The Official Young Driver Test Thread
Discussion
As a cost saving measure this year, the teams are staying on in Abu Dhabi to conduct their Young Driver tests. Alongside some predictable names there are a couple of interesting names to watch out for.
From what I can find so far (by searching on the front page of Autosport.com) these are the line ups.
McLaren:
Oliver Turvey and Gary Paffett
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/88103
Force India:
Paul Di Resta, Yelmer Buurman and Antonio Felix Da Costa(wasn't he in the boyband Blue?)
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/88091
Scuderia Torro Rosso:
Jean-Eric Vergne
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/88105
Red Bull Racing:
Daniel Ricciardo
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/88105
Possibly the most interesting of these (to me at least) is Vergne. I think that he is "the real deal" and could possibly replace either Buemi or Alguesari(depending on who bins it first) part way through next year. It will be good to see Paffett in a car again too.
Feel free to add any more that you find or hear about.
From what I can find so far (by searching on the front page of Autosport.com) these are the line ups.
McLaren:
Oliver Turvey and Gary Paffett
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/88103
Force India:
Paul Di Resta, Yelmer Buurman and Antonio Felix Da Costa(wasn't he in the boyband Blue?)
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/88091
Scuderia Torro Rosso:
Jean-Eric Vergne
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/88105
Red Bull Racing:
Daniel Ricciardo
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/88105
Possibly the most interesting of these (to me at least) is Vergne. I think that he is "the real deal" and could possibly replace either Buemi or Alguesari(depending on who bins it first) part way through next year. It will be good to see Paffett in a car again too.
Feel free to add any more that you find or hear about.
Turvey will be worth an eye being kept on.
Is it just me though or does there seem to be not much proper stand-out talent in the lower ranks of late. A few years ago, half the GP2 field were being lined up as the next big thing which most of them have become.
Don't get me wrong - there are some very handy drivers out there but none who you'd mark out as "special".
Is it just me though or does there seem to be not much proper stand-out talent in the lower ranks of late. A few years ago, half the GP2 field were being lined up as the next big thing which most of them have become.
Don't get me wrong - there are some very handy drivers out there but none who you'd mark out as "special".
Jerome D'Ambrosio and Mikhail Aleshin for Renault:
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/88106
The stand out drivers to watch IMO are Vergne, Ricciardo and Oliver Turvey. Sam Bird is also testing for Mercedes - I've watched him drive some storming races in GP2, but he also makes a few mistakes and has the worst luck of anyone for failures or getting caught up in incidents. One to watch nevertheless.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/88106
The stand out drivers to watch IMO are Vergne, Ricciardo and Oliver Turvey. Sam Bird is also testing for Mercedes - I've watched him drive some storming races in GP2, but he also makes a few mistakes and has the worst luck of anyone for failures or getting caught up in incidents. One to watch nevertheless.
timbo48 said:
Hasn't Dean Stoneman got a test out there as well? Bit about him on the local news tonight, or is that just a prize for doing well in F2?
Yeah, him and Pastor Maldonado are testing for Williams - Stoneman for winning F2, Maldonad for winning GP2/buckets of Venezuelen oil money!StevieBee said:
Turvey will be worth an eye being kept on.
Is it just me though or does there seem to be not much proper stand-out talent in the lower ranks of late. A few years ago, half the GP2 field were being lined up as the next big thing which most of them have become.
Don't get me wrong - there are some very handy drivers out there but none who you'd mark out as "special".
There are very rarely any drivers who could be marked out as "special".Is it just me though or does there seem to be not much proper stand-out talent in the lower ranks of late. A few years ago, half the GP2 field were being lined up as the next big thing which most of them have become.
Don't get me wrong - there are some very handy drivers out there but none who you'd mark out as "special".
There had been a big bottleneck in GP2 in the 2007-2009 era, but with the expansion of the F1 grid, most of the drivers who were stuck there have managed to move up and try their hand in F1 before either staying or moving on to other fields.
The GCF put a big dent in motorsport sponsorship. The F3 Euroseries is a small shadow of its former self at the moment, so up-and-coming drivers are more spread out across less expensive categories and some have no doubt been driven out of motorsport due to lack of funds.
But having said that, there are some interesting ones out there. Ricciardo and Vergne have already been mentioned. Jules Bianchi has had an impressive career. Valtteri Bottas has performed remarkably consistently up the ladder, even if not particularly flashy.
Turvey's not too bad, but I don't really think he has shined enough, despite being in good teams and all.
The problem with the lower ranks now, is that the "streaming" structure has been watered down with so many series and weaker competition. This means its getting more difficult to spot a true star emerging. Also the trickle down of tech from F1 to lower formulae means that it's becoming harder to spot a technically good driver. For example, a TAG KF1 kart is piss easy to drive fast, compared to a 100cc direct drive formula A, or super A kart from a few years back. I fear for the future of motorsport due to it's dumbing down at driver level, in favour of teching up at an engineering level.
For me the cream are Ricciardo, Vergne and Bottas.
Paffett is a known quantity and whilst he could be on the grid one day he would already have had Lewis's seat in 2007 if he had been at LH's level.
