My Japanese Zen teacher, Takashi Wongeye,* used to tell me that it is only the truly remarkable people that choose a path that is diametrically opposite to the one chosen by those who want to win at any cost.
Takashi says it requires great courage and a true belief in who you are to want to be the one waiting in the wings. Because, he says, such waiting could become eternal.
Takashi Wongeye is an 80-year-old man who has seen life, and I tend to take his word to be Bible.
Pedro de la Rosa
McLaren Mercedes Test Driver
This man is one of the best drivers on the test grid. He is skillful, fast, and passionate. After a stint in Formula Three, Formula Renault and the ilk, he started his F1 career as a test driver for Jordan in 1998.
He went on to represent the Arrows team in the next couple of years, winning a single point on his debut. He has been in the final races more than once. He made the podium once in Hungary 2006, coming in second behind Jenson Button. He knows the grid.
De la Rosa was to return to F1 action this season with a new team, Prodrive. Will he make the cut?
For more on Pedro de la Rosa, refer: Wikipedia McLaren-Mercedes Official Web site Driver DB
Christian Klein
BMW-Sauber Test Driver
Klein has a sound race technique and a passion that was nurtured from when he was 13. After a successful stint in karting, Formula BMW ADAC Junior Cup, Formula Three Euro series, he signed for the Jaguar Racing team in 2004.
He outqualified his more established teammate, Mark Webber, and finished sixth in Belgium for three championship points. His stint with Red Bull Racing in the next couple of years earned him more points.
He signed on as a test and reserve driver with Honda for 2007. After coming third in the Le Mans 2008 season with Peugeot, Klein has signed on with BMW-Sauber as a test driver. What will be his fate?
For more on Christian Klein, refer: Wikipedia Driver DB Official Web site
Alexander Wurz
Honda Racing Test Driver
I like this man, simply because even the great McLaren-Mercedes failed to fit him into their car literally in his later years.
The Giant of F1 was sidelined more for his height than his exploits on the field. His best race was a third-place finish at the 2005 San Marino Grand Prix.
For more on Alexander Wurz, refer: Wikipedia Official Web site Driver DB
Anthony Davidson
Honda Racing Test Driver
Having raced in karting and the British Formula Three, "Ant" raced for British American Racing (BAR), Honda, Minardi, and Super Aguri. He went on to make his race debut in the 2002 Hungarian Grand Prix.
Davidson's career on the F1 grid ended with the now-defunct Super Aguri’s demise and he ended up being the test driver for Honda.
For more on Anthony Davidson, refer: Wikipedia Official Web site Driver DB
Jaime Alguersuari
Red Bull Racing Test Driver
Winner of several karting championships and British Formula 3, he made his debut in Formula One as a test driver for Red Bull Racing.
For more on Jaime Alguersuari, refer: Driver DB
Marko Asmer
BMW Sauber Test Driver
The first Estonian to test a Formula One car, Asmer tested for the Williams-BMW in 2003. After fine performances in the British Formula Ford and Formula Renault Championships, Asmer signed on as a BMW Sauber Test Driver this season.
For more on Marko Asmer, refer: Wikipedia Driver DB Official Web site
Luca Badoer
Ferrari Test Driver
Okay, I am not Tifosi, but I like his driving style. However, I am not quite happy to know that the boy had made his test debut way back and has yet to find a race place.
After winning the Italian Karting Championship, Badoer made his test debut for the Lola Ferrari team in 1993. After a stint at Minardi and others, Luca took over the test seat at Ferrari in 1997.
Racing besides Michael Schumacher as the test driver is no mean task, and he has set some great times this season in testing.
For more on Luca Badoer, refer: Wikipedia Official Web site Prancing Horse
Marc Gené
Ferrari Test Driver
It is quite surprising that both the test drivers for Ferrari are men who tried to make the cut and failed in previous occasions. Gene made his Formula One debut for the Minardi team in 1999 and went on to score just one point.
Gene was a test driver for Williams for several seasons and went on to race for them as a replacement driver in some races, including the 2003 Italian GP where he scored four points. He later signed on for Ferrari as a test driver in 2004 and has been there ever since.
For more on Marc Gene, refer: Wikipedia Official Web site
Lucas Di Grassi
ING Renault Test Driver
A young man who was happy with karting and single seater formula racing, Di Grassi is a part of the Renault Driver Development Programme after a stint in Formula Renault and British Formula 3.
For more on Lucas Di Grassi, refer: Wikipedia Official Web site Driver DB
Romain Grosjean
ING Renault Test Driver
A recent winner of the GP2 Asia Series and all ten rounds of the 2003 Swiss Formula Renault, Romain Grosjean is one of the young talents being talked about on the grid. He is known for his defensive driving style.
