planetf1.com

Russell looked good in F3 but not excellent. Ho does have more experience.

In his F3 rookie season he just finished a few points behind Lance Stroll despite Stroll being in a better car.

The following season the Stroll's spent an enormous amount of money, it should be remembered that F3 is not a spec series, if you was not driving for Prema Racing or in particular you didn't have Stroll's car you were not going to win the title.

Russell managed to finish best of the rest in 3rd place behind Stroll and Gunther both Prema drivers and he beat the other 2 Prema drivers although one of them was a rookie, so yes you can't say he did excellent but then again it wasn't exactly a level playing field.

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PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: 7th place
2019: Currently 23rd

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (8)

And Joel Eriksson finished not many points behind him despite being a rookie and in a worse team ...

I would say that is debatable given were their teammates finished in the series.

This year Eriksson has stayed with the same team and sits in a strong 3rd place in the series well clear of Jake Hughes who basically replaced Russell, Hughes has both good experience and respectable performance.

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PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: 7th place
2019: Currently 23rd

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (8)

racer.com

The SCCA Pro Racing series will launch F3 Americas and will become an FIA development ladder. The series specifications will consist of Ligier-Crawford chassis, a Honda Type-R engine and Pirellis. The introduction and the launch will be un-veiled at the USGP weekend at COTA where the USF4 season finale will take place.

And congrats to Jupiter, Florida's Kyle Kirkwood for winning the US F4 series title.

NOW WE CAN DREAM!!!!!

http://www.racer.com/scca-home/item/144 ... 3-americas

New plans for the 2019 European F3 series have been revealed: https://www.autosport.com/f3/news/13196 ... s-for-2019

If I understand correctly, basically this means a merge of GP3 and Euro F3, with power levels just a bit below current GP3 (350HP) but all in all slotting in nicely between F4 and F2. Given the evolutions of the last year in the European single seater scene, a logical move.

Just a few remarks:
- why only 24 cars? F3 has historically been a larger grid than that. Given this needs to replace two series at once, we need proper influx from younger drivers towards F2. IMO this risks having a large entry-level driver base (national F4, national F3, FR1.6, FR2.0) but not nearly enough seats to yearly progress to F3. Means more drivers will miss out on a seat at this level and the move up towards F2 will be more constrained. I can see driver quality lower as a result.
- why a lower power output for national F3 series? Make it the same or, if not viable, just use F4 for national single seaters and let the best move up to a European F3 formula?

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Go Vandoorne - Verstappen - Vettel!

Gasly has followed up his double win with a second place. As Ishiura has failed to reach the podium for three consecutive events, Gasly is now within half a point of the series lead and very much in contention for the championship. Good campaign for him, especially given that he is both the leading rookie and the leading Honda (with the next Honda down in ninth).
If anyone had doubts he deserves the STR seat next year...

In European F3, Lando Norris had an uncharacteristic winless weekend and came just short of clinching the title in the penultimate round. Needs just 3 points in the last round and he'll win it regardless of what Günther does but realistically I don't think it's likely Günther will win the three races anyway.

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Go Vandoorne - Verstappen - Vettel!

Great stuff by Joel Eriksson and Lando Norris (despite the crash) in EuroF3 on Sunday. For me, the two most outstanding drivers this year in this category - Norris is a future star and it is also impressive what Eriksson does given that he is driving for the team with the fewest resources.

Mick Schumacher's rookie campaign in F3 is solid but really not more so far. Perhaps, he can up his game.

By the way, 2018 will see the debut of Ralf's son David Schumacher in German F4. In that category, Estonian Juri Vips won a thriller three-way fight for the title against Marcus Armstrong (New Zealand) and Felipe Drugovich (Brazil) last weekend.

Leclerc on pole yet again in F2, he only needs to outscore Rowland by 2 points in tomorrow's race to be Champion, Rowland stars 4th on the grid after a mistake on his last lap.

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PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: 7th place
2019: Currently 23rd

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (8)

It's official, Leclerc wins the race and is the F2 Champion

_________________
PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: 7th place
2019: Currently 23rd

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (8)

Who will be better: Max or Charles?

Will any of the others be on their level (Ocon, Sainz, Vandoorne and such)?

Congrats to Charles Leclerc on his F2 Championship triumph.

Laughter on the podium as they mistakenly play the French national anthem and then have to change it, Leclerc is not French.

_________________
PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: 7th place
2019: Currently 23rd

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (8)

There was another champion crowned past weekend: George Russell has won GP3.

The junior programmes these days are looking good. All major championships were or are about to be won by F1-team affiliated drivers: Leclerc-Ferrari-F2, Russell-Mercedes-GP3, Norris-McLaren-F3.

Meanwhile Red Bull is in trouble with driver supply. Their juniors have pretty much all disappointed except for maybe Ticktum.

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Go Vandoorne - Verstappen - Vettel!

