Davide Valsecchi

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Davide Valsecchi
2009–10
GP2 Series
GP2 Asia Series

Davide Valsecchi (born 24 January 1987) is an Italian former racing driver and the

2012 GP2 Series
champion.

Career

Formula Renault

Valsecchi drove in Renault-based series from 2003 to 2007, rising from

2007 season
.

Formula Three

From 2003 to 2005, Valsecchi also competed in selected Italian and German Formula Three races, scoring one podium finish in these three years.

Formula 3000

In 2005, Valsecchi drove one race in the

3000 Pro Series, a championship for old International Formula 3000
cars.

Sports car racing

In 2006, Valsecchi competed in three races of the

Le Mans Series for the Barazi-Epsilon
team in the LMP2 class of the championship, taking a podium finish in each race.

GP2 Series

2008 GP2 Series season
.
2010 GP2 Series season
.

For 2008, Valsecchi competed in both the

Monza
, Valsecchi won the sprint race, his first GP2 victory.

Valsecchi remained with Durango for the

Renault Driver Development programme. In August 2009 he moved to the Barwa Addax team to replace Formula One-bound Romain Grosjean, alongside Vitaly Petrov
. He finished the season in 17th place.

Valsecchi joined

2010 GP2 Series season, where he was partnered by Oliver Turvey
. Valsecchi won the Asian title, with three races to spare, after taking three wins and two second places in the first five races of the season. In the main series, he dropped behind Turvey, but scored his first pole position and won the final race of the season to take eighth in the drivers' championship, his best performance so far.

For 2011, Valsecchi signed for the new

Valencia
, however, he failed to score in the remaining ten races, slipping back to eighth in the championship and equalling his previous year's result.

Valsecchi moved to the

Monza
, saw him retake the lead in the standings and ultimately win the drivers' championship with 247 points to Razia's total of 222.

Formula One

Team Lotus' third driver at the 2011 Malaysian Grand Prix
.

Valsecchi tested a Formula One car for the first time on 17 November 2010, at the

2011 season[11] and was confirmed as a Lotus test driver in March of that year.[12] He then drove in Friday practice during the Malaysian Grand Prix weekend in April 2011, replacing Heikki Kovalainen in the morning session.[13]

Having won the 2012 GP2 Series title, Valsecchi aimed to move up into Formula One.[14]

Valsecchi acted as testing and reserve driver for the Lotus F1 Team in 2013 driving for the team during media events.[15] Prior to the 2013 US Grand Prix Lotus driver Kimi Räikkönen announced he would miss the final two races of the season needing emergency back surgery due to an old injury.[16] As reserve driver Valsecchi was expected by many to take the drive. However, with its lucrative place in the constructors' championship on the line, Lotus opted to choose a more experienced driver to fill the position. Wild rumors circulated that drivers such as Michael Schumacher had been approached but ultimately former Caterham and McLaren driver Heikki Kovalainen was chosen to fill the seat. Valsecchi was publicly critical of the decision describing it as a "huge blow".[17] Kovalainen finished the final two races in 14th place, failing to score any points for the Lotus F1 team. Valsecchi's public criticism of the team's decision, lack of large personal sponsorship and a desire to return to a racing position have been cited as reasons for his replacement as reserve driver with Caterham driver Charles Pic for 2014.

In 2014, Valsecchi drove in the GT Open series for Lamborghini.[18]

Television

Valsecchi is a Sky Sport Formula Two analyst and Sky Sports F1 commentator since 2016 and Top Gear Italia presenter since 2016. Valsecchi has become known for his extremely excitable commentary style. Valsecchi and Matteo Bobbi were suspended by Sky Italia for making sexist remarks during an on-air post-race analysis of the 2023 Spanish Grand Prix.[19]

