Davide Valsecchi follows in the footsteps of Romain Grosjean
Davide Valsecchi became the 2012 champion of the GP2 Series this Saturday, succeeding Romain Grosjean, the current Lotus driver in Formula 1.
Valsecchi clinched the title with the French team DAMS, like Grosjean last year, but the Italian driver’s path to F1 seems less straightforward than that of Romain Grosjean. Indeed, Valsecchi is not in contact with an F1 team, as Grosjean was with Lotus Renault Grand Prix.
The new GP2 champion is not discouraged and stated on the GP2 website that his goal is to race in F1: « In Italian they always say there is no Italian driver in Formula 1, but before now who deserved it? […] I really hope to have this chance, because we are strong enough for it, so I sincerely hope I will have a chance, and that I can show that I deserve to be there, that I am ready and strong enough to race (in this championship). »
If Valsecchi fails to be in F1 next year, other drivers might outshine him, notably Luiz Razia, who was once followed by Red Bull and who deserves a chance in F1 next year according to Christian Horner, quoted by the site TotalRace.
The Brazilian driver recently conducted a test day with the Sahara Force India team at Magny-Cours, but there is no indication that he will indeed be on the starting grid in 2013.
Another GP2 driver is also mentioned as a possible contender for an F1 seat, Max Chilton, who has recently been appointed as the reserve driver for the Marussia team. The British driver might even drive for the Russian team in 2013 according to Auto Motor und Sport. Should Charles Pic depart, Max Chilton could replace the Frenchman, thanks in part to the support of the company Aon, where his father is vice-chairman of the board.
