We finally know all the drivers for 2012, after long waiting. I think “silly season” is definitely right name for it, because there was lot of rumours going on about everything, and in the end some driver seats were lost and gained with huge surprises to the fans of F1.
I’m not personally happy with all the decisions that some teams made. Of course, they do what they think it’s their best. But here’s some speculations of I would have done with the seats this year. I’m mostly talking about those drivers who got replaced and those who replaced them.
Here’s some names: Rubens Barrichello, Jaime Alguersuari, Vitali Petrov, Sebastien Buemi, Jerome D’Ambrosio, Adrian Sutil. None of these six drivers who were on the grid last year will be racing in Formula 1 this year. That’s a huge shame! SIX DRIVERS! That’s a huge number, and most of these drivers were replaced by drivers who had some $$$ with them to bring.
I’m not surprised what happened to D’Ambrosio and Sutil if I am honest. D’Ambrosio is still young and it’s hard to impress in a car like Marussia is. He had a contract for 2012, but Marussia suddenly hired Charles Pic and D’Ambrosio was without seat. That’s very unfair, but this is F1. You can’t be sure about anything, we have seen this too many times. I would have understood the change if Pic would be a special talent, but I don’t see anything special on Pic compared to D’Ambrosio. Pic might be handsome for some girls, but I am talking about driving skills, WHICH IS THE ONLY THING THAT SHOULD MATTER IN FORMULA 1.
And to Sutil’s situation. We all know what happened. I don’t know how I should feel about him, but it’s another shame, but he kinda caused it himself. I think teams were aware to hire him. Because if he would have got into jail during the season, that means that team would have had to take someone to replace Sutil. I don’t have anything against Sutil, but I think his career at least at Formula 1 is kinda over.
Force India took Nico Hülkenberg to replace Adrian Sutil, and I think it was a right decision. I was shocked after 2010 when Hülkenberg was left without seat even he took a pole position at Brazil with poor Williams. I hope that Nico can really show his talent with Force India now.
Then, Rubens Barrichello. A loved, very wonderful personality, great Brazilian veteran driver wanted to continue in F1. But he couldn’t do. He still had motivation and everything, so I think it’s wrong that money won this time. Bruno Senna’s cash won for the seat at Williams, and Maldonado was confirmed there already, too. There were still other seats free, but things went as it went. That’s sad, and I hope all the best for Rubinho. Seems like he’s getting into Indy Car, and if he does, I hope lot of success for him!
Then, there could have been seat at HRT. If I would be a racing driver, I wouldn’t go there, because that team basicly destroys your career. They said from HRT that they aren’t interested in another “old driver that is coming to the end of his career”. That’s how they spoke about rumours that Barrichello might come there. But I just can’t understand why did they hire Pedro De la Rosa. If I would have choosen between De la Rosa and Barrichello, I would have chosen Barrichello. Rubens has so many years of experience of racing in F1 and it could have helped HRT to take step forward. De la Rosa has experience too, but mainly as a test driver for many many years. Well - that’s their decision and I have to deal with that.
Another decision from HRT that I can’t understand is that they took Narain Karthikeyan back as their racing driver. Maybe Narain had some cash to give. I’m like 90% sure that Karthikeyan will be replaced by someone else during some part of the season. Nothing against, sorry to sound rude, but that’s the way it really is and I think all of you know it.
Then to Lotus. They took Kimi Räikkönen and I think it was a great decision. It’s a great thing for F1, and Kimi is back there where he belongs to. Lotus hired Romain Grosjean as Kimi’s team mate, so Vitali Petrov was dropped out even Petrov had a contract for 2012, like D’Ambrosio had. But I think somehow it was right, as Grosjean have had a touch with the team for very long. Also, Grosjean was GP2 champion, and it’s almost for sure that GP2 champion will get a seat from F1. And I think the French man deserves second change, after he came to the team when it still was Renault, to replace Nelson Piquet Jr. and to be Fernando Alonso’s team mate as a rookie. I think it’s most horrible situation to be a rookie driver and get as Alonso’s team mate. We know what happened to Piquet. What a shame for him, really.. I believe he would have had talent and things could have been different. But what happened, happened, and we cannot change it. Shame for Petrov - he’s got my respect as he kept Alonso behind at Abu Dhabi 2010…
And then, the last and most shocking. Toro Rosso. Both their drivers, Alguersuari and Buemi (Suari specially) had a good season and both could have deserved to continue in F1, in my point of view. But they dropped both these drivers, and bring in Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne. Ricciardo was kinda expected, but that both drivers will be replaced… I think nobody really expected that. And it ended like Alguersuari was left without racing seat or even a reserve driver seat. Buemi at least got Red Bull / Toro Rosso reserve driver seat, but I think he expected for more. Helmut Marko said that Toro Rosso is made to help young drivers get through to the F1, but the fact is, clear and pure fact is, that the only driver so far who got the real possibility with STR was Sebastian Vettel. All other drivers who have been driving with Toro Rosso through the years have been replaced sooner or later, and in the end almost all of those drivers left F1. Vitantonio Liuzzi was the only one to get back into F1 - but then his career kinda ended now thanks to HRT. Alguersuari is still young guy, so I hope he will get a second change very soon. It would be a big shame if we can’t see him in F1 anymore.
So, we will still see Buemi and D’Ambrosio around, as reserve drivers. But we have to say bye at least for one season to guys like Rubens Barrichello, Vitali Petrov, Jaime Alguersuari, Adrian Sutil and Vitantonio Liuzzi.
P.S. Caterham should get rid of Trulli. He complains about everything and doesn’t seem to be motivated anymore.. they could replace him to like Barrichello for example - to veteran, who still has motivation and love to racing. He truly shows it. Trulli doesn’t.
