Game: Five in, Five Out

[DNQ]

The game is very simple: out of the twenty drivers in Formula One at the moment, which five would you like to see go, and which five drivers (not in Formula One at the moment), would you like to see replace them, without giving any thought about teams and contracts etc. I'll go first. Only rule is the 'in' drivers you chose must be active in some form of top level motorsport

Out
Michael Schumacher - sorry champ, let someone else win
Ralf Schumacher - not lacking greatly, just a little bland
Ralph Firman - he's doing reasonably well in a tough car...
Antonio Pizzonia - has pace, but can't seem to use it
Jarno Trulli - star of the future I used to think, hasn't shone though

In
Valentino Rossi - Surtees, Hailwood have done it, Rossi should be next
Mario Dominguez - give my fave CART star a Ferrari drive
James Courtney - time for a second Aussie in Formula One
Will Davison - make that three Aussies
Scott Dixon - save Scott from Crapwagon hell (hey, he was born in Australia too)

Remember, it's only a bit of fun folks

[Mark Webber]

Out
JPM- hasn't lived up to any of the hype
HHF- its just time to go
Nick H - has been at it for some years &just misse's the cut
DeMatta- has pace, but can't seem to use it
Pizza Boy - Just hasn't done the job in what will be a very tough year

In
Alex Wurz- Has outpaced team mate in testing
Ryan Briscoe - Has done enough to warrant a drive
James Courtney - Fast
Will Davison - Smart & fast
Scott Dixon - If we have to have a CART/IRL driver Scott should be it

[climb]

Isn't Scott from New Zealand?
Out:
Verstappen: nice guy but what can he show anymore on a Minardi?
Coulthard: frankly speaking he already had his chances and he lost them, he's outta here
Villeneuve: he can become a commentator, so he can do the same he's doing right now: talk, talk, talk and nothing more
Panis: time to retire and enjoy his money
Frentzen : staying at Sauber doesn't make any sense

IN:
Tomas Scheckter: F1 is bound to enjoy his madness
Massa: deserves one more chance, the experience at ferrari is certainly make him more mature.Next year will be ready
Nelsinho: doesn't need to pass through F3000, if he keeps consistent in British F3 this year
Montagny: he's dominating World series, why not giving him a chance?
Antinucci: a yankee can help F1 to find interest in the States

[Raven]

Out:
Ralf Schumacher
Jos Verstappen
HH Frentzen
Ralph Firman
Olivier Panis

In:
Takuma Sato
Sebastien Bourdias
Bruno Junqueira
Bjorn Wirdheim
Ricardo Sperafico

[DNQ]

Originally posted by climb
Isn't Scott from New Zealand?

Yes, by nationality, but he was born in Brisbane, Australia.

[racer69]

Originally posted by climb
Isn't Scott from New Zealand?

Born in Australia, but grew up in New Zealand.

OUT:
- Ralf Schumacher
- Panis
- Heidfeld
- Pizzonia
- Trulli

IN:
- Helio Castroneves
- James Courtney
- Sebastion Bordais
- Allan McNish
- Scott Dixon (even after his embarrassing cock-up at Indy )

[climb]

To DMQ and racer 69: you aussies must be admired for claiming Scott's Australian origin after his clowny move!

[racefanatic]

out:
Verstappen
Frentzen
Firman
Wilson- I want him in CART
M. Schumacher- before he beats Senna's pole record

in:
Helio Castroneves
Dario Franchitti
Ricardo Sperafico
Christian Fittipaldi (again)
Sebastien Bourdais

[JonesF1]

Out:
M.& R. Schumacher
Trulli
Heidfeld
DC

In:
Bourdais
Tracy
Hunter-Reay
Giebler
Sato

[x_dt]

Out:
Michael Schumacher (nothing left to prove)
David Coulthard
Ralf Schumacher
Heinz-Harald Frentzen (best years are behind him)
Jacques Villeneuve (best he races where he can win)

In:
Sébastien Bourdais
Giorgio Pantano
Heikki Kovalainen
Gilles Panizzi (tarmac specialist in WRC)
Ricardo Sperafico

[BSchneiderFan]

Out:

Jos Verstappen (maybe good once, no longer serving a purpose)
Antonio Pizzonia (fast but unable to tap his skill)
Heinz-Harald Frentzen (it's been fun, but a top-line sportscar ride would be more rewarding now)
Jacques Villeneuve (you bore me now, take it outside)
Ralph Firman (just not sure how quick you are)

In:

Sebastien Bourdais (smarter than a boxful of tuxedos, as the phrase goes)
Allan McNish (much yet to prove, but I know he can)
Helio Castro Neves (stupidly fast, will succeed)
Scott Dixon (from a land Down Under)
Bernd Schneider (what did you expect me to say?)

[racefanatic]

What about Luca Badoer? I can't really remember if he was very good or not. If he drove for Ferrari he'd be good...

[Wrex]

I don't follow the lower ranks, so I can't nominate the IN's.

OUT

1. Villeneuve (pleeeeeease)
2. Verstappen (and lock the door this time)
3. Pizzoni (tough break getting Webber, MS or Fisi for a team mate in rookie year)
4. Firman (seee above)
5. Villenueve (in case he did'nt hear me the first time)

[loadsaaaTOP]

OUT:
COULTHARD
COULTHARD
COULTHARD
COULTHARD
COULTHARD

[Dutton]

OUT:

1) Ralph (I just don't think he's going to cut it)
2) Jos (He just won't let it rest...)
3) DC (He's had ample opportunity and wasted it)

That is all I would want to cut at present.

