[aaronh007]

Originally Posted by amacachi

There won't be much else coming through over the next while. Could be argued there hasn't been much else for a while now.

Even if you look at the driver programmes that teams have, there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of talent coming through into F1. Gary Paffett was supposed to be the next big thing for McLaren but hasn't gotten out of the testing seat yet. He's at least 30 now so I doubt he'll get any chances.

Red Bull have managed to get some drivers through by way of having Torro Rosso as a feeder team; Vettel and now Ricciardo.

[Jordan 191]

Originally Posted by LIGHTNING

Gotta love cheque book racers!

The cheque book driver at Sauber (Perez) isin't a bad driver at all. He may end up at Ferrari next year.

[aaronh007]

Originally Posted by Jordan 191

The cheque book driver at Sauber (Perez) isin't a bad driver at all. He may end up at Ferrari next year.

He's not entirely a cheque book driver. Isn't he at Sauber due to him being a part of Ferrari's driver programme and a deal giving Sauber Ferrari engines?

[Jordan 191]

Originally Posted by aaronh007

He's not entirely a cheque book driver. Isn't he at Sauber due to him being a part of Ferrari's driver programme and a deal giving Sauber Ferrari engines?

He might be, but as far as I know he got the job because of the funds he took along with him.

You do have a point about the Ferrari connection though, Massa is an example of that.

[vectra]

35 should be the upper limit on age to race F1
Too old and nervous after that..
Look at the oldies out there.
Schumacher
Trulli
Fisi> Gone
Pedro Delarosa
Barrichello

Keep the young guns..
Fresh with a big hunger..

[Ficus]

Originally Posted by Jordan 191

Jarno's career in F1 might be Trulli over before the season has started.

I have banned people for puns as bad as that

[losthorizon]

Originally Posted by vectra

35 should be the upper limit on age to race F1
Too old and nervous after that..
Look at the oldies out there.
Schumacher
Trulli
Fisi> Gone
Pedro Delarosa
Barrichello

Keep the young guns..
Fresh with a big hunger..

Is there a thumbs down button?

[vectra]

Originally Posted by losthorizon

Is there a thumbs down button?

Well to be faie they are all well past their best before date.

[RayM]

Originally Posted by vectra

35 should be the upper limit on age to race F1
Too old and nervous after that..
Look at the oldies out there.
Schumacher
Trulli
Fisi> Gone
Pedro Delarosa
Barrichello

Keep the young guns..
Fresh with a big hunger..

Rubens Barrichello - 37 when he last won a race.
Michael Schumacher - 37 when he last won a race.
Gerhard Berger - 38 when he last won a race.
Damon Hill - 36 when he won the championship. 38 when he last won a race.
Nigel Mansell - 39 when he won the championship. 41 when he last won a race.
Alain Prost - 38 when he won his final championship.

[vectra]

Originally Posted by RayM

Rubens Barrichello - 37 when he last won a race.
Michael Schumacher - 37 when he last won a race.
Gerhard Berger - 38 when he last won a race.
Damon Hill - 36 when he won the championship. 38 when he last won a race.
Nigel Mansell - 39 when he won the championship. 41 when he last won a race.
Alain Prost - 38 when he won his final championship.

They werent up against any of the competition that is out there now.
Different times

[Carroller16]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/formula_one/16649348.stm`

HRT insist they will race despite 'critical delays'

HRT are having a tough winter but say they will be ready for 2012 The struggling HRT team have admitted their preparations have suffered a "critical delay" but insist they will be ready for the start of the season.

HRT, who have new owners and a new team principal, revealed that the restructuring had delayed the design and production of their new 2012 car.

But a spokeswoman said: "Rumours that we will take part in the initial grands prix with the 2011 car are not true.

"The target is to be at the second [pre-season] test with the new car."

Pre-season testing begins with a four-day test in Jerez in southern Spain starting on 7 February, when HRT plan to use their 2011 car.

Continue reading the main story There's been, and still is, a lot to work on but, even if we may struggle in the beginning, the structure that is being built now is a lot more solid, reliable and committed
HRT spokeswoman
The teams move to Barcelona for the second test on 21 February.

There is a final test, also running for four days, from 4 March, again at Barcelona, before the first race of the season on 18 March in Melbourne, Australia.

Team principal Luis Perez-Sala, who replaced Colin Kolles in December, was not available for interview.

The spokeswoman said: "Luis Perez-Sala is fully focused at the moment on the car and the new structure, and he prefers not to give any statements or interviews to the press for now until everything is in place."

She added that the 2012 car had passed some of its regulation crash tests but has more to complete.

For the first time this season teams have to pass all the crash tests required by the FIA, the sport's governing body, before they run the car on track. Previously, they were only required to do so before it raced.

Rumours in F1 circles have suggested that HRT, who finished 11th out of 12 teams in both seasons since their debut in 2010, will struggle to have their car ready because they do not have enough time.

As recently as November, they were in talks with Caterham Composites - a company owned by Caterham F1 bosses Tony Fernandes and Mike Gascoyne - about designing and building the 2012 HRT.

But these foundered and last month the team announced they would design and build their own car.

The spokeswoman added: "The philosophy of the new owners has always been first work and then talk. And try to be as open and honest as possible.

"There's been, and still is, a lot to work on but, even if we may struggle in the beginning, the structure that is being built now is a lot more solid, reliable and committed.

"Hopefully, we'll be able to prove all that soon and change the team's perception, which is no longer real. It won't be a bed of roses but we'll manage to do it."

The team have one confirmed driver in veteran Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa, and the spokeswoman said negotiations over a second driver are "still ongoing".

Dutch GP2 driver Giedo van der Garde has been heavily linked with the seat in media reports in Spain.

[dloob]

Same old HRT, so will they make their first appearance at the 2nd or 3rd race?

[LIGHTNING]

Originally Posted by vectra

They werent up against any of the competition that is out there now.
Different times

Yeah the competition was better back then!

[aaronh007]

Ugh, good ol' HRT. Can't we just be done with them please? Give an actual team a shot at their space in the pitlane?

[Jordan 191]

Originally Posted by aaronh007

Ugh, good ol' HRT. Can't we just be done with them please? Give an actual team a shot at their space in the pitlane?

HRT were a problem from day 1.

I can't believe that they managed to stay in the sport for 2 years so far tbh. I thought they wouldn't last a whole season when they came in in 2010. Colin Kolles managed to keep them going though.

Of the 4 teams the FIA selected to enter F1 in 2010, Lotus/Caterham showed they were serious from day 1.

Now look at the other 3:

HRT: Money problems from day 1.

Virgin Manor: Couldn't be bothered using a wind tunnel.

USF1: Didn't make it to the grid.