Does Gary Paffett deserve an F1 drive in 2005

luke · 5 Aug 2004, 17:44 (Ref:1057255)

foreversideways · 5 Aug 2004, 17:50 (Ref:1057261)

Interesting question for the club single seater forum. More interesting though is. Does he deservr a drive in North West Formula Ford

Ian Sowman · 5 Aug 2004, 18:23 (Ref:1057296)

More appropriate in here...

No 4 · 5 Aug 2004, 19:43 (Ref:1057377)

Having met Gary many times over the last few years I've always been impressed by his modesty and humility. There are drivers of much lesser ability who could learn a lesson from him in this respect!

Does he desrve an F1 seat? If he was from a rich family he would already be in an F1 car. He's yet another example of a driver with shed loads of talent, who has to step aside to let drivers of modest ability, but oodles of family cash, take his drives.

Motorsport from top to bottom really has to get to grips with this issue once and for all. It can't be right, not least for the future of the sport, that bucks rather than talent is the determinent factor as to who gets in a car.

Those who know me will recognise this is a subject close to my heart!!!

Kicking-back · 5 Aug 2004, 19:49 (Ref:1057384)

He does deserve a drive and will probably have one.

Don K · 5 Aug 2004, 20:06 (Ref:1057408)

He has done extremely well in Formula 3.
So he certainly deserves a place in one of the many higher level series.

On the other hand, I don't think his results so far are enough to say that he deserves a place in F1.

minirda · 5 Aug 2004, 20:24 (Ref:1057422)

Quote:

Originally posted by Kicking-back
He does deserve a drive and will probably have one.

Agreed! Probably will end up at Sauber. He deserves a shot in F1, IMHO.

Tweed · 5 Aug 2004, 20:26 (Ref:1057425)

When you compare his record to Baumgartner and even Bruni or Massa, then yes, he does deserve one.

minirda · 5 Aug 2004, 20:31 (Ref:1057428)

Quote:

Originally posted by Tweed
When you compare his record to Baumgartner and even Bruni or Massa, then yes, he does deserve one.

Even when you compare him with Da Matta, Klien, Pizzonia and Pantano, he also deserves one.

Tweed · 5 Aug 2004, 20:35 (Ref:1057430)

Yeah, I could have stressed my point even more!

alesi95 · 5 Aug 2004, 20:42 (Ref:1057436)

A test would probably be a good start. Then we can talk about wheather he deserves an F1 ride or not.

jiggly_puff · 5 Aug 2004, 20:56 (Ref:1057447)

i would agree he deserves one more than bruni and co but i still think there are others who should be ahead of paffett in getting a race seat!

luke · 5 Aug 2004, 21:46 (Ref:1057537)

Maybe Anthony Davidson

Jaxs · 5 Aug 2004, 22:03 (Ref:1057581)

The question should be ' Why is Gary Paffett not driving in F1'

His success within every formula in which he has driven speaks volumes. Take the example of the DTM Beijing race, everyone was new to the circuit, who dominated in practice and the race?

The recognition of his talent is needed and it is needed now. I cannot think of a more diserving talent that has proved itself time and time again.

alesi95 · 5 Aug 2004, 22:10 (Ref:1057596)

Quote:

Originally posted by Jaxs
The question should be ' Why is Gary Paffett not driving in F1'

His success within every formula in which he has driven speaks volumes. Take the example of the DTM Beijing race, everyone was new to the circuit, who dominated in practice and the race?

The recognition of his talent is needed and it is needed now. I cannot think of a more diserving talent that has proved itself time and time again.

Because after German F3 he didnt have two beans to rub together and it was very difficult to get noticed in a year old merc in DTM last year. Although he made it look easy.

Rennen · 5 Aug 2004, 22:55 (Ref:1057655)

There's a vast differance racing a Tin-Top to racing in Formula One!...One would have thought DTM was a good 'little earner', and a good career prospect. Also why would Mercedes want to let their star performer go!?

Kicking-back · 5 Aug 2004, 22:57 (Ref:1057660)

Ah, Rennen, trying to elimate the competition there!

Lets hope there's a place for your boy and GP in F1

Teretonga · 6 Aug 2004, 04:55 (Ref:1057815)

Yes, but probably only at a team like Sauber. Jaguar would not be a good atep for him and nor would Jordan or Minardi.
He has demonsrated enough versatility to be a prospect in F1 and a couple of years at Sauber would see him either prove himself worthy of a drive in the top 4 or become another Massa/Heidfeld/Panis/Zonta-a journeyman-a very good driver but not a great one.

Don K · 6 Aug 2004, 10:24 (Ref:1058018)

Quote:

Originally posted by Jaxs
The question should be ' Why is Gary Paffett not driving in F1'

His success within every formula in which he has driven speaks volumes. Take the example of the DTM Beijing race, everyone was new to the circuit, who dominated in practice and the race?

The recognition of his talent is needed and it is needed now. I cannot think of a more diserving talent that has proved itself time and time again.

The reason he is not driving in F1 yet, is probably that he has not raced on an international level yet.

He has clearly shown in F3 that he is capable to race at a higher level.
But that's not enough reason to skip those higher levels and jump into F1.

OK, he has won races in DTM.
So what? even Albers has won races in DTM, and ALbers probably isn't ready for DTM yet.

Paffet needs a chance to show what he can.
Winning the DTM series might be a good step now.
But I think he needs a year either racing in a series like F3000/World Series/GP2/whatever, or being a test driver in F1.
Driving a tail-end F1 car next year might damage his carreer.

No 4 · 6 Aug 2004, 11:16 (Ref:1058085)

I thought Gary has already tested with McLaren!!?? I stand to be corrected.

Kicking-back · 6 Aug 2004, 13:27 (Ref:1058231)

He has.

Muz · 6 Aug 2004, 13:50 (Ref:1058260)

Gary had his first test with Mclaren as the part of the prize for winning the Autosport Young Driver Award. He impressed so much that during 2002 he was asked back by Mclaren to perform more testing duties. He tested two or three times for Mclaren during 2001/2

BootsOntheSide · 6 Aug 2004, 16:21 (Ref:1058455)

He certainly deserves another test, to try to readjust to single seaters, and see how much he's learnt in the DTM. Comapring him to Baumgartner is a waste of time - Zsolt has money and Gary doesn't, and Minardi can't survive without monied drivers. Sad but true.

sonic · 6 Aug 2004, 17:36 (Ref:1058519)

Quote:

Originally posted by No 4
I thought Gary has already tested with McLaren!!?? I stand to be corrected.

I think Gary is a quick driver but no-one's too clear on why McLaren decided to let him go either...

they must have had a good reason.

Kicking-back · 6 Aug 2004, 17:37 (Ref:1058520)

It wasn't a case of "letting him go".

He was only testing on an ad-hoc basis - and they got him into a DTM drive with Mercedes.

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