For more on Romain Grosjean, refer: Wikipedia Driver DB
Sakon Yamamoto
ING Renault Test Driver
He was a test-reserve driver for the Jordan team for just a week in 2005, and that set him on the path to a Formula One career.
Having joined as a test driver for Super Aguri, Yamamoto went on to make his race debut in the 2006 German GP. Poor finishes and mishaps marked his 14 GP appearances in 2006 and 2007.
For more on Sakon Yamamoto refer: Wikipedia Official Web site Driver DB
Alvaro Parente
ING Renault Test Driver
After successes in several karting championships, Alvaro Parente went on to win the British Formula Three in 2005 and Renault World Series in 2007. He is currently a test driver for the ING Renault team.
For more on Alvaro Parente, refer: Driver DB
Nicolas Hülkenberg
AT&T Williams Test Driver
This man could set a trail blazing path in Formula One. His debut is highly anticipated. After several kart wins from a very young age, he won the German Formula BMW in 2005 and made his debut in the Formula 3 in 2006.
His best performance was with the German A1GP team for 2006-2007, which Germany won comfortably. He was credited with being the harbinger of this win.
He won the Ultimate Masters of Formula 3 in 2007. His debut alongside Roman Grosjean and Sebastian Buemi is the most looked forward to debut. Add to that, a fact that he is managed by Wili Weber—the guy who managed Michael Schumacher.
For more on Nicolas Hulkenberg, refer: Wikipedia Official Web site Driver DB
Sebastien Buemi
Red Bull Racing Test Driver
He is one more race horse that is waiting in the wings for race track glory. Most people are putting him in for a race seat at STR, though Gerhard Berger has yet to announce his choice of drivers.
He followed up a stint in karting with one in Formula BMW, and Formula 3 as well as the A1 GP for A1 Team Switzerland.
For more on Sebastian Buemi refer: Wikipedia Official Web site Driver DB
Kamui Kobayashi
Toyota Test Driver
Kamui Kobayashi is currently competing in the GP2 circuit while being a test driver for the Panasonic Toyota team.
After a stint in Japanese Karting series, he went to perform well in Formula Renault and the Formula 3 Euroseries. He is known for his aggressive driving style.
For more on Kamui Kobayashi refer: Wikipedia Official Web site Driver DB
Brendon Hartley
Scuderia Toro Rosso Test Driver
After a successful stint in karting and being the winner of the European Formula Renault 2.0 in 2007, Brendon Hartley grew to the stature of an STR test driver. He is also competing for British Formula 3.
At the age of 13, he won the New Zealand Formula Ford and went on to do a show run for Red Bull in Riyadh when he was 18. That led to him being offered a race seat at STR this race season. If Sebastian Bourdais leaves STR, Hartley could be a contender for a race seat at STR alongside Sebastian Buemi.
For more on Brendon Hartley refer: Wikipedia Official Web site Driver DB
Mike Conway
Honda Racing Test Driver
After a successful stint in karting, he went on to win the Formula Renault UK championship in 2004. He had a very successful stint with Double R Racing, which is part-owned by current WDC Kimi Raikkonen.
He dominated the British F3 International Series in 2006 and went on to win it, being the first British driver to win the GP since Darren Manning in 1999.
He is also the winner of the National Racing Driver of the year award at the 2006 McLaren Autosport Awards.
For more on Mike Conway refer: Wikipedia Official Web site Driver DB
Luca Filippi
Honda Racing Test Driver
He is the previous winner of the Italian Formula 3 Championship. After a stint in GP2 where he shone, he tested for the Honda racing team in 2007.
He outperformed Takumo Sato when he tested for the Super Aguri team. After the folding of the Super Aguri team, Luca Filippi went on to be in the fold of Honda as a test driver.
For more on Luca Filippi refer: Wikipedia Official Web site Driver DB
Takashi Kogure
Honda Racing Test Driver
After a stint in Japanese Formula 3 and the Formula Nippon, Takashi Kogure went on to test for Super Aguri and ended up as one of the test drivers for Honda Racing, much like Luca Filippi.
For more on Takashi Kogure refer: Official Web site Driver DB
Vitantonio Liuzzi
Force India F1 Test Driver
One did get to hear his name in relation to Ferrari in season 2007 at the time Michael Schumacher hung up his boots. Having won the Karting World Championship in 2001, Liuzzi went on to race in the 2001 German Formula Renault and shine in the Formula 3000.
He made his Formula One race debut in the 2005 San Marino GP for Red Bull Racing and went on to win points.
In 2006, he moved on to Toro Rosso and won some more points in the United States GP. His best race was in the 2007 Chinese GP where he finished sixth for three points.
He is currently placed at Force India and many speculations point to that becoming a race seat.
