Driver Performance Analysis - The Sleeping Dogs
- Published on Nov 29th, 2011 by Benson JammichelloThe final part of our driver analysis looks at the back end of the grid, known in these parts as the Sleeping Dogs. This week the regular cast are joined recurring special guest Williams.
Williams
- Rubens Barrichello: Quali - 12th, Race - 14th
- Pastor Maldonado: Quali - 18th, Race - DNF
He's been a reliable and, in parts, very very fast racer for nearly as long as this Badger's been alive. That's some achievement and, had he had a bit more luck along the way, he could have been World Champion. Imagine what it must feel like to a) have to be scrabbling around for a contract and b) driving that Williams. It's not the ideal end to a career. At all. It's been a season with two top ten finishes and not one top ten start. Awful.
Maldonado managed to go out in first qualifying for the fourth time this season. He then proceeded to have a silly spin after, in his own words, "losing control of the car". Which we suppose is what a spin is. He's not that great, although we suppose he might "do a Petrov" in his second season. Maybe.
Lotus
- Heikki Kovalainen: Quali - 19th, Race - 16th
- Jarno Trulli: Quali - 20th, Race - 18th
Lotus continue to operate in a strange no man's land. Neither as bad as Virgin or HRT, but not quite as good as the majority of the midfield.
The BIG NEWS from this weekend was that they (well, Kovalainen) managed to finish above a Renault. The Renault had been given a drive-through, but still. Progress. Suffice it to say that next season will be a big test for the whole team.
Let's hope we're not seeing them in Sleeping Dogs too much.
Virgin
- Timo Glock - Quali - 24th, Race - DNF
- Jerome D'Ambrosio: Quali - 23rd, Race - 19th
Look, do we have to? [ed - yes, you do. Now]
HRT
- Tonio Luizzi: Quali - 21st, Race - DNF
- Daniel Ricciardo: Quali - 22nd, Race - 20th
We've become weirdly protective of HRT at the end of the season. Maybe it's the fact this Badger is tired, or maybe it's that we know they're rubbish but that they're not going anywhere, so we may as well get on board.
Let's all revel in their rubbishness and hope that a) they get some money and b) they don't run the same chassis next year.
That said, Pedro de la Rosa is not a choice that inspires much confidence.
Badger's Best: Ricciardo
Comments and Discussion
I think De La Rosa is a good signing because he will bring lots of experience and is renowned for being an excellent test driver, surely this will help HRT to progress?
De La Rosa isn't there for his speed but his "sponsor" money and at least he could develop the car. There's a possible spanish Toro Rosso driver that could be looking for a seat next season.
Virgin's driver policy is insane. Bring in a rookie, train him up, sack him. Rinse and repeat. Good job nobody else had this stupid attitude in the past - they'd be no Schumacher, Alonso or Raikkonen today.