Replacement drivers

Anthony Davidson
Nelson Piquet
Sebastien Bourdais
Christian Klien
Giorgio Pantano
Adam Carroll


Here are just a few names who would have been watching the European GP thinking why have I been overlooked for the 2009 season....Why is a driver, who will not be racing in 2010 (as much as I like Luca) given a chance when we could be getting practice in for next year? In this list, we have GP2 race winners and team test drivers, who like Luca, have not driven the 2009 car extensively. Apart from loyalty, I can not see why Luca was picked over any other driver. Ferrari would have been expecting more from their 10 year test driver but what do they do now that the gamble has not worked? The next round after Spa is Monza. Ferrari fans from all over the world travel to Monza as a pilgrimage each year and they will not appreciate one of "their nations" cars being 1.5 seconds off the next car, whether that car be a Force India or a Toro Rosso. They will expect, at least, points from both cars with even victory in their sights, especially with the KERS system showing a distinct advantage down the long straights. Can Luca deliver this? I doubt it after his performance in Valencia. Who would be able to do this with testing banned during the season? One name that has been mentioned has been Nico Hulkenberg, the current GP2 championship leader. Do I think he is good enough for formula one? Yes, he has shown this through EuroF3, A1GP and this season's GP2. Would a move to Ferrari for the rest of the year be right? I feel it would not be to anyone's advantage for Nico to move up early. He is almost guaranteed a Grand Prix seat next season, most likely with Williams, who have him under contract and moving up would not reveal a new talent. There are two things that can happen if he went to Ferrari this year -


1. Hulkenberg can go to Ferrari and show his skill, giving Ferrari a headache for next season with Alonso rumored to have signed; Kimi Raikkonen digging his heals in about his contract for 2010 and the returning Felipe Massa.


2. Hulkenberg drives the car and finishes low on the timesheets and ruins his chances of a Williams drive next season.


If I was Nico, I'd stay in GP2 and win the title with more victories this year and continue showing his talent off. With Formula one drivers moving around this year and with the lack of rookies, can "The Hulk" (as he is nicknamed) really risk his big chance?


Ferrari need a driver is not going to cause them concern for next season but will help them stay ahead of Mclaren and Toyota in the constructor’s championship. There is only one driver, who is free and looking like they may leave formula one at the end of the year, and this is Giancarlo Fisichella. He is experienced as a number 2 (when at Renault) and would there be any complainants at an Italian in a Ferrari at Monza? He is a great bet for a top eight finish and would help Ferrari to keep the points rolling in, with Mclaren so strong at the moment. It would be a special end to a strong career, which started in 1996 with the Italian Minardi team (now Toro Rosso), and giving him a last chance to win a grand prix. It could also save his career after being beaten by a strong Adrian Sutil in recent races. I guess it will be down to Spa to see if Luca Badoer can produce the biggest turnaround in grand prix history.