Official: FI keep Fisi and Sutil

Marbot · 14 Dec 2008, 13:25 (Ref:2354661)

FI retain current drivers.

http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpa...s_art_id=36740

Marbot · 14 Dec 2008, 14:11 (Ref:2354676)

Also now on Autosport for those who won't read pitpass articles.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72474

JeremySmith · 14 Dec 2008, 14:14 (Ref:2354677)

Makes sense I suppose..

Knowlesy · 14 Dec 2008, 14:36 (Ref:2354685)

Sutil deserves another shot.

Fisichella? It has been lovely, but can you just please leave? Thanks.

JeremySmith · 14 Dec 2008, 14:44 (Ref:2354689)

I was thinking along the same lines, however with all the rule changes for next year Force India are better off to keep the same driver line up..They have a good reference point to start the year with.

SALEEN S7R · 14 Dec 2008, 15:00 (Ref:2354691)

Fisichella should have left F1 long ago, as for Sutil well he wasnt terrible this year but he didnt exactly shine, perhaps worth another chance but theres lots of other more deserving drivers out there. IMO.

Marbot · 14 Dec 2008, 15:04 (Ref:2354694)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeremySmith

They have a good reference point to start the year with.

You would think that STR would keep Bourdais for the same reason.Hopefully the new owners of Honda will be thinking along the same lines too.

JeremySmith · 14 Dec 2008, 15:15 (Ref:2354697)

Yes but that place could be taken by Button if Honda does not start the season..

JeremySmith · 14 Dec 2008, 15:43 (Ref:2354706)

Anyway potential can of worms...

**Bononi** · 14 Dec 2008, 17:15 (Ref:2354745)

I can't think of anything better than this duo.

That means that Fisi will be drive a McLaren.

And that means that Sutil will be driving one too and will be kicking out Luis as he himself said that Sutil was that good. Oh yeah, now we'll see.

Icebaby · 15 Dec 2008, 18:40 (Ref:2355375)

Sutil I think is good but has made mistakes and needs consistancy, give him a wet track and he really shows what he can do, deserves a seat in F1 far more than another Brazilian driver at Renault.......

Fischella, well he's a bit of journey man and this is proberbly his last year, again worse drivers than him on the grid so can't complain.

f1manoz · 15 Dec 2008, 20:57 (Ref:2355477)

I am surprised they kept Fisichella. He didn't really do much last year, but then again, neither did Sutil.

But I'm guessing with all the team changes, Mallya wanted at least some consistency somewhere.

MichaelH · 15 Dec 2008, 22:48 (Ref:2355572)

Quite happy for Fisi, really. With the car likely to be quite significantly more competitive next season now they're essentially McLaren 2, one last hurrah in a good car, quite possibly. Does he deserve it on the basis of 2008? Questionable, but he's still a classy driver.

Sutil definitely deserves a decent shot.

Knowlesy · 16 Dec 2008, 01:53 (Ref:2355670)

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelH

one last hurrah in a good car, .

When were his previous hurrah's?

Still, I suppose it is important for the team to have some form of continuity. Especially with Mike Gascoyne leaving.

**Born Racer** · 16 Dec 2008, 01:57 (Ref:2355672)

It seemed Fisichella maginally had the edge on Sutil this year though.

Knowlesy · 16 Dec 2008, 02:06 (Ref:2355676)

Hmmm. Not sure.

Probably the more consistent performer, but Sutil put in that amazing drive at Monaco which was one of the great drives of the season.

**Born Racer** · 16 Dec 2008, 02:29 (Ref:2355682)

That was a mighty drive by Sutil in Monaco wasn't it?

**chunterer** · 16 Dec 2008, 10:45 (Ref:2355890)

Overall, not a particularly imaginative announcement, but in one driver they've got a 'safe' pair of gloves and in the other someone who might turn out to be quite good. I say might because whilst as knowlesy says, Sutil's Monaco drive was very good, he didn't really do much else and Fisi generally had the upper hand. At one time being close or just behind Fisi wasn't a bad guage of speed but i'm not sure it is anymore.

