Sunday desk clearing: Di Resta to Force India, Brundle blasts testing ban
January 18, 2010 by SJ Skid
Filed under People & Events, SJ Skid
Slow news weekend, folks. But, given the full off-season, it’s hard to complain about a little slowdown right before the season begins in earnest.
Big news of the day is the Paul Di Resta is saying he’s “90 percent of the way” toward being Force India’s reserve driver in 2010. Or so he tells the Scotsman:
“Since the test for sure we have been in talks. I would say we are about 90 per cent there. We are in the final stages of finishing off for the programme they have set and hopefully we can build a very long and strong relationship for me to try and race with Force India in the future.”
What he doesn’t say is just why he’d want to have the seat, which with the testing ban might be the least exciting job in motorsports.
Given that the Scot is only 23 years old, though, maybe he sees a chance to secure a seat within a year or two — at Force India or elsewhere.
Speaking of the testing ban, Martin Brundle said at the AUTOSPORT International show that the ban needs some serious tweaks.
[F1B also is at the show. Check the front page if you missed the two stories posted thus far.]
Here’s Brundle, via AUTOSPORT, no surprise:
“There are two aspects to it. Firstly they’re being put under the spotlight too early, they’re not ready for it,” Brundle explained in an interview on the stage at AUTOSPORT International. “Alguersuari has got nowhere near enough experience to cope with driving a Formula 1 car.
“It’s not like running a spec Formula 3 Dallara that’s pretty much set up for you. An F1 car has to be designed by the team and they’re all running prototypes. To learn how to make your one work is tough. You need some experience and knowledge to do that, and getting the best out of the engineers.
“Then not allowing them to go out on the track either just finishes them off. They don’t have a prayer, frankly. They have got to change that system.”
[snip]
“It’s the same even if you’re de la Rosa or Gary Paffett, a reserve driver,” said Brundle. “How are you going to keep your neck muscles up to speed?
“With Felipe Massa having his accident Ferrari needed a reserve driver, but he hadn’t got any mileage, Badoer. He wasn’t fast enough either, which was another problem. But how on earth are you going to keep your drivers sharp and fit if they can’t go round the race track? It can’t save money in the end, it must cost money.”
Is it just me, or does Brundle say that Luca Badoer had two problems? One: He didn’t get to test. Two: “He wasn’t fast enough.”
Nicely stated, Martin.
I always suspected that his dual role as Driver Manager and TV Commentator surely created conflict of interest for Martin Brundle, and especially in situation where he had to analyze Brit-Vs- Non Brit Driver, his comments are surely biased.
All said, whatever respect I had for Martin Brundle was lost during the Brazilian Grid Walk, when he was passing Kobayashi’s Car. His comments were “Let me see if I can get a minute from the Debutant for BBC driver, But I am not sure if we will have english communication here.” Given the fact that F1 acts as such a closed community that any driver who aspires to be in F1 has to spend Jr Formulae in Europe for 5-6 year average, and given that the young driver has to interact with the Crew (which again is European), which of the current drivers won’t be able to speak English?
When was the last time a driver got F1 seat for performing Brilliantly in Formula Nippon or for that matter any non-english speaking Motorsport event.
Martin Promptly demonstrated his Brit Bias in race, when Kobyashi was defending his well earned position on track against Button.
We consider Martin Brundle to be one of the Best commentators in F1 at moment. The above illustration is an example of how Best of European(British) Media is simply “Not Good Enough”.
So I wonder whose “Agenda” is Martin executing through above article
Harsh word against Martin Brundle there! I think a little bit of balance is required. I agree that the Kobayashi comments were very poorly chosen, but Brundle is employed to broadcast to a British audience and is surely expected focus on British drivers more. He is not just broadcasting to dedicated F1 fans, but also to millions of more casual viewers who support British drivers. The fact that the feed is also broadcast to other countries isn’t really his fault or his problem.
No one complains that Italian coverage is pro-ferrari or that Spanish coverage revolves around Alonso.
“With Power comes Responsibility”
“Expert” Commentators/Journalists have the responsibility to entertain as well as educate casual fans. Unfortunately examples like these (and many more I can share at length) make or break careers due to perceptions created in F1 fraternity (Fans, team owners, sponsors).
Its different thing when non F1 related commentator on Spanish/Italian/Mexican TV makes comment and Person with High credibility like Martin Makes these comments.
I am one of fans who has followed Martin from his driving days and rate him high on his knowledge and technical skills, and hence expect a balanced view thats about it.
Thanks
“As a former Formula One driver, I have earnt the right to have an opinion about the sport, and probably know as much about it as anybody else. I have attended approaching 400 grand prix, 158 as a driver. I have spilt blood, broken bones, shed tears, generated tanker loads of sweat, tasted the champagne glories and plumbed the depths of misery. I have never been more passionate about F1 and will always share my opinions in an honest and open way, knowing readers will make up their own minds.” Martin Brundle 2007
There you go my friend, after setting that level of highest standard for himself every time he does the bias thing, even his fans like me will hold him accountable for the “Bias” Bleep :)