GPWizard F1 Forum
F1 News & Discussions => F1 Drivers => Topic started by: cosworth151 on November 29, 2019, 04:57:17 PM
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The 2020 F1 grid is now complete. Williams announced that 24 year old Canadian F2 driver Nicholas Latifi will take over the seat vacated by Robert Kubica. He'll be the only rookie in the 2020 field.
Also, Toro Rosso will be rebranded AlphaTauri, after Red Bull's fashion line.
So, here's who we've got. Deja Vu is understandable:
Mercedes:
Lewis Hamilton - #44
Valtteri Bottas - #77
Ferrari:
Sebastian Vettel - #5
Charles Leclerc - #16
Red Bull:
Alex Albon - #23
Max Verstappen - #33
McLaren:
Lando Norris - #4
Carlos Sainz - #55
Renault:
Daniel Ricciardo - #3
Esteban Ocon - #31
AlphaTauri (formerly Toro Rosso):
Pierre Gasly - #10
Daniil Kvyat - #26
Racing Point:
Sergio Perez - #11
Lance Stroll - #18
Alfa Romeo:
Kimi Raikkonen - #7
Antonio Giovinazzi - #99
Haas:
Romain Grosjean - #8
Kevin Magnussen - #20
Williams:
George Russell - #63
Nicholas Latifi - #TBC
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1) Is this the earliest that the 'driver carousel' has ended?
2) I'm not complaining, but why do Canadian drivers go through Williams?
3) Who's on the hot seat next season to perform? Mercedes seems to be happy with Bottas. Ferrari has got to be concerned with Vettel and LeClerc (as a fan, I just hope it heats up). I've spoken supportively of the Haas lineup before, but SOMETHING has to change with that team.
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If I was Haas I'd have one American driver.
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I agree. I'd love to see Josef Newgarden get a shot at it.
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Also, Toro Rosso will be rebranded AlphaTauri, after Red Bull's fashion line.
The last embers of Minardi are finally trampled all over and crushed into dust by Red Bull. I'm sad about that. Still, the team was effectively destroyed by this sorry excuse for a marketing exercise as long ago as 2006, so it's nothing more than a cosmetic exercise really. Nevertheless, losing the Italian name does seem to have an air of finality about it, even though I've never liked the Toro Rosso brand.
I'm so fed up of these silly driver numbers. I wish the FIA would revert to the previous system of numbering teams in constructors' championship finishing order.
As for the driver line up, there is not much change and not much opportunity to bring new drivers into the sport. Formula 1 needs more teams and more independent teams, not second-string B teams propped up by manufacturers.
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Also, Toro Rosso will be rebranded AlphaTauri, after Red Bull's fashion line.
The last embers of Minardi are finally trampled all over and crushed into dust by Red Bull. I'm sad about that. Still, the team was effectively destroyed by this sorry excuse for a marketing exercise as long ago as 2006, so it's nothing more than a cosmetic exercise really. Nevertheless, losing the Italian name does seem to have an air of finality about it, even though I've never liked the Toro Rosso brand.
Red Bull promised to run the team as a continuation of Minardi for X number of years. They've more than honoured that commitment. Personally, I never liked how Paul Stoddard intentionally ran the team as 'loveable losers'. I think that Red Bull's using it as a way to bring drivers into F1 has worked out quite well.
I'm so fed up of these silly driver numbers. I wish the FIA would revert to the previous system of numbering teams in constructors' championship finishing order.
That was a ridiculous way to number anything.
I like the drivers having their own numbers, and would accept each team having two assigned numbers that their drivers have, but if they numbers change season to season, why bother with numbers at all?
As for the driver line up, there is not much change and not much opportunity to bring new drivers into the sport. Formula 1 needs more teams and more independent teams, not second-string B teams propped up by manufacturers.
Agreed, F1 should have a pile of privateer teams, and boot out the manufacturers (and, yes, I'm going to include Ferrari: run a team, or sell engines, not both). The FIA and FOM have made it so difficult, I can't really blame people for not making the leap. I can accept that it takes a couple years to develop a winning team, but if Haas isn't winning by now, they're not going to win. We know what they're spending to lose, and nothing is being done to make it cheaper to win. Of course, McLaren and Renault have shown you can't just buy a win either.
Until more people can be convinced to spend on F1, I appreciate the top teams 'filling out' the grid so we have something to watch.
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Red Bull promised to run the team as a continuation of Minardi for X number of years. They've more than honoured that commitment. Personally, I never liked how Paul Stoddard intentionally ran the team as 'loveable losers'. I think that Red Bull's using it as a way to bring drivers into F1 has worked out quite well.
Paul Stoddart did his best with extremely limited resources and I don't think that he ran the team in that way. I also don't see any persuasive evidence to support that suggestion. I did prefer Minardi when it was managed by Giancarlo Minardi though, as it was the epitomy of an Italian family team, and, Ferrari aside, it was the only Italian team to make it into the twenty-first century.
