Quote:
Originally Posted by chunterer
As did Vettel!
I can't see PM in a Ferrari or Red Bull anytime soon, but the difference bwtween De Crasher and Maldonado is that whereas Andrea came through the ranks too quickly a la Verstappen, when he wasn't really ready for the big time, Pastor has at least had several seasons in GP2 to try and become a bit more 'rounded.'
On balance it seems to have worked but he still has a lot of learning to do, if he has the patience and mental capacity....
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Exactly. Andrea deCesaris was World Karting Champion in 1977 and he was driving for Alfa in F1 in 1980 aged 21. He never really got to grips with the differences between driving a kart and a car and, despite his prodigious talent, was a magnet for accidents from the first time he sat in a car. Had deCesaris been given more time and the kind of help that is available today, who knows what he might have achieved.
Maldonado is talented too. His race win this year was evidence of that. He has had plenty of time and formidable support along the way... and definitely knows the difference between a kart and car. He was 26 when he made his debut. His problems appear to be in the area of mental focus - particularly when it comes to decision making. This has plagued him all the way through his car career and is still the same in his second season of F1. I actually think that, in today's environment with all the help and support available, this is a much more difficult problem to solve than that of deCesaris'.