Old hands need to move over

Over dinner in Mokpo after the Korean Grand Prix, we played the F1 equivalent of the Big Brother TV show - voting "out" of the house one driver from each team.

This was precipitated by rumors that Nico Hulkenberg will lose his seat at Williams in 2011 to Pastor Maldonado - the 25-year-old Venezuelan who this year won the GP2 series (the final step on the ladder below F1). Maldonado is obviously quite good, but 2010 was his fourth year in GP2 and two seasons should be the maximum in categories en route to F1. However, Pastor's resume is bolstered by significant sponsorship funding from Venezuela's state-owned petroleum company.

This is a luxury Hulkenberg does not enjoy. The 23-year old won the entry-level Formula BMW in 2005, the A1 GP series in 2007, the Formula 3 Euroseries the following season and GP2 last year. Since mid-season, the German has been able to match the lap times of his uber-experienced teammate, Rubens Barrichello. The Brazilian undoubtedly still holds the upper hand in technical feedback, but he should in his 18th year in F1.