The '13 driver transfer discussion/speculation thread op updated 16/10

[Ardius]

Wasn't Coca-Cola rumoured to be the company McLaren were looking to replace Vodafone with? I wouldn't be surprised if several teams up and down the pitlane were courting with them trying to get them.

The Monster connection seems a bit loose to be tying in Hamilton with. I really don't think that factors into this at all, at least not from Hamilton's perspective. Having the prospect of a company who maybe will buy another company who currently sponsor the team driving your decision isn't a very solid way of deciding your future.

I could see why Coca-Cola would buy into that, but I don't see why Hamilton would - lets not forget that he probably is considering the fact Mercedes haven't had a stellar 3 years.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Wasn't Coca-Cola rumoured to be the company McLaren were looking to replace Vodafone with? I wouldn't be surprised if several teams up and down the pitlane were courting with them trying to get them.

Yes, they were, be Buxton thoroughly debunked it. Joe Saward did, too, but Buxton posted actual reasons for it being the thinnest of rumours; Saward posted words to the effect of "I don't think this will happen, so neither should you".

The Monster connection seems a bit loose to be tying in Hamilton with. I really don't think that factors into this at all, at least not from Hamilton's perspective. Having the prospect of a company who maybe will buy another company who currently sponsor the team driving your decision isn't a very solid way of deciding your future.

Unless Hamilton knows something we don't. Despite the rumours of Coca-Cola sponsoring McLaren being untrue, it's widely believed that some of their global brand managers have been doing a lot of research on Formula 1 (which is probably what sparked the McLaren rumours in the first place). If Coca-Cola were to buy Monster, then announcing it would be a fairly big deal. Announcing it with Lewis Hamilton as the face of the company would be an even bigger deal.

 

[Ardius]

Thats still reasons why Coca Cola would do it, but not Hamilton. There is more to consider here than just financial reasons for him.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

And those are issues that Mercedes would not only be aware of, but issues they would know that they would have to address if they wanted any chance of luring Hamilton over.

 

[astrosdude91]

I believe I'm the first to report on this in this thread. But Jaime Alguersuari has stated that "he's sure he'll be back on the grid next year". So either that is very wishful thinking on Jaime's part. Or he may actually have a deal in the works for a drive in 2013. And Eddie Jordan commented during the F1 post race coverage that he may in fact be heading to Force India. Which would also me that either Di Resta or Hulk are leaving the team. But I'm also thinking Caterham could be another possibility. Since another report, coming from Vitaly Petrov's manager, states that they are having difficulties coming up with the necessary sponsorship funds to secure Petrov's drive for next year. So that would leave an open door at Caterham. Just some more rumor mill buzz that I'm having a bit of fun dissecting.

 

[Cap'n Jack]

Hmm. Perhaps Di Resta could be replacing Schumacher then Alguersuari to fill the vacant Force India spot? That is if Hamilton hasn't already signed a contract with Mercedes...

 

[Rossell2]

There's quite a lot to say that Petrov is leaving F1. His manager seems to be hinting at it along with the rumour mill. This would open up Pic to Caterham and Chilton into a full time race seat.

As for the upper leagues, Hamilton and Schumacher frankly hold the keys imo. If Schuey stays put for another year, Di Resta will need to hold his seat at FI where he's most comfortable. If Algersuari wants to go there, more than likely they'll get rid of Hulk. But they seem happy with him too and he doesn't seem to be in a position to go anywhere. If Schuey leaves the sport and Lewis doesn't come over, it will move that way. Di Resta to Merc, Algersuari to FI.

Been watching F1 since 2007 and can't remember the driver market quite like this, pub quiz, when was the last time it was this hectic?

 

[RX-7_FD3S]

I believe I'm the first to report on this in this thread. But Jaime Alguersuari has stated that "he's sure he'll be back on the grid next year". So either that is very wishful thinking on Jaime's part. Or he may actually have a deal in the works for a drive in 2013. And Eddie Jordan commented during the F1 post race coverage that he may in fact be heading to Force India. Which would also me that either Di Resta or Hulk are leaving the team. But I'm also thinking Caterham could be another possibility. Since another report, coming from Vitaly Petrov's manager, states that they are having difficulties coming up with the necessary sponsorship funds to secure Petrov's drive for next year. So that would leave an open door at Caterham. Just some more rumor mill buzz that I'm having a bit of fun dissecting.

Charles Pic gonna sign a contract soon with Caterham, that's 99% sure. The guy that trained Pic said it last time on tv.

I'm absolutely not sure that Mercedes is gonna pick Di Resta if Schumi leaves and Hamilton doesnt sign. They need result, they gonna look for someone that could win GP. I'm not sure Di Resta can atm.

 

[PeterJB]

I believe I'm the first to report on this in this thread. But Jaime Alguersuari has stated that "he's sure he'll be back on the grid next year". So either that is very wishful thinking on Jaime's part. Or he may actually have a deal in the works for a drive in 2013. And Eddie Jordan commented during the F1 post race coverage that he may in fact be heading to Force India. Which would also me that either Di Resta or Hulk are leaving the team. But I'm also thinking Caterham could be another possibility. Since another report, coming from Vitaly Petrov's manager, states that they are having difficulties coming up with the necessary sponsorship funds to secure Petrov's drive for next year. So that would leave an open door at Caterham. Just some more rumor mill buzz that I'm having a bit of fun dissecting.

