HRT drops Liuzzi for De La Rosa

Indy500 · 21 Nov 2011 at 15:41

http://www.hispaniaracing.com/media/news/NP_111121_PedrodelaRosa_Anuncio.pdf

Directly from the horse's mouth. Will the team move forward in 2012 in wonder?

TaKeN · 21 Nov 2011 at 15:45

Ouch! Liuzzi won't be a happy bunny!

Skeeter · 21 Nov 2011 at 15:47

Pedro is McLarens Badoer. Consistent, but just not quick enough.

Guerrilla · 21 Nov 2011 at 15:57

Skeeter said:
Pedro is McLarens Badoer. Consistent, but just not quick enough.

Come on, he's not that bad

Is it likely Ricciardo will be keeping the second seat?

englishpremier · 21 Nov 2011 at 15:57

Skeeter said:
Pedro is McLarens Badoer. Consistent, but just not quick enough.

About the same age too :-)

Indy500 · 21 Nov 2011 at 16:00

Jph said:
Come on, he's not that bad

Is it likely Ricciardo will be keeping the second seat?

He matched Kobayashi in qualifying in 2010 (7-7), but was slower in the races. Then again the Sauber fell apart a lot in the first half of the season.

Edit:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedro_de_la_Rosa#Complete_Formula_One_results

Unlike Badoer he didn't embarass himself in the race seat at McLaren

englishpremier · 21 Nov 2011 at 16:14

Remember, Fischichella wasn't much better than Badoer in that year's Ferrari - shows was a job Kimi was dong, in year where people said he wasn't even motivated.

Duke · 21 Nov 2011 at 16:17

Didn't see that one coming! You'd expect them to have a pay driver (well he could be I guess) or a newbie. So they are looking much more in the long term by deciding to actually develop this car now?

Skeeter · 21 Nov 2011 at 16:21

Jph said:
Is it likely Ricciardo will be keeping the second seat?

I would assume so, unless he is progressing to an STR seat.

Shimmy · 21 Nov 2011 at 16:22

Duke said:
Didn't see that one coming! You'd expect them to have a pay driver (well he could be I guess) or a newbie. So they are looking much more in the long term by deciding to actually develop this car now?

Pretty much.

I'd imagine they get a pay driver to fill the second seat though.

Indy500 · 21 Nov 2011 at 16:25

Duke said:
Didn't see that one coming! You'd expect them to have a pay driver (well he could be I guess) or a newbie. So they are looking much more in the long term by deciding to actually develop this car now?

Well he kind of was a pay driver on his Arrows debut (he brought Repsol money with him).

Local sponsors might well be more interested in a Spanish driver sat in a Spanish team's car.

elmuzzy66. · 21 Nov 2011 at 17:46

Not surprised by this. The amount of stick he has given Mclaren on the mic during races was quite shocking and wondered how he still had a job there.

englishpremier · 21 Nov 2011 at 17:57

I haven't heard about that. what's he been saying?

IIRC PDL doesn't command a salary, rather he has a number of sponsors. I don't think he pays the team though either, so this money is to live off.

Indy500 · 21 Nov 2011 at 18:27

elmuzzy66. said:
Not surprised by this. The amount of stick he has given Mclaren on the mic during races was quite shocking and wondered how he still had a job there.

Not the impression I got from the Autosport article on the switch, they seem to have parted on good terms...

Pete19s · 22 Nov 2011 at 10:17

Skeeter said:
I would assume so, unless he is progressing to an STR seat.

There were rumours that he would be replacing Trulli next year at Caterham as part of the RedBull partnership the team have. Not heard anything recently though.

Skeeter · 22 Nov 2011 at 11:08

Pete19s said:
There were rumours that he would be replacing Trulli next year at Caterham as part of the RedBull partnership the team have. Not heard anything recently though.

If Caterham start doing what their funding and engineering setup promises, this might actually be a better move than STR...

pingwing · 22 Nov 2011 at 11:28

Glad Liuzzi has lost his seat (even if its the back of the grid) it was fun to see him at FI a few seasons ago to give it a go (wasn't too bad at Monza) but he's not looked all the good with the red bull kid next too him, plus PDR will bring some spanish love to the team.

Pete19s said:
There were rumours that he would be replacing Trulli next year at Caterham as part of the RedBull partnership the team have. Not heard anything recently though.

This would be a good move! Caterham would benefit from 2 drivers with a really thrust to race...

ShakenNstirred · 22 Nov 2011 at 18:42

to me De La Rosa isnt going to be much better
they are a few deadwoods that need clearing out and new blood in

Noroom · 22 Nov 2011 at 20:10

I think that it is the experience that is the key here, he has tested and raced at the highest level for over a decade, HRT have made a good move in my opinion, Liuzzi is not that great, Ricciardo has been the better driver for me. Whatever the driver or the name, there still gonna be at the back next season.

elmuzzy66. · 23 Nov 2011 at 09:21

sr4470 said:
Not the impression I got from the Autosport article on the switch, they seem to have parted on good terms...

I have access to la sexta, a spanish ch that shows f1. He does the commentry during races and he wasn't shy about rooting for alonso or slagging off team calls.