The departure of Pedro de la Rosa to BMW Sauber (yes, this is still the name of the team) has opened up the question of who will be the McLaren team’s third driver. With the Mercedes-Benz influence reducing considerably this means that the Woking team is not under any pressure to have Mercedes-Benz nominees and will be looking for the best possible test driver it can find. Thus we are looking for a man with lots of experience, both as a test driver and a racer. And someone who can relate to the two drivers. It is hard to imagine that McLaren would go for three British drivers, which makes the candidature of Mercedes-Benz’s DTM star Gary Paffett less likely than it might appear but I hear from spies deep underground at Woking that he will stay on the books. But Pedro de la Rosa may well be replaced by someone from outside the current McLaren “family”. Nick Heidfeld might be the obvious choice but the Germans are insistent that he will be the third driver down in the new German province of Brackley, where Mercedes has muscled into Brawn.
So who else is out there? Christian Klien and Alexander Wurz are kicking around. Kimi Raikkonen is busy dodging trees, Antony Davidson, Paul di Resta, David Coulthard and James Rossiter are all British and so unlikely to get the work. It is hard to imagine McLaren getting excited about the available Italians and Frenchmen with experience in F1. Nelson Piquet Jr does not look like an option. Takuma Sato and Kazuki Nakajima are possible, but it could be that the team will ulitmately decide to spread the net wider and to look at new boys to train up. Button and Hamilton know what they are doing and while de la Rosa’s help was obviously appreciated, a new boy might end up being the best option. But who?
There are not many GP2 drivers who would set the blood flow racing down Woking way at the moment. It is possible that the team might like to look at one or two of them for marketing reasons but they need to have someone capable of stepping in at the highest level if a reserve is needed. In Formula 3 Jules Bianchi is already signed to Ferrari and Daniel Ricciardo to Red Bull Racing. One man who might be worth watching for is Finland’s Valtteri Bottas. The 20 year old was third in his debut year third in the series (which is what Bianchi achieved in 2008) and so is poised to win the title this year if he stays with ART. Bottas is highly-rated back home in Finland and is managed by bloke called Mika Hakkinen, who has access to a few ears down Woking way. If Mika Hakkinen rates a young driver, it is safe to suggest that he must be quite useful. And no doubt McLaren will have heard that by now…
joeblogsf1 
When I read the last paragraph I’ve though about the F2 World Champion Andy Soucek. Could be an option for McLaren?
Hi Joe, regarding your first sentence, why does F1 have this silly rule that there has to be unanimous agreement amongst all the teams for another to change its name? It just seems to go against all common sense…
If Campos fail to align their car at Bahrein, Bruno Senna would be a good choice in terms of marketing, at least…
Hi Joe,
What do you think of Heidfeld’s chances at McLaren? He seemed to be a dead-cert for Merc over the weekend but now Martin Whitmarsh is making noises regarding him. Would Nick want such a move, to a team that slapped him in the face in 2002 by giving the less experienced Kimi the second seat over him?
Enjoying your ‘Grand Prix Saboteurs’ book – do you have a rough idea when your current opus will see the light of day?
Neil
Neil Williams
No idea as yet.
I imagine in the long run who ever takes up the role will have to be aware that there is little chance of graduating to a full time race seat in the team. With Jenson rumored to be on a three year deal and Lewis also on a long term deal which he is likely to extend, who ever it is will either be a longterm test driver or using it for experience before finding a race seat elsewhere. I would of thought then a driver who has retired from racing but not hung up their F1 helmet just yet would be the ideal candidate, with Alexander Wurz being a strong case as he has previous experience with the team.
Valtteri will have tons of testing in F3, that’s for sure, he’s gunning for the championship next year and there’s lots of hi-quality competition.
I think di Resta, Jamie Green(let’s not forget about him) or Oliver Turvey will be in Gary’s role.
There are lots of British drivers these years, but I don’t think many people care about the nationality of the 4th driver 😉 And actually an all British line-up will be mentioned quite a lot during commentating 😉
P.S. My choice would be Nick Tandy, man he’s so worthy of F1!
I think it is impossible for them to replace Pedro with someone with that kind of experience unless they give Wurz his old job back. He could be useful to them in helping communicating between the driver and the engineers to try and understand problems.
Paffett or di Resta are probably the best bet for someone to step into the car and race if anything happens to one of the race drivers. I wonder if di Resta’s frankly bizarre Friday driver role with FIF1 hasa call back clause in it should McLaren need him.
Bringing on a young driver has a lot of benefits for him but not for the team in the short term.
Maybe Heidfeld is the best all round choice but if he had the choice of McLaren or going to Mercedes with one unproven driver at the top level and one who is at least suspect physically until he has done three or four races then Mercedes seem to offer him the best chance of getting in a race seat.
Interesting suggestion, Valtteri Bottas.
Let’s see how risk averse Martin is. Or will he go for the obvious and safe option of Nick Heidfeld? Three Germans at Mercedes GP? Don’t think so. Nick might stretch the budget too much maybe?
I like Mika’s suggestion at lot. Good kid Valtteri, lot’s of talent.
Interesting point about having three British drivers. I would have thought that, in a team that is trying to re-establish it’s identity, three drivers fron the home nation would be a PR dream.
Paffett would be a good fit because he’s been with the team for a while and has done testing duties with them.
But as you also point out there is young talent waiting in the wings. McLaren has a young driver program, so would it be an opportunity to bring a young charger on.
Then there’s Oliver Turvey…
Oliver Turvey
Don’t forget that Alex Wurz has already done a long stint as a tester at Mclaren, alongside PDLR. And Woking went public at the time with its irritation with his constant chasing after race seats with other teams during that time. While he’s clearly scratched that itch now, I’m not sure they’ll be that keen to have him back. Against that, I seem to remember that he had a very good reputation for his skills as a tester, so maybe he’d be of interest, particularly if the irritation was on the part of members of the old rather than new regime (I don’t remember specifically who got the hump about it, tho’ I think it might have been RD).
“Nelson Piquet Jr does not look like an option.”
Very dry, Joe. LMAO.
“..down in the new German province of Brackley..”
your writing its soo entertaining!!
i been reading for a while but never post anything. so a big hello from mexicooo and thank you for this fantastic site..
It’s surprising when you look back on McLaren’s past drivers to see that the only one they’ve ever employed is de Cesaris
The obvious options are all either British or seemingly taken. There are a few young Brits around right now that would thus be out of the equation. Oliver Turvey tested for them recently and will be in GP2 this year with iSport. Then there’s also Adam Carroll and Sam Bird, both with past F1 testing experience. Mike Conway will probably be staying in the States. Alex Sims is a bit inexperienced but he’s due his award test, whilst Stefan Wilson did have one recently but again is racing in the US these days with big bro.
Elsewhere it’s fallow ground. Marcus Ericsson tested recently for Brawn/Merc and has been rumoured to be getting a role there. Giedo van der Garde has a few miles under his belt. Javier Villa or Adrian Valles would keep Santander happy but they’re not that special – I’d add Soucek onto that list but he’s been linked with Campos a lot lately so he could end up there
If you’re looking for F1 racing experience, there’s even less. Most of the experienced hands are taken right now. I’d say Klien would be the best bet, or maybe they could try and poach Gene from Ferrari if they want a Spaniard – Ferrari don’t exactly need him that desperately with Fisi, Bianchi and Badoer all on their books (and Bertolini too?)
Sorry, meant the only Italian they’ve employed is de Cesaris
I wish they’d give Anothony Davidson a go. Surely he deserves another chance (even if Radio 5 would be poorer because of it)?!?