We begin our season preview with one of the three newest teams on the grid, HRT, or Hispania Racing Team, to give them their full title.
Along with Caterham F1 (formally Team Lotus) and Marussia F1 (formally Virgin and Marussia Virgin), HRT started life in Formula One just two seasons ago. They are a Spanish team based in Germany, if that makes sense! However during the 2012 season they will be moving to a new home in their native country, as they try to give themselves a national identity. They began under a small cloud of controversy as they were arguably the least prepared team for the opening race, only just having their car ready in time for the season opener. They fared little better last season, as yet again they were literally still building their car as qualifying approached. They were unable to qualify the car in order to take part in the race. Despite starting their first two seasons on the back foot, they have still managed to ensure they didn't finish at the back of the field, beating Marussia Virgin to 11th place on both occasions.
This season HRT really can't hope to move any further up the grid, so far they are fashionably late again, but this time they are the final team to announce a confirmed driver line up, with only Pedro De La Rosa confirmed in a race seat. Tonio Liuzzi is still under contract at HRT but may have to take a back seat if a driver comes along with valuable sponsors. I personally hate it when a driver buys an F1 seat, this is the pinnacle of motor sport and it's very sad that the cream is not necessarily rising to the top. I'll talk more about that at some time in the future.
So what hopes for the season ahead for HRT? Basically, it's got to be all about survival yet again and the team will be looking to build the foundations for the future as a Spanish national team. They have very little in the way of resources, which means you can expect the drivers to be pulling over quite a bit in 2012 to let faster cars past. It's a shame in some ways that they can't attract one of the top drivers without a seat this season, I'm thinking Rubens and Sutil to name two big unemployed names but if a certain Spaniard from the Red Bull baby team seems to prefer the idea of sitting at home, then what chance have the team got to attract big names?
At times during the past two seasons I've asked myself whether HRT are an assert or a liability to F1. I don't want to seem too harsh but they haven't exactly set the world alight with their performances. They have fallen outside the 107% rule on numerous occasions, yet been allowed to race due to practice speed. They've arguably been in the way more times than in a race with another car. I'm all for new teams being given a chance, but if HRT can't improve this season, you have to ask if it's worth it.
So, finally, what do I think will be the outcome of the season for HRT?
2011 Position - 11th
2012 Position - 12th
Conclusion - A backward step for HRT this season. I can't see them having any major highlights although qualifying for the first race may well be seen as a highlight.
No comments:
Post a Comment