With Vitaly Petrov apparently in danger of losing a seat with Lotus F1 Team which should have been his for the asking, the Russian media is coming up with ideas of how to save the country’s only F1 driver. The theory is that Timo Glock could move from Marussia Racing to Lotus F1 Team, thus opening up a drive for Petrov with the Russian-owned team.
Glock does have an exit clause in his contract if he is offered a job by a top team, but it is not clear what constitutes a top team and with Lotus F1 Team having slipped to fifth in the Constructors’ this year it may not qualify for that status. There is also the key question of whether Marussia wants Petrov, as Glock is a much more experience driver and its second driver Charles Pic is a new boy. Logically, it would be better to stick with Glock and Pic, rather than going for Petrov’s roubles, unless there is a desperate need of the cash, which does not appear to be the case. If Glock does move on, it would also probably be wiser to sign Jerome d’Ambrosio, who has shown the same kind of potential as Petrov and knows the team already.
When all is said and done, the whole idea seems rather unlikely. And Petrov must face the fact that if Lotus F1 Team does not want him, his only real chance of employment is with HRT, as second driver to Pedro de la Rosa.
Timo: “Hey John I’d love to drive for you but I want a break clause if a top 4 team comes in for me”
John Booth: “Sure mate, in fact take two…”
Nationality will mean much more to Marussia than Glock’s technical ability and experience. The move seems likely to me.
Jon,
I doubt it.
Having Grojean (or Senna) could allow Lotus F1 to put Kubica in a seat mid-season if he stays with the team and actually recovers from his injuries. If the team go down the route of taking cash from Petrov’s backers, that might not be so easy.
“When all is said and done, the whole idea seems rather unlikely. And Petrov must face the fact that if Lotus F1 Team does not want him, his only real chance of employment is with HRT, as second driver to Pedro de la Rosa.”
Joe, I completely disagree. Petrov himself has said that he has three other options at hand. It’s easy to write that off as PR nonsense, but we never question it when other drivers say it, so why start now? Petrov is believed to have some $15 million in sponsorship available (though that number is only rumour). He could conceivable find a place at any team with an unconfirmed line-up except for Toro Rosso. After all, weren’t Williams banking on Raikkonen to secure sponsors? Won’t Force India have to appear fiscally-responsible with Kingfisher up the proverbial creek? And if Daniel Ricciardo is talking up the idea of replacing Jarno Trulli at Caterham, then surely Petrov’s rubles work just as well as Australian dollars?
Prisoner Monkeys,
We will see.
I would have thought that Ricci going to Caterham would result in a discount on the RBR Kers and gearboxes they plan to use next year.
So a seat at Williams for Petrov is definitely out of the question then Joe?
I think Glock would sign a contract to race for Lotus a.s.a.p given how slow and disastrous the Virgin cars have been these past 2 yrs…….
Prisoner Monkeys, three options doesn’t necessarily mean three race seats to choose from. It could be a testing/reserve role with a team.
joe how credible do you think reports in the Italian media are about Grojean having already signed for Renault?
F1 Fanatic,
I do not know.
It wasn’t too long ago that pay drivers were fairly scare. Shame they seem to be making a comeback. Maybe they could make a maximum limit payable by any driver part of a new RRA (yeah right)!