A couple of months back, we briefly touched on a subject in a similar vein, but in the light of the recent F1 themed musical chairs, a slightly different, on the surface at least, issue has arisen.
For those of you unaware, Felipe Massa was confirmed as a Williams driver for the 2014 F1 season, replacing Pastor Maldonado. Across the paddock at McLaren, it’s looking more and more likely (at the time of writing) that Sergio Perez will be replaced by the soon-to-be F1 rookie, Kevin Magnussen. These driver appointments by themselves are fairly straightforward but when you look at them a little closer, things start to unravel. Well, for me anyways.
In my opinion, McLaren have made the better decision here by giving some young talent a chance. Yes, it’s harsh on Perez who has had to deal with an under-performing car all season (his ex-world champion teammate hasn’t faired much better) but McLaren are bringing new blood into a sport which has become increasingly incestuous. Massa, whilst no doubt a talented driver, has had his shot at glory and failed. I’m sure when the appointment was made, there was a collective groan heard coming from the GP2 paddock where a host of fantastic young talent reside. A host of talent which by the looks of things will never get the opportunity they deserve.
Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe hiring Massa to steady the ship is exactly what Williams need right now. Maybe McLaren hiring Magnussen is a massive and unnecessary risk. Maybe.
How do you feel about these appointments? Who has made the better decision in your opinion? Let us know in the comments below…
Paddy McGrath
Twitter: @PaddyMcGrathSH
Instagram: speedhunters_paddy
paddy@speedhunters.com
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