So we slide ever on towards the start of a new F1 season and, as we all wonder what to make of the testing, there are various is being dotted and ts being crossed. Real stories are thin on the ground. The continuing blah-blah about Alonso’s accident highlights the lack of other stories. It is a reflection on the Internet’s news creation services rather than based on any realities.
The team now known as Manor has named Will Stevens as one of its drivers – fair enough. It’s a pay deal no doubt, but Stevens has had a solid career to date and did a decent job with Caterham last year. Lotus, on the other hand, has named some entirely insignificant GP3 journeywomen to be a development driver. It says it all that I would need to look up her name to know how to spell it… but cannot be bothered as there is nothing in her career to suggest that she will ever be in F1, and I see no reason why she would be granted an F1 licence. The team bank account is filled a little more (cash-flow is tough) and the cause of finding a serious female F1 driver has taken a backward step. Promote no hopers and the task will be harder for those who follow… Money talks more than a discarded radio star. That aside there is little to report.
If Lotus wants to develop this “development driver”, they need to put her in a Lotus 69 FF and put her through a season of SCCA regionals.
Carmen Jorda? Pretty dismissive and disrespectful to not even mention her name.
Yes, that was intended
To save you the hassle : Carmen Jordá.
The last three years she’s been in GP3, scoring a grand total of zero points and managing a best finish in that time of 13th place. Perhaps more notably she’s been consistently outperformed by basically all of her team mates in that time : over 46 races she’s only finished ahead of *either* of her two team-mates 3 times, retirements not included.
She has done nothing to show that she deserves the job, nor that she deserves the kind of funding which might have bought the job. Sad but true.
Look what Dean Stoneman did in her care at the end of last year…
Spot on Joe! Seems her best GP3 effort was qualifying 22nd and finishing 13th… But she will draw the photographers like flies to honey. Great publicity for Lotus.
maybe it says more about you level of Spanish
although people cannot seriously judge a career based on a few journeys in GP3…
Yes, you can when it is three full seasons… How do you think other drivers are judged?
It is truly absurd Joe, that the series hasn’t brought a decent woman driver into it, over the last 30-40 years. There are now some quite good female drivers and the cars do not require the physicality that they once did, which might have precluded women drivers on pure body strength grounds. The upside in PR from having a female driver in F1 would be huge, and not having one is another example of shortsightedness by Bernie et al!
Your point? If there is one
Frankly Joe, I even enjoy your “nothing to report” reports. It’s healthy to have a good dose of perspective now and again to remind us about the realities of the sport, and that is why your blog is so valuable. Keep it up…
I’m sorry to hear about your recent loss.
It would seem that Mr Stevens is now working for Stephen, who supplies our gas and electricity.
Joe, you sound about as disillusioned with F1 as I am right now.😦
Hopefully once the season actually starts the sport won’t seem quite as ridiculous as it does in this very moment.
“Journeywoman” is almost too much of a compliment for her skills.
She’s very attractive but her racing career is abysmal to date, it’s a shame.
On another note I saw the Caterham auction was open to bids on some bits and pieces. It’s sad to see but I spotted this rear wing end plate with Grand Prix + sponsorship, maybe one for your collection?
http://whitelabel.globalauctionplatform.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/caterham/catalogue-id-caterham10000/lot-7f944144-12a4-445a-bedb-a44300e74aa0?clienturl=caterham
Nice idea.
Yes I was excited when I first saw the Lotus news, then I looked up her career stats…. Any chance of Alice Powell getting the other Manor seat?
I very much doubt it
Are there any top rate females drivers out there Joe?
Danica
Is she much better than Simona de Silvestro?
Is she that good? Isn’t Silvestre a better pick?
A much better prospect
RE the marketing venture at Lotus… Harsh words there, Joe, but completely true!
Setting aside the shortcomings of the given points system for superlicenses, at least the fact there is *some* system in place now exposes the lies inherent in all those claims of “improving the F1 prospects” of drivers taken on on a purely pay basis. It’s just clearly a sham, clearer than ever (we might hope). Not that the predictable photo spreads will dwell too much on that angle🙂
However, some stuff comes into sharper focus now… for instance, given the new superlicense pathway, it seems surprising that struggling teams might still be able to draw in this pay-driver income… if the sponsor isn’t a relation of the driver, why would they set themselves up for being seen to pour money into an almost pointless adventure??
If those struggling teams keep taking in pay-testers, will they not need to simultaneously seek out the real talent which can satisfy the superlicense terms? Surely they must, and so it means they might all take on *extra* drivers, spreading the “testing” duties among these drivers more thinly than ever… Or… maybe it will slow down the rate of teams dumping their current (superlicense-holding) drivers for lack of time-investment in replacements and/or increase the chances of drivers falling out of the top level being able to find a spot lower down the grid.
