who impressed?

Dan Fielden · 25 Sep 2006, 09:06 (Ref:1718203)

GP2 champion or runner-up - who has impressed you most in Formula One testing this week?

Piquet or Hamilton?

Gotta be piquet for me.

newoutsider · 25 Sep 2006, 10:08 (Ref:1718247)

As stated in the Lewis Hamilton thread, unless you actually know what the testing strategies involved were, it is impossible to even say how each compares with their team mates. Taken at face value, Nelsinho should be given the race seat next year instead of Kovalainen and Lewis is easily faster than Pedro.

all you can really say is that both impressed, the test times seem to reflect pretty much the pace of the cars and it just serves to prove that GP2 is a valid judge of a driver's potential in F1.

Dan Fielden · 25 Sep 2006, 10:42 (Ref:1718279)

I agree although not sure about piquet instead of Kovalinen for 07. I think Heikki is going to do wonders next year, i cant see nelsinho being better than kovalinen over the course of a race but i also think heikki and piquet instead of fisi would be a better renault team next year.

FPV GTHO · 25 Sep 2006, 11:13 (Ref:1718314)

Well Piquet's spent twice as long in GP2 as Hamilton, Kovalainen and even Rosberg right?

By the time pre season testing starts, i wouldnt be surprised if Kovalainen's faster than the other 2, hes had all year testing whilst theyve been fighting for the GP2 championship.

newoutsider · 25 Sep 2006, 11:14 (Ref:1718316)

Dan,

I was simply pointing out that test times don't actually translate 100% into who did better than who, because if they did, then you would say Piquet is quicker - but as we don't know what the Renault testing strategy was, we can't say that anymore than we can say the Nelsinho is quicker than Lewis.

**Bononi** · 25 Sep 2006, 12:31 (Ref:1718397)

I'm not impressed at all... I have seen so many impressive testing becoming null drivers in racing.

Dan Fielden · 25 Sep 2006, 13:08 (Ref:1719278)

Quote:

Originally Posted by newoutsider

Dan,

I was simply pointing out that test times don't actually translate 100% into who did better than who, because if they did, then you would say Piquet is quicker - but as we don't know what the Renault testing strategy was, we can't say that anymore than we can say the Nelsinho is quicker than Lewis.

I understand completly, please don't think i meant my comments in an argumentative way or in disagreement. Not the case

You make good points i was just adding my thoughts to the thread which are obviously up for debate.

Alienman_69 · 25 Sep 2006, 15:14 (Ref:1719377)

I think both did a good job for a first test. Both were quick and both teams looked happy with their tests. Piquet impressed me a bit more, because although he had seat problems, he manage to make no mistakes, was constantly quick and made a lot of laps. How quick are they if you compare them with the other drivers in the team, that can only be answered when they are all driving for times, and that you only see in a race weekend. Hamilton may be racing in 2007, still early to say, but im sure that by 2008 both will be racing in F1 and then we will see who can do a better job.
I dont believe Fisi will be quicker than Kovalainen in 2007 so I think that its highly likely that Piquet will have a chance to do some races in 2007, but we will have to wait and see, 2006 is not even over yet.

newoutsider · 25 Sep 2006, 15:23 (Ref:1719388)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Fielden

I understand completly, please don't think i meant my comments in an argumentative way or in disagreement. Not the case

You make good points i was just adding my thoughts to the thread which are obviously up for debate.

Not argumentative at all IMO, just a matter for debate.

I've been told I'm talking total rubish a few times (and I have)...

FPV GTHO · 25 Sep 2006, 23:00 (Ref:1719801)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alienman_69

I dont believe Fisi will be quicker than Kovalainen in 2007 so I think that its highly likely that Piquet will have a chance to do some races in 2007, but we will have to wait and see, 2006 is not even over yet.

Well is this initially, at some time, or by the end of 2007? Its a very similar situation to Williams this year, and the Rosberg-Webber pairing perhaps hasnt gone to plan according to many. I wouldnt be surprised at all if Fisi holds it over Kovalainen for a good portion of next year.

Suze · 25 Sep 2006, 23:57 (Ref:1719825)

It was only testing....but anyway, it was just a real first familiarisation.

**Bononi** · 26 Sep 2006, 00:52 (Ref:1719850)

Time will tell.

