senna is holding up very well against the likes of Pantano, Grosjean, Parente, and Buemi, all of them very experienced racers with strong career results in other championships.

I think if Senna is given a F1 drive, yes the name and money will be big factors obviously, but the choice will be backed up by ample talent as well.

Edited by Jungles on Sunday 29th June 05:13

[rubystone]

Racefan_uk said:

BMW Sauber's current test driver, Marko Asmer, wiped the floor with Bruno Senna in F3. The only reason they'd take him at this point in his career would be marketing and financial, unless he really has come along that much in the last couple of seasons.

He's very talented, but there are better young drivers out there who would be a better immediate replacement for Heidfeld.

Of all the top teams on the grid, BMW are the most conservative. Theissen prefers to grow slowly and I don't see him pairing Senna with Kubica at this time. Had he wanted a strong 3rd driver, he'd have made overtures to keep Vettel - perhaps the perfect "golden boy".

BMW don't need any money Senna may bring to the team.

I don't think he's an outstanding driver, yet. INHO he needs another season or two in GP2 for us to see whether he has the ability to string together a winning campaign.

[superkartracer]

Mates GF is his PA :-)

Very nice chap, and good driver.

He was always going to be in F1.

Might be a helmet clash tho he he

Edited by superkartracer on Sunday 29th June 09:31

[stephen300o]

rubystone said:

Racefan_uk said:

BMW Sauber's current test driver, Marko Asmer, wiped the floor with Bruno Senna in F3. The only reason they'd take him at this point in his career would be marketing and financial, unless he really has come along that much in the last couple of seasons.

He's very talented, but there are better young drivers out there who would be a better immediate replacement for Heidfeld.

Of all the top teams on the grid, BMW are the most conservative. Theissen prefers to grow slowly and I don't see him pairing Senna with Kubica at this time. Had he wanted a strong 3rd driver, he'd have made overtures to keep Vettel - perhaps the perfect "golden boy".

BMW don't need any money Senna may bring to the team.

I don't think he's an outstanding driver, yet. INHO he needs another season or two in GP2 for us to see whether he has the ability to string together a winning campaign.

I think he would be leading GP2 had his car not broken down in both races at Magny-cours. As said before, his debut in F3 was not only his first car racing but his first racing at all for years, his improved hugely since then. If the GP2 car can stop breaking down I think he can win the title this year, from there he may want to move on.
As is traditional at this point i'll mention, I met Bruno at Donington during his first year in F3, a really nice guy.

[dxb335d]

Racefan_uk said:

BMW Sauber's current test driver, Marko Asmer, wiped the floor with Bruno Senna in F3. The only reason they'd take him at this point in his career would be marketing and financial, unless he really has come along that much in the last couple of seasons.

He's very talented, but there are better young drivers out there who would be a better immediate replacement for Heidfeld.

I agree, and there is far too much marketing bks in f1.

[entropy]

rubystone said:

Of all the top teams on the grid, BMW are the most conservative. Theissen prefers to grow slowly and I don't see him pairing Senna with Kubica at this time. Had he wanted a strong 3rd driver, he'd have made overtures to keep Vettel - perhaps the perfect "golden boy".

What makes you say that?

They dumped Villeneuve for rookie Kubica and then sub Kubica with a rookie.

Not to mention Peter Sauber still works behind the scenes and has a fetish for rookies.

[entropy]

Jungles said:

Racefan_uk said:

BMW Sauber's current test driver, Marko Asmer, wiped the floor with Bruno Senna in F3.

That's a very harsh assessment.

The 2005 season was when both Asmer and Senna were in the championship simultaneously. At the time, Asmer was already in his second season, while Senna was in his debut season. Furthermore, Asmer was generally a more experienced racer than Senna.

In Asmer's debut season, 2004, he was 10th in the championship with no podiums.
In Senna's debut season, 2005, he was 10th in the championship with 3 podiums.

In Asmer's second season, 2005, he was 4th with no race wins and total of 6 podiums.
In Senna's second season, 2006, he was 3rd with 5 race wins and total of 9 podiums.

Edited by Jungles on Sunday 29th June 05:13

There was that huge shunt at Snetterton in 2006. Some say that had a profound affect on him because he was looking good for taking the title that year.

[Racefan_uk]

Jungles said:

Racefan_uk said:

BMW Sauber's current test driver, Marko Asmer, wiped the floor with Bruno Senna in F3.

That's a very harsh assessment.

The 2005 season was when both Asmer and Senna were in the championship simultaneously. At the time, Asmer was already in his second season, while Senna was in his debut season. Furthermore, Asmer was generally a more experienced racer than Senna.

In Asmer's debut season, 2004, he was 10th in the championship with no podiums.
In Senna's debut season, 2005, he was 10th in the championship with 3 podiums.

