With lead driver Robert Kubica possibly out for the entire 2011 F1 season after his serious rallying accident, Lotus Renault GP is expected to overlook its bench of reserve drivers and seek a more experienced driver to lead the line. As we’ve speculated earlier, vastly experienced German driver Nick Heidfeld has emerged as a favourite to take over the race seat and will test for the team this week.
Reports say that Heidfeld has been in talks with Lotus Renault over the last two days and will test the R31 at Jerez. Vitaly Petrov will test today and tomorrow at the Spanish circuit, with Bruno Senna and Heidfeld taking over duties over the weekend. This can be considered a shootout between the former Sauber man and third driver Senna, who last year raced with HRT.
“Should Robert be out for the entire season, then it will normally be a more experienced driver to do the entire season, to develop the car, and everything else,” team owner Gerard Lopez told IVG.it.
“There are drivers who have had good races, for example Nick Heidfeld. We all know that Nick is rather good, but we don’t know what level he is in now, we don’t know how he does with our car. Same goes for Vitantonio Liuzzi, same goes – I don’t know – for Bruno Senna, who last year was in a team with a car that could do nothing,” he added.
As to Kubica’s condition, it’s not as bad as first feared. “The phase of the final surgery operations is beginning: the double operation to foot and shoulder is planned for Friday morning, while the course of surgeries will end next week. The driver’s right hand has completely stabilised. Now the delicate recovery of the functionalities begins,” explained Giorgio Barabino, Head of ICU at the Santa Corona Hospital.
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It’s not decided yet.. i wish it is Kimi Raikkonen who will drive a very promising and very fast LOTUS RENAULT GP R31 F1 machine
“The fate of our season will depend on the new driver. Of course, we must see what happens with the tests we’re going to do. Without Robert it’s difficult to predict. Obviously, we’ll bet on a runner capable of winning the championship.” – Gerard Lopez, currently Lotus Renault GP owner
“There are drivers who have had good races, for example Nick Heidfeld. We all know that Nick is rather good, but we don’t know what level he is in now, we don’t know how he does with our car. Same goes for Vitantonio Liuzzi, same goes – I don’t know -for Bruno Senna, who last year was in a team with a car that could do nothing.” – Gerard Lopez, currently Lotus Renault GP owner
“Senna, Heidfeld and Liuzzi?? We have talked with them, but there are others that we have also spoken with who are in perfect condition to drive the car” – Eric Boullier, current LOTUS RENAULT GP Team Principal
“It is too early to talk about it. There is still five weeks until the first race, so we still have some time to make a decision” – Eric Boullier, current LOTUS RENAULT GP Team Principal
“”If he wants to leave, I couldn’t say anything because he is a client,” Quesnel told RMC Sport.
“He has rented a car from us and drives with his own sponsors,” added the Citroen boss.
“I suppose there may be considerable pressure from Bernie Ecclestone, the FIA and the whole world of F1 who want to see him come back because he is still an emblematic driver for the sport. If he is taking phone calls, they would have to be very convincing to get him back there” – Citroen’s rally chief Olivier Quesnel
Kimi Raikkonen currently will race in Sweden WRC, the only real talk discussion with Kimi Raikkonen will only start after Kimi Raikkonen finish his rally in Sweden this week.
i wish it is Kimi Raikkonen..
about Nick Heidfeld, he hold the most points for F1 without winning any races in F1.
i just don’t know what is happening with Nick Heidfeld, he can finish races, he drive fast but always can be faster than his own team mate, and still lacking on winning the championship.. something to take note and to improve Nick Heidfeld.
previous F1 season 2010 of Nick Heidfeld performance
http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/statistics/f1-2010-statistics/nick-heidfeld-form-guide/
Kimi is not lined up for Jerez this week and that is an indicator already. Any candidate to replace Kubica needs as much time as possible to familiarize themselves with the car and the fact that Heidfeld will be in Jerez says that he is being seriously evaluated.