The only one I haven't mentioned who I think could go on to bigger and better things without bringing many millions to bring to the party is Stoneman, but I have left him off the first list as even in the lower Formulae he is a bit of an unknown quantity due to the dearth quality drivers he has raced against.
Paffett is a known quantity and whilst he could be on the grid one day he would already have had Lewis's seat in 2007 if he had been at LH's level.
The only one I haven't mentioned who I think could go on to bigger and better things without bringing many millions to bring to the party is Stoneman, but I have left him off the first list as even in the lower Formulae he is a bit of an unknown quantity due to the dearth quality drivers he has raced against.
belleair302 said:
Sam Bird is well worth watching, and in 2011 a decent GP2 drive will see him knocking on a variety of F1 teams doors.
I wasn't impressed by his F3 performances, distinctly underwhelmed in fact. Then again I expected Jungle boy (remember him?!?! ) to have at least a top 3 drive and possibly a WDC in his pocket by now 
Ricciardo is my current pick of the sub-F1 crop. I like Vergne, but think he was flattered by a weak field in British F3 this year. When the ART boys joined in at Silverstone, Sims showed his class. I was surprised Bottas ended up beating Sims this year; didn't think much of him, but what do I know?
Turvey is a class act and deserves a break with a big team, though I fear he might become another Gary Paffett where the face doesn't quite fit. I hope to be proven wrong. As for Sam Bird, well I'm yet to see what's so special about the lad. He and Brendon Hartley have been consistently underwhelming compared to their enormous hype.
Turvey is a class act and deserves a break with a big team, though I fear he might become another Gary Paffett where the face doesn't quite fit. I hope to be proven wrong. As for Sam Bird, well I'm yet to see what's so special about the lad. He and Brendon Hartley have been consistently underwhelming compared to their enormous hype.
Been very impressed with Sam Bird this year in GP2 - some stunning drives coupled with the worst luck I have ever known! Certainly one to watch for next year (in GP2 i expect). Oliver Turvey has also shown well with some very mature drives.
Outside the current test line-up I'm disappointed that Esteban Guerreri hasn't managed to land a test. I did hear he was linked with a 2011 drive earlier in the year but it all seems to have gone a bit quiet.
Outside the current test line-up I'm disappointed that Esteban Guerreri hasn't managed to land a test. I did hear he was linked with a 2011 drive earlier in the year but it all seems to have gone a bit quiet.
The first set of results are in:
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/88355
Ricciardo kicked everyone's arse, although with a car advantage.
I'm very pleased with Perez's performance. The Sauber is slower than the Force India and Williams, but he put it ahead.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/88355
Ricciardo kicked everyone's arse, although with a car advantage.
I'm very pleased with Perez's performance. The Sauber is slower than the Force India and Williams, but he put it ahead.
Colin Kolles having a dig at Bruno Senna?
GP2 driver Davide Valsecchi impressed Hispania in the young driver test at Abu Dhabi. "Italy should support him," said team boss Colin Kolles. "He certainly did an awesome job, it took him a few laps to understand the car, while some of his colleagues did not succeed even after a full season."
GP2 driver Davide Valsecchi impressed Hispania in the young driver test at Abu Dhabi. "Italy should support him," said team boss Colin Kolles. "He certainly did an awesome job, it took him a few laps to understand the car, while some of his colleagues did not succeed even after a full season."
[quote=Jungles]The first set of results are in:
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/88355
Ricciardo kicked everyone's arse, although with a car advantage.
quote]
he also kicked Vettel's arse time wise. How much is down to the track rubbering in we don't yet know, but go Daniel. Maybe a good replacement for Mark if he retires in 2011.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/88355
Ricciardo kicked everyone's arse, although with a car advantage.
quote]
he also kicked Vettel's arse time wise. How much is down to the track rubbering in we don't yet know, but go Daniel. Maybe a good replacement for Mark if he retires in 2011.
Quite a few test drivers kicked the arse of the regular drivers.
Ambrosio was 1.856s faster than the best Renault qualifying time (Petrov 1m40.658s).
Bird was 0.84s faster than the best Mercedes qualifying time (Rosberg 1m40.060s).
Vergne was 0.733s faster than the best STR qualifying time (Alguersuari 1m41.707s).
Valsecchi was a whopping 2.072s faster than the best HRT qualifying time (Senna 1m45.085s).
IIRC, Karun Chandhok said the extra rubber would equate to around 1.5s advantage. Most of the drivers including Ricciardo performed below that estimated advantage.
Ambrosio was 1.856s faster than the best Renault qualifying time (Petrov 1m40.658s).
Bird was 0.84s faster than the best Mercedes qualifying time (Rosberg 1m40.060s).
Vergne was 0.733s faster than the best STR qualifying time (Alguersuari 1m41.707s).
Valsecchi was a whopping 2.072s faster than the best HRT qualifying time (Senna 1m45.085s).
IIRC, Karun Chandhok said the extra rubber would equate to around 1.5s advantage. Most of the drivers including Ricciardo performed below that estimated advantage.
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