2014 grid? - Page 12

davyboy · 20 Oct 2013, 13:40 (Ref:3320534)

Quote:

Originally Posted by chunterer

Maybe Williams got wind of this already so that's why they're over there. Not to look to annul the agreement (although this investigation would surely kill it dead anyway) but panicking trying find out if they still have the money!

I imagine it's a lot more serious than that. If, and it's a big if, Maldonado's funding turns out to have been procured fraudulently... then as a British company, Williams could criminally liable here in the UK. They'll need to confirm that this funding has been sourced legitimately... and quickly.

TR Motorsport · 20 Oct 2013, 14:50 (Ref:3320541)

Quote:

Originally Posted by p-matt

Maldonado is so incomplete though. He can only really deliver when he's right at the sharp end, and at least 80% of drivers in the field could do the same thing. I wouldn't be at all confident that Maldonado could consistently bring the car home in solid points finishes and podium places - he certainly couldn't last year.

If Hulkenberg gets passed over for Maldonado's cash again it would be a travesty.

Nah Hulkenberg will get a seat, he will just go back to Force India instead of to Lotus (Which could actually be the right move as Merc engine supposed to be better than Renault one for 2014), and Maldonado will defintley go to Lotus for next year

davyboy · 20 Oct 2013, 14:56 (Ref:3320543)

Quote:

Originally Posted by TR Motorsport

Nah Hulkenberg will get a seat, he will just go back to Force India instead of to Lotus (Which could actually be the right move as Merc engine supposed to be better than Renault one for 2014), and Maldonado will defintley go to Lotus for next year

It sounds like he's going to be in Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious alright.

Paradise City · 20 Oct 2013, 15:08 (Ref:3320547)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ace007

Racing/testing days are indeed counted for Maldonado, Viso and Gonzalez! What about Cecotto Jnr? Was he benefiting from PDVSA $$?

I know the Cecotto family is in the opposition. Although surveying his sponsors on his website he does have some state support.

TR Motorsport · 20 Oct 2013, 17:39 (Ref:3320615)

Quote:

Originally Posted by davyboy

It sounds like he's going to be in Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious alright.

Hulkenberg to Force India, Maldonado to Lotus, Massa to Williams
It will happen, it just will as Hulkenberg has already signed for Force India in Japan and Maldonado will announce move to Lotus in coming weeks at the same time Massa announces his move to Williams

davyboy · 20 Oct 2013, 18:05 (Ref:3320625)

Quote:

Originally Posted by TR Motorsport

Hulkenberg to Force India, Maldonado to Lotus, Massa to Williams
It will happen, it just will as Hulkenberg has already signed for Force India in Japan and Maldonado will announce move to Lotus in coming weeks at the same time Massa announces his move to Williams

No point in telling us. Go down to the bookies and put a few grand on it.

**Aysedasi** · 20 Oct 2013, 18:21 (Ref:3320635)

Quote:

Originally Posted by TR Motorsport

Soz disagree hugely, if Maldonado went to Lotus that would be a great line-up as remember Maldonado is grand-prix winner and qualified 2nd in singapore only for the car to break down on him and 3rd in Abu Dhabi only fir his KERS to fail half way through race so that he dropped back to 5th, he's quick justvhas wrong reputation though and has done some stupid things but I think if he was given the car he would be fighting with Grosjean/Massa/ Hulkenberg for solid points if not the odd podium. If he went to lotus he would be given the car he deserves so I really hope that deal does get done and Maldonado does move to Lotus for next year

In short, I disagree......

Completely.

Absolutely.

Categorically.

Definitively.

And any other 'ly's' that you can think of.....

m355y · 20 Oct 2013, 18:24 (Ref:3320637)

Maldonado is underrated on here and probably unappreciated in the F1 world due to his reputation for on track incidents. He has shown flashes of genuine brilliance last season, as a previous poster said not only his Spain win but his second on the grid on Singapore, third in Abu Dhabi, in between the incidents on track last season there were some very strong drives and this season he's stood up ok to a driver in Bottas who many people rate as a future World Champion.

I'd rather Hulkenberg in a Lotus easily, but Pastor wouldn't be a waste of a seat.