Racing record

Career summary

Season Series Team Name Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
2003 Formula Renault 2000 Italia RP Motorsport 12 0 0 0 0 24 15th
Formula Renault 2000 Masters
 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
Italian Formula 3 Championship
 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
2004 Formula Renault 2000 Italia Cram Competition 15 0 0 0 0 31 14th
Formula Renault 2000 Eurocup
 11 0 0 0 0 2 31st
Italian Formula 3 Championship
 Corbetta 2 0 0 0 0 0 NC
2005 Formula Renault 2.0 Italia RP Motorsport 17 0 1 1 2 104 7th
Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0
 2 0 0 0 0 0 NC
Italian Formula 3 Championship
 Corbetta 3 0 0 0 1 35 7th
German Formula 3 Championship 2 0 0 0 0 0 NC
F3000 International Masters
 ADM Motorsport 1 0 0 0 0 3 14th
2006
Formula Renault 3.5 Series
Epsilon Euskadi
 15 0 1 0 2 43 10th
Le Mans Series - LMP2
 Barazi-Epsilon 3 0 0 0 0 6 15th
2007
Formula Renault 3.5 Series
Epsilon Euskadi
 17 1 0 0 2 37 16th
2008
GP2 Series
 Durango 14 1 0 0 1 11 15th
GP2 Asia Series
 10 0 0 0 0 17 8th
2008–09
GP2 Asia Series
 Durango 11 1 0 0 4 34 4th
2009
GP2 Series
 Durango 12 0 0 0 1 12 17th
Barwa Addax 8 0 0 0 0
2009–10
GP2 Asia Series
 iSport International 8 3 1 2 6 56 1st
2010
GP2 Series
 iSport International 20 1 1 0 3 31 8th
Auto GP
 RP Motorsport 2 0 0 0 0 0 23rd
2011
GP2 Series
 Team AirAsia/Caterham Team AirAsia 18 1 0 1 2 30 8th
GP2 Asia Series
 4 0 0 0 1 9 7th
Formula One
Team Lotus
 Test driver
2012
GP2 Series
 DAMS 24 4 2 5 10 247 1st
2013
Formula One
 Lotus F1 Team Test driver
2014 International GT Open Eurotech Engineering 0 0 0 0 0 0 NC
2016
Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup
 Attempto Racing 3 0 0 0 0 0 NC
GRT Grasser Racing Team
 2 0 0 0 0

Complete Formula Renault 3.5 Series results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 DC Points
2006
Epsilon Euskadi
 ZOL
1
DNS 		ZOL
2
15 		MON
1
DNQ 		IST
1
5 		IST
2
3
MIS
1

Ret
MIS
2

3 		SPA
1
8 		SPA
2
Ret 		NÜR
1
8 		NÜR
2
12 		DON
1
16 		DON
2
7
LMS
1

17
LMS
2

5
CAT
1

15
CAT
2

Ret 		10th 43
2007
Epsilon Euskadi
MNZ
1

Ret
MNZ
2

Ret 		NÜR
1
8 		NÜR
2
1 		MON
1
8 		HUN
1
Ret 		HUN
2
Ret 		SPA
1
10 		SPA
2
13 		DON
1
21 		DON
2
2 		MAG
1
8 		MAG
2
13
EST
1

13
EST
2

11
CAT
1

11
CAT
2

9 		16th 37

Complete GP2 Series results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 D.C. Points
2008
 Durango
CAT
FEA

10
CAT
SPR

5 		IST
FEA
DNS 		IST
SPR
DNS 		MON
FEA 		MON
SPR 		MAG
FEA 		MAG
SPR 		SIL
FEA
19 		SIL
SPR
6 		HOC
FEA
Ret 		HOC
SPR
13 		HUN
FEA
Ret 		HUN
SPR
13 		VAL
FEA
NC 		VAL
SPR
7 		SPA
FEA
Ret 		SPA
SPR
6
MNZ
FEA

8
MNZ
SPR

1 		15th 11
2009
 Durango
CAT
FEA

Ret
CAT
SPR

16 		MON
FEA
15† 		MON
SPR
18 		IST
FEA
3 		IST
SPR
Ret 		SIL
FEA
10 		SIL
SPR
14 		NÜR
FEA
13 		NÜR
SPR
10 		HUN
FEA
5 		HUN
SPR
9 		17th 12
Barwa Addax Team VAL
FEA
11 		VAL
SPR
Ret 		SPA
FEA
Ret 		SPA
SPR
8
MNZ
FEA

14
MNZ
SPR

9
ALG
FEA

7
ALG
SPR

14
2010
 iSport International
CAT
FEA

10
CAT
SPR

11 		MON
FEA
Ret 		MON
SPR
16 		IST
FEA
2 		IST
SPR
4 		VAL
FEA
10 		VAL
SPR
6 		SIL
FEA
7 		SIL
SPR
6 		HOC
FEA
17 		HOC
SPR
18 		HUN
FEA
9 		HUN
SPR
3 		SPA
FEA
18 		SPA
SPR
8
MNZ
FEA

9
MNZ
SPR

16 		YMC
FEA
5 		YMC
SPR
1 		8th 31
2011
 Caterham Team AirAsia IST
FEA
16 		IST
SPR
16
CAT
FEA

4
CAT
SPR

4 		MON
FEA
1 		MON
SPR
5 		VAL
FEA
3 		VAL
SPR
4 		SIL
FEA
14 		SIL
SPR
17 		NÜR
FEA
13 		NÜR
SPR
Ret 		HUN
FEA
16 		HUN
SPR
14 		SPA
FEA
10 		SPA
SPR
10
MNZ
FEA

