[Driver] Silly season in full swing

[Mr V]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Based on This it seem RBR wont have Mr Webber as senior driver next season...

I can't see anything in that link that suggests that Mark won't be at RBR next year.

On the one hand Horner says that Webber can be a dominant driver and the next he's out of a drive? Don't think so!

[Lotusonpole]

Originally Posted by ivanalesi

Also one of the new teams may try to get a seasoned pro, so this will play a big role too. Having drivers as Nick, Heikki and Rubens on the market is very tempting

There is a lot of logical sense in this to my mind.
Whether we get one Formula 1 or the split does happen, if the likes of the mentioned experienced drivers are available and there are no vacancies with top teams, for a new team to get one would be a great foundation for them.

But it is the silly season
P

[ECW Dan Selby]

I would also add my name into the list of people that'd like to see Sutil goto McLaren. It's something that's been bought up for a couple of seasons now...

Also this definitive talk of Fisi going seems stupid. I know it's been heavily hinted that he's going at the end of the season, but this guy is driving the best he has in years. Last time I remember Fisi putting in giant killing drives was back in a second-rate Jordan Ford (04?). If Force India don't retain him, a new team should definately pick him up, especially with his experience with the newer cars.

Selby

[Peter Mallett]

Actually I think Fisi is driving very well this year, but let's face it if he was in a comfortable position he'd be just as useless as he has been for the last few years. Once a make weight, always a makeweight. And I think the new teams understand this too.

I think Sutil would go very well in place of Kovalainen, who really should go.

There may well be a place at Brawn next year, who to fill it?

[ECW Dan Selby]

Yeh fair point. Light a fire under Fisi and his away

I honestly think Robbie K would be fantastic at Brawn... I'd love to see him and Button slog it out - Two very different drivers.

Selby

[csirl]

The second rumour is that Nico Rosberg may switch to BMW to replace Nick Heidfeld. Again, it doesn't make a huge amount of sense. Williams seem to be getting better, whilst BMW are still lagging.

I cant see Williams hanging onto Rosberg next season. They'd love to, but they are unlikely to be able to afford it.

They've have some financial challenges in recent years - rumoured bail outs from Bernie. Lost some sponsors and due to lose their major sponsor at the end of this season. Remember that they were very quick to sign up for the budget cap - easy to guess why.

As long as Nakajimas bringing in enough funding to pay his way, he'll stay. Williams appear to be promoting Nakajima's image a lot more off the track leading me to suspect that they are trying to raise his profile to prepare the way for his elevation to number 1 driver in 2010. I would expect Williams to use a pay driver or one on loan from another team as number 2 in 2010.

[ECW Dan Selby]

AKA - A downward spiral..

Selby

[csirl]

Originally Posted by Peralta

Here is how it's playing out for 2010 which is a big contrast to last year

Ferrari: Massa, Alonso
McLaren: Hamilton Glock or Rosberg
Renault: Grosjean Kovalainen, Webber
RBR: Vettel Buemi or Webber
Wiiliams: Nakajima Heidfeld or Barichello
Toyota: Trulli, Heidfeld or Sutil
Brawn: Button Webber or Kovalainen
Toro Roso: Algusuari Senna
BMW: Kubica Sutil or Klein
Force India: Luizzi Petrov or Shandok
Campos: De la Rosa, Perez or Petrov
Manor: Piquet DiResta
USF1: 2 useless American drivers probably Speed and Summerton

Ferrari: Massa, Alonso
McLaren: Hamilton, Rosberg
Renault: Grosjean, Webber
RBR: Vettel, Buemi
Wiiliams: Nakajima + pay driver
Toyota: Trulli, Glock
Brawn: Button, Davidson?
Toro Roso: Algusuari + depends who buys/sponsors team.
BMW: Kubica, Hulkenburg
Force India: Luizzi, Chandok
Campos: De la Rosa + 1 other.
Manor: Whichever 2 pay drivers have biggest budget.
USF1: Bourdais and Summerton

[Super Hans]

Originally Posted by ECW Dan Selby

I honestly think Robbie K would be fantastic at Brawn... I'd love to see him and Button slog it out - Two very different drivers.

Robbie Kerr is well off the radar. I can't see him getting an F1 drive.

[ECW Dan Selby]

lmao Apologies - I was referring to Rob Kubica

Selby

[Super Hans]

Originally Posted by ECW Dan Selby

lmao Apologies - I was referring to Rob Kubica

Selby

I thought you must be a mate of Robbie Kerr's, trying to put his name in the frame.

[ECW Dan Selby]

lmao I'm sure he's a decent driver and that, but.......

Selby

[LinkF1]

I am not sure BMW are so keen to replace Heidfeld, he has consistently outperformed Kubica this season (finished higher in 2/3 of the races and has 3/4 of the team's points) while Kubica has consistently complained about the car to the press.

[Hazard]

Originally Posted by Gingers4Justice

A lot of these drivers will end up driving the hair dryers that are WTCC cars next year, probably, some may end up attempting Le Mans, perhaps others in IRL of those you mentioned. And they will fail.

Very few will be good enough for the WTCC I'm afraid - They'll have to stay down in F1!

Kubica's fast and proper championship material. I expect he'll jump if there's a drive going at McLaren, Brawn etc.

Though Heidfeld's outperforming Kubica funnily enough at the moment - the difference isn't as great as last year.

Raikkonen most certainly will go and do something else now. Alonso @ Ferrari seems certain.