**Aysedasi** · 20 Oct 2013, 18:32 (Ref:3320641)

Trouble is, everyone's talking about last season.... In F1, that's a lifetime away. Stood up to Bottas? Yeah, I suppose so. But Pastor would surely have expected more against the rookie......

cds_uk · 20 Oct 2013, 18:38 (Ref:3320644)

Quote:

Originally Posted by TR Motorsport

Massa to Williams It will happen

Will he bring Smedley with him?

p-matt · 20 Oct 2013, 19:19 (Ref:3320662)

Quote:

Originally Posted by m355y

Maldonado is underrated on here and probably unappreciated in the F1 world due to his reputation for on track incidents. He has shown flashes of genuine brilliance last season, as a previous poster said not only his Spain win but his second on the grid on Singapore, third in Abu Dhabi, in between the incidents on track last season there were some very strong drives and this season he's stood up ok to a driver in Bottas who many people rate as a future World Champion.

I'd rather Hulkenberg in a Lotus easily, but Pastor wouldn't be a waste of a seat.

I don't disagree - his raw speed certainly isn't in question. If he can get it up front he can more than often get a result. His string of GP2 feature race wins, his Spanish victory and his race in Abu Dhabi last year all great examples of that. It's just that his form is too patchy and when he's mired further down the grid he becomes too aggressive. And this sense of entitlement now that he's a GP winner isn't becoming either

**ScotsBrutesFan** · 20 Oct 2013, 19:37 (Ref:3320670)

I took a punt at this the other day but it was lost in the server issues.

Red Bull: Vettel Ricciardo - both under contract
Mercedes: Hamilton Rosberg - Both under contract not going anywhere
Ferrari: Alonso Raikkonen - Alonso apparently open to offers Raikkonen New Deal
Lotus : Grosjean -Should sign something soon if he's any sense.
McLaren: Button Perez - neither signed both probably open to offers
Marussia: Bianchi - contracted possibly payment from Ferrari

So
Hulkenburg stays at Sauber for 2014 with the Ferrari Engine, should Alonso leave Ferrari in 2015 and Vettel stays at RedBull then Hulk get the #2 seat for 2015
Sirotkin if he gets his Superlicence becomes Sauber#2, if he doesn't Gutierrez keeps the #2.

Force India - Sutil becomes #1 with Guttierrez as #2 (see above)

Di Resta's poor season means moving across from Force India, to the newly Mercedes Powered Williams, #2 goes to deepest pockets available

Bottas stays with the Renault power plant and becomes #2 at Lotus

Trying to work out the rest is making my head hurt

m355y · 21 Oct 2013, 06:06 (Ref:3320828)

Surely Hulkenberg HAS to move this season, he can't wait yet another season for a competitive drive in the hope of a Ferrari seat opening up. He's what, 27? Already had a lot of impressive seasons in the midfield. Wait much longer and he risks being a Fisichella and spending too long impressing in midfield machinery without making the step up. He has to gamble on Lotus if the seat's available.

Bottas is in a different position, he just needs a car that lets him show his speed. Williams need to get their act together to give it him, but I'm sure he'll stick around there. Williams are so Jekyll and Hyde.

**chunterer** · 21 Oct 2013, 10:23 (Ref:3320934)

Agreed about Hulk but other than Enstone, there isn't another team on current from that can offer him a truly decent car?

Would he really go back to FI? If Sauber stay in business he'd be better off staying there.

Cannot see Bottas driving anywhere else than where he is now, unless someone is prepared to pay him to drive and not the other way around. That's nothing against him, he's an excellent prospect, just the way of the world.

If Perez does part with McLaren, how much will the Slims' put up front for a drive elsewhere? I think he's staying put so they can take another look at him in (hopefully) a better car but who knows.

Must have Magnussen get a half decent drive though. Marussia would be a waste...

wnut · 21 Oct 2013, 23:24 (Ref:3321380)

Quote:

Originally Posted by chunterer

Agreed about Hulk but other than Enstone, there isn't another team on current from that can offer him a truly decent car?

Would he really go back to FI? If Sauber stay in business he'd be better off staying there.

