Team HRT - The Discussion Thread. - Page 3

**Peter Mallett** · 13 Dec 2010, 09:22 (Ref:2803695)

Quote:

Originally Posted by davyboy

I think people are giving HRT a bit of a rough ride here. They faced incredible difficulties immediately before the start of the season and moved mountains to make it. Despite all the musical chairs, they managed to complete the season on an absolute shoestring - and extra brownie points should be given for the fact they had to put up with Colin Kolles for a good chunk of that

But the stat that gives them credence to hold their head just as high as any of the new teams is the fact that at the time he relinquished his seat, Karun Chandhok was actually leading the 'new team' driver title race !

I really do hope they get back out next year and that Karun Chandhok can start the Indian Grand Prix.

About the only part of your post that I agree with is that about Karun Chandok being the leading new team driver. So why was he dropped in favour of complete also rans. Better to have dropped Senna. That says it all re Kolles.

davyboy · 13 Dec 2010, 09:57 (Ref:2803712)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

About the only part of your post that I agree with is that about Karun Chandok being the leading new team driver. So why was he dropped in favour of complete also rans. Better to have dropped Senna. That says it all re Kolles.

Well if they had been aborted before birth, we would never have got to see what Karun could do in a Grand Prix car. And if they don't appear next year, Karun's career could well be over... and that would be a travesty.

I wonder whether Kolles really is helping this team, or bleeding them like a flesh eating parasite. Either way, my feelings on the man are the same as your's Peter.

ECW Dan Selby · 13 Dec 2010, 10:16 (Ref:2803724)

Quote:

Originally Posted by cerdic

I agree with terretonga. There should be an end to the 'closed shop' mentality. Let anyone turn up and give it a go. Sure, most will be rubbish and disappear. But some will be good. Look how teams like Williams, Renault, Sauber etc started all those years ago. If the current barriers to entry had been in place when they started none of them would be here today.

Yeh it's really nice imagining something like that.

Guest drivers and all sorts (or should I say wildcard entries - I don't want this being confused with celebrity arrive and drives

..... I hope Bernie isn't listening).

Selby

Super Hans · 13 Dec 2010, 10:35 (Ref:2803734)

Quote:

Originally Posted by davyboy

Well if they had been aborted before birth, we would never have got to see what Karun could do in a Grand Prix car. And if they don't appear next year, Karun's career could well be over... and that would be a travesty.

I think travesty is a bit strong. He's a half-decent driver but he's no world beater.

Paradise City · 13 Dec 2010, 11:54 (Ref:2803775)

Chandok was an unknown. Senna we know was lacklustre as Klein had the edge on him, Klein being the sub, Senna being the guy that was there for nearly all of the year.

ECW Dan Selby · 13 Dec 2010, 12:02 (Ref:2803778)

He also had a serious issue with allowing leaders through...

Selby

jab · 13 Dec 2010, 12:03 (Ref:2803779)

Senna had the lesser equipment in the team, though. Even when Yamamoto was driving

Paradise City · 13 Dec 2010, 12:12 (Ref:2803781)

Maybe if Brawn had let Senna into his team, it would've been Bruno Senna outpacing Schumacher now at Mercedes.

sizzle · 13 Dec 2010, 23:43 (Ref:2804106)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jab

Senna had the lesser equipment in the team, though. Even when Yamamoto was driving

And you know this because?

strider · 13 Dec 2010, 23:53 (Ref:2804111)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paradise City

Chandok was an unknown. Senna we know was lacklustre as Klein had the edge on him, Klein being the sub, Senna being the guy that was there for nearly all of the year.

Right, that's how Senna beat him in both the last two races.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sizzle

And you know this because?

It's kinda obvious when one poor guy is bringing a bag of yen to get a drive and the other isn't. He who pays gets the most attention.

jab · 14 Dec 2010, 00:01 (Ref:2804116)

Was common knowledge in the team, as far as I can tell

Come on, I know Karun's a decent driver and the nicest guy in the world, but he's not that great. There's no reason for him to suddenly start beating the guy who annihilated him in GP2

duke_toaster · 14 Dec 2010, 00:12 (Ref:2804122)

GP2 performance can't be used as too much of a yardstick though, Kamui Kobayashi wasn't that impressive in GP2 (save for one GP2 Asia campaign), but F1, well, ...

ensign14 · 14 Dec 2010, 07:12 (Ref:2804211)

But even then Kobayashi's only beaten de la Rosa...Heidfeld was probably a bit of a shock to him.

davyboy · 14 Dec 2010, 08:41 (Ref:2804230)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ensign14

But even then Kobayashi's only beaten de la Rosa...Heidfeld was probably a bit of a shock to him.