After all the hullaballoo about MClaren/Merc policy one of their juniors would have got one of the drives!!

Icebaby · 16 Dec 2008, 11:07 (Ref:2355913)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

Hmmm. Not sure.

Probably the more consistent performer, but Sutil put in that amazing drive at Monaco which was one of the great drives of the season.

Totally agree, one of the drives of the season the points and position mattered to him so much he was distraught when he had to retire, you could'nt help feel for him and annoyance towards Kimi at the time.

He does however need to deliver more performances like this for 09 to secure his place, personally I would have liked him to replace Hekki who I thought was very below par in 08.

ECW Dan Selby · 16 Dec 2008, 14:06 (Ref:2356076)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Icebaby

He does however need to deliver more performances like this for 09 to secure his place, personally I would have liked him to replace Hekki who I thought was very below par in 08.

I have to agree, I'd like to see what Sutil could do in a Merc for a season.

Selby

**Bononi** · 16 Dec 2008, 16:19 (Ref:2356198)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ECW Dan Selby

I have to agree, I'd like to see what Sutil could do in a Merc for a season.

Selby

Luis said he was better than him.

ralf fan · 16 Dec 2008, 19:33 (Ref:2356334)

I think Sutil is slightly over hyped. His best two performances have come in Monaco in the rain. Now that is credible because that combination of track and condition is probably the toughest out there. But I can't remember him doing noteworthy anywhere else. Indeed he was pretty much shaded by an aging Fisichella for part of last season.

fanfisique · 17 Dec 2008, 11:27 (Ref:2356722)

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelH

Quite happy for Fisi, really. With the car likely to be quite significantly more competitive next season now they're essentially McLaren 2, one last hurrah in a good car, quite possibly. Does he deserve it on the basis of 2008? Questionable, but he's still a classy driver.

Sutil definitely deserves a decent shot.

I've been at Algarve Circuit yesterday and Monday, and I'd noticed how big is the advantage of McLaren in their Powertrain-KERS package...FIF1 will have it too, but they'll need also a good car, something that has yet to be confirmed, as they have developed it without intervetion of mclaren due to the deal being confirmed so late.

If we claim that Hamilton pointed Sutil on par with him in terms of driving qualities, I bet Fisico would be WDC if both Lewis and Him were teammates at mclaren...isn't it?

Next year some drivers like Sutil, Raikkonen, Fisico, and Heidfeld will be on their sauce, as 2009 rules suits perfectly with their smooth driving stile...mark my words.

Chiefy · 17 Dec 2008, 13:31 (Ref:2356796)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Icebaby

He does however need to deliver more performances like this for 09 to secure his place, personally I would have liked him to replace Hekki who I thought was very below par in 08.

Whilst I agree that Kovy could have done better in 2008, I think it's jumping the gun a little to back a different driver at this stage. If all pans out well, Kovalainen will be a force to be reckoned with next season. If it doesn't, then people like Rosberg and Kubica will probably be on the look-out for alternatives anyway (if their own teams don't perform as per their own expectations). It's still quite hard to tell just how good Sutil is. I'd like to see him forge a good career in F1 - why not? - but Force India to McLaren, just because Kovy didn't have more good race results, is a bit of a quantum leap.

And no, Fisi could never beat Hamilton to the title! That's a preposterous thing to say. Look what happened when he partnered Alonso!

ECW Dan Selby · 17 Dec 2008, 15:02 (Ref:2356848)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ralf fan

I think Sutil is slightly over hyped. His best two performances have come in Monaco in the rain. Now that is credible because that combination of track and condition is probably the toughest out there. But I can't remember him doing noteworthy anywhere else. Indeed he was pretty much shaded by an aging Fisichella for part of last season.

Both years in Fuji he put in great performances too. Well ok, this year he retired early on, but I think he jumped a fair few places within the first couple of laps. He also scored a point for Spyker the year prior, and that car wasn't worthy of scoring points.

Selby

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