Money sure drives some weirdness in F1 (newsflash, eh)
Happily the grid should consist of more genuine talent… although we obviously won’t be guaranteed to see the *best* talent available.
That’s assuming it doesn’t become possible to buy your way to success in some of the junior formulae… Hmmm…
An F1 accident with 2-3 days hospital is no news, an accident with a driver suffering from temporary loss of consciousness is big news, if on top of that you add the fact he could not remember jack of the accident, nor his name is big fat news.
There has been plenty of blah-blah as you say associated to this incident, but this is one of those cases in which we may have had reasons to worry…
Any accident that involves head trauma needs to be taken seriously. The outcomes from such accidents seem to increase the chances of long term brain problems, over a career. Personally, I think Fernando should take a couple of months off, and rest properly, having any further head injuries would not be in the best interests of either him or Mac at this time, better to let nature allow a full recovery than to take risks that are not really required. KMag could stand in for him for 2-3 races.
goodbye to FI free to air in Australia. Goodbye to my following F1 since first telecast in 1980. By now I am a pensioner and unable to afford pay TV. FOX is pay TV & TEN is free to air
Australian live broadcast schedule for 2015 Formula 1 World Championship
1. March 13-15: Melbourne, Australia (FOX & TEN)
2. March 27-29: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (FOX)
3. April 10-12: Shanghai, China (FOX)
4. April 17-19: Sakhir, Bahrain (FOX & TEN)
5. May 8-10: Catalunya, Spain (FOX)
6. May 22-24: Monte Carlo, Monaco (FOX & TEN)
7. June 5-7: Montreal, Canada (FOX)
8. June 19-21: Spielberg, Austria (FOX & TEN)
9. July 3-5: Silverstone, Great Britain (FOX)
10. July 17-19: TBA, Germany (FOX & TEN)
11. July 24-26: Budapest, Hungary (FOX)
12. August 21-23: Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium (FOX & TEN)
13. September 4-6: Monza, Italy (FOX)
14. September 18-20: Singapore (FOX & TEN)
15. September 25-27: Suzuka, Japan (FOX)
16. October 9-11: Sochi, Russia (FOX & TEN)
17. October 23-25: Austin, United States (FOX)
18. October 30-November 1: Mexico City, Mexico (FOX & TEN)
19. November 13-15: Sao Paulo, Brazil (FOX)
20. November 27-29: Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi (FOX & TEN)
Yes very sad news indeed. I can afford it but won’t as I don’t want to pay Murdoch. I will not be told by the likes of him and his organization who I should vote for and what I should be up in arms about….. On principle I will not give him my money. So it’s bye bye Supercars and bye bye F1 at least for some events. Btw I don’t think I’ve missed an F1 telecast since Artyon was in a Benetton…..very sad.
At least you have a chance… in Poland, we still do not know if there would be any broadcast at all. Last year it turned out on Thursday before the Australian GP.
+1!
That’s +1 to Gravelrash’s comment…
Carmen Jorda is managed by Alex Molina (previously of Allsport) and now Mr E’s right hand man at FOM / on race weekends. I would imagine this has something to do with it.
Massive backwards step for female drivers. Maybe *all* drivers doing work for an F1 team, be it race, test, development or sim, should fit the F1 licence criteria (while not necessarily needing the licence except for racing).
I’ve actually heard of Carmen Jorda. I rarely watch GP3, but when I did, my reaction went as follows:
Oh! That driver’s got a pigtail. I didn’t know there were women in GP3, cool!… Oh, she’s not doing very well… Oh, she’s off already. Ah well.
I can’t see her doing well in F1 unfortunately.
I think Beitske Visser is one to watch though, despite being dropped from the Red Bull young drivers scheme. She is still young, determined, and relatively talented. I wonder if her family are rich enough to complete the list of criteria for getting noticed nowadays…
You have admit though it’s odd when even Alonso’s manager is vague his driver’s condition and whether or not he’ll make the first race. After all, in terms of racing accidents it was relatively low-speed impact. It’s why there is so much conjecture.
PM Friday – Stop Press – he speaks at last. Better late than never.
Is Manor going to make it to Australia or target still China-Baharain?
I think Alonso and McLaren are in a really though spot. This was his third concussion, although fir some reason, (insurance?) Ron Dennis didn’t mention that. Since multiple concussions in one’s life can lead to disabilty or death, this could mean that Alonso will be forced to quit. Shame.
I remember brazil 2003. When did he have a second concussion?
Hi Joe.
Any news on the second Manor driver?
Danish and German medias speak of Magnussen taking the second spot, but Belgium and Italien medias speak of Vandoorne taking the place.
Riis, manager of Magnussen, claims there hasn’t been any talks about Magnussen racing for the Manor team at all.
Any hints on who will be the the second driver at Manor?
