Sergey Sirotkin \ Sauber getting desperate

Apparently Monisha has said if he gets a Super License, he will be driving for them. As you don't need a Super License to be a 3rd driver it must mean a race seat.

If he gets a Super License it makes a mockery of the whole process. Puts him up there with Ma Quidco in deserving nothing but ridicule until he has the decency to remove himself through embarrassment.
 
Skeeter said:
Apparently Monisha has said if he gets a Super License, he will be driving for them. As you don't need a Super License to be a 3rd driver it must mean a race seat.

If he gets a Super License it makes a mockery of the whole process. Puts him up there with Ma Quidco in deserving nothing but ridicule until he has the decency to remove himself through embarrassment.
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Kimi Raikkonen?

23 single seater races before F1. Nothing higher than Formula Renault 2000 either.

Had to get special dispensation from the FIA for that superlicense.
 
So because Kimi turned out OK we should let anyone with a big bank balance have a go?

Kimi is the exception. Buying your way into F1 should not become the norm.
 
You know, looking at Sirotkin's history, he can't be all that bad, 2012 Formula Abarth champion (whatever that is), 3rd in the Auto GP World Series.. None of which qualify him for the super license, but I suppose that since AutoGP is a rebranded Formula 3000, it could be argued that he does have 2 race wins in that series.

I don't agree with his throwing money at the FIA in order to gain his super license, however, it does highlight the simple fact that the current requirements to get the license are very narrow, and effectively say that unless you come from a specific path of motor racing, you cannot take part, and I am glad to see that challenged, as it could open the way for more drivers in future to come from a wider racing background.
 
The Super License is meant to ensure that you have a suitable level of single seater experience and skills to compete in F1. It's not meant to just allow any 'driver' in. I wouldn't expect the MotoGP champion to be eligible, or the WRC champion, or the World Drag Racing champion, for example, as they are such different disciplines. Usain Bolt wouldn't automatically qualify for the Olympic 10,000m event just because he is a champion runner. You don't automatically get a car license because you have a motorbike license. You shouldn't be eligible for a Super License just because you are 'a racing driver'.

The Super Licence is there for a reason, it should be enforced. Yes you might be able to get round the requirements by demonstrating extreme talent, but you should never be able to get around it simply by buying your way in.

At the very least, it makes a mockery of F1's own GP3 > GP2 > F1 ladder. All that money those teams and drivers spend on racing to try to get into F1 wasted, they should just use it to buy a Super License instead.
 
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What worries me most is where will Hulkenberg be next season. Kimi is nailed on for Ferrari and we are hours away from the announcement going of what people are saying.

Will Lotus go for him ? We hear they have finance trouble so maybe they will get a pay driver.
 
They have a pay driver, Grosjean.

I can't imagine Hulk is asking for big bucks. He will certainly be cheaper than the likes of Massa. The only person that could scupper his plans would be Valsechi.
 
Spunkey said:
Have you seen the talent pool in Auto GP? I'd rate someone with a clean driving license higher.
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Yes, a field that contains Francesco Dracone and 40+ year old gentleman drivers (Michele La Rosa) is a little suspect :p

Quaife-Hobbs did win a GP2 race this year, and Facu Regalia has been a surprise in GP3, but other than that none of the 2012 AutoGP drivers have done much in more competitive fields. Not that GP2 is experiencing a stand-out year for talent...
 
We aren't talking about buying a seat. Schumacher bought his first seat in F1 too.

Were talking about buying a Super License. Someone who does not meet the standards required to compete in F1 is going to be on the grid. Its like Eddie the Eagle, or Gentleman Racers. F1 is (now) a professional sport, it should not be a playground for rich amateurs and their backers.
 
Super License should be earned only, by winning or performing greatly in the lesser series. It'll really be unfair, and damaging for the sport, if he's permitted to do this.
 
MooMoo444 said:
Super License should be earned only, by winning or performing greatly in the lesser series. It'll really be unfair, and damaging for the sport, if he's permitted to do this.
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You would think that F1 would be embarrassed about a young nobody pratting about at the back of the grid while drivers with real talent are left standing out in the cold, but it really seems like they don't care.

They were perfectly happy to let Ma Quidco in last year too.
 
It's happened before, it'll happen again. Pedro Diniz was absolutely loaded. Admittedly he wasn't the worst driver in the world, but point remains. IIRC Jean-Denis Deletraz bought his seat and licence too and he was (arguably) the worst driver in the world.

Back OT, Sirotkin is driving an old Sauber today (looks like a heavily modified 2007/2008 hybrid) on a demo run. If that's enough to get a superlicence I'll be... disappointed.

https://twitter.com/NVetroff/status/377401700006760448/photo/1
 
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It's not, they need a sizeable amount of test KMs in an F1 car.

But just driving an F1 car shouldn't be enough, they should have to prove they are also a competent single seater racer at high level, not just that they can physically drive an F1 car.
 
Skeeter said:
It's not, they need a sizeable amount of test KMs in an F1 car.

But just driving an F1 car shouldn't be enough, they should have to prove they are also a competent single seater racer at high level, not just that they can physically drive an F1 car.
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Sauber will probably give Sirotkin enough mileage in pre-season testing, but considering how much Gutierrez has struggled (a champion in GP3, Formula BMW and title challenger in GP2), I can't see this working out for them.
 
A quick wiki tells me that because Sirotkin makes me look fast and hasnt really been in any top class motorsport events, that "in exceptional circumstances" he could get his super licence by completing 300km of testing at race speed and by getting a unanimous vote from the FIA. Sadly I think the FIA will count 'getting millions of pounds' as exceptional circumstances and Sirotkin will be on the grid in 2014.
 
Seems the owner of the team he is currently racing for agrees with me:

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20130722/F1/130729975

Salaquarda compares Sirotkin with Daniel Ricciardo, the Australian who drove for ISR in 2011 before he made to the leap to Formula One with HRT at the age of 21.

"Daniel came from British F3 and was then in the World Series for two years," he said. "But Sergey has only driven in Formula Abarth -- a series I don't know -- and Auto GP and Italian F3, but in both those series he had little serious competition. As such, he was fast. But if anyone is expecting him to win here right now, it's simply too much to ask. Already in the Eurocup 2.0 there is a great deal of competition, same as the [European] F3 championship, but Sergey skipped both those steps. He should spend more time in the 3.5 litre class to gain more experience."
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