GreenBkk Formula 1 | The Changes For 2011 (Part 2 of 4): Rookies

The Changes For 2011 (Part 2 of 4): Rookies

The 2011 Formula One World Championship season will, as of January 18th 2011, see the entrance of three debuting drivers. Disappointingly known more for the unpopular reasoning behind their signings, community member TH has attempted to explain the background of each of the three drivers and remind the readers why it is important not to dismiss a driver simply because of their means of entrance into the Formula One paddock.

Pastor Maldonado

Announced as a partner to Rubens Barrichello for the 2011 season in the November of 2010, Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado’s ascension into the Formula One paddock has quickly been criticised by fans and pundits alike, due to the common misconception that the GP2 reigning champion had been signed for only one reason – money. In response to the numerous (unfounded) claims of Maldonado only being signed due to his financial benefits to the team, Frank Williams and the Williams team have strongly rejected these complaints, citing the Venezuelan’s racing history, and success, as strong reason to sign the GP2 champion for 2011.

Indeed, success in formulae from as low as the Formula Renault series to the GP2 series – including several championship or near-championship successes – provides an argument for interest in the driver. Numerous dominating victories at the famous Monaco circuit afford strong reason for interest. With a Formula One connection spanning back to 2004 (in which he tested for the now-defunct Minardi team), few with knowledge of Maldonado himself would dismiss the Venezuelan’s chances within the Formula One fraternity. Should being a so-called “pay driver” automatically dismiss an individual’s driving prowess? Certainly not. It is a fact - and a fact that may catch his critics off-guard - that three-time World Drivers’ Champion Niki Lauda disproves this common misconception, he himself having entered Formula One as a pay driver.

Sergio Pérez

As well a pay-driver himself, Guadalajara-born Sergio Pérez has risen to the ranks of Formula One in a less-than-spectacular style than even Pastor Maldonado (mentioned above). Arguably the least-qualified rookie debuting in this years’ championship, Pérez has had a motorsport career featuring little-to-no outstanding performances. However, much like the man he partners in 2011 - Kamui Kobayashi - Pérez has promised the media that his ability is the determining factor for his Sauber seat, and not the backing of Mexican telecommunications company, and market giant, “Telemex”.

Despite driving to a commanding championship victory in 2007, competing in the British Formula Three season (albeit, in only the “National” class), the 20 year old failed to cement himself as a promising star in the years following. Finishing second in the 2010 GP2 Series season (trailing Maldonado by 16 points), Pérez’s inability to triumph in the largely-uncompetitive field, that was the GP2 drivers of 2010, gives reason for concern about the Mexican’s ability at the present. The Sauber team his hoping that, like Pérez’s 2011 teammate, there is a degree of foolishness in judging a driver only with statistics. The 2011 entrant will be forced, however, to construct a central position within a team that will strongly focus around his Japanese partner.

Jérôme d'Ambrosio

Deposing resounding-disappointment Lucas Di Grassi at Virgin Racing for the 2011 season, Belgium-born d’Ambrosio’s background leaves much to be desired. Having had moderate success in the GP2 Asia series and having dominated the now-defunct International Formula Master series in 2007, the 25-year-old’s lackluster performances in various other championships (particularly the European-based GP2 series in the years 2008, 2009 and 2010) give rise to concern about the Belgian’s ability to perform at the so-called “pinnacle of motorsport”. With a solitary win from 5 different GP2 Series seasons – 79 races in total – little can be said about the confidence held about d’Ambrosio. Despite his confident response when posed a question about his ability, “I think I can push Timo hard and for sure, on occasion, I think I can beat him.” few are particularly confident that the rookie will manage what his predecessor, the now drive-less Lucas di Grassi, could not.

With the 2011 season seeing the debut of only three rookies, all of whom having less-than-desirable track records, the season ahead looks to be yet another championship in which a star will fail to emerge from the small selection of debuting drivers. Has the ability of junior drivers progressively declined in the recent few years, or has the emergence of drivers of the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel caused the viewers to demand far too much of new-entrance drivers? The latter is definite, of course. 2008 World Champion Lewis Hamilton’s incredible debut into the Formula One fraternity in 2007 raised the level of competitiveness expected of rookies to an unreasonable level. But the simple fact remains that all of drivers who have debuted since 2008 (Piquet, Nakajima, Bourdais, Buemi, Petrov, Alguersuari and Di Grassi) have failed to make the impact on the field that those who debuted in the early-to-mid 2000s (Button, Alonso, Raikkonen, Webber, Montoya, Hamilton and Vettel) managed in their early years.

Perhaps the promising rising-stars of Ricciardo, Bianchi, Bottas and Vergne will provide the competitiveness that Formula One’s post-2008 entries have failed to supply.

Credit: The F1 Times (www.thef1times.com)