Bianchi and Bird: Trying a new road to F1

As far as conventional career paths go, the route being taken by Jules Bianchi and Sam Bird this year has to be considered off the beaten track. Drivers moving from Formula Renault 3.5 to GP2 is nothing new, but it's rare to see any going in the other direction.

Yet that's what these drivers with Formula 1 connections (Bianchi with Ferrari and Force India, Bird with Mercedes) are doing. Both have won in GP2, and both were in the mix in a fantastic scrap at the top of the championship in the series last year. Yet instead of continuing to sit on the doorstep of the F1 paddock awaiting a chance, the former team-mates (as GP2 rookies at ART in 2010) have both taken the same decision to try out life on the World Series by Renault bill.

They are the final two pieces in a puzzle that makes for a fantastic grid in FR 3.5, rightfully suggested by many as the best the category has ever had. But while the graduates from further down the ladder and those who were already racing there last year will be able to go about their business as normal, Bianchi and Bird are both aware that they will face extra scrutiny coming over from the F1 support bill.

ART's Bianchi leads iSport's Bird at Monza at last year's GP2 season finale © LAT

"There is going to be pressure on us wherever we are because of being involved with F1 teams," says Bird. "But we're big enough and old enough to deal with it now. It shouldn't really cross our minds; of course our results are going to be looked at and monitored by a lot of people every time we step into the car."

As part of the Ferrari Driver Academy, Bianchi is used to hype and pressure by now. And the way he rallied back from a disastrous start to his GP2 campaign last year, where it initially appeared that pressure was too much for him, suggests he will be in better shape to handle anything that comes his way this time. But he is quick to point out that coming over from GP2 doesn't automatically give any driver a right to lead the way in a very competitive FR 3.5 field.

"Yeah, I think there's more pressure on us," he says. "But that is part of the job. We have to accept it and show everybody that we can be quick here too.

"People say that because we are coming from GP2, and because we are more experienced, that it will be easier for us here. But it's not like that; I don't think it will be any easier for us than the other drivers. Looking at testing, I think it's going to be really tight. With so many quick guys, it's going to be a complicated fight, so you cannot afford any mistakes."

'No mistakes' has to be top of Bianchi's list of targets for 2012 after the early part of his second GP2 campaign was blighted with errors. While not all of his incidents were of his own doing (Romain Grosjean played a fair part in his first shunt of the year), he freely admits that he didn't do himself justice at times.

When nothing but the championship will do, as was supposedly the case for the Nicolas Todt protege, it would be easy to classify Bianchi's 2011 as a failure. But that's not a feeling that has festered over an off-season that began in September.

Bird has landed a drive with leading outfit ISR for the coming FR3.5 season

"Last year did not go as we wanted but you have to be positive," Bianchi says. "Third in GP2 is not bad, it's not like I was 15th. Of course I wanted to win but the level was really high last year and I made a lot of mistakes at the start of the season. This cost me the title. Obviously I'm disappointed about that but now I forget about it. I will have it in my mind that I can't make as many mistakes again this year because otherwise I will lose this championship as well."

Bird has taken a similar approach to wiping the slate clean after his two years in GP2 also didn't quite go to plan, although his bad days were not as spectacular as his fellow Renault convert.

"It was disappointing," the Briton says of a 2011 season where he spent the early rounds trading blows with eventual champion Grosjean at the top of the standings. "The championship slipped away gradually as the season progressed, but I didn't need much picking up. I'm still bubbling with confidence and I can't wait to get back on a starting grid."

But this year is unlikely to boil down to a simple head-to-head fight between the ex-GP2 racers. As Bianchi has already pointed out, they are walking into an arena that is going to be tough to conquer, much like the last grid of cars they were a part of at Monza last September.

Renault's flagship junior category has clearly made great strides since revealing its new car concept at Monaco 11 months ago. As well as attracting Bird and Bianchi, its affordability (try around half the price of GP2) and a car that promised a hike in performance (so far it looks to be around three to four seconds a lap quicker than its predecessor) has drawn in names from all over the junior ladder. British Formula 3 runner-up Kevin Magnussen and German series champion Richie Stanaway have chosen FR 3.5 for their next step, as have GP3 frontrunners Lewis Williamson and Nico Muller, and Formula Renault Eurocup champion Robin Frijns to cherry pick a handful of names.

Bianchi is now Force India's F1 reserve driver alongside his FR3.5 commitments © LAT

With the likes of Alexander Rossi and Kevin Korjus both coming back after strong 2011 campaigns at this level, and former champion Mikhail Aleshin returning to lead a Russian team into battle, it makes for a grid that nobody can underestimate.

"I think it will be like GP2 last year," says Bianchi, referring to what was at times a six-way fight for the title before Grosjean put some daylight between himself and the rest in the second half of the season. "It's good that Sam and me have experience of last year, but everybody is starting from zero now."

Both also accept that their experience of other categories will only be of limited use in a series that is distinctly different from where they have just come from. Key to success in GP2 is hitting the sweet spot quickly due to limited track time, while tyre management is also critical due to the similar-to-F1 Pirelli tyres, but both are less important in FR 3.5 due to the extra running and longer-life rubber. The World Series Dallara also has different driving characteristics to its cousin too, as it appears to have higher corner speeds due to the amount of downforce that has been added for this year.

"This championship is totally different to GP2," Bianchi adds. "And even if the car is new, there are some drivers who know this championship well. I think we will have to learn to manage the races differently to what we did in GP2."

Bird adds: "Obviously Jules has jumped to World Series as well but some other great drivers have too, so this is not going to be a walk in the park. We are experienced, but there are some very quick youngsters coming through the ranks.

"With GP2 and World Series I don't think you can say which is the stronger championship anymore."

Bird's final point is spot on. And that is as good a reason as any to pay close attention to Formula Renault 3.5 this year.