Bianchi, Gutierrez, Sainz headline 2014 'silly season'

  • Published on 09 Jul 2014 11:02
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
F1's silly season is underway. At the Silverstone test this week, Ferrari junior and Marussia racer Jules Bianchi is stepping in for the injured Kimi Raikkonen. Asked if he feels ready even for a race seat in red, the Frenchman told Britain's Sky: "Of course. I am in formula one so I feel ready for everything."

Team boss Marco Mattiacci, however, denies that Raikkonen - who has struggled to keep up with Fernando Alonso in 2014 - is close to the exit at Maranello. But the Finn did say ahead of the British grand prix that he is likely to retire at the end of his current Ferrari contract.

"Kimi has not told us that he wants to quit formula one," Mattiacci insists, according to Speed Week. "He answered a question by saying he doesn't know what he'll do. My point is that I am working with Kimi to get him to his best form, and not thinking about what will happen in 2016."

At the very same time, Spaniard Alonso is not at Silverstone this week, but at Maranello. La Gazzetta dello Sport speculated that part of the reason for his visit could be to discuss a new offer to extend his deal until 2019. In reality, Alonso is working hard in the driver simulator, ensuring that the correlation between the sophisticated facility and the real F1 car is right.

Indeed, simulator driver Pedro de la Rosa was in charge of the Ferrari at Silverstone on Tuesday. "Unfortunately," the veteran Spaniard told Gazzetta, "if the rules remain as they are, a key to winning is the simulator. I find that sad."

There is speculation elsewhere in the paddock. Sauber's Esteban Gutierrez had another bad weekend at Silverstone, incurring a penalty for his crash with Pastor Maldonado. "If he keeps this up," the Swiss newspaper Zurcher Oberlander warns, "he risks losing the cockpit to (Giedo) van der Garde."

There are also plenty of rumours swirling around Caterham, in the wake of Tony Fernandes' exit and the arrival of mysterious new owners and 'advisor' Colin Kolles. Kolles is known for considering 'pay drivers' as a crucial revenue stream, and already since his arrival, lots of youngsters' names have been associated with Caterham and its new era.

One of them is Carlos Sainz Jr. The teenaged Spaniard is the latest cream of Red Bull's driver development programme, and at Silverstone he was spotted at a table with his famous father - rally legend Carlos Sainz - and Dr Helmut Marko. And the Spanish sports daily Marca said Sainz also met with Kolles at the British grand prix.

Red Bull and Caterham are already closely linked, as the green team uses a Red Bull gearbox. Marko and Kolles are also close, having worked together in 2011 when a deal for HRT to give Daniel Ricciardo his formula one race debut was successfully brokered. (GMM)

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2 2024
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9 2024
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24 2024
Australia
5 - Apr 7 2024
Japan
19 - Apr 21 2024
China
3 - May 5 2024
United States of America
17 - May 19 2024
Italy
24 - May 26 2024
Monaco
7 - Jun 9 2024
Canada
21 - Jun 23 2024
Spain
28 - Jun 30 2024
Austria
5 - Jul 7 2024
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21 2024
Hungary
26 - Jul 28 2024
Belgium
23 - Aug 25 2024
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1 2024
Italy
13 - Sep 15 2024
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22 2024
Singapore
18 - Oct 20 2024
United States of America
25 - Oct 27 2024
Mexico
1 - Nov 3 2024
Brazil
22 - Nov 24 2024
United States of America
29 - Dec 1 2024
Qatar
6 - Dec 8 2024
United Arab Emirates
-
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2 2024
7 - Mar 9 2024
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24 2024
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7 2024
19 - Apr 21 2024
3 - May 5 2024
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19 2024
24 - May 26 2024
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9 2024
21 - Jun 23 2024
28 - Jun 30 2024
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7 2024
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21 2024
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28 2024
23 - Aug 25 2024
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1 2024
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15 2024
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22 2024
18 - Oct 20 2024
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27 2024
1 - Nov 3 2024
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24 2024
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1 2024
6 - Dec 8 2024
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
-
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Aston Martin
  • Points 572
  • Podiums 9
  • Grand Prix 168
  • Country ES
  • Date of b. Jul 29 1981 (43)
  • Place of b. Oviedo, ES
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.71 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar