F1-drivers have to battle - Räikkönen has a clear situation

F1-drivers have to battle - Räikkönen has a clear situation

Toimitus 22.1.2013 10:22

The motto for the upcoming F1-season seems already to be about investing on #1 drivers. According to Erkki Mustakari from Urheilulehti there is a clear reason for battling about status 1.

Eki, the teams emphasize in their talks that they invest in both drivers, but the truth is different. Why?

The elements of success weigh a lot. Let's take a couple of examples. Red Bull's driver-coordinator Helmut Marko said a couple weeks ago that although Mark Webber is an excellent driver in singular races, he can't be guaranteed for driving successfully the whole season through. Hence it's certain that Sebastian Vettel will enjoy the status of #1 in the team. In Ferrari Fernando Alonso's status beside Felipe Massa is clearer than clear. And now that Jenson Button was paired up with the young Sergio Perez in McLaren, it isn't very difficult to guess which one of them will enjoy the status #1 in the team. And furthermore they will invest in Kimi Räikkönen at Lotus if they want a guaranteed success. Räikkönen's situation is clear.

Then what will the situation at Mercedes be now that Michael Schumacher retired and Nico Rosberg got Lewis Hamilton beside him?

This is a tricky situation. Hamilton is already by his whole being and character a leading driver. Rosberg again is appreciated in the team after working hard for three years and beating the "great Schumi". Norbert Haug leaving the team was a small setback in the Rosberg-camp, because now the power will at least for a moment be in the hands of the English-talking men. Rosberg has one possibility to keep the team's strong support behind him and that is beating Hamilton.

Is this #1-scenario the same in the midfield-teams also?

It could be said about at least Force India, who so far has confirmed only Paul Di Resta. The same can be said about Sauber. There the #1 is the experienced Nico Hülkenberg and the #2 the rookie Esteban Gutierrez. When it comes to Toro Rosso and Williams, the difference between both drivers are such that in both teams one of the driver has to earn himself a better status. One might think that Maldonado who has brought a lot of money and won a GP last season would be the clear #1, but it depends upon how much resistance Valtteri Bottas can give to him. In Caterham and Marussia the situation is basically the same during the whole season.

Fonte: http://www.urheilulehti.fi / Tradução para o Inglês: Nicole

Kimi, Fernando, Sebastian, Jenson, todos eles, sem exceção, estou realmente com situações de status de nº 1 definidas a não ser que aconteça algo muito, muito diferente em 2013 com relação aos seus companheiros de equipe. Portanto, até que se prove o contrário, eles são os primeiros pilotos de seus times.

Agora com relação à Mercedes, vai ser um briga boa. E quem vencê-la nesta temporada será o cara dentro da equipe. Nico aprendeu muito nestes anos como companheiro de Schumacher e acho que isto será vantagem para ele na hora de lutar contra Hamilton, mas uma coisa é certa, não será uma briga fácil, vai ser do tipo "briga de cachorro grande" como dizemos no futebol. :)

Beijinhos, Ludy