For more on Vitantonio Liuzzi refer: Wikipedia Official Web site Driver DB
Gary Paffett
McLaren Mercedes Test Driver
After a successful career in karting where he won the McLaren Mercedes Karting Champion of the Future award in 1996 and other laurels, Paffett moved on to Formula 3 where he proved his championship ability by winning most of the races.
He went on to DTM, where he proved his class once again. He became a test driver for McLaren-Mercedes team in 2006 and continues to be there. Much like his test teammate, Pedro de la Rosa, he was touted to make his race debut with the Prodrive team in 2008. He is eagerly waiting for a team to give him a race seat.
For more on Gary Paffett refer: McLaren-Mercedes Wikipedia Official Web site Driver DB
More Info
Outsiders such as Bruno Senna are trying to get into a race seat. Who knows whether they will have an outside chance with a race seat, or if they will end up as test-reserve drivers.
There are some more youngsters who are knocking on the doors. Here is a short list from Drivers DB of the emerging stars, some who are already on the Formula One grid and some who are not.
Test Drivers Index:
Driver DB Index of 2008 Test Drivers
[Photo Credit: BMW Magazine]
Disclaimers:
-> Nothing in this article is original except for my comments. All information is sourced from internet and anyone could have done this collation business.
-> Not necessary to award POTD's or Star Ratings. Read if you feel the article is worth your time, effort and attention. Else, let it pass!
* Name changed for protecting privacy
comments (15) write a comment »
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2 months ago
choose a path that is diametrically opposite to the one chosen by those who want to win at any cost.
THAT doesn't fit - and i'll tell you why .... because most of the test drivers .... dont choose to be test drives, they eventually settle to be one
so - you are giving them more credit then they deserve - its more by compulsion and circumstances than by choice ... i mean think about it, when you are starting, no one intends to be a test driver forever
i look at them as - the ones who werent good enough to make he cut, sad ... but true (as Metallica would say)
cheers -
from 2 months ago
Tend to agree. Some of Sara's nominees have been roung the block a few times. Wurz, Klein, de la Rosa, Davidson, losers every one.
My (imaginary) Zen teacher says this: Those who can, race. Those who can't, test.
from 2 months ago
YEAH Peter - true
2 months ago
Difficult to say ... Too much talent on the grid right now and too much coming through from GP2 ... There are 1 maybe 2 drivers at the most that could probably be a full time driver !
from 2 months ago
Bruno Senna's getting all the hype, isn't he! We shall see if he makes the grade.
from 2 months ago
i reckon he will, i hope its his driver skill that gets him a seat in f1 though and not his surname. thats how piquet got into f1, he didn't even win GP2!!!
from 2 months ago
Yeah seems that way, and good point Billy ... Hope it isnt just on the name ... He certainly isnt the front runner right now ... I honestly dont think another season in GP2 would do him any harm !
from 2 months ago
if he wins it this season he should get into f1 but saying that, if Pantano wins it he's a bit too old to be going into F1 now (he's 29) so senna might get a seat anyway because he's the best of the young guns
from 2 months ago
Yeah good point !
from about 1 month ago
Age may be a factor, but even if he were younger I don't know if Pantano would get another chance just because of his performance with Jordan in 2004. Even though it was most likely a financial decision, the team didn't seem too disappointed to have to replace Pantano with Timo Glock for the last few races of the season.
2 months ago
Wurz has retired from actual racing I believe so that takes one out the equation. Every little helps :P
2 months ago
Yeah Andrew is right , After the Chinese Grand Prix 07 Alex Wurz said he wanted to pack it in because he had concerns with his safety , Sounds daft because he is as much at risk Testing as he is racing .
But he also wanted time with his wife and new child .
He wont be racing again anytime soon.
Bruno Senna seems the Logical choice .
I can see him getting the Hamilton-esque Abuse from this site tho , not from me , i like the lad and his uncle was the man .
I think it only fair that he gets a seat judged on skill too , not the name .
2 months ago
Hulkenburg will surely be on the grid before long. Grosjean will probably end up with a drive at some point. Klien I think should be a racer (he's improved dramatically since his Jaguar/Red Bull days), but no one seems interested in him.
Problem we have right now is only 10 teams are competing. The field simply isn't big enough for new faces to appear on the grid. For next year, we know STR will have at least one opening, Honda may have one (but will probably try to fill it with Alonso), & Force India will likely keep its two seats open for next year. Aside from them, I don't think any other teams are looking for drivers.
about 1 month ago
Money talks, talent tests.
about 1 month ago
Bruno Senna has signed on as a test driver for McLaren or so I heard, not sure though - but it will be interesting to see how Hulkenberg and Mike Conway perform
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