I don't think so. Kobayashi's among the 'no testing' set of freshmen who've all had very little seat experience in F1 relative to their predecessors. He had a couple of GP in 2009 and got a very late call up from Peter Sauber for this year. As an overtaking racer he was peerless in 2010. If he manages to refine and improve his driving [something testing would accelerate], he could be sensational.

ECW Dan Selby · 14 Dec 2010, 10:49 (Ref:2804295)

I agree, davyboy.

I think we're a bit stuck in our way when it comes to views on new drivers. It's so easy to forget how little testing they've had.

Kobayashi had a better season than I'd expected him to tbh. I thought it might be a bit of overhype getting the better of him, but he did really well after a tough start.

Selby

jab · 14 Dec 2010, 12:37 (Ref:2804324)

Quote:

Originally Posted by duke_toaster

GP2 performance can't be used as too much of a yardstick though, Kamui Kobayashi wasn't that impressive in GP2 (save for one GP2 Asia campaign), but F1, well, ...

Wasn't just GP2, though. Karun's never really shone in Europe. He wasn't that great in A1 GP or British F3

He's a nice guy and all, one of my favourite drivers, but I don't think he's that fundamentally talented. HRT probably suited him because you don't need to be quick at the back - see also Baumgartner at Minardi. But I know people have been suggesting a Lotus seat or even Force India, and I think that could only lead to disappointment. As a fan, I'd rather he went into commentary full-time than embarrass himself further up the grid

E.B · 14 Dec 2010, 15:31 (Ref:2804374)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jab

Wasn't just GP2, though. Karun's never really shone in Europe. He wasn't that great in A1 GP or British F3

He's a nice guy and all, one of my favourite drivers, but I don't think he's that fundamentally talented. HRT probably suited him because you don't need to be quick at the back - see also Baumgartner at Minardi. But I know people have been suggesting a Lotus seat or even Force India, and I think that could only lead to disappointment.

It would be hard to see him at say F1I if that meant Di Resta or Hulkenberg were sidelined. He isnt' in that league....

He is a hugely like-able person, and one who certainly has a passion for all things F1, from history to racing plus has a sense of humour and fun.

....with perhaps more of an F1 future in broadcasting rather than driving......

But he is not one who you could say, as we did with Vettel and Hamilton, 'Future WDC alert'.

Asa · 16 Dec 2010, 05:00 (Ref:2805008)

http://formula-one.speedtv.com/artic...news-briefs77/

Formtech Composites (former Super Aguri supplier) could be HRT's 2011 car builder.

E.B · 16 Dec 2010, 05:29 (Ref:2805011)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asa

http://formula-one.speedtv.com/artic...news-briefs77/

Formtech Composites (former Super Aguri supplier) could be HRT's 2011 car builder.

OMG....The Arrows/Minardi/SA lives again!

**GTRMagic** · 16 Dec 2010, 05:30 (Ref:2805012)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asa

http://formula-one.speedtv.com/artic...news-briefs77/

Formtech Composites (former Super Aguri supplier) could be HRT's 2011 car builder.

Do they work for free?

**Bononi** · 16 Dec 2010, 12:30 (Ref:2805112)

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Do they work for free?

This is very... suspicious.

Sodemo · 16 Dec 2010, 14:42 (Ref:2805158)

Is "Team Pheonix" still mooted to join also?

Marbot · 16 Dec 2010, 16:53 (Ref:2805203)

Is it too late for USF1 to get in on the act?

**Bononi** · 16 Dec 2010, 19:05 (Ref:2805263)

That's an awful thought !

Sodemo · 23 Dec 2010, 12:06 (Ref:2807707)

I doubt we will see a new chassis from HRT in 2011, assuming they make the grid. I think they will simply try and bodge the current 2010 chassis and *hope* they scrape through the 107% rule.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Counterfactual History Discussion Thread	jab	Formula One	32	8 Mar 2010 13:35
HANS Devices - Discussion from Andy Neate thread.	Al Weyman	Racers Forum	227	28 Mar 2009 09:25
Daytona Pre-Race discussion thread. (NO SPOILERS!)	Hazza	NASCAR & Stock Car Racing	24	18 Feb 2007 16:15
The Official Long Beach Discussion Thread	marcus	ChampCar World Series	94	13 Apr 2005 08:04