[Official] F1 2009 Round 3 - Chinese Grand Prix

[rocketracer]

Originally Posted by Born Racer

Bourdais was poor. I wonder how good Buemi is. He wasn't amazing in GP2, but is way ahead of Bourdais it seems. Perhaps he's the rare case of a driver going better in F1 than GP2. But I'm starting to think Bourdais is not cut out for this all that much. Odd, because he had a very good first Grand Prix.

i think your assessment of Buemi is correct - he does seem to have stepped up a level with the greater responsibility of f1. I remember his first test in the RB4, or possibly even the RB3? and he was very pacey right away. He just seemed to be an immediate fit with the machinery and able to produce very good times. The teams reports of him at the time always seemed to be very impressed by his driving, so it was not surprising that the decision makers at Red Bull signed him full time.

Bourdais on the other hand hasnt been terrible by any means, but he does seem to take a while to feel settled and comfortable in the car enough to fulfil his potential. It was probably pretty demoralising for someone who isnt really established in f1 to be a fair way off the pace of his (rookie) teammate last year, but by years end Bourdais was almost up to Vettel's pace which shows he's very capable.

The wet races havent been good for him for whatever reason, but i think he's doing alright (at least he has a point which apart from last season would have been a minor miracle for an STR driver!).

he'll come good, i just hope it doesnt take as long as last year...

[bigdog]

Originally Posted by rocketracer

i think your assessment of Buemi is correct - he does seem to have stepped up a level with the greater responsibility of f1. I remember his first test in the RB4, or possibly even the RB3? and he was very pacey right away. He just seemed to be an immediate fit with the machinery and able to produce very good times. The teams reports of him at the time always seemed to be very impressed by his driving, so it was not surprising that the decision makers at Red Bull signed him full time.

Perhaps every bit as good potential wise as Vettel, remember it was not that long ago that Vettel was in the wars for running up his now teammates backside in the wet. Great to see new, fast guys coming thru.