That was a ridiculous way to number anything.
How can numbering the cars in the order in which their teams finished the previous season be argued to be ridiculous? It's the most logical way of numbering the teams that I can think of. You might not like it, but to label it ridiculous seems rather an odd way of characterising it to me.
Until more people can be convinced to spend on F1, I appreciate the top teams 'filling out' the grid so we have something to watch.
If Haas pulls out and Williams runs out of cash, it may well be that the top teams have to field three cars, so you may find your appreciation levels being adjusted in more ways than one.
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Red Bull promised to run the team as a continuation of Minardi for X number of years. They've more than honoured that commitment. Personally, I never liked how Paul Stoddard intentionally ran the team as 'loveable losers'. I think that Red Bull's using it as a way to bring drivers into F1 has worked out quite well.
Paul Stoddart did his best with extremely limited resources and I don't think that he ran the team in that way. I also don't see any persuasive evidence to support that suggestion. I did prefer Minardi when it was managed by Giancarlo Minardi though, as it was the epitomy of an Italian family team, and, Ferrari aside, it was the only Italian team to make it into the twenty-first century.
https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/other-sport/2004/08/20/minardi-is-still-formula-ones-lovable-losers/ (https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/other-sport/2004/08/20/minardi-is-still-formula-ones-lovable-losers/)
That was a ridiculous way to number anything.
How can numbering the cars in the order in which their teams finished the previous season be argued to be ridiculous? It's the most logical way of numbering the teams that I can think of. You might not like it, but to label it ridiculous seems rather an odd way of characterising it to me.
2009 ended thusly:
Brawn
Red Bull
McLaren
Ferrari
Toyota
BMW
Williams
Renault
Force India
Toro Rosso
Therefore championship order should have been:
Mercedes 1-2 (actually 3-4)
Redbull 3-4 (Actually 5-6)
McLaren 5-6 (actually 1-2)
Ferrari 7-8 (Hey, a match!)
Sauber 11-12 (Toyota had 9-10 and dropped out, actually had 22-23)
Williams 14-25 (or 11-12) (Actually 9-10)
Seriously, the numbers tell you nothing.
Until more people can be convinced to spend on F1, I appreciate the top teams 'filling out' the grid so we have something to watch.
If Haas pulls out and Williams runs out of cash, it may well be that the top teams have to field three cars, so you may find your appreciation levels being adjusted in more ways than one.
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I want more teams, competitive teams. The model is broken, and there isn't enough will to fix it.
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Numbers were not traditionally awarded to teams, but to drivers. In 2010 the #1 would have gone to Button, not to Mercedes.
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To attempt an answer to Jeri's first question, 2008 was the last time the field got settled comparably early (everyone was signed by the middle of November)... ...it was just that Vijay Mallya opted not to declare who he'd signed until January for no apparent reason.
I believe it is a record for declarations. Usually there's at least one TBA every year.
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Numbers were not traditionally awarded to teams, but to drivers. In 2010 the #1 would have gone to Button, not to Mercedes.
1&2 were assigned to the champion and their teammate, and the rest of the numbers are assigned by constructor order, pending paperwork being completed. (What would have happened if the champion retired, Rosberg-style? Does 1 go unassigned? To the team that he drove for? The top constructor?
I'm disappointed that Hamilton doesn't claim #1, as is his right, but otherwise I like that drivers have permanent numbers.
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Boy, didn't look this up either, but I have a memory of a driver using the number 0 when he replaced a reigning champion the next season.
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Whatever number they race under I just like to be able to clearly see it on the car - some of the time the visibility has been very poor.
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It was even more interesting back in the 1950's & early 60's. An example is Fangio in 1957. He was the defending champ but had moved from Ferrari to Maserati during the off season. His car numbers by race:
Argentina: 2
Monaco: 32
France: 2
Aintree: 2
Nurburgring: 1
Pescara: 2
Monza:2
https://www.goodwood.com/grr/search/?query=fangio+1957
I collect die cast race cars. The ones from that era have different #'s for a given driver throughout a season.
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Whatever number they race under I just like to be able to clearly see it on the car - some of the time the visibility has been very poor.
I totally agree with this. I remember when the rules required large white roundels with black numerals. Much easier to see, but they would cover too much advertising real estate these days.
(https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQn-YNuooGaYSbsW1a31Pv2JcntCwsrR5GD0G0n6c1cnJuW9Cxtgw&s)
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Boy, didn't look this up either, but I have a memory of a driver using the number 0 when he replaced a reigning champion the next season.
Damon Hill replaced Nigel Mansell, who went to Indycars as reigning 1992 F1 champion, and was immediately awarded #0. He had it again following Senna's death (because he was entered as Williams team leader in subsequent races).
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Thanks Alia, I knew that you would know.