FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[LewEngBridewell]

The problem is, there are too many good drivers deserving of top seats and not enough top seats available. Kobayashi, Kubica, Rosberg, Hulkenberg, di Resta, even Petrov (who is really starting to impress me this year) all have the potential to fight for wins in better cars. This is before taking in to account drivers who haven't even made it to F1 yet (Ricciardo, Bianchi and Bird are all looking impressive in junior categories, in my opinion). But there are only three teams really capable of providing that winning machinery at the moment (Renault and Mercedes may have some good days, but not consistently at the moment) and they already have at least one top driver each.

With regards to the big three, Red Bull will retain Vettel for a while. I doubt Webber is totally happy there, so a seat may well open up, but not necessarily for their younger drivers they've brought up via Toro Rosso / the junior formulae. McLaren look set to retain both drivers. Ferrari are keeping Alonso forever, while I feel Massa's days may be numbered. That's not a lot of options for the numerous great racers in the midfield.

The ones I'd most like to see in a top car are Nico Rosberg (he's a bloody good racer and deserves a winning chariot by now!!!) and also Kobayashi, as he'll be thrilling to watch in combat at the front. Sauber are a great team, but I can't see them ever advancing further than their best of 4th overall in 2001. Mercedes and Renault may advance closer to the front, and thus open more doors for midfield talent.

[FRAFPDD]

The problem is with pay drivers and has beens like ruebens and trulli that spaces are nowhere.

With Red Bull the Japanese might push for him being Infiniti Engine users, and we know how powerful the engine suppliers are (mclaren 88 honda for senna) howericcver they have their own driver academy, three drivers already waiting in the wings before koba (alg,buemi,ric) and after vettels success theyll want to push that. However again theyll only want to trickle drivers in, not put them in when they arent ready.


With Mercedes theyre still following their pure german (1939? lol) philosophy, but they arent stupid and im sure theyd like kobayashi. For me this is the most likely seat, when schumi leaves.


With Mclaren, they are the most likely to forget nationality and driver programs and just sign whos good, raikonnen, alonso, montoya...... but if both their drivers are signing for the long term that space is gone.


With ferrari.......... the biggest problem with them is that they love their latin drivers. would they be happy with a japanese at ferrari? If they would, then Perez is a little to inconsistent at the moment and new, theres more then enough time to sign koba and see how he is. Luca loves massa despite how crap he is now, but if Massa leaves who will Ferrari actually want in? Infact what drivers will be available to them say after 2012, maybe even 2011? Kobayashi would be a godsend for Ferrari in terms of personality/dedication to the team/ driver talent. Not only that, hes driving a ferrari powered car and the japanese market potential for a japanese at ferrari, my god it doesnt bear thinking.

[LewEngBridewell]

But then again, Ferrari usually just want an average number 2 driver to prop up their main charger. Kobayashi doesn't strike me as a guy wanting to play No. 2. Neither does Alonso, we all know that. If Kobayashi starts beating Alonso, then Ferrari will be in a situation where they've never been in decades - two equally-matched drivers!! They won't know what to do!!

As for Alonso, we all know what happened at McLaren back in 2007 (disastrous year...)

[Denthúl]

With Mercedes theyre still following their pure german (1939? lol) philosophy, but they arent stupid and im sure theyd like kobayashi. For me this is the most likely seat, when schumi leaves.

But they have both Hulkenberg and di Resta on their list of potential future drivers...

It would be nice if teams like Mercedes, Renault and Williams got in the mix when the new engine regulations come in to play, then we could have a potential twelve drivers at least capable of winning races throughout the season. That would make the sport even more exciting than now, I think.

[What's Burning?]

These driver academies feel like a joke at times, in the end a team is looking for the driver that can squeeze the most performance out of their car, and a top driver is going to be worth as much as 5 to 7 tenths of a second of upgrade and development costs over your garden variety driver.

So to say that you can't take one of the most exciting proven success stories of the last couple of years because you have an academy driver waiting in the wings, is bull. Massa is out next year, maybe he won't even make it through the end of the the year. The other one likely out soon will be Schumacher, and Kubica may not return to racing... possibly the only reason Massa is at Ferrari today.

[LewEngBridewell]

These driver academies feel like a joke at times, in the end a team is looking for the driver that can squeeze the most performance out of their car, and a top driver is going to be worth as much as 5 to 7 tenths of a second of upgrade and development costs over your garden variety driver.

So to say that you can't take one of the most exciting proven success stories of the last couple of years because you have an academy driver waiting in the wings, is bull. Massa is out next year, maybe he won't even make it through the end of the the year. The other one likely out soon will be Schumacher, and Kubica may not return to racing... possibly the only reason Massa is at Ferrari today.