Could McLaren send Magnussen there for some experience? Does Stevens singing mean no Max Chilton?
I watched her in Budapest and she was lapping almost a second off the pace during the first race. It was pretty cringey stuff
Her GP3 team mate is quoted as saying “Carmen Jorda couldn’t develop a roll of film let alone a hybrid F1 car.”
Couldn’t help but chuckle as I read the section about the insignificant GP3 journeywoman, Very funny read.
The thing that really annoys is not she is awful or that she paid to get the appointment or even that she is easy on the eyes. It is as you say, the impact this has on the view of female drivers by the media, fans and sport. Lotus should be ashamed of this cynical and damaging move.
Carmen Jorda her ‘best’ qualifying result in 3 years of GP3 was a 22nd qualifying position and 13th race position and in Spa she managed laps 15 seconds off the pace. Even in Spanish F3 she was constantly at the back. And yet we heard nothing of what Lotus wants to do with FIA European F3 champion Esteban Ocon…
Her name is – allegedly – Carmen Jorda, and if what is written is to be believed she had a poor record in GP3 so how on earth she qualified for this is beyond anyone’s guess. If it’s to do with the money then Lotus must be *really* hard up for cash to do this. As far as harming the cause for women drivers, I think it harms the cause of *all* decent drivers looking to get in F1, whether they be male or female. The prospects for any talented people are harmed if stints like this predominantly for the money keep getting pulled off.
When it is this quiet, you have to ask “What is Bernie up to?”
Fernando Alonso is a grown-up. He is thirty odd years of age. Following a car accident, he wishes to rest.
Seems simple to me.
Progressive concussions are very dangerous and awareness in all sports of these risks is now very high. Time is required and if it was by the book by modern standards in an ideal world he would probably miss races. In current F1 they probably risk the odds of no repeat concussion combined with a layoff that provides diminished and ‘acceptable’ risk. They’re still rolling the dice. What are the odds of an immediate hard shunt with a driver of that caliber? Probably fairly low. Here’s to hoping the gods are with him.
At least McLaren managed to do more or less race distance at speeds that will see them last, but at least not need a calendar to record🙂
Well heck Joe ! Then at least allow me to lend a hand and fill in a little ‘ color ‘ commentary to make up for the distinct lack of news in F1 .. especially in light of your current situation ;
Carmen Jorda – Hey .. at least if you’re gonna fill a Pay to Play seat with a bit of T&A rather than someone genuinely deserving of the role … might as well not be hypocritical about it and fill it with some serious T&A . Cause at least Mz Jorda fits the bill … unlike a certain team principals wife does … wink wink
AlonsoGate – Errr .. aint nothing about that incident/accident that even approaches ‘ normal ‘ from any of the camera angles … regardless of what the press may or may not know … Vettel’s eye witness recount .. time spent in hospital etc . To paraphrase the famous quote from ” Deliverance ” .. ‘ That aint right ” ..
Mercedes Benz – ” The Dog the Dog He’s Doing it Again ” [ prog fan .. guilty as charged ] Dominating the proceedings as they did last year that is . Yeah .. lets at least keep the Daimler Benz board smiling before the investors finally get their say in the matter … hint hint
McLaren – Oh how the mighty have fallen … with now even Honda’s involvement unable to help things in the slightest . Eesh .. maybe its about time Ron Dennis stops focusing on his Lost Leader vanity project [ the road and track day cars that are losing McLaren money hand over fist ] and get back to the job at hand . Either that or at least put someone else in charge of the F1 team
Ferrari – What can one say about the Scuderia ? Other than … Marchionne’s Madness seems to of fully infected Ferrari’s F1 team now as well .Oh well . As goes FCA … so goes the F1 team .. straight to Dante’s 10th circle of hell [ abject mediocrity ] in a hand basket
Manor/Marussia – Oh be still my beating heart . The Mobile Chicane of F1 teams will be back on track this season … maybe … sort of … possibly … errrr.. all while Caterham is allowed to fade into the distance . The question being .. where the __ is the justice/sense in that ????
And last but not least . Gene Haas . Now that Mr Haas haas even less than he did a month ago [ when he was supposedly buying Marussia’s facilities ] .. the real question is … Whats Mr Haas gonna do now that he genuinely haas absolutely nothing … other than a contract to buy Ferrari’s uncompetitive engines that is ?
Hope that helps Joe . Or at the very least brings a momentary smile to your face …
We’re waiting for Joe, when he’s good and ready (absolutely no rush)
In good fun – I think Elvis said it best
Well, I quit my job down at the car wash,
Left my mama a goodbye note,
By sundown I’d left Kingston,
With my guitar under my coat,
I hitchhiked all the way down to Memphis,
Got a room at the YMCA,
For the next three weeks I went huntin’ them nights,
Just lookin’ for a place to play,
Well, I thought my pickin’ would set ’em on fire,
But nobody wanted to hire a guitar man….
