Well here I am again for another update from the blog HQ - although it should be pointed out that the actual HQ has been displaced, cast aside from its original place. It seems that some strange roughly conical artificial plant has sprouted where blog HQ used to be positioned - so in essence I have been replaced by a Christmas tree. So now from a metre or so further south - even further away from that rather fat bloke who is supposed to be the provider of objects in mythical boxes coated in an impenetrable force field, bound with enough sellotape to take down a cruise ship. Not that the blog will really be doing Christmas there really isn't the budget to do so really, I may manage a mince pie but that might be pushing it.
But that isn't the reason why I sit here in the darkness - blog budget doesn't really stretch to lighting either, nor heating but I have enough fat to negate that problem - I am here to present the second in the series of off-season updates. While the rest of the country goes out partying (the blog doesn't really have too many friends either, but there are many reasons for that) I shall remain on vigilant duty here with this computer and press buttons in my world of solitary confinement. Isn't this end of the year supposed to be all joyous and all, well that is all rather a myth and all but on with the show.
Bad News First
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| Jason Richards (FVR2010) at Sandown in rFactor |
Also the report looking into the accident at the Las Vegas motor speedway has been completed - I don't have the report but the findings have been released and are displayed on the BBC F1 site. The invesitigation has ruled that the incident was a combination of events that formed the 'perfect storm' at the finale of the Indycar series. The development of the accident occurred as the cars were bunched close early in the race, and contact between two cars ahead initiated a chain reaction - Wheldon had no space to avoid the crash as the event had the encompassed more cars. The nature of open wheel racing and the design of the cars meant that subsequent cars were thrown into the air, in total four cars got airborne in the accident and three of them rolled over. The report showed that Dan managed to shave 60mph off the car speed before impacting the cars in front and gaining lift. The inquest also determined that it was one of the fence poles that support the catch fencing that was ultimately responsible, a freak accident event akin to an access hatch in Melbourne that allowed a wheel from Villeneuve's crash to strike a marshal. It is from these reports that we can understand how these events occur and what can be done to prevent them in the future.
Only two seats remain
The drivers market looking into the 2012 season is rapidly running out of space as two more teams have confirmed their line-ups for the incoming season on the other side of this christmas event thing leaving only two more open now. A situation made all the worse by an increased amount of refugees, drivers finding that their contracts are no longer going to be carried forward now looking for somewhere to do some racing in the coming year. One of these remaining places lies at HRT, in the machine alongside the returning Pedro De La Rosa who probably can't be entitled One Stop-Perez 2.0 this year as both of them will be on the grid at the same time. The second seat remains under dispute at Williams as no-one has been announced to partner Maldonado in 2012, this is the highest profile opening on the grid and it will likely be attracting a large amount of attention. Also there are a fair amount of drivers out of a drive at the moment including both the competitors from the team formerly known as Renault Squadron who were booted out in the last update.
Following recent announcements the list of drivers on the waiting list gained three new additions as both Force India and Torro Rosso confirm who will be sitting in their cars next year, which will see some new names to compete for bonus points. First up Torro Rosso as their drivers were announced first earlier on in the week and it turns out the team have gone for a complete re-shuffle getting rid of the current drivers and then bringing in some fresh faces. It seems like an interesting decision considering how well the drivers were performing towards the end of the season when the developments actually took effect on the team's performance. There could be a case for Sebastien Buemi who has been a little mediocre over his three years with the team, but Alguersuari had some very strong performances this year taking bonus points wins after scoring points from a Q1 relegation start. So who have been in to replace the outgoing squad - well Torro Rosso have plucked them out from the top of the development program, harvesting both Jean Eric Vergne and Daniel Ricciardo. Daniel was put on placement at HRT for some of 2011 and STR have decided to take him back this year hence the opening at the Spanish outfit. Vernge on the other hand has been taken straight from World Series By Renault skipping the stage of GP2 after doing a couple of practice sessions with the team and the young driver session in Abu Dhabi.
Then there was the decision the world has been waiting for - or at least this small corner of the world anyway and that was the one surrounding the driver situation at Force India which has now been cleared up. Three drivers were playing for the two seats which were held by Paul Di Resta and Adrian Sutil in the season past - both of which did a strong job racking up the bonus points. The situation was made more complex by the presence of the strong reserve driver Nico Hulkenburg who was sent packing from Williams after scoring pole in Brazil for the team. So in the latest team to confirm who is going to end up out on the waiting list alongside both Renault and Torro Rosso employees from 2011, and the loser turned out to be Adrian Sutil. Meaning that Hulkenburg and Di Resta will be piloting the presumably green and orange machines in 2012, and Sutil will be ending in the queue for that spot at Williams.
So with regards to the last two places who is likely to gain the remaining places, well the space at Williams will be the most contested place on the grid, a seat which Rubens Barrichello will be clinging on to for all he is worth in an effort to start his 20th season. But with the likes of Bruno Senna, Adrian Sutil and Alguersuari and many others looking to get a drive, considering their original seats seem to have been all taken up. Then back in HRT there lies effectively the bogey seat of 2012, at the bottom of the grid but racing at the back is better then not racing at all. Given that it is a Spanish team there may be a chance for Jaime to secure a position alongside fellow countryman De La Rosa. But that's just from the list of drivers who have recently been deposed not taking into account any drivers that may be upgraded from GP2. So who truly knows who will end up in those two remaining seats considering there are so many available pilots - but when more information does surface the blog shall return to present it you all. Until then this is farewell for now.
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