As the GP2 season draws to a close this weekend, I'm wondering which drivers (if any) have justified consideration of an F1 rookie seat for next year?
Bruno Senna has had all the headlines in GP2, and may yet be champion. He is strongly linked to Toro Rosso for next year, but would he be a worthy replacement for Vettel or Bourdais? Sebastian Buemi will test the car shortly too, however his performances have fluctuated.
At the start of the season Romain Grosjean was highly tipped, as part of Renault's Driver Development Programme, and with low expectations of Nelson Piquet's performance. However as Nelson has got better, Romain seems to have got worse, and his season overall has to be classed as disappointing.
And what of Lucas di Grassi? Unable to do as much testing as he'd like for Renault's F1 team, he accepted the chance to go back into GP2 and has done really well. Still, with his experience, that's the least we should expect of him, isn't it?
As for other series, Willi Weber-managed Nico Hulkenberg has been the standout performer in the Formula Three Euroseries, though mistakes and misfortune have made the championship closer than it ought to be. Could he make the leap?
Bruno Senna has had all the headlines in GP2, and may yet be champion. He is strongly linked to Toro Rosso for next year, but would he be a worthy replacement for Vettel or Bourdais? Sebastian Buemi will test the car shortly too, however his performances have fluctuated.
At the start of the season Romain Grosjean was highly tipped, as part of Renault's Driver Development Programme, and with low expectations of Nelson Piquet's performance. However as Nelson has got better, Romain seems to have got worse, and his season overall has to be classed as disappointing.
And what of Lucas di Grassi? Unable to do as much testing as he'd like for Renault's F1 team, he accepted the chance to go back into GP2 and has done really well. Still, with his experience, that's the least we should expect of him, isn't it?
As for other series, Willi Weber-managed Nico Hulkenberg has been the standout performer in the Formula Three Euroseries, though mistakes and misfortune have made the championship closer than it ought to be. Could he make the leap?