When was that the case?
Difference is that Williams were a front running team winning races. It's easier to have better drivers when the best race for you because your cars are giving them world championships.Does 80s until late 90s ring a bell? Glorious F1 times.
People really start bugging me off for their no-rookies-attitude these days. Always thought it's a bit different here, as most guys here care for more then just F1. Shame to be proven wrong.
I can only agree. This is the truth. 15 millions from Lotos Sponsorship. And this demolishes every hint of Williams taking the slower driver for more money.Kubica would have brought personal sponsor Lotos to Williams, so he'd have basically been a paydriver per definition too.
Only if people would take the rose-tinted glasses off...
Exactly what I was thinking and in the news at first I heard Kubica was fasters now the Russion is...Speaking of sponsor money, I wonder what the plan is relating to the Martini sponsorship and their requirement for a driver over 25. Also, if we're going with "young talent," I would think Pascal should also be in the convo, though I don't know anything about his personal sponsorship situation.
I'm surprised to see so many Kyvat fans, this guy has already had a lot more 2nd chances than he deserve and than several better Torro Rosso drivers (Vergne, Buemi...).
I don't say he's that bad (but did so many mistakes), but he has shown nothing better than average, he has never shined, and I don't see why he should have so many 2nd chances in a team where there is none most of the time, while there is many rookies which deserve their chance.
I agreeNope, Sirotkin's main success came when the series was still called GP2. His one-off for ART this year was in F2, but that doesn't count in, really.
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Love how everyone in here bashes Sirotkin already for being a pay driver. If anyone out of that 2016 GP2 season deserves a shot in F1 aswell (as GIO and Gasly have theirs already) it's him. Rampaged through the field in an underwhelming Rapax in 2015 and if it wouldn't be for his misfortune (and stupidity, as he himself admitted) he could have gained a lot more points in 2016, up to being a serious title contender. ART don't pick their drivers for money.
People really start bugging me off for their no-rookies-attitude these days. Always thought it's a bit different here, as most guys here care for more then just F1. Shame to be proven wrong.
/Sorry for the rant.
Oh mr Nostradamus, sorry, I didn't recognize you at first.And let's be pragmatic here, Kubica was never going to get a drive.
Because F1 is supposed to be the very top of car racing, not a playground for people who have driven a few competitive F2/F3 races. That's football, not F1.
Sirotkin is a true talent and a riot to watch, tons of sand on that boy.It's a shame Williams has had to take the money route when looking to fill the seat, rather than look for someone with true talent. Can't wait till 2021 when all this money orientated F1 dancing is over and we can go back to real racing with the drivers being the reason for winning not the cars tech and multi million dollar budgets.
I wish Sirotkin the best in a full F1 season, it's a big step up from GP2 with more pressure to perform at the highest level possible, it will make or brake him I guess.
If we're talking about skill they should get Wehrlein. If money then Sirotkin. Easy scenario to be honest.
Most drivers in most series at the pro (expensive) level come with money. Whether it is daddy's or a sponsor makes no difference to me. There are only a few teams (factory) that can afford to pay like Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull and Renault. Any other driver that is reaping a salary from the team is of Alonzo status or thereabouts.
So consider that even a pay driver (sponsored or family driven) has to obtain a superlicence in order to even compete means none of them are slugs. They've all won at previous levels and while some may never be a champion all could be at the front of the field in a good car.
I've watched every driver in F1 at other levels and they were all good. I do know though from my own experience that you have to have money and/or a good backer to suceed to the top level. Talent helps get the backers but that is often not enough. If you haven't seen it, there is an excellent documentary about Tommy Byrne who was considered as fast as rich young Ayrton Di Silva (Senna).