on air diary...
EVERYTHING IS NEW!
posted by Lee McKenzie on 10/03/2010
New drivers, new teams and new season; it really is a new era for Formula One. Whilst the new teams being a mixture of sentimentality, showbiz and slight concern, the new drivers bring a mixture of pound signs and promise!
Some of you will only know me from F1 and might not realise that I have been working in many series of motorsport for the last 6 years. In fact I still try to get to as much as I can throughout the year. It gives me a chance to catch and glimpse and get to know the F1 drivers of the future. This year there are a flood of new faces in paddock and I am proud to say I have worked with them ALL before. So here are my thoughts about how they will fare.
DRIVERS
NICO HULKENBERG
Nico carries a big reputation having been nurtured by Michael Schumacher’s Manager Willi Webber. He has had the ear of the 7 time World Champion throughout his career and when the German won the A1GP Championship, it was Michael who was on stage with me to present the trophy. But it was in GP2 in 2009 where the 22 year old really showed his potential. He followed in the tyre tracks of former F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton winning the championship as a rookie. I think it will be a big year for Nico but with a true gent in Rubens Barrichello alongside him in a friendly and supportive team, it could be the perfect surroundings for him to learn all he needs to take on the world in years to come. Expect a Sebastian Vettel style start to his career – steady, solid, punching above his weight. Big things to come.
BRUNO SENNA
If Hulkenberg carries a big reputation on track, then Bruno brings the most iconic surname in motor racing to the party – but is there more to Senna than simply 5 letters? His results would indicate there is. Bruno has not raced for as long as many of his competitors, his family wishing he would keep away from the sport that claimed the life of his Uncle. The draw though was too much for the youngster and he came to England to take part in the British F3 championship before moving up to GP2 in 2007. After his second season, it was looking likely that he would step into F1 with either Toro Rosso or Brawn. But after fellow Brazilian Barrichello was signed for the now World Champions, Senna was forced to sit the year out and had to make-do with some LMS races and Le Mans. My concern for Bruno is not only his lack of testing this season and competitive open wheel racing generally, but also whether HRT can offer him the support and has enough resources. He will have to over perform week after week not to look average and to stand apart from the other “hopefuls” that are entering into the sharks’ pool.
Lucas di Grassi
The Brazilian is back with Manor Motorsport, re-branded Virgin F1, whom he won the Macau Grand Prix with in 2005. After 4 years in GP2, where he finished runner-up in 2006 behind his new team mate Timo Glock, he gets is first full time taste of F1. Another stalwart of the Renault Young Driver programme, many thought he deserved his chance last season when Nelson Piquet Jr left the team. He is a solid driver with plenty of Renault testing-miles on the clock. Having raced against Senna, Hulkenberg, Petrov and Kobayashi and Lopez, di Grassi must fancy his chances to be one of the better talents from the new brat pack. How good his Virgin machine let’s him be is a different story. Don’t expect fireworks but some steady, solid performances if he has the car.
VITALY PETROV
The 25 year old makes history as becoming Russia’s first F1 driver. But is it just money that has got Petrov this far or does he have the talent? To his credit he has never hidden away from the fact that his Father has funded all of his racing including his race sea t with Renault at a reported cost of £9 million. But we cannot forget that he was runner-up to Nico Hulkenberg in last season GP2 Series scoring a couple of victories on the way. He has very limited racing experience having only competed in Formula Renault and Russian karting championships. I would expect Petrov to struggle with the step-up to the big league however, Petrov’s arrival is perfect timing for Moscow’s bid to stage an F1 race.
KARUN CHANDHOK
Another graduate from GP2 but Karun is set to have a tricky task signing 10 days before the start of the season and having no pre season testing, therefore no pit stop practice not even a run in an Formula One car before. He is a highly likeable guy who can talk a great game and will be a real star in the paddock. On track though he faces a tougher test in a team which has already had a more owners then miles on the clock! He is another who could benefit from being surrounded by much more experience from which to learn.
KAMUI KOBAYASHI
Not quite a new comer but apart from an “aggressive” or tenacious as I prefer to call it, style of driving, what do we know about Japan’s great hope? Kamui is one of the most colourful characters in the paddock and always a pleasure to speak to. He has lived in Paris since he was 15 and owns a Yorkshire Terrier called...Alfred! He changes his hair colour at least twice a season, is flamboyant but more importantly does much of his talking on the track. His danger is that sometimes he cannot quite reign in his potential and once he starts crashing or bashing things, he has a tendency to have quite a run of it! He is a great person and a pleasure to watch on track. I am delighted that Toyota’s demise has not left him working in his Father’s Sushi restaurant. He certainly deserves his place.
Teams
LOTUS
Lotus is set to become everyone’s favourite and it won’t just be the British and Malaysian’s! The emotive green and gold colours flashing past in Barcelona really was a sight to behold. They seem to me the most advanced of the new teams and Mike Gascoyne has been plotting away since the summer in order to get things right, thanks to the backing and enthusiasm of Tony Fernanades. Entry was granted and it seems the preparation has paid off. Only some hydraulic problems have held them back in testing. With two experienced drivers at hand, the car will develop more quickly than the other new kids on the block!
VIRGIN
They are already one of the friendliest teams in the paddock, even if they have had little to smile about so far from testing. It really has been a torrid time for the guys who have constantly worked through the nights and in Jerez managed a reported 6 hours sleep in 4 days according to one employee. A car built entirely on CFD is always going to be tricky and have doubters – Nick Wirth though is determined to prove the many sceptics wrong. But so far wing failures, crashes and hydraulic problems have meant little running and they’ll really be up against it come the weekend.
HISPANIA RACING
“Who?” I hear you all cry. Good point, and I am not sure if I have an answer! Campos looked increasingly unlikely to make it before being saved from obscurity. Now though they have 2 cars, 2 drivers and are on the way to Bahrain – an achievement in itself. The downside is that they will run for the first time in Bahrain – no testing, no previous experience...ever! Two lovely guys but with no F1 racing-experience behind the wheel- it doesn’t bode well.
I'll post more from Bahrain over the weekend.
This article was written for www.gpupdate.net
Lee x
