Reserve drivers in F1

[williamp]

Just wondering: we've had three reserve drivers this year: Sauber, Mclaren and now Williams. It got me thinking about a few things:

1) Which year has seen the most reserve drivers race? Is this year a record??
2) Who has been the "best" reserve driver over the years
3) which reserve driver most deserved a drive, but never had one?
Coulthard got a break and did very well for himself. Who else did well?

[carl_w]

I'm writing this without looking up the facts, but didn't Michael Schumacher get his run in the Jordan due to an unfortunate incident involving Bertrand Gachot, a taxi driver and some CS gas? The lad didn't do too badly after that.

[cuprabob]

carl_w said:

I'm writing this without looking up the facts, but didn't Michael Schumacher get his run in the Jordan due to an unfortunate incident involving Bertrand Gachot, a taxi driver and some CS gas? The lad didn't do too badly after that.

He wasn't a reserve driver for Jordan though. Jordan was paid to put him in the car for the one race, if my memory serves me right.

[Dermot O'Logical]

Jean-Louis Schlesser made a bit of an impact.

[FourWheelDrift]

By best reserve driver do you mean best reserve driver races as reserve or consequent career, since Sebastian Vettel BMW Sauber reserve driver replacing Robert Kubica could be the best. 8th on debut as Kubica's replacement and the rest was history.

Coulthard also got his break as Senna's Williams reserve driver.

[F1GTRUeno]

Seem to remember 1994 with all the turmoil had over 40 drivers in a year.

[Z3MCJez]

Dermot O'Logical said:

Jean-Louis Schlesser made a bit of an impact.

Monza 1988?

[MikeyC]

Z3MCJez said:

Dermot O'Logical said:

Jean-Louis Schlesser made a bit of an impact.

Monza 1988?

think so - IIRC, it stopped a McLaren winning all races that year

[thegreenhell]

MikeyC said:

Z3MCJez said:

Dermot O'Logical said:

Jean-Louis Schlesser made a bit of an impact.

Monza 1988?

think so - IIRC, it stopped a McLaren winning all races that year

And gifted Ferrari a 1-2 at Monza, just a week after old man Ferrari died. You couldn't have scripted it better.

[F1GTRUeno]

F1GTRUeno said:

Seem to remember 1994 with all the turmoil had over 40 drivers in a year.

Just checked. 46.

[jamiebae]

williamp said:

Just wondering: we've had three reserve drivers this year: Sauber, Mclaren and now Williams. It got me thinking about a few things:

1) Which year has seen the most reserve drivers race? Is this year a record??
2) Who has been the "best" reserve driver over the years
3) which reserve driver most deserved a drive, but never had one?
Coulthard got a break and did very well for himself. Who else did well?

1) Depends on the definition, as in last minute subs for genuinely injured drivers it might be close but McLaren doesn't really count (although they did it last year)

2) Luca Badoer, case closed

3) Davide Valsecchi maybe? If not then how about Carmen Jorda?

[FourWheelDrift]

jamiebae said:

williamp said:

2) Who has been the "best" reserve driver over the years

2) Luca Badoer, case closed

Seriously? The guy was hopeless as a Massa replacement and had to be replaced by a slightly less st Fisichella (after his front row Force India qualifying at Spa).

And he had already been an F1 driver for Scuderia Italia (93), Minardi (95), Forti (96) and Fondmetal (99) so he doesn't really qualify for his poor Ferrari showing in 2009.

[carl_w]

FourWheelDrift said:

jamiebae said:

williamp said:

2) Who has been the "best" reserve driver over the years

2) Luca Badoer, case closed

Seriously? The guy was hopeless as a Massa replacement and had to be replaced by a slightly less st Fisichella (after his front row Force India qualifying at Spa).

And he had already been an F1 driver for Scuderia Italia (93), Minardi (95), Forti (96) and Fondmetal (99) so he doesn't really qualify for his poor Ferrari showing in 2009.

I think it was tongue in cheek, although he can't have been too shabby as they wouldn't have had him pounding round Fiorano developing the car.

How about "Quick" Nick Heidfeld or Marc Gene?

[jamiebae]

FourWheelDrift said:

jamiebae said:

williamp said:

2) Who has been the "best" reserve driver over the years

2) Luca Badoer, case closed

Seriously? The guy was hopeless as a Massa replacement and had to be replaced by a slightly less st Fisichella (after his front row Force India qualifying at Spa).

And he had already been an F1 driver for Scuderia Italia (93), Minardi (95), Forti (96) and Fondmetal (99) so he doesn't really qualify for his poor Ferrari showing in 2009.

Tongue firmly lodged in cheek, his 2009 showing was utterly dismal, not only for the lack of pace but also the number of errors he made.

[Dermot O'Logical]

jamiebae said:

1) Depends on the definition, as in last minute subs for genuinely injured drivers it might be close but McLaren doesn't really count (although they did it last year)

2) Luca Badoer, case closed

3) Davide Valsecchi maybe? If not then how about Carmen Jorda?

Mmmmmm. Carmen Jorda. Haven't seen enough of her this year. Is she still employed by Renault in a "wandering around the paddock looking good in shorts" capacity?

[HustleRussell]

I know lots of people here don't rate him at all but Vandoorne's point score for McLaren on his debut at Bahrain 2016 caught my attention.

People (apart from Kimi Raikonnen) were very kind about Di Resta at the weekend, made me wonder if he'd find himself with a full time drive should Williams choose to move Massa aside. I'm indifferent really, he didn't much convince me in his first career.

[cuprabob]

Dermot O'Logical said:

jamiebae said:

1) Depends on the definition, as in last minute subs for genuinely injured drivers it might be close but McLaren doesn't really count (although they did it last year)

2) Luca Badoer, case closed

3) Davide Valsecchi maybe? If not then how about Carmen Jorda?

Mmmmmm. Carmen Jorda. Haven't seen enough of her this year. Is she still employed by Renault in a "wandering around the paddock looking good in shorts" capacity?

I believe she still is employed by Renault. Certainly would like to see more of her

[TimCrighton]

I'd add Gary Paffett into that list as one of the Reserve Drivers who deserved a race run but never got one.