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F1 News & Discussions => F1 Drivers => Topic started by: Jericoke on January 16, 2018, 03:13:54 PM

Title: Siortkin to Williams
Post by: Jericoke on January 16, 2018, 03:13:54 PM

http://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/11167747/sergey-sirotkin-to-williams-how-the-russian-got-his-f1-2018-break (http://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/11167747/sergey-sirotkin-to-williams-how-the-russian-got-his-f1-2018-break)

I wish him well, Williams is still my favourite team, if I have pick one.  I'm a little confused though, as Williams brought back Massa to have a driver over 25 for sponsor purposes.  Have they lost the sponsor with this requirement?  Has the sponsor decided that having the best driver available was better than having a sponsor who was old enough for... whatever it was?  Was it just a ruse when Massa got cold feet over retiring?

And for our F1 history buffs:  who can tell me when was the last time a team's 'established' driver was younger than their rookie driver?

Title: Re: Sirotkin to Williams
Post by: Dare on January 16, 2018, 04:07:02 PM

 Sirotkin impressed in testing and the 20 million
sealed the deal. I'd like to have seen Kubica

Title: Re: Siortkin to Williams
Post by: lkjohnson1950 on January 16, 2018, 05:58:32 PM

We can't know the particulars of tire choice, aero settings, engine maps, etc., but if Sirotkin was legit faster than Kubica, then he earned the spot. As Alia said, if Sirotkin doesn't produce Kubica is right there, ready to step in.

Title: Re: Siortkin to Williams
Post by: John S on January 17, 2018, 01:31:56 PM

Quote from: Jericoke on January 16, 2018, 03:13:54 PM

And for our F1 history buffs:  who can tell me when was the last time a team's 'established' driver was younger than their rookie driver?

Not as far back as you think Jeri, Andre Lotterer got the Caterham seat alongside a much younger Marcus Ericsson at Spa in 2014. Yeah I know it's not quite the same as it was later in the season.

Some WDCs have started as the older rookie teammate, I believe Damon Hill was older than his partner at Brabham in his rookie season 1992.

Title: Re: Siortkin to Williams
Post by: Alianora La Canta on January 17, 2018, 06:55:07 PM

I'm wondering if Robert will get a race drive at some point to satisfy Martini. (They need a race driver over 25. They never said how many races...)

Title: Re: Siortkin to Williams
Post by: Robem64 on January 23, 2018, 05:04:16 PM

Sirotkin put in a flawless test apparently which supposedly sealed the race seat

http://en.f1i.com/news/290482-sirotkin-williams-flawless-test.html (http://en.f1i.com/news/290482-sirotkin-williams-flawless-test.html)

Title: Re: Siortkin to Williams
Post by: lkjohnson1950 on January 23, 2018, 09:51:01 PM

By choosing Sirotkin, Williams have a team with 1 year of F1 experience. This could hurt their ability to develop the '18 car. If it's not good out of the box, Williams could face a long season.

Title: Re: Siortkin to Williams
Post by: Jericoke on January 24, 2018, 03:16:12 PM

Quote from: lkjohnson1950 on January 23, 2018, 09:51:01 PM

By choosing Sirotkin, Williams have a team with 1 year of F1 experience. This could hurt their ability to develop the '18 car. If it's not good out of the box, Williams could face a long season.

Surely when evaluating a driver their 'development ability' is factored in as much as anything else.  I'm sure Williams weighs 'sponsorship backing' a little more than a team like Ferrari would, but if a driver can't talk to engineers, they don't have a place in F1.

Title: Re: Siortkin to Williams
Post by: lkjohnson1950 on January 24, 2018, 05:41:56 PM

Williams said Sirotkin had a very good relationship with the engineers, no trouble communicating. But will he know what he needs when he's mid pack on worn tires? Will he adjust to the differences between F1 and F2? Will he take half a season to come to grips with things like his team mate did?