Ex-Formula 1 driver BLASTS teams' driver choices after De Vries sacking
Ex-Formula 1 driver BLASTS teams' driver choices after De Vries sacking
According to Lucas di Grassi, teams need to focus more on methodology and data when hiring new drivers, The former F1 driver claiming he's noticed that teams often rely on single test sessions and gut feeling.
After the news broke that Nyck de Vries was being replaced by Daniel Ricciardo from the Hungarian Grand Prix onwards, Di Grassi took to Twitter to comment.
"When you axe a driver after 10 races it shows the process of making the hiring decision is wrong," he said. "Motor racing relies too much on instinct or “one lap” or “one race result” instead of looking the long term norm of a specific driver. So much methodology and data to make the car faster, so little to choose the right race driver."
When asked if he thinks AlphaTauri made a mistake by hiring De Vries during an exclusive interview with GPFans, Di Grassi replied: "I don't know, but I would not hire Nyck based on the Monza result, because it could be an outlier.
READ MORE: Who is Helmut Marko? The genius behind Red Bull rise to power
Di Grassi: One test can change your career
"You don't have enough statistical data to make the proper decision with one race. So what I would do if I was Helmut Marko...Nyck did a good race in Monza, I would give him another race and then check if it actually was an outlier or if he actually consistently delivers, before hiring him."
"I see a lot of this," the former F1 driver continued. "I see a lot of people hiring after one test or one race. You do one good test, and suddenly you are the king of the world. You do a bad test, and suddenly you are nowhere.
"One test could change the direction of your career. Sometimes it's a track that you don't know well, sometimes there's something in the car that maybe is not the right approach, maybe not the right setup for you. So there are many different ways of looking at it."
All in all, Di Grassi insisted teams drastically need to change the way they choose their driver lineups, and should focus more on statistical data and use the proper methodology.
"It’s a lot about feeling, and about: 'Ah, that guy is very quick, so I want to hire him.' Maybe the guy is quick but does not score any points or crashes during all the races. Or the guy is very quick [over one lap], but is nowhere in the races.
"A good example of this was [Jarno] Trulli. Trulli was extremely fast over one lap, but not a very good racer. Yet he stayed in F1 for ten years or more because he was very good over one lap. There are many cases like that."
"I would say that you would be more assertive by using more data than the way it's currently done. That's what my tweet was about."
Asked whether De Vries should have been given more time, the Mahindra driver said: "I don't know the difference in performance, I don't know. I know Nyck from last year, as we drove the same car. He was my test driver when I was in the Audi, so I know that Nyck is a good driver.
"He did a good season in season seven when he won the title. He didn't do a good season in season eight, he was the last of the Mercedes Powertrain, So he had good seasons and bad seasons. I think he's a good driver.
"In some tracks, like Saudi Arabia, he was really impressive, but other tracks, he was nowhere. I don't have enough data to judge how he was doing in Formula One, because I don't follow it that close, so I don't know if he had the performance or not to be removed."
READ MORE: Best F1 TV commentators and presenters: GPFans Broadcaster Power Rankings
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Marko reveals how Verstappen has HELPED Perez at Red Bull
- 27 minutes ago
Ferrari bound Bearman set to make key F1 move
- 1 hour ago
F1 News Today: Verstappen delivers MAJOR Newey warning as Hamilton hints at Ferrari swoop
- 2 hours ago
F1 decision announced regarding points system change
- 2 hours ago
Verstappen sent Horner CLEAR message before Newey bombshell
- 3 hours ago
Horner admits Red Bull star may NEVER return to team
- Today 09:57
Related news
Who is Ayumu Iwasa? The Red Bull junior replacing Daniel Ricciardo at F1 Japanese GP
Ricciardo fired F1 WARNING by rival with RB future on line
F1 star admits discomfort with Netflix at difficult stage in career
Lawson's x-rated response after Ricciardo Red Bull battle revealed
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860