20
MNZ
SPR

Ret 		8th 30
2012
 DAMS SEP
FEA
2 		SEP
SPR
Ret 		BHR1
FEA
1 		BHR1
SPR
1 		BHR2
FEA
1 		BHR2
SPR
3
CAT
FEA

4
CAT
SPR

3 		MON
FEA
4 		MON
SPR
Ret 		VAL
FEA
18 		VAL
SPR
10 		SIL
FEA
7 		SIL
SPR
2 		HOC
FEA
13 		HOC
SPR
7 		HUN
FEA
2 		HUN
SPR
4 		SPA
FEA
3 		SPA
SPR
Ret
MNZ
FEA

6
MNZ
SPR

1 		MRN
FEA
4 		MRN
SPR
5 		1st 247

Complete GP2 Asia Series results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 D.C. Points
2008
 Durango DUB1
FEA
17 		DUB1
SPR
6 		SEN
FEA
Ret 		SEN
SPR
19 		SEP
FEA
4 		SEP
SPR
4 		BHR
FEA
6 		BHR
SPR
6 		DUB2
FEA
14 		DUB2
SPR
4 		8th 17
2008–09
 Durango SHI
FEA
8 		SHI
SPR
1 		DUB
FEA
2 		DUB
SPR
C 		BHR1
FEA
5 		BHR1
SPR
2
LSL
FEA

6
LSL
SPR

5 		SEP
FEA
8 		SEP
SPR
3 		BHR2
FEA
16 		BHR2
SPR
Ret 		4th 34
2009–10
 iSport International
YMC1
FEA

1
YMC1
SPR

2
YMC2
FEA

2
YMC2
SPR

1
BHR1
FEA

1
BHR1
SPR

20
BHR2
FEA

2
BHR2
SPR

4 		1st 56
2011
Team AirAsia
YMC
FEA

3
YMC
SPR

4
IMO
FEA

DSQ
IMO
SPR

17 		7th 9

Complete Formula One participations

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 WDC Points
2011
Team Lotus
 Lotus T128
Renault RS27 2.4 V8
 AUS MAL
TD 		CHN TUR ESP MON CAN EUR GBR GER HUN BEL ITA SIN JPN KOR IND ABU BRA  –  –

Complete Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup results

Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Pos. Points
2016
 Attempto Racing Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Pro MIS
QR
22 		MIS
CR
DNS 		BRH
QR
28 		BRH
CR
28 		NC 0
GRT Grasser Racing Team
 NÜR
QR
17 		NÜR
CR
24 		HUN
QR 		HUN
CR 		CAT
QR 		CAT
CR

References

  1. ^ "Valsecchi escapes serious injury". autosport.com. 2008-05-09. Retrieved 2008-05-09.
  2. ^ "Valsecchi begins recovery from crash". autosport.com. 2008-05-10. Retrieved 2008-05-23.
  3. ^ "Puglisi to stand in for Valsecchi". autosport.com. 2008-05-15. Retrieved 2008-05-23.
  4. ^ "Hanley grabs last-gasp Durango drive". autosport.com. 2008-06-20. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
  5. ^ "Valsecchi returns to Durango seat". autosport.com. 2008-07-01. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
  6. ^ "Kobayashi stripped of Spa point". autosport.com. 2008-09-07. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
  7. ^ "Valsecchi to stay in hospital overnight". autosport.com. 2008-09-06. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
  8. ^ "Valsecchi to remain with Durango in 2009". crash.net. 2008-09-22. Archived from the original on 2008-09-24. Retrieved 2008-09-26.
  9. Haymarket Publications
    . Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  10. Haymarket Publications
    . Retrieved 2010-11-17.
  11. ^ http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=398724&FS=F1[permanent dead link]
  12. Team Lotus. 11 March 2011. Archived from the original
    on 13 March 2011. Retrieved 8 April 2011.
  13. Team Lotus. 8 April 2011. Archived from the original
    on 10 April 2011. Retrieved 8 April 2011.
  14. Haymarket Publications
    . Retrieved 2012-10-03.
  15. ^ "Davide Valsecchi third Driver". Archived from the original on 2013-11-18.
  16. ^ "Kimi Raikkonen will miss the Austin and Brazilian GPs in order to have back surgery".
  17. ^ "Lotus slammed over Heikki Kovalainen decision by reserve driver Davide Valsecchi". Daily Mirror. 2013-11-16.
  18. ^ "GT Open debut". Archived from the original on 2014-12-20.
  19. ISSN 0261-3077
    . Retrieved 2023-06-07.

External links
Sporting positions
Preceded by
2009–10
 Succeeded by
Preceded by
2012
 Succeeded by
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