Ticktum joined the GP3 series for the last 2 rounds and put the DAMS car in places that none of the other DAMS drivers have done all season, one to watch perhaps?

There's a lot of British talent about and backed by F1 teams, we also have Renault backed Rowland who has been the the best of the rest behind Leclerc in F2, he may well stay in F2 for another year to be joined by Norris and Russell.

_________________
PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: 7th place
2019: Currently 23rd

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (8)

Ticktum has shown some flashes of talent (second best rookie in F3 is not bad) but failed to do it consistently. Maybe has something to do with not having raced for a year (due to THAT incident...) but 2018 will make us wiser. I hope Verschoor gets it together for next year as well and shows us more of what he showed last year.
But all in all I think none of the current batch of RBR juniors will not make it to F1.

As for Rowland, I actually think he'd do a good job in F1. Mature driver with a good junior resume (not the best ever, but still very decent). But no backing and not good enough to be picked up by any of the big name teams who don't need the driver to bring in money.

_________________
Go Vandoorne - Verstappen - Vettel!

Verschoor I still have hope for.

Really looking forward to seeing him in F1..!

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Should I grow a beard?

He has to do better next year otherwise surely Red Bull will drop him, he's not looking special.

_________________
PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: 7th place
2019: Currently 23rd

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (8)

Yep, next year he has to do a lot better.

FIA F3 Euro Hockenheim, 1st race

Joel Eriksson wins from Norris and Habsburg. Günther 10th, Schumacher 11th.

Norris is champion!

...and I believe he takes Leclerc's seat at Prema Racing in F2?

_________________
PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: 7th place
2019: Currently 23rd

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (8)

So, uh, according to autosport, Stroll's father has vetoed Prema running Norris in F2 next year. That's... weird?

^^ that's properly weird, if true.

Something I missed last month: apparently four new members have been signed to the Red Bull Junior Team. All in karts, one name is notable: Jack Doohan, son of Mick! He has tested in F4 machinery today and will drive in British F4 next year.

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Go Vandoorne - Verstappen - Vettel!

This can only be seen as some kind of attempt to stall Norris' career, if he drives for Prema he's probably the favourite, if not then that makes it more difficult for him, all to protect young Lance in some way perhaps?

_________________
PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: 7th place
2019: Currently 23rd

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (8)

If so, it's a way I don't understand. Norris is a McLaren junior; he's never going to end up at Williams alongside Lance, so why should his dad care?

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PICK 10 COMPETITION (4 wins, 15 podiums): 3rd in 2016
TOP THREE CHAMPIONSHIP (No Limit Excedrin Racing): Champions in 2015 & 2018 | 2nd in 2017
AUTOSPORT GP PREDICTOR: 2017 USA & P-F1 Champion | #2 in the world in 2017

Even that wouldn't make any sense. Norris will still get a drive somewhere and if he has the talent will likely end up in F1 eventually. Not to mention the fact that Sainz, Ocon, Max, Gasly, LeClerc and Wehrlein are already in the mix, so sabotaging Norris' career isn't really going to achieve much in the long term.

This will likely be down to those age old enemies in life. Money and politics.

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I remember when this website was all fields.

Well we know that Prema are second to none in F2, Norris' team under performing could set his career back, delay him getting into F1, he might lose confidence, anything to pull the legs out from underneath him.

The Strolls may consider his main competition to be drivers of a similar age to him, drivers who if they were in F1 may out shine him, after all is the end game for Lance Stroll achieving all his goals just driving for Williams?

Nobble the opposition as much as you can.

_________________
PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: 7th place
2019: Currently 23rd

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (8)

I think this is correct (just a hunch, I don't have inside info). I think they may realize that Lance's chance will come when Hamilton, Alonso and Vettel move on (which could be within the next 4-6 years). They may want to position him as the best of his generation. I think it's futile and petty but I do believe that this is about Lance.

How good do you guys think Oliver Rowland is? He's had a pretty good season in F2 but is already 25.

For F1 probably midfield level if given a few years experience.

Can't help but feel Ollie would be a very solid pair of hands in F1. Always thought of him as a mature and capable driver. Good junior record too.

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Go Vandoorne - Verstappen - Vettel!

He's fairly good, best of the rest behind Leclerc, but a combination of a certain lack of backing plus a lack of F1 seats means that he's going to lose out on a F1 seat, even winning the F2 title next year might not be enough.

_________________
PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: 7th place
2019: Currently 23rd

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (8)

http://www.planetf1.com/news/ilott-join ... r-academy/



That's unexpected...

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Go Vandoorne - Verstappen - Vettel!

Indeed

_________________
PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: 7th place
2019: Currently 23rd

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (8)

So, the Super Formula finale just got cancelled. No two races, no shot at the title for Gasly, and missing Austin for nothing.

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Go Vandoorne - Verstappen - Vettel!

Well that sucks. Missed opportunity for championship in Super Formula and missed opportunity for experience in F1.

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{Insert clever sig line here}