IN:

1) Bruno (always liked the chap, would like to see how he gets on)
2) Tuero (he seemed excellent, would like to see him again)
3) Rossi (out of interest, to see if the transition could work nowadays)

[bulldogspirit]

OUT:
1. R Schumacher - waste of a good drive
2. Coulthard - ditto
3. Villeneuve - long past his best
4. Verstappen - too many chances already
5. Firman - just not quite quick enough

IN:
1. Scott Dixon - quality wasted going round in circles
2. Sebastien Bourdais - F3000 champ, proving himself in CART
3. Heikki Kovalainen - the next flying Finn?
4. Laurent Aiello - DTM champ, quick in everything
5. Valentino Rossi - can bikers drive cars fast, or would it be a bit boring for him?

[boom boom]

Out
Heinz-Harald Frentzen
Ralph Firman
Antonio Pizzonia
Jos Verstappen
?

In
Alex Wurz
Takuma Sato
Sebastien Bourdai
Felipe Massa
Anthony Davidson

[Lee Janotta]

I'll just copy DNQ's "out" list, though Coultard and Verstappen are both tempting.

IN:
1. A.J. Allmendinger (a real talent, to redeem America's honor after Sullivan, Cheever and Michael Andretti)
2. Sebastian Bourdais (the guy's superfast)
3. Thomas Enge (F3000 Champion, damn good in GT cars)
4. Anthony Davidson (He deserves another shot)
5. Eh, these guys all miss the cut for some reason: John Young (34 and has only driven GTs), Gunnar Jeanette (not nearly enough experience, lacking dedication it seems), Paul Edwards (extremely talented, but kind of dissapointing this year), Tomas Scheckter (spoiled brat), Paul Tracy (just too old)

[Korr]

OUT:

- J.P. Montoya. He may have talent, but he has no brains to match.
- J. Villeneuve. Get out! I dislike mouthy drivers that have no talent to back up their tongue-waggling.
- A. Pizzonia. Nuff said.
- R. Firman. Sheesh. There must be a decent pay driver out there somewhere.
- J. Trulli. Jarno Wholli?

IN:
- Helio Castroneves. He's a fast, fierce competitor. Think J. Montoya, but with brains.
- Sam Hornish Jr. Try his for a year just to see how he would do.
- Takuma Sato. I'd like to see this chap with ongoing support from a good team.
- Tomas Scheckter. I hate this guy's attitude and mouth, but he is an excellent driver.
- Sarah Fisher. Just to see what she can do!

[ASCII Man]

Get OUT!
Pizzaboy - Don't need to explain why, right?
Vermin, Ralph Vermin - Ditto!
Snoozemacher Senior - Snoozefest!
Snoozemacher Junior - Ditto! (again)
Coulturd - You had your chance, gramps! Hit the road!

IN!
Luca Badoer - He deserves it!
Valentino Rossi - See what happens then!
Piquet Jnr. - Haven't seen him before, he might kick ass...
Alexander Wurz - (see Badoer explanation)
Bas Leinders - Got shafted by Minardi with picking Davidson for those 2 races while he was the reservepilot!

[Daisy]

Out
- Ralph Firman
- Heinz Harald Frentzen
- Nick Heidfeld
- Jarno Trulli
- Jacques Villeneuve

In
- Christijan Albers
- Ryan Briscoe
- Franck Montagny
- Nelsinho Piquet
- Heikki Kovalalinen

[Damon]

Originally posted by Korr J.P. Montoya. He may have talent, but he has no brains to match.

The "he always throws it at the wall" line is a little redundent now, seeing as the last time he did it was Monaco 2001 .

(Brazil doesn't count because well, even Schu ditched it there)

[Korr]

Damon,

I reread my post, and I fail to see where I stated that, "he always throws it into the wall."

I merely stated that he has no brains. Talent, yes, brains no.

[Damon]

Based on what then?

[Mania]

OUT:

Pablo Montoya - Nothing but an overrated big mouth...shouldnt be driving anything but a Champ car.

Pizzonia - Doesent deserve an F1 seat after his lousy performances in F3000.

Trulli - Outclassed once again...Its time Janno takes a trip down to Indy..He may have better luck.

Coulthard - Too many years in a competitive car and no championship to show for it.

Firman - A loser. Only in F1 because he has the bucks. There's a reason why he never made it to F1 till 2003...he just aint good enough.

IN:

Tomas Schketer - Very talented and extremely quick..He's a charger and deserves to be in F1...Hopefully in a far better team than Jaguar.

Bruno Junqueira - Should have been in F1 in 2000 but lost out ..quite unfairly.. to Button. Bruno needs to make the switch within the next year or two otherwise his talent may go to waste.

Felipe Massa - Massa is right where he should be..ie testing for Ferrari .. the team will groom him properly and hopefully he`ll get a race seat very soon.

Marc Gene - Few people talk about Marc but he's a good driver and he`s done very well at Williams..matching the pace of their two drivers.

Helio Castroneves - Doing very well..much better than I thought he would..Would be interesting to see how he goes in F1.