If we have one less team next year (HRT), will this influence Q1 cutoffs in any way? Will there still be 7 drivers dropping out or would they lower it to 5?
No, they will lower it to 6 as they did in 2008, when Super Aguri pulled out (6 -> 5). If there's no change in their pace next year that means 2 Caterhams, 2 Marussias and 2 cars from old teams, so Q1 should be a little more exciting than now.
He's really not as impressive as he was in 2009 and 2010. Aside from a few moments, he's really been fairly lacklustre over last year and this year.
In 2009 he drove 2 races alongside old Jarno Trulli and in 2010 it was old journeyman de la Rosa, who was then replaced by F1 reject Heidfeld, because Sauber didn't know what potential their car had. Since 2011 new teammate arrived and suddenly Kobayashi isn't impressive anymore, so I think the answer is pretty clear.
I mean, de la Rosa and Heidfeld were few tenths within Kobayashi. Perez on the other hand could drive on another level, like for example in Singapore, where Sauber had their worst pace this season, yet Perez was fighting for points, while Kobayashi was over 1 second per lap slower without any car problem. Or like in Austin, when Kobayashi finished 30 seconds behind Perez who was struggling with brakes problem.
When Kobayashi had his day, Perez was few seconds behind. When it was the other way around, well, we saw the results.
To get into F1 you have to be:
A very, very good driver or a very good driver with money.
But we can be sure of one thing, poor mediocre drivers will never drive in F1
I wouldn't be so sure. I rate Chilton as a poor mediocre driver, but of course if you are speaking about the likes of Alex Yoong, Gaston Mazzacane, Shinji Nakano, then yes, you are probably right.
People say nowadays it's pay driver galore, but in 1998 we had all seats in Minardi and Tyrrell taken by 4 pay drivers, whose skills were in bad-horrible range. If you think Gutierrez, Pic or Petrov are bad thing to the sport, imagine all 4 seats in 2 teams taken by useless drivers. That's how it was in 1998, so today is massive improvement over yesterday in that respect.
wait koba is out?
fuuuuck
thats to bad. He could have been better than perez in a mclaren seat.
Seems like McLaren disagree with that and other teams are blind to see Kobayashi's talent. And it's not question of money, because if Sauber was impressed with Kobayashi, they would keep him as their leading driver.