I agree, but driver academies are also useful for getting up-and-coming drivers noticed within the motorsport world, and it's probably really useful for making those all important contacts!

[darwin dali]

He told the Swiss Sonntagsblick newspaper that he recently moved out of his Paris apartment.

Asked by reporter Roger Benoit if he will soon call Switzerland home, the 24-year-old Sauber driver answered: "That would be nice. But I'm still thinking about where to live."

Asked what he meant, Kobayashi explained: "I have no house, no home. I don't know where I should live.

"I have no base at the moment except for a big suitcase. At the moment I'm going from hotel to hotel. I'm always on the move anyway.

"But now I need to ask myself a question -- who do I pay tax to now?" he joked.

Kobayashi admitted that Monaco is not his favorite circuit, perhaps because it does not allow him to express his now famous skill for overtaking.

It has been rumored that his flair might soon attract the attention of top teams like Red Bull or Ferrari.

Asked how big his loyalty is to Peter Sauber, he answered: "Very big, because he had faith in me. Because I owe him almost everything for being in F1.

"Also, because I fulfill my contracts right up to the last day."




Shall we start a bake sale for him to find a home?

[Bubbie]

Re Kobi in a Ferrari and whether he can play #2 or not. I don't think it will be a problem. It is the attitude that causes problems, and so far he doesn't seem to have one. If he is the number 2 at Ferrari, he will just go about his business and be mighty fast. When he beats Alonso he won't push for #1 driver status, he will just put a grin on his face, say he had a great race and thank the teams. There is no way that Alo could be upset by that because he wouldn't be openly pushing for dominance.

That is my read of it at least. He is such an easy going and fun driver. What a breath of fresh air.

[FRAFPDD]

why is there such an anti-to ferrari sentiment, a ferrari seat for koba is better then his sauber seat any given day of the week. Even if it is a number two, which would only mean alonso is favoured SHOULD FAVOURING BE NEEDED.

[What's Burning?]

Shall we start a bake sale for him to find a home?

If he was a few years younger Angelina Jolie would adopt him... or Ophra would build him a school in Africa.

When he beats Alonso he won't push for #1 driver status, he will just put a grin on his face, say he had a great race and thank the teams. There is no way that Alo could be upset by that because he wouldn't be openly pushing for dominance.

That is my read of it at least. He is such an easy going and fun driver. What a breath of fresh air.

Kill them with Kindness, I like how you said "when" not "if".

[Fred_C_Dobbs]

Man, I wanna see Kobayashi in a good car

You shall. Trust me.

[vlad]

Indeed! I think it's really possible that he comes to RB! They already have the best driver from RB academy, so, they can hire another one from the "outside"!

[horsepower]

Re Kobi in a Ferrari and whether he can play #2 or not. I don't think it will be a problem. It is the attitude that causes problems, and so far he doesn't seem to have one. If he is the number 2 at Ferrari, he will just go about his business and be mighty fast. When he beats Alonso he won't push for #1 driver status, he will just put a grin on his face, say he had a great race and thank the teams. There is no way that Alo could be upset by that because he wouldn't be openly pushing for dominance.

That is my read of it at least. He is such an easy going and fun driver. What a breath of fresh air.

i'm not sure i agree with you there. kobi is proving to be a great driver and while his attitude is good i don't think the way he goes about things will stop alonso being upset if he's out driven by kobi. you only have to look at what happened with massa last year to see how it all works. even red bull don't always do things fairly by their drivers but farrari are a different kettle of fish no matter what the rules are supposed to be. i'd like to see kobi in any top car except farrari as i think he'd be stifled by alonso, but i can't stand the farrari ethics either.

i do agree that he's a breath of fresh air though. for a couple of hours on a sunday he's my hero lol

hp

[myownalias]

I'm going to go against everyone else; I want Kobayashi to stay at Sauber and help build a winning team; clearly Sauber have the right people as they are making big steps forward and I can see one of the Sauber drivers claiming a podium by the end of the year, Kobayashi came close in Monaco; it was almost fourth place not fifth. A team that was going to disappear 18 months ago before Peter Sauber stepped back into the breach after BMW pulled out of F1, I would say that the Sauber is probably the 4th/5th best car over a race distance right now!

[texasmr2]

Sauber does need a 'dedicated team driver' with skill and Kobi could/can foot that bill imho. Honestly I hope he stays for a few season's and helps Sauber re-establish themselve's. Aswell Perez is amazing and an asset to the team and will imo only get better as the chassis improves.