[Hazard]

Originally Posted by csirl

Ferrari: Massa, Alonso
McLaren: Hamilton, Rosberg
Renault: Grosjean, Webber
RBR: Vettel, Buemi
Wiiliams: Nakajima + pay driver
Toyota: Trulli, Glock
Brawn: Button, Davidson?
Toro Roso: Algusuari + depends who buys/sponsors team.
BMW: Kubica, Hulkenburg
Force India: Luizzi, Chandok
Campos: De la Rosa + 1 other.
Manor: Whichever 2 pay drivers have biggest budget.
USF1: Bourdais and Summerton

What do you mean Nakajima 'PLUS' pay driver? Nakajima IS the pay driver!

My stab:

McLaren Mercedes
Hamilton & Kovalainen

Renault
Grosjean & Barrichello

Red Bull Mercedes
Vettel & Webber

Williams Toyota
Rosberg & Hulkenburg

Brawn Mercedes
Button & di Resta

Toyota
Glock & Nakajima

Toro Rosso Ferrari
Buemi & Wickens

BMW Sauber
Kubica & Trulli

Force India
Liuzzi & Sutil

Ferrari
Alonso & Massa

Campos Cosworth
Algersuari & Petrov

Manor Cosworth
Villeneuve & di Grassi

USF1 Cosworth
Marco Andretti & Wilson

[Satorian]

Originally Posted by jab

Meanwhile, I don't believe any of the current junior generation are anything special. No one appears to be that outstanding

Hülkenberg.

[jab]

I'm not sure. He's a bit inconsistent from time to time. He's possibly the most gifted young guy out there, though

I'll throw in my 2p

Brawn
Button
I really don't know, could be anyone - Davidson, Sato, Raikkonen, di Resta, Senna or di Grassi
T: Davidson (probably)

Red Bull
Vettel
Webber
T: Hartley

Toyota
Trulli
Glock
T: Kobayashi

Ferrari
Massa
Alonso
T: Badoer/Gene

Williams
Barrichello
Hulkenberg
T: Someone with cash (Piquet Jr?)

McLaren
Hamilton
Sutil
T: Paffett

Renault
Grosjean
Kovalainen
T: di Grassi/Valsecchi?

BMW Sauber
Kubica
Rosberg
T: Klien

Toro Rosso
Buemi
Alguersuari
T: Hartley

Force India
Fisichella
Liuzzi
T: Someone with cash (Chandhok?)

Campos
de la Rosa
Pantano
T: Gachnang

USF1
Bourdais
Speed (if released by Red Bull) or Rahal or Marco Andretti
T: Rossi

Manor
Heidfeld
di Resta
T: Merhi

[strider]

Anyone with access to the subscription side of autosport.com should have a look here: http://www.autosport.com/features/article.php/id/2281

Mark Hughes has written an article about the silly season and he's certainly come up with some far-out ideas, e.g. Kimi has turned down an approach from Toyota, but his people are talking to Brawn. They (his people) expect him to be paid in full if he does have to leave Ferrari early, so there's a wild possibility that he'll stay and that Alonso will do a swap with Massa. How extreme is that? I'm going out for a while now, be back later

[duke_toaster]

Would it be possible for someone to provide a basic summary of what Mark Hughes is speculating about?

[jab]

It's Jonathan Noble actually

Other than what Strider has already said about the Kimi/Alonso/Massa conundrum, he also says:

- Heidfeld and Barrichello have approached Williams
- Toyota and Red Bull look "likely" to retain both drivers, the former after Raikkonen's rejection
- Toro Rosso will probably retain Algernon and Buemi unless Loeb impresses in his rumoured upcoming outings this year
- Kovalainen is expected to stay at McLaren
- Rosberg to BMW in place of Heidfeld (which we knew already)
- de la Rosa to Campos (which we know already)

There has also been a rumour that Klien could be in at BMW next year

[BootsOntheSide]

Fisichella is only really impressive with small teams punching above their weight. That's why he did so well at Jordan in 2004 and at FI this year, and couldn't impress even when his Renault drive was on the line. He's the ideal man for FI next year, especially if they lose Sutil.

Bourdais to USF1 is a good fit - he's surely an honorary American after his success there (and his marriage to an American lady). Graham Rahal might be the best bet out of the IRL Americans right now.

I think this 'someone with cash' guy will probably get the second Williams drive above Hulkenberg.

[duke_toaster]

Originally Posted by BootsOntheSide

Bourdais to USF1 is a good fit - he's surely an honorary American after his success there (and his marriage to an American lady). Graham Rahal might be the best bet out of the IRL Americans right now.

By any chance would Seabass be able to get himself a US passport, or does he already have one?

[chunterer]

Klien a BMW possible??!! That would be another inspiring signing!!

Grosjean could be in at Renault before the end of this season which should help him by the time 2010 comes around!

I would imagine Bruno Senna will again be linked to some drives. Hulkenberg isn't automatically a Williams shoe in. Anyone with access to the backing Petrov has will be in with a shout, now the Russian at least looks competent.

Dark horse for a drive with Campos could be someone like Marcos Martinez assuming he continues to (unexpectedly) wrap up the Renault 3.5 title?

[cds_uk]

Is Pantano totally out of the picture at Campos then? I would be appalled if Bourdais got a USF1 seat, how about Carroll or Ant for a Manor seat then.

[strider]

Originally Posted by jab

It's Jonathan Noble actually

Smart @arse! He also said in some many words that whilst it's fun to conjecture about drivers, which is what we're doing, nothing will be decided where they're concerned until the future direction of F1 is finalised. That's the first and over-riding priority

Originally Posted by chunterer

I would imagine Bruno Senna will again be linked to some drives.

<--- I certainly hope so. I've changed my avatar again in readiness.