FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[madbrad]

We all know that everybody rates him well. I think few would disagree if I said his current seat is far beneath him. He's available for 2010, are any teams thinking about him? He's taking a wait and see tack, naturally and rightly he's holding out for a better team. If there will be 6 more seats, there's a chance that one of the new teams could outperform FI. Does he want to help FI improve? I wouldn't want to risk wasting whole seasons at a time. Where do you people think he'll end up next year?

[Chris_0648]

I'm surprised there's been no suggestion of him being a Williams driver next year.

[McLaren Fan]

Sutil showed some potential when he first came into Formula One, but he has failed to build upon it. He's probably a tenth or two faster than Fisichella (which is not saying much), but the Italian generally finishes races in higher positions and stays out of trouble. 2009 is a big season for Sutil, but he has been distinctly average so far.

[cap-dude]

True. Sutil bolted into F1, and looked like a star of the future. Topping the time sheets in wet Monaco Practice 2007 was impressive, and he also destroyed both his team-mates consistently. But 2008, I wouldn't say Sutil was faster than Fisi at all. They were usually equal in quali, with their results split 50-50, but of course Fisi usually had better race craft. I think it simply proved that Sutil's team-mates during 2007 were both so poor, they were making him look very impressive.

So far this year, the same trend continues. Sutil isn't making a name for himself, and bigger names won't be looking his way right now. Unless Sutil all of sudden begins consistently thrashing fisi, he'll be suck at the back of the grid for a while yet.

[GarethStr]

Sutil seems to be able to cope extremely well in wet/changeable conditions but on the other hand he is a bit prone to an accident be it his faut or not. In CHina this season he on for some good points, in a wet race, until he crashed it into the wall. Then Monaco 2008, changeable conditions, on for a strong 4th place finish until Kimi rammed him up the backside and that was him out.

To be honest I would like to see him get a better drive. Nobody can know his true capabilities are until he is in a fairly competitive car. However the way it looks is there are only two spaces he could go which are in place of Piquet Jr and Nakajima but I think that Frank Williams and Flavio Briatore may not want to take another risk with a promising young driver.

Hopefully Force India can add some good improvements to the car and make it a challenger for the low points.

[madbrad]

He's also Hammy's lover and that could get him in a McLaren.

[scotty]

The phrase that comes to mind with Sutil is 'destined for mediocrity' i'm afraid...

[Jamie]

What does his current contract pay him

[NateDawg80126]

I wouldn't be a bit surprised to see him taking Piquet's seat at Renault, it would be an improvement for both parties. As for whether or not he would risk driving for a new team? I honestly don't see much risk really, Force India has improved, there can be no questioning that, but even after fundamental rule changes this season, there they are in the back once again with no points. I see them in the back next year too, I wouldn't stick around if I were him.

Is Kaz Nak out next year for sure? I hope Williams keeps him on board. It seems like its taking him a long time to get adjusted, and his season thus far has not been good, but he has thrown down some really fast laps in practice, if Williams can get their Qualifying sorted, I think it could be a much different picture for him in the later races of the season (I hope anyway).

[headless]

I got a cap of his from last year... i'm selling...

[woody2goody]

He's reasonable but probably not as good as Fisichella.

He is outstanding at Monaco, but people forget that Fisi was putting in a similar, if not higher level of performance at places like Monaco and Montreal ten or so years ago. He finished on the podium numerous times in cars which were low points scorers at best.

I think Adrian will only stay if Fisi retires at the end of the year. If not I think Liuzzi will step in.

PS I hope Nakajima stays. He's good in the races he just never qualifies to a level where he can challenge for the podium/high points like Nico. I don't think he is much slower than Nico (less than one tenth probably).