Kimi to Haas for one year???
I thought that initially, but I think Kimi would cost too much, and I think he will hang up his helmet when Ferrari call time, he won't go to a small team to finish up, by the time they got themselves competitive he would be over and done with, so I don't really see him bothering. The last time anyone did a similar thing, it was DC to red bull, and he doesn't really get any credit for helping develop the early red bull cars does he?
Marco Andretti's career in Indy Car hasn't skyrocketed as many thought it would have. Despite having top of the line equipment driving for Michael's team, he's got three wins but perhaps better known for having lost the Indy 500 to Sam Hornish, Jr. by a few thousand's of a second at the finish line, a couple of famous accidents (one where his car flipped and ended up upside down at Indy and taking out team mate and championship contender Franchitti at Sonoma which had to have been one of the bone head moves of all time). Had he won the Indy 500, it would have been a revelation but, as it was, he's been relegated to second tier status in a series where Montoya (of all drivers) is about to be crowned champion. IIRC, however, it seems as though Marco went over to Europe and did some testing and racing in lower categories when his schedule allowed. It was seen as a good move at the time as everyone was pointing at him to eventually make the transition over to F-1. So, unlike his father, he would at least have some experience running on European circuits and he's been dabbling in Formula E. He pulled out some consistent performances in ALMS but was nearly always overshadowed by Kanaan in the same car. A move to F-1 is a bit of a stretch at this point. It's not as though he's unused to powerful cars but the F-1 fishbowl may prove to be something else altogether. BHW
Nice synopsis! He may not be as green as people think then? They should allow testing so that he can get some track time
..............just a quick question, is Marco going to use a mothballed BA Concorde we don't know about?
It's a reference to Michael (Andretti!) flying Concorde back & forth all the time when he was at McLaren as he didn't want to move to Europe. Didn't work out very well........ Cheers, Ian
Ahhh, get it now! I fell for the promise of Michael Andretti when he joined McLaren, and expected great things, just shows different formulae can have very different talent requirements.
Haas has a huge advantage as a new team over similar F1 startups as 1) they have an intimate tie-up with Ferrari (technically and commercially), 2) they've run a successful racing BUSINESS profitably - so theoretically know how to do it and 3) seem to have a reasonable understanding about what it will cost in the future. Picking the driver? It's going to be the easiest collision of a handful of things 1) who does Ferrari want in the seat? They have a roster of people, it's in their interest and I'm sure its in the engine/tech support contract 2) who can attract commercial support (i.e. Danica effect) and 3) what the driver can bring. I unfortunately think the US driver angle is only relevant if the US driver can bring the right commercial impact. In terms of relevancy to F1 (i.e. recent experience), it's Alex Rossi, but unsure Alex will have the commercial oomph and he's been stuck in C-grade teams as a reserve. Gutierrez and Vergne would be better (safer) picks. (I raced with Rossi for a few years in Skippy, would love to be able to say I raced against an F1 kid..). Younger kids (eg. Ferrucci, Lance Stroll) are in F3 and would be wise to get more seasoning before attempting it - I think the last person to get dumped from F1 and revive themselves was Grosjean? In looking at Marco (or Danica, or.....) from the US, the calculus would likely be more focused on "the likelihood that it would never work" vs. "the chance it could work".
Max Chilton! I guess he brings his checkbook along too...... Cheers, Ian Chilton has held talks with Haas - Pitpass.com
I have to wonder if this is a marketing decision, perhaps the Andretti name will lure a big US sponsor?
+1 Get Mario on the case, and I can see that working out....... I don't follow Indycar; Is Marco any good? Cheers, Ian
Do you think that Haas is desperate for funding and looking for pay drivers already? I have the feeling that based on his previous records, Hass can attrack sponsorship for his F1 venture, and choose the pilots without too much pressure. I may be wrong. I am afraid that Max Chlton doesn't have to bring much to the table. There are ex-F1 drivers a bit better than him on the market probably: what about Kobayashi, or Kovalainen? Or Magnussen? Or Sutil? or a few others like Buemi, etc...
No, I think you're probably right. The first two I think are a little too old. Sutil too. They all had their chances, and didn't exactly set the world alight..... Magnussen I suspect is among the 10. Cheers, Ian
The rate McLaren are imploding, maybe Alonso or button will take a chance, at least they will have Ferrari engine and gearbox, by next year that will be a big plus over the self-destructing Honda sewing machine PU
Ouch! Buy why are you writing him off? I don't claim to know much at all about the taxicab scene, but thought his team there was among the frontrunners? If I'm right, shows he knows a little about what's going on, no? OK, F1's a whole different can of worms, but it's not like he's a starry eyed dreamer like a few that have come & gone over the years. Cheers, Ian
I will be rooting for him. But I am also trying to be realistic. Hopefully he surprises me. Wouldnt mind to be wrong.
Ouch x2! Agree that there's a lot to be said for the Ferrari PU etc. Can't see Fred going there, but maybe JB. He'd be a great fit too IMO; vastly experienced, known decent test driver (as much as they can now of course) and pretty "level headed". Cheers, Ian
Button would be a very good fit, but would even the nice guy be humble enough to go to a fledgling team, just to impart knowledge before leaving as they take off?
I don't believe his times will be in the ballpark but I think a (North) American in the field is a must...
I know they can be ridiculed for the moment on the "strength" of their lack of performance, but you may underestimate McLaren-Honda at your peril. I would not be surprised if they made a spectacular come back in years to come.
+1 American's (& Canadians ) *love* "their guys". Who though? Rossi? "Traditionally", you've got to prove yourself in Europe - preferably starting out in FF then F3 and now maybe also GP2/Renault 3.5. Cheers, Ian
