Mercedes GP Petronas has confirmed that it will be giving GP2 driver Sam Bird a run during the upcoming F1 Young Driver test days at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi on November 16 and 17. The 23-year-old has raced this year for the ART team and is currently fifth in the standings, with one win and four podiums, a decent job in his debut year.
“We are confident that he will provide the team with the essential consistency and feedback we require,” said team principal Ross Brawn. “This is also an excellent chance for Sam to continue his progression in motorsport and widen his experience of Formula One. Sam has been chosen due to his relevant current single-seater pedigree through his competition in GP2, the F3 EuroSeries and British F3 and as an added bonus, he will have experience of the track from his GP2 racing over the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend. We look forward to working with Sam at the test and to seeing his progress and feedback over the two days.”
So impressive was Sam’s drive in his first GP2 race, there was even an online petition to rename Turn 5 at Barcelona “Sam Bird Corner.”
Can’t remember another GP2 driver ever making such an immediate impact in his first race…
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/sam-bird-corner/sign.html
I wonder where Mercedes tester Markus Ericsson fits in? He also won a race this year in GP2 and he took the Japanese F3 title in 2009. I guess Merc spelt out their feelings when he wasn’t elevated to reserve driver when Heidfeld went racing again.
I also wonder if anybody will pick up Brendon Hartley for the young driver tests after Red Bull got him so close to the big time then dumped him? Surely he knows the secrets to Red Bull’s big lever in the cockpit that lowers the car for qualifying? After the other teams employed Ginetta racers to take out Adrian Newey for the season they may want to try a more scrupulous way to beat Red Bull!
HAHA! Brilliant headline. As soon as I saw the news, I thought someone was going to use it. Will the new drivers use the pirelli tyres to Bridgestone?
Here’s hoping somebody gives Kyle Busch the test Toyota promised him. I know I’m living in fantasy-land, but he’s just so gripping to watch, I’d love to see what he’d do in Formula machinery. He does moan more than Mansell though.
Great title
fantastic range of articles today, thank you! Bernie one was particularly interesting.
There was a rumour doing the rounds that with Force India missing the test Paul di Resta may drive for Mercedes. I guess there is no chance of that now.
Fantastic news for Sam. He’s had a year of great performances and bad luck, so it’s nice to see his hard work recorded in this way.
For a little bit of fun a while back, I set up a petition to have turn 5 at Barcelona renamed to “Sam Bird Corner” following a GP2 Feature Race run, where passed car after car after car at that spot.
http://theformulaoneandmotorsportsarchive.wordpress.com/2010/05/28/sam-bird-corner/
[...] Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/bird-watching-at-mercedes-gp-petronas/ [...]
[...] Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/bird-watching-at-mercedes-gp-petronas/ [...]
[...] Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/bird-watching-at-mercedes-gp-petronas/ [...]
how about setting up a Cup for the most promising newcomer to GP2 at the end of the season
maybe call it Joe’s Award ?
On the subject of Marcus Ericcson. Based on what I have seen in the junior formulae I think I would have chosen him ahead of Sam Bird. He took 3 fewer seasons to reach GP2 and won two championships on the way.
[...] Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/bird-watching-at-mercedes-gp-petronas/ [...]
Hi Joe,
what is the current engine situation for the top teams?
Who has the freshest engines?
[...] Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/bird-watching-at-mercedes-gp-petronas/ [...]
[...] Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/bird-watching-at-mercedes-gp-petronas/ [...]
[...] Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/bird-watching-at-mercedes-gp-petronas/ [...]
Hi Joe
What do you think of Mercedes GP Pertonas ?
Thanks
James