In Asmer's second season, 2005, he was 4th with no race wins and total of 6 podiums.
In Senna's second season, 2006, he was 3rd with 5 race wins and total of 9 podiums.

Now in GP2, Senna is holding up very well against the likes of Pantano, Grosjean, Parente, and Buemi, all of them very experienced racers with strong career results in other championships.

I think if Senna is given a F1 drive, yes the name and money will be big factors obviously, but the choice will be backed up by ample talent as well.

Edited by Jungles on Sunday 29th June 05:13

My apologies, I was thinking of the wrong year, I'd incorrectly imagined that Senna was in British F3 last year too, he'd moved on in to GP2. It's my age...
Still, Asmer has moved into the 'F1 arena' I should imagine there are plenty of people circling Senna in F1, having his name attached to a team alone brings kudos and his results aren't too shabby.

[rubystone]

entropy said:

rubystone said:

Of all the top teams on the grid, BMW are the most conservative. Theissen prefers to grow slowly and I don't see him pairing Senna with Kubica at this time. Had he wanted a strong 3rd driver, he'd have made overtures to keep Vettel - perhaps the perfect "golden boy".

What makes you say that?

They dumped Villeneuve for rookie Kubica and then sub Kubica with a rookie.

Not to mention Peter Sauber still works behind the scenes and has a fetish for rookies.

Villeneuve wasn't a Theissen choice. They renewed his contact for a year at a time when Sauber was being morphed into BMW and whilst the infrastructure of the whole team was being overhauled (including signing the existing sponsors to new deals). Stability was key at that time, but just as Hamilton impressed in testing, so Kubica did. Paddock rumours at the time (I think confirmed now?) were that JV had been told his time was up and he'd be out by the year-end. He went off "sick" and never came back.

If you think that Sauber has ANY influence there now, you're very much mistaken.

[entropy]

rubystone said:

entropy said:

rubystone said:

Of all the top teams on the grid, BMW are the most conservative. Theissen prefers to grow slowly and I don't see him pairing Senna with Kubica at this time. Had he wanted a strong 3rd driver, he'd have made overtures to keep Vettel - perhaps the perfect "golden boy".

What makes you say that?

They dumped Villeneuve for rookie Kubica and then sub Kubica with a rookie.

Not to mention Peter Sauber still works behind the scenes and has a fetish for rookies.

Villeneuve wasn't a Theissen choice. They renewed his contact for a year at a time when Sauber was being morphed into BMW and whilst the infrastructure of the whole team was being overhauled (including signing the existing sponsors to new deals). Stability was key at that time, but just as Hamilton impressed in testing, so Kubica did. Paddock rumours at the time (I think confirmed now?) were that JV had been told his time was up and he'd be out by the year-end. He went off "sick" and never came back.

If you think that Sauber has ANY influence there now, you're very much mistaken.

FYI, Hamilton didn't test till September 2006 at Silverstone. I should know, I went down to Silverstone to see him there! Paffet did the tests for McLaren between JPM leaving F1 up until Hamilton testing in September.

But you are correct, JV walked out but promoted Kubica from third driver. Nothing to do with Hamilton rivalry.

So Sauber has no influence whatsoever? Not even a drop a hint, tips and advice to Theissen et al?

I would've thought it would've been wise to snap up Alex Wurz as test driver ASAP last year but BMW/Sauber still love their young guns hence Marko Amser.

[skinny]

they already have christian klein as test driver so as good as wurz is (and i think he's probably the best test driver out there) they don't need to take him on.

however, i disagree that BMW are conservative with their drivers. taking on an unproven kubica as test driver was a brave move, and they also got a very youg vettel exposure into f1 as test driver who then stepped in and proved his worth after kubi's accident at montreal.

senna will make it into F1, undoubtedly. he has the name, he appears to have the talent, and sooner or later it has to happen. the only question is if it will be with a big team and if he'll do well.

[NAS]

Hope so, his sister is hot. Would love to see her on the telly more often.

[stephen300o]

Ayrton used to say,
"If you think I'm good, just wait until you see my nephew”.

iynwim

[rubystone]

entropy said:

FYI, Hamilton didn't test till September 2006 at Silverstone. I should know, I went down to Silverstone to see him there! Paffet did the tests for McLaren between JPM leaving F1 up until Hamilton testing in September.

Don't know where you get the Hamilton rivalry line from - wasn't me that said that. I saw Hamilton's first test too - may have walked past you - you never know

[Stuismyname]

stephen300o said:

Ayrton used to say,
"If you think I'm good, just wait until you see my nephew”.

iynwim

Didn't Piquet Snr say something similar about his son?! And isn't that working out well...