planetf1.com

Many reports coming out in the Brazilian media:
http://esportes.terra.com.br/automobili ... aRCRD.html
http://globoesporte.globo.com/motor/for ... -2013.html

That was a huge surprise. Returning to the team that began as Virgin Racing.

Money, Money, Money.

Anyway the chances of Marussia getting anything other than last in the WCC is pretty slim at this point. Making up the numbers.

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1994 1995 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Confirmed,

https://twitter.com/marussia_f1team/sta ... 6690452480

So Petrov is out of F1 too. A lot of drivers have left this year, that makes it 4 rookies with Bianchi likely to be No5.

Chilton, Gutierrez, Razia, Van De Garde.

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1994 1995 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

I'm glad to see Razia has found himself a seat, as I did find it a little odd that neither he nor Valsecchi had got a drive (obviously in Valsecchi's case, he has at least landed a decent third driver role) despite being the class of last year's GP2 field. Obviously $$$ have played a role in his appointment, but in his case, that doesn't actually bother me too much as I think he'll do a good job and stick around beyond this year.

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Currently cheering for: Felipe Massa; Nico Hulkenberg; Romain Grosjean; Felipe Nasr. Oh, and of course, the Toronto Maple Leafs

Plus Bottas too.
Surely Marussia will struggle to develop the car with two rookies? Pic is surely going to look sensational in the Caterham given the other three drivers at the back will still be learning.

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Massa Vettel Grosjean Perez

PF1s Pick 10 Competition
2011: 17th |2012: 4th |2013: 3rd
Wins: 2 (Malaysia and Singapore 2012)
Winner of the 2011 Rubens Barrichello Trophy
Winner of the 2012 Lewis Hamilton Trophy

Bottas so 6 in total

I knew I'd forgotten one. I suppose because he was confirmed so long ago it's forgivable!

So there will likely be 6 rookies. Melbourne T1 is going to be fun...

Anyway yes Marussia are no in a good position for development. Their pre season will be able the rookies getting used to driving an F1 car not learning how the car works intricately. Could hamper them in the long term. They'll be planted to row 11 this year.

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1994 1995 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Two rookie drivers. I was going to say it was a long time a team had two rookies but realize that HRT actually started their first season in 2010 with rookies Senna and Chandhok.
I believe both Minardi and Jordan had rookie drivers in 2005.
Jordan: Karthikeyan and Monteiro
Minardi: Albers and Friesacher (later on Doornbos too)

6 rookies makes me think of long times ago!

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F1 fan since 1989

To be honest I think its good guys like Razia who has proved he is decent in junior series get there chance.

I was going to say I don't begrudge him the seat but his results have actually been worse than van der Garde's, save for this year. To be honest, this year GP2 was dominated by those who've done poorly in previous seasons. I'd rather the seat have gone to someone like Calado who was consistently impressive in his first year.

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Official Kamui Kobayashi Fanboy

I would rather see Calado eventually and I think he is better than Razia. Howeve I would rather James had another year in GP2 than drive for Marrusia.

Such drivers seriously are going to be 1 second per lap slower than a Hamilton or Rosberg or Hulkenberg in such a car.

That would be my guess. I mean they are rookies and it's a difficult car, probably.

Razia had a good season in GP2 last year but he had been in the series quite some time, I still expect him to beat Chilton though. Can't really take Marussia seriously anymore after claiming they would make huge improvements and be 10th this season only to put two average rookies in the car and one at the expense of Glock. Its not like they chose rookies like Bianchi, Frijns or Felix Da Costa either.

Caterham should really have the advantage as Pic has a year under his belt and Van der Garde whilst not being particularly standout has been hanging around the F1 paddock for years now it seems! Think he has quite a bit of mileage in an F1 car and a lot of racing experience which should ensure he hits the ground running quicker. Will be quite interesting to see which driver comes out on top in the F1 2nd division battle.

Think theres going to be a lot of unhappy "experienced" drivers this year as with so many rookies this could cause a lot of unavoidable collisions!

I just realised, 4 GP2 drivers as rookies, while the GP2 winner (Valsecchi) will be a test driver!

Mney money money indeed

Test driver at Lotus sounds better than driver at Caterham or Marussia though.
Chilton, Razia and Van der Garde will be condemnded to drive at the back of the grid.

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F1 fan since 1989

I agree, but the role of a test driver nowadays has shrunk a lot. I don't know if I would prefer to actually get races under my belt or being a test driver

Marazia!

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Lewis Hamilton #1!

Alonso, Kimi, Grosjean, Massa, Bianchi, Hulkenberg, Button, Perez.

Mercedes AMG Petronas
Ferrari
Lotus F1
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

So... no Russian driver for the Russian team, or at least until Soch 2014.


Well, we can only wish them the best, but they can't be all in the front...still, he finally got his break, he'll be rubbing elbows with the big boys, nothing much be could have done for a better seat, giving this year's competition.
Even in the rear of the train, an outstanding driver will impress and get a better break. Let's not forget Alonso and Webber started with Minardi, for instance.

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Olivier Panis fan.
...and also Jenson Button fan.