They need a solid driver, a team player with solid experience to help ready the R31, more than a superstar driver, given the circumstances. Heidfeld fits the bill. Kimi would be an added bonus but heidfeld is the priority. thats my opinion
currently Kimi Raikkonen is racing in WRC Sweden, if any real talk serious discussion, serious negotiation, i think will only occurs after the WRC Sweden as Kimi Raikkonen need to focus on that rally event as focus as possible, his manager will obviously don’t want to distract Kimi Raikkonen attention from the aim of winning that rally competition.
I think Lotus Renault GP already contacted Citroen and Kimi Raikkonen management about possibility of Kimi Raikkonen to drive for Lotus Renault GP R31 machine this season.. that is why i think CITROEN come out with this official announcement about letting go Kimi Raikkonen to F1 if Kimi Raikkonen want to do it anytime from now.
“I suppose there may be considerable pressure from Bernie Ecclestone, the FIA and the whole world of F1 who want to see him come back because he is still an emblematic driver for the sport. If he is taking phone calls, they would have to be very convincing to get him back there” – Citroen’s rally chief Olivier Quesnel
last time Kimi Raikkonen admit that he ordered his management to contact Renault about possibility of Kimi Raikkonen to drive F1 this season, but then later become very furious and angry with Eric Boullier statement resulting Kimi Raikkonen to make his own WRC team Ice 1Racing team with CITROEN car and with his own money but can only support it till 10 races, need to find more sponsors to race all 13 races of WRC 2011 championship calendar.
Hopefully after WRC Sweden, Kimi Raikkonen will consider driving for Lotus Renault GP.. as for Nick Heidfeld testing for Jerez in Lotus Renault GP, the team need a very valuable data and feedback from experience driver so among the best choice is to test Nick Heidfeld as he also officially tested Pirelli tyres before this, some more none of current Lotus Renault GP drivers except Robert Kubica have a good experience needed by the team to develop further the R31.. if any worst case scenario happen again, then it is better to use 3 drivers for the Jerez testing Vitaly Petrov (since he will be a regular this season), Bruno Senna (rookie), Nick Heidfeld (experience driver but still not a title challenger), as the data and feedback from the drivers is very essential to improve further the Lotus Renault GP R31 promising F1 race machine!
please kimi raikkonen make a come back to F1 and we will have a chance to see 6 former F1 champions fighting each other in this F1 season.
Kimi will be in F1 this year. Me daddy said he might which means he will! Confirm.
here the latest news from Finland, the reporter ask to Kimi Raikkonen about will Kimi Raikkonen do F1 comeback replacing the injured Robert Kubica
and Kimi Raikkonen reply : “It’s difficult to say”… it means Kimi Raikkonen did not reject about returning to F1
http://www.mtv3.fi/urheilu/f1/uutiset.shtml/arkistot/f1/2011/02/1271336
For Kimi to have a shot in this, he must be in either this Jerez or Barcelona test. Bahrain test will be uncomfortably late. If he misses these sessions Kimi WILL NOT be able to race. You can’t just jump in an F1 car after a year and go.
Excerpt below from Autosport Plus article titled ‘Why Heidfeld is the logical choice for Renault’,
“Once you’ve locked into the idea of going for experience, you are pretty much limited to Heidfeld, Tonio Liuzzi and Pedro de la Rosa. From those, Heidfeld is the leading candidate despite de la Rosa’s excellent testing reputation and the nagging suspicion that Liuzzi does have the potential to record stronger results than he so far has in F1.
As for Kimi Raikkonen, you can’t consider him a serious contender because he is committed to rallying and not especially interested in an F1 return – much as everyone would like to see an on-song version of the Finn back in a grand prix car.”
Hope Heidfeld gets the seat and better still, scores his maiden F1 win also!
paul,
i think this news quite intersting.
f1 teams wishing kubica to get well soon sticker on their f1 car.
http://www.formula1onlive.com/2011/02/f1-teams-visibly-wish-kubica-get-well.html