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27 Aug 2009, 18:00 (Ref:2529404) | #1 | |
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I have a question for you guys. (John Michael Edwards)
For you guys that keep up with junior categories was there any hype around him coming into F. Renault?
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27 Aug 2009, 18:28 (Ref:2529424) | #2 | ||
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I remember there was a bit of hype because he was so young and had won a race in Skip Barber at something like 12 years old?! I can't believe he's only 19 now, Red Bull should have left him in Europe for a bit longer. Bit of a stupid decision to put a 14/15 year old in the Formula Renault Eurocup, they only gave him a couple of years and sent him back over the pond when he was still only 16. If you put him on a Formula Renault grid now, he'd still be classed as young, yet its some 4 years ago since he was competing in it.
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Steve McQueen- "Racing is life. Anything before or after is just waiting." |
27 Aug 2009, 18:55 (Ref:2529435) | #3 | |
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Was he Red Bull's next big thing though?
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27 Aug 2009, 20:51 (Ref:2529512) | #4 | ||
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Who knows really? Looking at it now, probably not. But then he was placed in the Formula Renault Eurocup at 14 years old, Vettel started at 16 in FBMW ADAC, and there is a big difference between the two series. Renault is a higher category up the ladder than BMW. Edwards hardly got a chance to develop at such a young age.
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Steve McQueen- "Racing is life. Anything before or after is just waiting." |
27 Aug 2009, 20:53 (Ref:2529515) | #5 | ||
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I spoke with him in Trois Rivieres about that actually - he fully admits that he was over his head in some of the series he was racing in for Red Bull - just too young and not ready for it... Even coming back to North America, putting a 16 year old in Atlantic is just too young. He did ok, all things considered, but the expectations from Red Bull were just too much given his age. When he took a step back, and did a season of Star Mazda, he started to hit his stride again and won the championship.
I think he's definitely one of the most naturally talented young American drivers to come along in a long time, but I think he was burned by Red Bull pushing him into series and expecting results when he had barely learned how to drive a car. I don't think he's the only driver to get that treatment from Red Bull though... on the other hand, who knows where he'd be without them. |
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"I used to hate writing, but now I enjoy it. I realized that the purpose of writing is to inflate weak ideas, obscure poor reasoning, and inhibit clarity. With a little practice, writing can be an intimidating and impenetrable fog!" - Calvin and Hobbes |
27 Aug 2009, 20:59 (Ref:2529521) | #6 | ||
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I agree with all of that Jay. Like I say, its a bit ridiculous to put a 14 year old in Formula Renault, he even did ok in his second year with a race win in the North European Cup. But at 15 years old, he was still the youngest in the championship by miles and was comparing favourably against some of the more experienced chaps. Imagine if he was placed in Europe now, at a much better age of 18 and more experience...
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Steve McQueen- "Racing is life. Anything before or after is just waiting." |
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