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Williams has played down suggestions Susie Wolff is now in pole position to make her F1 debut. After missing the Melbourne season opener with a torn disc in his back, Valtteri Bottas is now in doubt for the Malaysian grand prix in two weeks.
In the Melbourne paddock on Sunday, Britain's Sky broadcaster assumed the Grove team's 'reserve driver' Susie Wolff is first in line to potentially replace Bottas. But technical boss Pat Symonds said: "She's not actually our reserve driver, she's our test driver. We don't have a reserve driver at present."
Indeed, while much was made of 32-year-old Wolff's 2015 programme earlier this month, including two Friday practice sessions, she is officially only a 'test driver'. Reigning GP3 champion Alex Lynn, meanwhile, is 'development driver'. As to who is the frontrunner to replace Bottas at Sepang should he be unfit, Symonds answered: "We're looking at some plans." (GMM)
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G. Zhou
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Replies (4)
Login to replykhasmir
Posts: 893
That's a bit weird. I thought Williams only have a moderate budget so how many drivers do they need on their payroll? If you already have a test AND a development driver then you would think anyone of those can fill Bottas his seat. Or are they just there for the PR?
BtwnDitches
Posts: 204
I agree - why should a mid-field team need 5 drivers just to cover remote emergencies with a main driver? I understand why Williams alternates were disqualified from racing at Melbourne for safety reasons - because they hadn't practiced. But how should that ban them both from Malaysia? Seems like a perfect time to nominate Susie Wulff. (She can't do worse than "no points" which is what Bottas got for sitting out with a sore back.) Or, is this one of the standard costs of the modern practice of of allowing "unqualified drivers" to obtain places on team rosters with sponsorship cash, good looks or nepotism?
denis1304
Posts: 284
I'm not 100% Susie Wolff have super license to drive GP and you can't replace driver after he/she was on the qualification
BtwnDitches
Posts: 204
Susie Wolff does now have a Super License - remember, she drove 4 weeks ago at Practice in Spain. But, under the recently revised rules, she might have difficulty getting it renewed unless she can get actual racing time this season. Which is another reason to let her drive in Malaysia.
Believe that the Force Majeure exceptions to the Rules DO ALLOW replacement/substitution of a Qualified driver by another who has practiced or qualified, but there's a short time period of only hours - after Q closes - for doing that. The only problem with replacing Bottas with Susie was that she hadn't practiced.