I first watched Pastor Maldonado race in 2008. He was comprehensively out-paced by Bruno Senna in the first GP2 race at Monaco in 2008. Senna blitzed the Venezuelan off the line, and controlled the race from there. From then on I didn’t pay much interest to Maldonado; the four main protagonists that season were Senna, Giorgio Pantano, Lucas di Grassi and Romain Grojean. It’s fair to say young Pastor wasn’t somebody I regarded as a future F1 driver. So it came as a huge surprise to me when he was given the second race seat at Williams at the expense of the highly rated Nico Hulkenberg. Why am I convinced that Hulkenberg is the superior pilot? In 2009 Hulkenberg won the GP2 title in his rookie season at ART Grand Prix. Who was his team-mate? Well, it was one Pastor Maldonado. The latter finished sixth in the standings, despite being in his third GP2 season, and was a staggering 64 points adrift off Hulkenberg in equal machinery. Quite a shocking statistic isn’t it? Furthermore, Hulkenberg was victorious in Formula BMW in 2005, was A1 GP champion for Germany a year later and Formula Three Euro Series champion in 2008. An impressive CV which ranks alongside the Schuey’s of this world.
Maldonado’s racing background isn’t quite as accomplished as the young German he replaced. Maldonado won the Italian Formula Renault Championship in 2005, and was third in the World Series by Renault a year later before stepping up to GP2 in 2007. Maldonado will be the first Venezuelan to compete in F1 since Johnny Cecotto back in 1984 but I cannot imagine he will last more than a single season. He brings a substantial amount of cash to the Williams team (as much as £10 Million it has been reported) which ultimately sealed Hulkenberg’s fate. But good luck to him, during the past 18 years and 362 days many sportsmen and women have proved me wrong. With the evergreen Rubens Barrichello partnering him next season, Pastor could very well join that list.
Hulkenberg’s removal from the Williams line up has created quite a dilemma further down the paddock at Force India. Adrian Sutil will surely be confirmed in the near future. He impressed me in 2010 and with an improved car should comfortably challenge the front runners on a regular basis. In addition, he brings sponsorship money from Medion which sealed the deal. It seemed a straight shoot out between Tonio Liuzzi and DTM Champion Paul di Resta for the number two seat. Except Hulkenberg's sudden unemployment has given Vijay Mallya’s team quite a predicament. All season long di Resta looked a shoo-in to be on the grid next season despite Liuzzi being contracted to the team for 2011. He competed in eight Friday practice sessions and on his weekends away from F1 competed in DTM, which he won driving for Mercedes. The Scotsman also comes with a ringing endorsement from none other than Sebastian Vettel, the World Champion if you please. Vettel was beaten to the 2006 F3 Euroseries by di Resta by 11 points when they were both with the French ASM team. And according to di Resta's cousin, triple IndyCar champion Dario Franchitti: "Sebastian is a good driver, but Paul is better".
It seemed Force India were grooming him for 2011 and it is well known that the Scot is backed by Mercedes. Mercedes boss Norbert Haug has been eager to see di Resta given his opportunity in F1 for quite some time. However, does he prefer Hulkenberg? After his exciting rookie season (in particular the second half) he is not alone. It is conceivable that Hulkenberg will be out of a race drive next season but not a test drive. Could he become the reserve driver at Mercedes? Yes. However, without winter testing the more appealing option for him could be to remain in Formula One with Force India, who use customer Mercedes engines. Nevertheless, much depends on whether Mallya’s team are content to be used as a feeder team, comparable to Toro Rosso's relationship with Red Bull Racing. If Hulkenberg does secure the drive at Force India it is highly likely that he will then switch to Mercedes to partner Nico Rosberg after Schumacher’s retirement.
Wherever Hulkenberg ends up for the upcoming season he will undoubtedly secure a top drive for 2012. If Schumacher suffers another poor season and leaves the sport, Hulkenberg will be a suitable replacement. He is German and quick; what more can Mercedes ask for? A similar scenario is brewing at Force India; if Sutil leaves for Renault in 2012 to replace Robert Kubica, who appears to be Ferrari bound at Felipe Massa’s expense, Hulkenberg will undoubtedly be the first name the bosses at Force India would turn to. The 'Hulk' has some thinking to do.
Bell’s Force India driver line up prediction = Sutil and di Resta.
To conclude my post, I would like to wish Michael Schumacher a very Happy Birthday. The seven-time World Champion is 42 today. Will he crown his 43rd year with an eighth world title? Who knows; anything can happen in F1.
Happy New Year readers, Josh.
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