2015 GP2 drivers and teams
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I hope Dean Stoneman will step up to GP2 this season, and also get signed up as a junior driver by someone too. He was on par with Ricciardo before his cancer, definitely deserves a shot.
@hunocsi Not empty anymore! Maybe Force India? He arguably has more potential than Merhi or Juncadella.
@bradley13 True, but I can see him and Stanaway being overlooked from now on. I think Stoneman is already thinking about other avenues. Lynn, Rowland, Stoneman.. 3 similar drivers, but Lynn has the backing to make it to F1.The Formula Renault 3.5 exodus continues – now Norman Nato makes the switch with Arden:
http://www.gp2series.com/Teams-and-Drivers/Drivers/Norman-Nato/
He must be unique in having been team mate to two Formula Renault 3.5 champions: Magnussen in 2013 and Sainz Jnr last year, both at DAMS.
@keithcollantine I wonder if this will result in anyone who can making the switch to GP2, while those left out then join up with FR3.5? Seems like that is what is happening so far sadly.
Nato was also beaten to the F4 title by Vandoorne as well. Having lost also to Kvyat and Rowland in Eurocup, he’s a reliable benchmark just below that top level, like Will Stevens too (perhaps lacking the consistency to be top level).
“Auer outbid for Arden FR3.5 seat, moves to DTM with Mercedes; Ocon and Blomqvist seeking DTM moves” – A shame if we don’t see any of these three in FR3.5. Blomqvist aiming for BMW, Ocon Mercedes.. does that mean Juncadella won’t return to DTM? Perhaps FR3.5 or something with points for single seaters?
OK, so Petrov has been replaced by Goetz (who wasn’t far off Rosberg and Vettel in F.BMW), and Auer added into the ex-Merhi 8th car (now paired with Paffett at ART). This leaves Merhi (who doesn’t want to return to FR3.5) and Ocon looking for a GP2/FR3.5 drive. @bascb said that Sirotkin didn’t pay for an agreed Force India reserve/testing/FP1 role… If I were Merhi I would try and get there ASAP. Of course, it will go to whoever can stump up the millions required, and Juncadella is probably ahead of him on that front, but crashed the car in Brazil.
Nato is gonna fill the role of Decently Quick Monaco Specialist left behind by Coletti and Richelmi just fine, perhaps even better.
Ocon is still on the cards for a GP2 move, but he just doesn’t seem a good “fit” anywhere on the surface except DAMS, which is already booked up with last year’s Red Bull juniors (Lynn has now parted ways).
Jordan King has stepped up from European Formula 3 to race for Racing Engineering. He looked promising an year ago, having won the British F3 and tested for Addax, but last season he failed to improve in Euro F3 and still hasn’t won a race, in two years of racing.
I’d say he’s looking like the next Max Chilton.. a shame we can’t see someone like Oliver Rowland or Tio Ellinas do a full GP2 season. King was nowhere near those two and Alex Lynn back in 2011 FR2.0 UK. He’s looked better than that though recently in F3, so maybe he’s gaining pace gradually like Max did. If so – expect a few wins after some years of GP2, then a step up to the F1 rate of £500k per GP.
King’s father can probably afford it. ;-)
Stoneman’s said “expect an announcement hopefully this week” so he’s being rather coy about his plans so far.
@jb001 On that note, it looks like he is behind the revival of Manor F1. Can’t wait to see what Stoneman has for 2015.
Confirmed drivers so far:
DAMS – Pierre Gasly, Alex Lynn
Carlin – Julian Leal, Marco Sorensen
ART Grand Prix – Stoffel Vandoorne
Racing Engineering – Jordan King
Russian Time – Artem Markelov
Trident – Raffaele Marciello, Rene Binder
Campos Racing – Arthur Pic, Rio Haryanto
Arden – Andre Negrao, Norman NatoVery interesting interview with Alex Lynn on Autosport – sounds like Ocon was in at DAMS at one point but that fell through for some reason, which is how Lynn got it.
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