GP2 Series pace-setters Giorgio Pantano and Bruno Senna have both been tipped to break into
Formula 1 next year after dominating the first half of the grand prix feeder category's 2008 campaign.
Between them, Pantano and Senna have shared four of the ten race victories this season, and sit first and second in the title standings, on 50 points and 39 points respectively. Both will be ready to move into the top flight come the end of the season, argue their team bosses and Senna in particular is clearly catching the eye of those who matter in the grand prix paddock.
The future is very bright for him, the 24-year-old's iSport International team principal Paul Jackson told the
BBC. I do believe he'll be ready for F1 by the end of the year. I'd be surprised if he didn't turn out to be very, very successful in
F1.
Whilst Senna whose late uncle Ayrton won three drivers' world championships in the uppermost echelon, in 1988, 1990 and 1991 has been linked with potential roles at both
Scuderia Toro Rosso and
BMW next year, less has been said of Pantano, who previously competed in F1 for Jordan Grand Prix back in 2004, though failing to register any points for the Silverstone-based squad and ultimately being replaced by
Timo Glock before the season was out.
The Italian's Racing Engineering team principal and
Crash.net columnist Alfonso de Orleans-Borbon, however, insists the interest is there.
There's absolutely no reason not to have him in F1, the Spaniard told
GPWeek, and from what I've heard from some F1 teams asking me questions, they wouldn't be asking...if they weren't interested.
Pantano himself has admitted that regaining his position in international motor racing's uppermost echelon will be no mean feat but is adamant that lifting the GP2 crown this year is the best way to go about achieving his goal.
![Giorgio Pantano flanked by Lucas di Grassi and Bruno Senna at Magny-Cours [pic credit: GP2 media]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/346295.jpg)
