Webber's next in line
 

As of right now, we see Mark Webber as the only Australian in the grid. And between these next 2, would you select Will Power or Ryan Briscoe as the next potential successor?

Neither, I don't think. Daniel Ricciardo will almost certainly be the next Aussie in F1. Perhaps even as early as next season.

If the choice is between Will Power and Ryan Briscoe, I guess it's Will Power as F1 has more road courses than ovals.

Neither, simply because American racing series are weak indicators as to a driver's ability to race in F1.

Briscoe for example is a known entity due to his Toyota testing arrangement and never sparkled.

Ricciardo is the most likely next Australian depending upon how he goes in FR3.5 this year...........

I'd say that he could be in Torro Rosso if Kimi returns and drives for RBR. Possibly in RBR if Kimi does not.

But Red Bull generally view most recent performances as the best judgement, they hire and fire drivers easily and there are very view drivers that would refuse.

Of course if Webber begins to sparkle as he did last year he could be signed for another season.

Between Power and Briscoe you have to go with Power. They are on the same team with the same cars and Power is embarrassing him so far this season. Actually Powers is driving the 3rd car for Penske racing made up of crew from their now defunct sports car racing team so his dominance is even more impressive.

that being said I believe power would need at least a few races in GP2 before stepping up.

I think Power has the ability, but I just don't see it happening. Would love to see it though, the guy is a rare talent. Briscoe isn't fast enough and when he is, he chokes away the lead.

Unless one of them wins the lottery (so he can buy a ride) or goes to GP2 and does something, I'd say neither. The IRL doesn't rate as high as even GP2 in the eyes of F1 owners (and more than a few fans... myself included). No IRL driver has ever made it into F1. That says something, yes? I think Power is an impressive talent, but beating up on the old men, Danicas, Milkas, Sarahs and Marcos of the world isn't going to get him a ride in F1 (IMO).

If either of them wants to be considered for F1, they should (immediately) begin trying to work their way into GP2.

Agreed.

But Ricciardo will be the next Australian in F1.

Jamie Whincup will get a test before any of them. In May.

as some consider new zealand to be part of australia http://www.motorsportforums.com/imag...es/redface.gif
Daniel Ricciardo and brandon hartley are already red bull and toro rosso reserve and 3rd drivers

Gotta be Garry Ablett, no question!

Ricciardo is F1 material, Hartley not.

Who do you think would win a fight: Big Bad Barry Hall or Eddie Irvine?

Hall, no question. Eddie is such a sook.

yeAH one little punch from senna and he was gone.....

Ditto...

Both Power and Briscoe have clearly missed the F1 boat and the underperformance of Bourdais in F1 has probably forced the team owners of F1 to take IndyCar less seriously than ever before. I think the only way, how anyone can still join F1 from IndyCar on merit (not as a paydriver!), is simply by blowing everyone away already pretty much as a rookie. In this case it would be quite difficult to ignore such talent. And even then odds are better, if such driver arrives from American feeder series, because if he races in GP2/etc and doesn't get snapped up by F1 teams, they probably may not rate him as worthy enough.

Or who knows - perhaps as early as this season!http://www.motorsportforums.com/imag...ies/tongue.gif

If Hartley is not F1 material then why do Red Bull persist with him? He brings no money and comes from a country so small that the market for their product probably wouldn't even cover Red Bull's paper clip bill.

They must see something in him. But I would fully expect him to be out on his ear next year if he doesn't show it to all of us in this year's WSR.