Talking Point: British GP2 Stars

As a Red Bull seat is up for grabs, as most probably is a Ferrari seat is, and even a Lotus or two..! It's the time of year many of us start to think about where drivers are going to be next year. I could do a lot of predicting here, but much would be premature. Last here once Hamilton had dealt with Mercedes, the dominoes start to fall, and this year it will be the Red Bull seat that is the decider. Kimi or Daniel, Kimi or Daniel?!

What F1 Hub is looking at is GP2, in particular British drivers as in the top 8 after 7 rounds, 4 drivers are British. Could we see any of these drivers in F1 in 2014, or if not 2015?

For those that don't follow GP2, there are 11 rounds this year as a support on Formula One weekends mainly in Europe, and each weekend they have two races rather than one, so 22 races in all.

Standings

1st - Stefano Coletti [135 Points]
2nd - Felipe Nasr [129 Points]
3rd - Fabio Leimer [110 Points]


4th - Sam Bird [92 Points]

Sam is 26, raced in GP2 in 2010 and 2011, before having a year in Formula Renault 3.5, finishing 3rd in the championship. In 2012 also he joined Mercedes AMG F1 team to be a test driver, and has carried on with the team In 2013, he has won 2 feature race wins in Monaco and his home race in Great Britain, with a sprint race victory also in Bahrain, with new GP2 'Russian Time'. 

5th - James Calado [90 Points]

Williams driver Bottas won the 2011 GP3 championship. He made his successful F1 debut this year and who came 2nd to him in that 2011 championship? James Calado, who in GP2 last year finished 5th and has been recognised by his fellow Brits as the one to beat, and for me stands out as the top F1 contender. He had an extremely successful young driver test with Force India at Silverstone recently. James is currently 24. 

6th - Jon Lancaster [65 Points]

Lancaster is also 24, in 2009 and 2010 raced in Formula Renault 3.5, but in 2011 and 2012 struggled to get a full time drive. He only joined GP2 after the first 2 rounds had been and gone, so to be 6th in the championship with 2 sprint race wins is impressive. His progression will be the most interesting.

7th - Marcus Ericsson [64 Points]


8th - Jolyon Palmer [64 Points]

Only 22, Jolyon is already in his 3rd season of GP2 and winning a great feature race in Hungary last time out. GP2 drivers usually will get a max of 5 years so pressure will be to perform well next year to make his mark. 

4 Brits in F1 out 22 currently, but the future is bright for British racing drivers too!

My view - James Calado in F1 2015.

Nick, F1 Hub
@F1HubTweety