Cannot see Bottas driving anywhere else than where he is now, unless someone is prepared to pay him to drive and not the other way around. That's nothing against him, he's an excellent prospect, just the way of the world.

If Perez does part with McLaren, how much will the Slims' put up front for a drive elsewhere? I think he's staying put so they can take another look at him in (hopefully) a better car but who knows.

Must have Magnussen get a half decent drive though. Marussia would be a waste...

Why would you want the Hulk when you can confidently add four tenths a lap onto what he is capable of in your car compared to some lightweight midget?

JacobP · 22 Oct 2013, 05:47 (Ref:3321458)

It will be interesting to see how the Venezuelan currency exchange scandal unfolds. Perhaps Maldonado will go unaffected. It's hard to imagine he was involved in any of it, but a few Venezuelan drivers racing in the US could be affected.

Formulahistory · 22 Oct 2013, 13:01 (Ref:3321626)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JacobP

It will be interesting to see how the Venezuelan currency exchange scandal unfolds. Perhaps Maldonado will go unaffected. It's hard to imagine he was involved in any of it, but a few Venezuelan drivers racing in the US could be affected.

what is the problem with the Venezuelan drivers in USA?

W.A Trichlorostyrene · 22 Oct 2013, 15:18 (Ref:3321666)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Formulahistory

what is the problem with the Venezuelan drivers in USA?

http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_268756/con...tguid=dMJWTD0u

Paradise City · 22 Oct 2013, 15:36 (Ref:3321674)

I'm sure Maldonado will remain unaffected. By winning that Spanish GP he secured international fame for Venezuela, and has become something of a hero. I wouldn't have that confidence with PDVSA support for drivers in any other branch of the sport mind you. Grosjean and Maldonado at Lotus would be a hairraising combo if it does come to pass.

ace007 · 22 Oct 2013, 15:51 (Ref:3321688)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paradise City

I'm sure Maldonado will remain unaffected. By winning that Spanish GP he secured international fame for Venezuela, and has become something of a hero. I wouldn't have that confidence with PDVSA support for drivers in any other branch of the sport mind you. Grosjean and Maldonado at Lotus would be a hairraising combo if it does come to pass.

I wouldn't be so sure...

Hawkwood · 22 Oct 2013, 17:04 (Ref:3321733)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paradise City

I'm sure Maldonado will remain unaffected. By winning that Spanish GP he secured international fame for Venezuela, and has become something of a hero. I wouldn't have that confidence with PDVSA support for drivers in any other branch of the sport mind you. Grosjean and Maldonado at Lotus would be a hairraising combo if it does come to pass.

I wouldn't be quite so sure yet. If (and it is 'if' at the moment of course) the public money used to sponsor him was obtained by the fraudulent means mentioned in various articles, then how likely would it be that they would continue to sponsor him at the same desired rate?

chillibowl · 22 Oct 2013, 17:35 (Ref:3321756)

just a bit of fun but if its true that PDVSA is giving Williams US$46mil a year and the maximum amount a Venezuelan citizen can take out of the country a year is US$3000 then they would need 15 333.33 people to travel out of the country each year to make their sponsorship payments for them.

after airline tickets, hotels, food money, bribes to keep quite etc one wonders that if this is true then what the true cost of their sponsorship really is. at the least there is an airline or hotel chain out there that should be considering F1 as a place to advertise!

andy666 · 23 Oct 2013, 08:18 (Ref:3322057)

Any word on Valsecchi getting a drive next year ? What a waste , a proven GP2 champion sitting at the back of a garage .

**chunterer** · 23 Oct 2013, 15:08 (Ref:3322151)

Quote:

Originally Posted by andy666

Any word on Valsecchi getting a drive next year ? What a waste , a proven GP2 champion sitting at the back of a garage .

Yes he was GP2 champion but has he startled any team owners with his testing pace, or his wallet?

andy666 · 23 Oct 2013, 22:20 (Ref:3322337)

Quote:

Originally Posted by chunterer

Yes he was GP2 champion but has he startled any team owners with his testing pace, or his wallet?

The size of his wallet should make no difference ....... oh sorry I forgot about the current state of affairs in F1.

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