Di Resta Loses F1 Drive For 2014

[ChillDoubt]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/25346242

Bit of a shock that. I blame McLaren for the cause i.e. dropping Perez so close to the end of the season when pretty much everyone had sorted their drives for the next season. Perez has subsequently had to scrambling about looking for a team and this is the result.
I hope DiResta can find a way back in somehwere, he looks to be a good prospect in a decent car.

[Bazile]

That's a shame - i think their decision to drop him is because of this -

''Perez, who has been dropped by McLaren after a season alongside Jenson Button, brings with him several million pounds worth of sponsorship from Mexico. ''

[ChillDoubt]

That's the problem with these 'pay to play' drivers.
Bringing money to the team doesn't necessarily mean you have the best driver in the car.

[angie55]

Most drivers would look "a good prospect in a decent car". Much as I like and respect PDR, I don't think he's had a very good season - all those incidents in the first few laps of races came at the wrong time when the teams were starting to look seriously at their 2014 line-ups. Unfortunately, he is another driver that comes without a budget - that shouldn't cause a problem, but the current economic climate unfortunately means otherwise. I don't think it's necessarily McLaren's fault either. Perez was told that he had no competition from the current drivers, so I think he relaxed his game and has been found wanting. I know for a fact he is not universally liked inside the team (but then neither is Whitmarsh). I hope PDR stays racing in Europe (I think a move to Indycar would not be great - it would be too great a learning curve - Barrichello certainly found it like that and I think you have to have experience to race on the ovals - Mike Conway should be praised for openly saying he couldn't race on them). I'm not sure if Dario Franchitti is trying to engineer a move for PDR, but I hope not. Off to the 500 again in May and I'll miss not seeing Dario in the car.

[Bazile]

Hi angie55

I love watching indycar racing on the ovals ( not so much the shorter ovals ) .
Not been shown on tv nowadays , unless you subscribe to sky sports , i suppose - so i haven't seen any for quite a while now.

As you say racing on the ovals is a whole different ball game .

I didn't realise Barrichello raced on the ovals - when was that ?

[angie55]

Hi Bazile, he had 1 season in Indycar in 2012 after losing his seat at Williams in F1. He was introduced to Indycar by his friend and fellow driver Tony Kanaan. He didn't have the greatest car, so his best results were 2 top six finishes and he finished 11th in he 500. I think he raced in Brazilian Stock cars in 2013 (similar to DTM) and he has also been at the F1 races this season as he's been a pit lane reporter/interviewer for Brazilian TV.

[Bazile]

Thanks

Lets hope there is more of a challenge to Red Bull in 2014 ; although they have Adrian Newey to contend with , mind

[clivebeca]

Yes ChillDoubt ... The Payers are NOT the best drivers, but then F1 has long been an 'Elite' Sport. The other 'daft' topic at present is awarding double points for the last Grand Prix of the Season. Again apart from maybe increased sponsorship, and a bit of excitement, there is simply no logic in it at all. I see that Sebastian Vettel has expressed his opinion, which I agree with 100%. He thinks it's DAFT also!! I bet Bernie was the 'driving' force.