SALEEN S7R · 26 Sep 2006, 00:54 (Ref:1719851)

Personally I think it is too hard to judge. Yes Piquet was fastest, but then he was in the fastest car, Hamilton seems to be at least as fast as De La Rosa, if not faster and did IMO the best job he could considering he is in a McLaren. Either way both drivers did a good job. IMO.

Suze · 26 Sep 2006, 01:20 (Ref:1719861)

Let's wait until we've seen them both race too....then things will start to tell more.

SALEEN S7R · 26 Sep 2006, 01:23 (Ref:1719865)

Yeah it will Suze, but thats a long time to wait when you consider that Piquet doesent have a race seat for the 2007 season.

Suze · 26 Sep 2006, 01:27 (Ref:1719872)

Patience is a virtue!

May not be a race seat but it's still a drive.

SALEEN S7R · 26 Sep 2006, 01:40 (Ref:1719878)

Yeah its a drive, but that wasnt what I was saying. Im just saying that we will have to wait at least another year to find out just who is faster in race conditions, unless of course something unexpected happens and Piquet is drafted in to race for Renault or another team as a replacement driver during the course of the year. This is all assuming Hamilton gets the vacant seat at McLaren of course. Which I think he will.

Suze · 26 Sep 2006, 01:43 (Ref:1719881)

He's being paid to drive a racing car...maybe time will show he comes out better for having had a season of learning the car, developing it and testing and then racing unlike LH if he does jump in next year - but then again, maybe it won't.

Alienman_69 · 26 Sep 2006, 09:29 (Ref:1720115)

Its way to early for any conclusions.
I dont know if McLaren will risk Hamilton to race in 2007. They havent rushed Hamilton into nothing, so putting him alongside Alonso without much experience doesnt look like a move they would do. On the other hand, I dont really see anyone else to race for McLaren, since I dont really rate De La Rosa that highly, and Paffet hasnt got that much more experience than Hamilton.
In the Renault side, I dont think Fisi will be quicker than Kovalainen since the start of the season. He may be quicker once or twice at the very best, but for me Fisi's F1 career will end in 2007, like I said before he will probably be "retired" before the end of the 2007 season to give Piquet a few races of experience.

strider · 26 Sep 2006, 10:19 (Ref:1720154)

Well they could always bring in Ant Davidson!

Except Ronzo has said they are going to use someone 'from within the family'.

Getting back to Ant, who has impressed me for ages, apparently Daniel Audetto let slip at Monza that he will be the other driver for Super Aguri next year. About time, too. I wonder when they will announce that officially. Not in Japan, I'd guess, so maybe Brazil.

Suze · 26 Sep 2006, 12:37 (Ref:1720292)

[edit] misread post

karimbo · 27 Sep 2006, 01:03 (Ref:1720796)

Quote:

Originally Posted by SALEEN S7R

Yeah it will Suze, but thats a long time to wait when you consider that Piquet doesent have a race seat for the 2007 season.

I beleive that if Renault gives Alonso a car that will be good enough for him to beat MS in the driver's championship and that Fisichella helps Renault win the constructor's championship Fisi will race in 2007.

Should Renault loose the constructor's championship, Heikki and Nelsinho might be the driver's next year. Giancarlo's days are counted at Renault. They do not have much patience. Trulli was fired for loosing a podium in the last lap of a race...

By the way, IMO both Nelsinho and Lewis were impressive. Renault is a better car so Piquet had a better time. But they outpaced more experienced drivers. It was ONLY testing I know. But then again, even Pedro and Heikki were... only testing.

Kempi · 27 Sep 2006, 10:18 (Ref:1721069)

Afaik, Piquet also had testing experience before, Hamilton hadn't.

**Bononi** · 27 Sep 2006, 11:23 (Ref:1721120)

Anyway, Hamilton is leading the poll...

Dan Fielden · 27 Sep 2006, 19:45 (Ref:1721472)

Quote:

Originally Posted by SALEEN S7R

Personally I think it is too hard to judge. Best job he could considering he is in a McLaren. Either way both drivers did a good job. IMO.

i love the way you make the Mac seem like a dog. There isn't much difference between the two (McLaren & Renault) surley

Although being just as quick as delarosa is no mean feat IMO

View Poll Results: Who do you think impressed most ?
Nelson A. Piquet	12	37.50%
Lewis Hamilton	17	53.13%
Other	3	9.38%
Voters: 32. You may not vote on this poll

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