Romain Grosjean

[Marbot]

Crasher comes good. There's hope for Maldonado, yet.

[JeremySmith]

Originally Posted by Marbot

Crasher comes good. There's hope for Maldonado, yet.

Is that right....

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by JeremySmith

Is that right....

We shall see.

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by chunder

Does no one else think that he might just be far more in favour at Renault now than Kimi?

If he isn't, he should be. IMO.

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by Marbot

Crasher comes good. There's hope for Maldonado, yet.

I love a good belly laugh.....

[chunterer]

Maldonado looked the real deal in qualy last year but hasn't done anything of repute this year. There's no comparing him to Grosjean unless they match up in the same car and then Romain would win out on pace.

[Dragger]

Another good drive from Grosjean, he's continuing to mature into a better driver while keeping his pace. It's safe to say I've become a fan and look fwd to seeing him as Lotus' #1 driver next year. I think he has what it takes to be a World Champ.

[Born Racer]

[itoldyouso]Don't say it/itoldyouso]

I was surprised people had such a downer on his potential before. He was quick a lot of last year too, but people really thought he was a lost cause. I felt many of those accidents weren't as drastically his fault as was sometimes implied, such as the Suzuka one.

[Aysedasi]

I totally agree.

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by Born Racer

[itoldyouso]Don't say it/itoldyouso]

I was surprised people had such a downer on his potential before. He was quick a lot of last year too, but people really thought he was a lost cause. I felt many of those accidents weren't as drastically his fault as was sometimes implied, such as the Suzuka one.

Me too, the bumps were a bit ugly and cringe inducing but surely there was never any doubt about his ultimate talent?

A fair few top liners have gone through similar patches on their learning curve in the past and gone onto to win the WDC.

[wnut]

Originally Posted by chunterer

Me too, the bumps were a bit ugly and cringe inducing but surely there was never any doubt about his ultimate talent?

A fair few top liners have gone through similar patches on their learning curve in the past and gone onto to win the WDC.

Me three, when he received the suspension penalty, I thought it was an endorsement of how fast he actually was, I still don't think that he deserved to be suspended for what he did!

[m355y]

Didn't Alonso or Renault say that even in 2009, he was instantly far closer to Alonso's pace than Piquet ever was, even if it didn't look like it? His natural talent is right up there, and he's looked maybe the ultimately quicker of the Lotus drivers when he's got it hooked up right from the start of 2012. One lull at the end of last season when his name was mud and his confidence seemed shot, then this season he's been back big time.

I suspect he's going to appear in a few top three lists this season when the end of year 'top ten drivers' lists appear. Vettel aside, who else has actually impressed more than him this season?

Needs to win a GP soon though, like Hulkenberg.

[bella]

Originally Posted by m355y

I suspect he's going to appear in a few top three lists this season when the end of year 'top ten drivers' lists appear. Vettel aside, who else has actually impressed more than him this season?

have to agree with that, and thinking about it he'd be number two in mine. marginally ahead of hulkenberg. couldn't tell you who's second in the actual points championship right now, the rest of the field have been that anonymous.

[m355y]

Yep, Alonso, Webber, Raikkonen, Button, Hamilton....none of them have had vintage seasons so you're going to be looking at Grosjean, Hulkenberg and maybe Rosberg as the drivers behind Vettel who have caught the eye, Romain the most or me. He's had a great year.

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by bella

have to agree with that, and thinking about it he'd be number two in mine. marginally ahead of hulkenberg. couldn't tell you who's second in the actual points championship right now, the rest of the field have been that anonymous.

There's been the odd flashes of excitement from other drivers too, the odd performance where someone has done more than their car has hitherto promised.

For example, Bottas last weekend, Perez in Bahrain and Monaco (until he smashed his car to pieces!) Vergne in Canada (a great drive) Massa at Silverstone until his puncture, oh, and Alonso must've done at least a couple of sit up and take notice drives and normally I can think of at least 3, but not right now!

But your right, it has been an anonymous season hasn't it?

[wolfhound]

The Enstone team is worried that they may loose Grosjean to a rival team next year but who?

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/114030

[Teretonga]

Originally Posted by wolfhound

The Enstone team is worried that they may loose Grosjean to a rival team next year but who?

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/114030

McLaren?

[wolfhound]

Originally Posted by Teretonga

McLaren?

I suspect McLaren would want a real topliner alongside Magnussen if Button leaves/retires. The only one who might go there is Alonso, but Ron is back in charge. On the other hand Button had strong links with Honda and might suit for the first year or two of the new engines.

[wnut]

Originally Posted by wolfhound

The Enstone team is worried that they may loose Grosjean to a rival team next year but who?

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/114030

RBR and Mercedes should be pretty happy with their drivers which only really leaves Ferrari and Macca!

I thought that Ferrari chose the wrong Lotus driver last year!

[ghinzani]

Originally Posted by wolfhound

The Enstone team is worried that they may loose Grosjean to a rival team next year but who?

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/114030

Dont Genii manage him also? Therefore they have the ultimate say.Probably just trying to boost his market value and squeeze a few more quid out of the sponsors.

[VIVA GT]

As long as JB doesn't decide to retire (and judging by his comments last week about "wanting to stop on a high point" it's looking unlikely), I would have thought that McLaren would retain its current pairing for next season.
Button is (apparently) well liked at Honda, Magnussen seems to have good pace (and youth on his side), and both will be well known in the team. That gives consistency to everything else whilst they start to work with the new engine (or should that be Power Unit?) supplier.

[321Go]

Grosjean - a poster boy for Total and Renault, which team would he fit in?

Ferrari? Shell and Ferrari power. McLaren? Mobile 1 and Honda. Mercedes? PETRONAS and Mercedes. So it cannot possibly be any one of them.

If it's a top ranked team then which other F1 team uses Total products, and Renault power? And has pretty much confirmed one of their drivers for 2015 and beyond? While their other driver attended Dominicali's going away party with Alonso and Raikkonen. The only three current drivers invited.

Just sayin'...

[wolfhound]

Originally Posted by 321Go

Grosjean - a poster boy for Total and Renault, which team would he fit in?

Ferrari? Shell and Ferrari power. McLaren? Mobile 1 and Honda. Mercedes? PETRONAS and Mercedes. So it cannot possibly be any one of them.

If it's a top ranked team then which other F1 team uses Total products, and Renault power? And has pretty much confirmed one of their drivers for 2015 and beyond? While their other driver attended Dominicali's going away party with Alonso and Raikkonen. The only three current drivers invited.

Just sayin'...

We won't mention that driver's tech chief who also seems to be in favour in Italy.

[321Go]

Originally Posted by wolfhound

We won't mention that driver's tech chief who also seems to be in favour in Italy.

Yeah. Bank balance must be looking very, very healthy down Maranello way...

[wolfhound]

Do I sense a who goes where for 2015 thread coming on?