Idomiausi 2014 lenktynininku pokyciai (pagal Autosport)

Pastarajam Autosport numeryje pasirode idomus straipsniukas apie tai, kokie simet ivyko pokyciai, kurie, labai tiketina, sukels didziuli susidomejima.
Isrinkau daugeli, susijusiu su F1 arba siaip idomesniu is visu esminiu pokyciu pasaulio autosporte.


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F1: KIMI RAIKKONEN TO FERRARI
After four years away (but only three off the payroll) Ferrari's last world champion returns to the Scuderia to partner its tainted goldenballs, Fernando Alonso.

Kimi's race-winning form with Lotus during the past two years, coupled with a real fear that Alonso was about to do the unthinka*** and walk out on his long-term contract to McLaren, led to this unlikely renewal of wedding vows.

He should pose a much far more abrasive (albeit apolitical) team-mate than Alonso had in Felipe Massa, and it also marks an end to the clear number one/two demarcation; and team orders and Kimi are not happy bedfellows...

He says: (He doesn't say anything, but Stefano Domenicali says:) "For anyone thinking that the choice of Kimi is somehow an anti-Alonso choice, I can put their minds at rest."


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F1: DANIEL RICCIARDO TO RED BULL
Red Bull's decision to promote from within its junior team ranks, rather than hire a proven 'outsider' like Kimi Raikkonen, should ensure continued harmony as it bids for a fifth straight world title with Sebastian Vettel.

Ricciardo's first task will be to support Red Bull's constructors' championship bid; his second will be to match the recent form of outgoing incumbent Mark Webber (third, third, sixth and third in the past four seasons) in the car.

The ultimate test for Ricciardo, of course, is how he compares against Vettel. The new regulations will give him a great opportunity as the established frontrunners bed-in to their new machinery, and his 'headmaster', Dr Helmut Marko, has set a target of challenging Vettel by "mid-season at the latest".

Depending on circumstances, he must be aiming for a 180ish-point season to retain his place, with Red Bull's conveyor belt of talent bringing in talented Russian Daniil Kvyat alongside Jean-Eric Vergne at Toro Rosso next year.

He says: "Hopefully Sebastian's not as dominant with this new rules package as he has been. I will do everything I can to get up to his level."


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F1: PASTOR MALDONADO TO LOTUS
Venezuela's only grand prix winner has been tarred with many brushes, including 'pay driver' and 'rock ape'. However, that simplistic view is to ignore someone who's won a race in a Williams, under intense pressure from Fernando Alonso in his home grand prix.

Like writing off Romain Grosjean as a 'first-lap nutcase', there's more to Maldonado than meets the eye. There should be no excuses about the machinery beneath him, and if his moments of over-enthusiasm can be kept in check, it's a very potent line-up. But that's a big 'if'.

He says: "It is a fantastic opportunity. I just need to have a good car, good support from the team and try to improve myself in every way."


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F1: FELIPE MASSA TO WILLIAMS
After eight years at Ferrari, this move will come as a huge culture shock.

Like Rubens Barrichello before him, Massa has the opportunity to extend his F1 career - and should the Mercedes engine be the benchmark, as many expect, he could certainly add to his massive career points-haul (eighth on the all-time list).

But he'll find last year's star rookie Valtteri Bottas a tough team-mate.

He says: "So many things are changing inside the team that it maybe can be interesting and important for the future, not just next year."


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F1: NICO HULKENBERG AND SERGIO PEREZ TO FORCE INDIA

Dream drives turned to nightmares for both of these drivers: Hulkenberg's hoped-for move to Lotus didn't materialise due to money issues; Perez's tenure of a McLaren seat lasted just for one (apparently) not-good-enough season.

In terms of ports in a storm, Force India provides each with the chance to showcase their undoubted talents again.

Perhaps the most telling stat, however, will be how they fare against each other.

Hulkenberg says: "I'm happy coming back here, and I can see [the team] is moving forwards."

Perez says: "If I didn't get this drive it would have been difficult to stay in F1."


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F1: KEVIN MAGNUSSEN TO MCLAREN
One of the big questions of 2014 must be: is Magnussen the next Lewis Hamilton or the next Heikki Kovalainen?

Judging by his junior category form, he is well prepared for McLaren's second seat, but is he ready for a drive with such a top team?

His father Jan had huge talent, but couldn't apply himself at the highest level. Kevin appears to have a wiser head on his young shoulders, and must grasp this opportunity.

He says: "The fact that Lewis was so successful doesn't raise the pressure for me, it just shows that it can be done."


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F1: DANIIL KVYAT TO TORO ROSSO
GP3 champion gets chance to show he's Vettel MkII

The way he stormed to last year's GP3 title in the second half of the season proves he's capa*** of great things, but he'll still be a teenager when his F1 career starts.

It's that potential that Red Bull is attempting to mine by placing him at Toro Rosso. There should be little pressure on his shoulders, and a fine yardstick is provided by team-mate Vergne.

He says: "This is a dream come true and a priceless opportunity."


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IndyCar: JUAN PABLO MONTOYA TO PENSKE
CART champion, Indianapolis 500 and F1 winner moves on from NASCAR

It seems a long time ago that he was challenging for regular race wins in Formula 1 - and that's because it is.

