baumgartner

[bluebeard]

Russ maybe Minardi is badly handling and maybe it is unstable under braking but is it that dis-similar to last years car? I seem to remember Justin Wilson made a much better job of driving a similar car only last year?

[BootsOntheSide]

Firman was running right behind Fisichella in Brazil last eyar when his suspension failed, which I think is what was meant about how he could've been a winner.

Zsolt was only half a second off Bruni's pace in Malaysia testing, so maybe he's starting to become respectable.

[Ryo28]

Originally posted by BootsOntheSide
Firman was running right behind Fisichella in Brazil last eyar when his suspension failed, which I think is what was meant about how he could've been a winner.

Ah, ok, i get it now...

[Don K]

Originally posted by Mr V
What i don't understand is why these guys arn't on "probation" just as Kimi was for his first 4 races?

Probably because Kimi had very little experience.

Kimmi entered F1 because he is fast.

Most drivers who enter F1 only because of the money they bring, will have succeeded in the past to have gotten a seat in some F3 series (or better), so in most cases they have some experience at starting in races at a high level.

If they were fast enough, they wouldn't have to do a race distance in testing in order to get theis super license.

If they had to do the race distance in order to get the super license, they have both the experience and the test.
Kimmi only had the test and his 2 years in Formula Renault.

[mcrane2000]

I totally agree with Martin, baumgartner is an embarrasment to formula one, supposedley the pinacle of the motor racing world. There are hundreds of more deserving drivers who could be in that seat than Zslot, but in this day and age seats in the smaller teams are ultimately sold to the highest bidder.

It is also unfair to say that his performance is down to the handling of the minardi. The minardis have been the slowest, most underfunded cars on the grid for years, but it is still possible to impress in one if you are good enough, just look at Alonso, Fisichella, Trulli and Webber, 4 of the finest drivers in F1 today, all impressing at minardi, and that is without mentioning the likes of Justin Wilson and Mark Gene!!!

It is ultimately down to the talent of the drivers how far you go in F1, and I for 1 admire Martin Brundle, for the honesty and entusiam that you feel in his commentry, he says it as he sees it, and from a man with his experience in the sport, that is invaluable to the armchair viewer.

KEEP IT UP MARTIN AND DISPELL THE LIKES OF ZSLOT BAUMGARTNER FROM OUR GREAT SPORT!!!

[Dan Fielden]

HERE! HERE!
I thought i was the only one who didn't think Zsolt was doing a good enough job.
So i guess the questions are
1) Will he stay at Minardi and 2) WHEN!!! he goes who will replace him.My guess is probably Justin Wilson or maybe Ralph Firman
Your thoughts???
Ohh yea and what do you mean when you say "IMO" ??

[Knowlesy]

In My Opinion.

[F1Pete]

I think Brundle provides excellent commentary. His comment was not out of place at all. I enjoy when someone tells it like it is (ie. Don Cherry, Jesse the Body).
Bumgartner is a true example of a diluted F1 driver...brings danger to the track. Sure Minardi isn't running on all cylinders, but the team is a good training ground for potential up and comer drivers (ie. Alonso).

[Rennen]

Baumgartner...means...'Tree Gardener'!...what does 'Zsolt' mean?

[Knowlesy]

"the bolt".

[golem]

Actually, it was last year's Malaysian grand Prix where Firman made me notice him. Until a fuel pickup issue, I think he was running eigth or something? Can anyone remember?

[Rennen]

Oh!..'Bolt the Treegardener'...now theres a racing drivers name for ya!

[3state]

I remember being one of the few to come out and criticise Baumgartner after his first appearance at Hungary last year. Many people said i was being unfair....

[BootsOntheSide]

It's not as good a name as Johnny Carwash (Giavanni Lavaggi) or Gaston Dog-Killer (Mazzacane), but he's clearly as bad as both of those.

That said, he looked a little better this weekend, generally staying on the road and getting within a second of Gimmi.

[Mr V]

Anyone notice how far off the circuit he went in his attempt to get out of Michaels way? Think martin said something like "Michael scared him off the track"

[Attila]

The Hungarian TV commentators called him up after the race and he was clearly unhappy with his own performance. He said his car just was not right, they even changed the cars front wing to find more downforce, but it did not work. I do not think that he was a danger to anybody, and I do not think that he was a disgrace.

Of course I am more than biased towards him, because I used to work for the company that managed him, so that makes me his ex-manager. We brought him to F3000 and I belive that he is a much better F1 driver than F3000 driver. Taking the fact that he pays $8 million per year, does not crash cars and in my opinion is not dangerous, he is good choice for a paydriver.

[ensign14]

Originally posted by BootsOntheSide
It's not as good a name as Johnny Carwash (Giavanni Lavaggi) or Gaston Dog-Killer (Mazzacane), but he's clearly as bad as both of those.

When I first saw references to Ricardo Londono-Bridge, I thought it was an April Fool's joke...

Dick Passwater? Dick Trickle?

[f1atic]

Tell me something BootsOntheSide if he doesn't have a super license, how is it that he is out there on the grid? Am I missing something here?

[corkholio]

Originally posted by Mr V
Anyone notice how far off the circuit he went in his attempt to get out of Michaels way? Think martin said something like "Michael scared him off the track"

Having seen him in F3000 the last 2 years, I thought that was just his regular line.