Salo: "Williams has put together hungry lineup"
- Published on 17 Jan 2018 10:42
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- By: Rob Veenstra
Williams has put together a "hungry" driver lineup for the 2018 season. That is the claim of former Ferrari and Toyota driver Mika Salo, who is now the sporting director of Russian bank SMP's motor racing programme. The cream of that programme is Russian 22-year-old Sergey Sirotkin, who has been controversially appointed to become teammate to Lance Stroll, 19, for 2018.
It means the popular candidate Robert Kubica misses out on the seat, even though the Pole will instead be a key reserve, test and occasional Friday driver this year. The wait for confirmation about the last race seat on the 2018 grid was long, but Finn Salo said: "The Williams agreement was born quickly. The negotiations were not that long," he told the Finnish broadcaster MTV. "Williams is the best choice for Sirotkin. It's a good team, he has a young teammate and both are definitely hungry," Salo added.
Many say Sirotkin is little more than a 'pay driver' with a reported $20 million in SMP Bank backing, but Salo defended the Russian. "He's a smart guy. He knows a lot about engineering and technology and has good experience of F1 cars with Renault," he said.
But Salo won't predict which Williams driver - Canadian Stroll or Sirotkin - will have the upper hand in 2018. "I think they're pretty much the same, but we'll only find out in the races," he said. "They will certainly fight hard against each other, which takes the team forward and brings results for both of them."
SMP Bank's Boris Rothenberg, a billionaire, is quoted by Ria Novosti news agency: "In 2018 we are making our debut in formula one with Williams and Sergey Sirotkin. This will undoubtedly please Russian fans and have a significant impact on the development of Russian motor sport," he added. (GMM)
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Replies (22)
Login to replycalle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Everyone on the grid is hungry, but are they good?
Barron
Posts: 625
You say that but I’m sure there are those that having arrived in F1, probably their life goal, just circulate around keeping their noses clean. Then there is Max..
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Like whom? Aside from maybe Räikkönen, I dont really think there are many.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
This is the youngest grid we've ever had in history. I think they are all pretty hungry. As @CALLE.ITW said, other than Raikkonen.
Barron
Posts: 625
The Hulk, Grosjean, Magnussen, Ericsson, Massa yes and Raikkonen all drove around like it was Sunday afternoon on occasions (which it was, but you know what I mean). Hulkenberg not so much, but their work rate was pretty slow a lot of the time. It must be frustrating if you feel you’ve reached the limit of the car or that you’ve been paid so there’s no point in stirring things up and there’s that great party to go to afterwards. Hunger in racing is fighting for every yard for the entire race. Champions do it naturally, like Max from the getgo, and if you watched Senna race, he was ALWAYS hungry and claimed every bit of tarmac as HIS! but all you can find is a bunch of drivers ‘following team orders’ and whining on the radio. I’d love to see more ‘hunger’ back on the F1 grid.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
I can see Gro, Mas, Räi and Eri, but Hulk and KMag? I dont think the difference between Hulk and Palmer was just down to Pal's incompetence, and KMag, while perhaps not exactly driving well, really seemed to push either himself or his car to the limit (while taking someone else with to the limit every now and then ;). The main thing I felt limited drivers like Hulk was the car. I think in terms of drivers wanting to push, this was a good year, but in terms of drivers unable to push due to unreliability, this was probably one of the worst years as of recent along with 2014 and 2015.
Barron
Posts: 625
Its an unfortunate turn of phrase. I doubt Stroll knows the meaning of hunger but Sirotkin being Russian, probably does. Either way, I wish them both & Willisms, the best of luck in 2018. Finally! We can go racing!
mbmwe36
Posts: 533
It'll be very interesting to see how Stroll measures up. He's got an experience edge on Sirotkin, so logically he should be ahead of Sirotkin until at least the summer break.
I think Stroll will struggle though.
Who's got the best - or perhaps least bad - lineup? Toro Rosso or Williams?
Kean
Posts: 692
For me, Stroll really has to step up his game this year for me to stop seeing him as the worse driver on the grid. I think Sirotkin will surprise, and be faster than expected. But since Stroll is at Williams, I have to say that Toro Rosso has the better line-up out of the two. Gasly won GP2 and did well in Super Formula, he had a shot at the title had not the last race been cancelled. Hartley has won the WEC twice if I'm not mistaken, so he's quite capable as well. I'm looking forward to what the Toro Rosso boys and Sirotkin will do this year.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
@Kean I agree, but I expect the Honda engine to seriously hamper Toro Rosso.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Im not as sure, @APENNYJACKER, but it'll no doubt be interesting to see. Its no doubt a season to look forward to.
mclarenfan1968
Posts: 1,027
There is no dire poverty in the ranks of F1 drivers. Bullshit overused trope.
F1todayfan101
Posts: 120
Williams need some hungry engineers, not hungry drivers. If the car is slow then so too will the drivers be. Have a clear out of has-beens and dead wood, Modernise the systems and focus on performance not politics. Force India showed them up last year, they should be ashamed of themselves.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
For sure, Williams hasnt been able to keep up what they had in 2015. They've profitted multiple years in a row. Now invest those money into the team and step it up, or be consumed.
boudy
Posts: 1,168
Not sure if you can blame everything on the car. The drivers weren't the best over the last couple of years. If the like of RIC/HAM/VES was in that Williams it would go a hell of a lot faster.
Let's hope Williams has a good year.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
I think Williams still has some properly 'hungry' engineers. But this is a corporation first and a racing them fourth or fifth. They manage the team like a pet project. When they come up with a good car they sabotage themselves in the name of cost cutting, or for some pay-driver.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Yeah, its about time they start spending.
RacetoWin
Posts: 95
Lance Stroll did an amazing job in 2017, with heavy media pressure he performed very well after struggling the first few race weekends. his wet qualifying in Monza was one of the best performances of anyone in 2017 putting his williams on the front row. he did a great job under pressure in baku and almost held off the merc for 2nd place. the 2017 williams was not a good race car yet he outperformed massa on most race weekends, his race in mexico was also very impressive holding off the much faster force india teamates.
i agree putting another hungry for results driver will push the williams team and this car will be the first design of the new williams engineers.
i'm rooting for williams as an underdog to beat mclaren, renault, haas, sauber and force india this season. maybe they can even win a wet race.
im hoping to see a williams honda in the near future.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
@Racetown I understand the patriotic duty to defend Lance, but I don't think many people would describe Lance's performance in 2017 as "amazing." He did a couple of very good races: Baku and Monza. Baku was mostly good luck, Monza was all merit. Other than that he was largely out-qualified and outraced by an average driver way past his prime. That being said, I'd love for Stroll to have very good 2018. I'd love for F1 to have a Canadian star once again. But if 2017 is any indication my hopes are not too high.
Pauli
Posts: 140
Lance has to improve qualification IMO. The importance of qualification will stay very high at least until there is next major aero regulation change.
RacetoWin
Posts: 95
I was infact skeptical of Lance prior to the start of the season, i have even said that Robert Wickens a former Redbull junior driver and DTM driver was the top talented Canadian driver who should be in F1, But canadian businesses will not fund racing drivers like other countries do, i did think lance would be good enough for F1. Lance is the only canadian who could be in F1 because his family is able to back him up, i was wrong to criticize his credentials, race craft and sponsorship route.
I am quite delighted in his performances given the williams car last season and i now would like to see him succeed. i actually started cheering for him after monza. He does have the talent to compete and this 2018 car should put williams back into the path of competitive racing cars and the first car built under its new engineers.
Ram Samartha
Posts: 1,172
If Stroll fails to deliver again this year they should give Kubica a chance to drive.