Since he jumped ship mid-2006 in an angry flap to NASCAR with old mate Chip Ganassi, he's been trying (mainly unsuccessfully) to crack US stock car's code. He never did win a race on an oval, although won races around both of the Sprint Cup's road courses, racking up 24 top-fives and 59 top-10s in total over seven years out of single-seaters.

With Ganassi running out of patience with Montoya, his IndyCar rival Penske has swooped (beating Andretti Autosport) to bring him back to a series that he starred in during its Champ Car guise.

He won one-quarter of all the races between 1999-2000 - a staggering hit-rate - leading over half of them (1774 laps!) and, of course, the Indianapolis 500 at his first (and only) attempt.

He says: "I wanted to race for Roger. I'm so excited. I'm like a five-year-old kid again."


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WRC: ROBERT KUBICA TO M-SPORT
Ex-F1 star gets full-time WRC opportunity

His injuries sustained in a crash in an Italian rally in 2011 have precluded a return to F1, so the Pole is pressing on with his rallying career.

Having sealed the WRC2 title last year with Citroen, he has transferred to Malcolm Wilson's M-Sport team for his first attempt at the full WRC series.

The decision of his co-driver Maciek Baran to walk away from their partnership blunted his hopes of starring in a works Citroen on last year's Rally GB, during which he crashed twice.

His speed is not in any doubt, but the accidents that have blighted his rally career must be stopped if he's to progress to be a WRC title challenger.

He says: "M-Sport will create a solid foundation for my development and I'm looking forward to gathering valua*** experience on the WRC stages."


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WRC: KRIS MEEKE TO CITROEN
After a number of false dawns (his last with Mini in 2011) in a rollercoaster career, Colin McRae's protege finally gets his major break in a full-time works car with a committed manufacturer.

What's more, he effectively replaces the legendary Sebastien Loeb in its line-up: no pressure there!

If he can resist the temptation to drive flat-out, and keep it on four wheels, he could finally deliver on all that promise as Britain's next WRC title hope.

He says: "I'm not coming in to try and emulate Loeb, nobody could ever do that."


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FR3.5: CARLOS SAINZ JR TO DAMS
The son of world rally legend Carlos senior moves to the team that took Kevin Magnussen to last year's title, allowing him to graduate to F1.

After a mixed bag in his dual GP3/FR3.5 campaigns, Sainz will hope the French team offers him the stability he craves for a full-on title tilt to earn his continued place in the Red Bull junior ranks.

He says: "Since the first test I did with DAMS last year I have always wanted to be part of this team."


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WTCC: SEBASTIEN LOEB AND YVAN MULLER TO CITROEN
WRC legend joins four-time champ for inaugural Citroen bid

After a year of racing his McLaren in FIA GTs, WRC gigastar Loeb makes his tin-top bow as part of Citroen's new attack.

In team-mate Muller, he has the ultimate benchmark of performance. After the way his last French team-mate relationship ended (remember Ogier?) there could be fireworks!

Loeb says: "I don't expect to win straight away, but I am determined to get there one day."

PS Ka bus labai idomu stebeti, bent jau man, tai:

F1: KIMI RAIKKONEN TO FERRARI
Budamas Kimi gerbeju, sitos dvikovos laukiu labiausiai

F1: KEVIN MAGNUSSEN TO MCLAREN
Magnussenas atrodo daug protingesnis uz tevuka, o greiciu ir sugebejimais - aukstesnio lygio

F1: DANIIL KVYAT TO TORO ROSSO
Realiai pirmas rusas, kuriam niekas niekada neprikabins paydriver etikete. Ir cia kalbtu net ne apie Chiltono ar Van der Garde lygmens fully-pay-driverius, cia netgi liosiai galiu irasyti Pereza ir Maldonada, kurie turi labai nemenku sugebejimu, bet kartu ir labai stambiu remeju. Kvjato atveju - pure talent. Labai gerai pastebetos sasajos su Vetteliu - panasi karjera per Red Bull Junior programa. Manau Vergnas bus sutraiskytas.


IndyCar: JUAN PABLO MONTOYA TO PENSKE
Tiesiog idomu ar senukas dar turi parako :)

WRC: ROBERT KUBICA TO M-SPORT
Sitas labai laukiamas ir labai worrying - jei Robertas sugebes tvarkytis su savo pernelyg greitu vaziavimu ir sumazins crashu kieki - bus i ka pasiziuret.

WTCC: SEBASTIEN LOEB TO CITROEN
Cia vienas rimtesniu Loebo challengu. Ypac su Mulleriu vienoj komandoje. Go Seb!

AF1 - labai pritariu del shhh, be Kvyat:)Kai isgirdau, kad su juo pasirase sutarti, skepticizmas bego per nosi ir ausis (del savo paties nezinojimo kas per velnias ans yr). Tai truko iki pirmo jo pasirodymo trenkese - pamacius rezultata atvipo zandikaulis, dar labiau atvipo perskaicius pirma interva formula1.com puslapiui. Bachuras man pasirode labai labai protingas. Tada jau kontraktui esant kiseneje, kai atrodo galima buvo kiek atsipalaiduoti, be didesniu problemu suvaziavo kai reikejo ir pasieme GP3 titula. Na baisiai ispudinga pradzia.