Take care of Biz as the King was fond of saying.
“… when he was supposedly buying Marussia’s facilities …”
Correct me if I’m wrong, someone, but I believe he did buy the facilities….
I cannot believe lotus have hired someone with such an unsuccessful career… is she really going to help develop the car?? Hmm
Facile eye candy!
Dear Joe, all
Leslie- ‘facile’ – dictionary definition ‘easily done’- of course, this refers to her race results, yes??:-)
Cheers
MarkR
Her name is Carmen Jorda, and while she hasn’t achieved noteworthy race results, she is exquisitely, excruciatingly, hot (I’ve pointed this out in previous female-driver discussions). Sorry, but that matters for the fair gender, even in sport. If she could be brought up to speed, her promotability would be matchless. Unfortunately, if she gets the chance to race she’ll more likely just be another Milka Duno. Or worse; Milka actually won races before making Indycar.
Thank you Joe
Not long now to Melbourne and no doubt we shall at last have some real insight into the initial 2015 pecking order. I wish Fernando well since we need his talents though perhaps not surprisingly his new car needs some on the job development. On balance I’ll be pleased to see Manor putting 2 cars on the grid. Appreciate the arguments about back markers using 2014 Ferrari engines but its an achievement that Caterham was unable to produce. I wonder who the Manor investors are ? Brave souls maybe. F1 needs well funded teams to give opportunities to those talented young drivers succeeding in the various feeder series. A sad contradiction possibly that while there are nations keen to host a race with the funding necessary, channeling the finance into well founded teams is missing. As an example, Qatar could do it….I dont suggest that its the most obvious but a team competing throughout the season might give more to the sport than yet another venue in the Middle East ! On a different note, there seems no news on RD’s intent to obtain funding to own some 65% of the Mclaren Group by purchasing shares from the other two key shareholders. Presumably such a move would imply a significant burden to service the debt prior to the end game of an IPO ?
If you want to see the value of Carmen Jordá to Lotus, GENII brand promotion, and sales of Venezuelan oil in general, you need to do an image search in Google, rather than a word search. Just saying.
“Money talks more than a discarded radio star….”
Hmmmm…now there’s a catchy little song title. Wonder if it would rate in the F1 pit lane Top 40?
And subscribed. Should have done it years ago.
J.
With regards to taking money under slightly ‘dodgy’ circumstances let’s not forget that not so long ago pretty much all the liveries in F1 were cigarette company colours – surely a less defensible position?
If you check out her twitter profile she seems to be dripping with sponsors and somewhat of a TV personality…
Great. Shame about the driving
Argh darn it, I knew there was something missing
Yep totally!
But this is where the teams have lead themselves right? Failing to agree cost caps and cost reductions and the like…. Failing to agree to much between themselves really, so now its a case of chase the cash in whatever way you think you can
Put her in one of the Mercedes cars, we may have found a hanicap system to even out the field.
Not the first time you’d see a Merc with a good looking woman driving, funny how that works…
Harsh words, maybe some of them are true, but harsh words nonetheless. I would have ask Lotus PR people first to get the other side of the story and then write your opinion with a little, necessary, counterbalanced information. I agree with Mr. Saward’s opinion about this ever increasing desk journalism in F1, so lead the way, the way it is supposed to be done.. . .
I have watched this woman racing for the last few years at every Grand Prix she was involved at. So don’t tell me whether I have the right to judge. She’s not up to the job and what makes you think you have any clue?
F1 is elite motor racing not motor participating. Perhaps the P.C police can start handing out ribbons as consolation prices next.
Not hard to connect the dots here when someone is a back of the field also ran. Stop being sexist by foisting a no talent (by F1 standards, racing is a competition and the results here are fact) upon the rest of us strictly due to their gender. Talented men don’t get the opportunity to race in F1 without $ ask Kobayashi or Petrov etc. so think about where the sexism really exists in this scenario.
They should be harsh words as looks alone do not provide lap time and the women attempting to compete on merit have been bypassed by an old time t&a marketing mentality. I’m not a politically correct droid so I’ll freely admit she’s nice to look at and have around for a mostly male audience. The gimmick will be brief as F1 fans are past a banal marketing approach of this type, if performance is not part of the package she’s setting the cause of the sisterhood back, so why defend her being party to out dated opportunism?
I watched her trundle around the back at Spa 2014, so far off the pace it wasn’t true. I then marvelled at how Dean Stoneman had her car for the last 2 race weekends of the GP3 season and promptly finished 1st, 2nd, 1st and a DNF.
I think we can safely say the car was fine, the driver not so….
They should have a support race for women only. Each f1 team provides one full-works car. Should provide more opportunities for women to graduate to the real deal.