Justin Wilson Q&A
With Christian Klien recently announced at Jaguar, Justin Wilson appears to have been left with limited options for 2004. While the team would like to give him a testing opportunity, the new rule that ensures that drivers with recent race experience can't do next year's Friday sessions has left him out in the cold. A return to Minardi is not out of the question, but only one seat is still available, and there's a long list of drivers who can bring funds. In retrospect it's easy to say that Wilson made a mistake by jumping to Jaguar in the middle of the year and thus risk damaging the reputation he'd built at Minardi. The on-form Mark Webber would have made life difficult for almost anybody making such a move with limited testing opportunities and new tracks to learn. However, the man himself insists that he would still be in the same boat, come what may. Adam Cooper spoke to the Brit
"Yes, just seeing how things evolve over the next two or three weeks. Hopefully we'll get something sorted out, whether it's a race drive or a test drive. We'll see what happens."
"It's nice that the team are behind me and supporting me. It's not like they've turned round and said, 'You're crap!'. They've been very supportive. In the right situation I'd like to stay working with them."
"It's unreal to be put out of the equation because of this rule. It doesn't seem to make much sense that you can be overqualified for a test drive situation."
"We'll just have to see what happens. There's a lot of talk about the new regulation. I know there are a lot of teams and drivers who want to see a change to it. It doesn't make a lot of sense. That's the only lifeline for the Friday testing. Other than that I'd ideally like to stay racing and be competing."
"We're still talking, but money is obviously the main factor at both teams."
"McLaren is full, Ferrari is full, Williams is pretty much full. Renault has cut down on test drivers and Allan McNish is no longer there. It's difficult to see where there's an opening at those teams."
"It's been a great experience, it's been very good. But like you say it was a rollercoaster ride. You have your good times and your bad times. Just getting used to everything and getting familiar with the surroundings is difficult. I was just starting to do that at Minardi when I changed to Jaguar. I was just starting to feel my way there, and in the last few races I was improving."
"Definitely not. I don't believe I'd be in any different position if I'd carried on with Minardi. It's just the circumstances, really."
"I'm pretty much focussed on the F1 at the minute, but I have thought about racing in the States for the last two or three years. It always looks interesting, but as I say I'm still focussed on F1, and seeing what the opportunities are."
Verstappen v Hamilton: Who was at fault?
Formula 1: Sprint Qualifying analysis
The drivers that need to strike gold before F1's summer break
OPINION: Formula 1 is about to break up for summer 2021, with the title battles finely poised. But it’s not just the latest round of Max Verstappen vs Lewis Hamilton that will be worth watching this weekend in Hungary, as plenty of drivers are eying big results to change the stories of their seasons so far
How Lotus F1 uncovered, then squandered its last ‘unfair advantage’
Cast in the mould of its founder Colin Chapman, Lotus was powerful and daring but flawed – as it proved through further soaring peaks and painful troughs into the 1980s. DAMIEN SMITH examines a game-changing era
The core problems Yas Marina’s long-awaited tweaks won't address
OPINION: Changes to the layout of Abu Dhabi’s circuit aim to reverse the trend of insipid Formula 1 races there - the promoter has even described one of the new corners as “iconic”. And that, argues STUART CODLING, is one of this venue’s abiding failings
How Ferrari offered Britain's next F1 prospect what Red Bull couldn't
Last year's Formula 2 runner-up Callum Ilott could be on his way to becoming the first Briton to contest a grand prix in an Alfa Romeo since Reg Parnell in 1950. But, says OLEG KARPOV, the Ferrari Driver Academy protege is having to temper his ambition at the moment – outwardly at least…
The signs that point to F1's rude health
OPINION: Formula 1's calendar might still be facing disruption as the pandemic affects travel but, says MARK GALLAGHER, the business itself is fundamentally strong thanks to the epic rivalry taking place on track and the consistent arrival of new sponsors
The unexpected benefit of F1’s sprint race repeat
OPINION: Formula 1's sprint race trial at Silverstone drew mixed feedback on Saturday, but there remained the true test of how it would impact Sunday's Grand Prix. While fans were busy marvelling at Fernando Alonso's progress, a key lesson was being learned that would directly contribute to the dramatic lap one clash at Copse the following day
The off-track considerations that led to F1’s Hamilton/Verstappen Silverstone shunt
OPINION: Formula 1’s 2021 title fight turned ugly last weekend when Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton collided at the start of the British Grand Prix. Verstappen thankfully walked away unharmed, but this had been a clash long-since coming
Will 2022's all-new cars look like F1's concept model?
Formula 1 provided its clearest example yet of what the 2022 cars are set to look like when it presented a full-scale concept to the world during the build-up to last weekend’s British Grand Prix. Underneath the special shiny livery was a design that hinted at the future, but teams will be digging into key areas that may reap differing results
