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Sirotkin now favourite for Williams seat

Published on 11 Dec 2017 19:42
18
By: Sam Gale

Sergey Sirotkin has now emerged as the favourite for the second Williams' seat for next year. Sirotkin had tested alongside Robert Kubica in Abu Dhabi, with it being believed that Kubica was the favourite for the seat before the test, in what would have been a remarkable return to F1 after his injury almost seven years ago.

Kubica had been rated as one of the best drivers in F1 before his accident, performing well in uncompetitive cars and even winning the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix. He also reportedly had impressed Williams with his knowledge of car set up and his ability to strike good relations within the team but has failed to impress in terms of pure pace compared to Sirotkin.

Sirotkin as well as having a supposed pace advantage over Kubica is also said to be bringing significant backing to the team in the region of £15 million, and would be his first season in F1 after previously having testing roles for both Renault and Sauber, where he was in line for a drive for the 2014 season before the deal fell through.

Should the deal fall through with Sirotkin it is believed that Kubica is now completely out of the running for the seat and that it would be former Toro Rosso and Red Bull driver Daniil Kvyat who would step into the seat. This also effectively rules out Williams reserve driver Paul Di Resta and former Sauber driver Pascal Wehrlein who were both in reported contention for the seat.

Sam Gale

mcbhargav

Posts: 1,332

This delay is hurting Williams’ reputation.

1
Dec 12 2017 - 14:26

F1 News Daniil Kvyat Pascal Wehrlein Sergey Sirotkin Robert Kubica Paul di Resta Williams Renault Sauber

Replies (18)

Kean

Posts: 692
I've been saying his lap on the soft tyre in Abu Dahbi was impressive. Of course 15 million dollars is pretty impressive to.
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- Dec 11 2017 - 19:58
boudy

Posts: 1,168
I remember him being competitive. Why not ..
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- Dec 11 2017 - 20:42
dr002

Posts: 141
..... but 2 inexperienced drivers in the team?

I reckon Williams need a senior driver and that Kubica would be a great one year option, thereby enabling Mercedes to free up a seat by dropping Bottas back into the team for '19.
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- Dec 11 2017 - 21:10
- boudy
  
  Posts: 1,168
  Just don't believe that Kubica is an option. If your fast enough you are good enough. Williams needs to change their selection since their progress is stale. Something different like him would be good.
  
  Would have made an move for Button or Rosberg last year. Would have been way better than massa.
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  Dec 11 2017 - 22:50
Harryw

Posts: 107
£££££££££££££££££££££££££££
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- Dec 11 2017 - 21:48
Niids

Posts: 43
Without official confirmation this news is worth same as canal + saying kubica singed already. but still sirotkin proved he's quick and he will bring more money. i would not be suprised if he gets it.
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- Dec 11 2017 - 22:56
s_ya

Posts: 21
Or Kvyat, and Sirotkin, but Kvyat little finance
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- Dec 11 2017 - 23:10
juju_hound

Posts: 180
Williams needs the money because they can improve the car so both drivers could be quick. Let's say Kubica could be quicker for 0,5 seconds than Sirotkin but Sirotkin's money can improve the car with 1 seconds... but after all it happened that Sirotkin is faster than Kubica so at the end he and his money can make 1,5 seconds better. It's just some stupid calculation but show a view why they will choose Sirotkin. For Kubica it was a fantastic time to come back to F1 car... but it was only a dream. Now life has killed the dream he dreamed.
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- Dec 11 2017 - 23:32
- ajpennypacker
  
  Posts: 2,475
  No amount of money can guarantee a 1 second improvement
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  Dec 11 2017 - 23:57
- RenaultFM1
  
  Posts: 100
  #juju-hound even not 15 mill USD able make the car 1 sec faster..
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  Dec 12 2017 - 10:57
ajpennypacker

Posts: 2,475
Sirotkin is talented no doubt. But this sounds like the utter bulls***t Williams has been giving its fans for many years. They have a rich history of taking on pay drivers and then if they stumble upon talented drivers they sell them off. The whole team seems to be designed to be a midfield team. It's unfortunate for Sirotkin as well, because if he gets the seat he will have to work hard to shed the pay-driver label. Being Russian doesn't help him either.
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- Dec 12 2017 - 00:01
Barron

Posts: 625
Well, either Russian would be ok for me but Dannil would be a risk mentally although he is definitely quick enough.

There is always a good chance that Sirotkin will be an inspired choice and he will rise to the occasion. After all, didn’t this happen to Max? Forget the cash issue - it’s a red herring. Williams needs a regular points scorer so they must pick the man who is the fastest and can qualify well. Either Sirotkin or Kvyat seem to fit this ethos and the cash they could bring is a bonus.

The fates haven’t been unkind to Robert. He was fully in charge of the rally car when it plunged off the road, but it is now as we feared, Robert just wasn’t fast enough on the tests or so it appears. Renault would have surely seized him if they saw any potential?

Either way, it’s going to be an interesting season for Williams, and Robert has fought an inspirational battle to get back into F1. Whatever happens, he can hold his head up and be proud that he fought back this far..
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- Dec 12 2017 - 11:13
- Barron
  
  Posts: 625
  What I meant by “the fates haven’t been unkind to Robert” is that he was the architect of his own demise, not the victim of a premeditated act or an accident involving a culpable third party.
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  Dec 12 2017 - 11:17
Niids

Posts: 43
Unfortunatelly It's confirmed by source close to Kubica, he's out.
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- Dec 12 2017 - 11:24
- Barron
  
  Posts: 625
  Shame, but it was always going to be a long shot. Good to see Williams didn’t play the sentimental card though..,
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  Dec 12 2017 - 16:04
calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
I wouldnt mind seeing him in F1, but I wouldnt mind seeing any of the three speculants in F1.
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- Dec 12 2017 - 12:03
mcbhargav

Posts: 1,332
This delay is hurting Williams’ reputation.
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- Dec 12 2017 - 14:26
Rindtchamp

Posts: 304
Sirotkin and Stroll, hope the spare parts dept can handle the strain.
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- Dec 12 2017 - 15:10