As long as Karthikeyan is still here next year then I'm good.

 

[Peasantslayer]

Charles Pic gonna sign a contract soon with Caterham, that's 99% sure. The guy that trained Pic said it last time on tv.

I'm absolutely not sure that Mercedes is gonna pick Di Resta if Schumi leaves and Hamilton doesnt sign. They need result, they gonna look for someone that could win GP. I'm not sure Di Resta can atm.

Me neither, joining Mercedes might be a risk worth taking for Hamilton. Think of how good the Mclaren car has been in the last 10 years and how many different world champions have drove for them and only Hamilton has been WDC. They will probably need a car as dominant as the Brawn GP car to overcome their problems as a team and win another title.

 

[Tzun]

Are you guys forgetting Heikki Kovalainen? His not happy with Caterham and wants to leave to a more competive team. Mercedes? McLaren? Ferrari? Who knows.

 

[SKIDMARX]

Are you guys forgetting Heikki Kovalainen? His not happy with Caterham and wants to leave to a more competive team. Mercedes? McLaren? Ferrari? Who knows.

This was already mentioned, and it was most likely going to be Ferrari as he went to a meeting at Maranello along with a few others. Look a couple of pages back and you will find this.

 

[sems4arsenal]

Tom Cary F1 Correspondent for the Telegraph. Tweeted Lewis Hamilton off to Mercedes. Announcement expected tomorrow. Just waiting for Mercedes board to sign off on Concorde agreement.

No idea if true.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I have no idea what his sources are like, but I do like Cary's articles. He's like Jon Noble before Noble's editors started pushing a pro-Lotus bias.

EDIT: Adam Cooper - another journo whose work I like - reckons Cary knows what he's takling about.

 

[sems4arsenal]

Yep just read it,interesting news ,won't have to wait long to see if true .

 

[Hun200kmh]

Maldonado for McLaren, you heard it here first !

 

[Sphinx]

Tom Cary F1 Correspondent for the Telegraph. Tweeted Lewis Hamilton off to Mercedes. Announcement expected tomorrow. Just waiting for Mercedes board to sign off on Concorde agreement.

No idea if true.

Lewis Hamilton to join Mercedes in $100m move from McLaren

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

It should be interesting. Each champion with their own team. I was thinking he would have a better shot for another title at McLaren, but maybe with the extra support and fistfuls of money he can win more easily at Mercedes.

 

[hawkeye122]

Bad call by Lewis. Still a McLaren fan though.
Hopefully Di Resta gets the seat.

Does this mean they're giving Michael the boot?

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Maldonado for McLaren, you heard it here first !

I suspect they will go for Paul di Resta, but I think that will be a huge mistake. He's been too inconsistent, and Hulkenberg is out-performing him right now. They'd be better off taking Sergio Perez or the aforementioned Nico Hulkenberg.

EDIT: Actually, Cary is also reporting that McLaren might just be serious about Sergio Perez after all.

 

[F1 fan]

Nothing on autosport, F1 fanatic or the official site. As much as I would like to see Lewis go to a less competitive team, I'll wait until a more respectable site confirms it.

 

[ghskilla]

Is Lewis' move even confirmed yet?

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I'll wait until a more respectable site confirms it.

Tom Cary and The Daily Telegraph are respectable. They were the ones who broke the news of the Force India petrol bomb incident in Bahrain - and even when other news sources picked up on it, they were consistently producing new information on the episode before anyone else.

Is Lewis' move even confirmed yet?

Not yet, but at this point, it appears to be a mere formality.

EDIT: I'm told that the Brazilians are reporting that Sergio Perez already has a contract with McLaren and that Claro/Telmex will replace Vodafone as the team's title sponsor next year. However, as the source is in Portuguese and seeing as how I don't read Portuguese, I can't really verify it or see how reliable it might be.

 

[Radracing]

Looks like Hamilton got screwed if Mclaren decided to take Perez because he was more affordable than Lewis. Now Lewis will have to settle for Mercedez. It would be funny thou if Sauber ended up with Schumacher and became world champion next year. But it will never happen. Micheal will have to settle for a mid field team maybe Sauber since Perez is going to Mclaren.

http://formula-one.speedtv.com/article/f1-hamilton-expected-to-be-confirmed-by-mercedes-race-team/

 

[mattythedog]

Michael will have to settle for a mid field team maybe Sauber since Perez is going to Mclaren.

I think he'll retire actually. I don't think there's any point of him going to a lower team, and he is getting old now.

 

[Mike Rotch]

I suspect they will go for Paul di Resta, but I think that will be a huge mistake. He's been too inconsistent, and Hulkenberg is out-performing him right now.

Interesting assertion:

Position Driver Team Pts

11 P Di Resta Force India 44
14 N Hulkenberg Force India 31

 

[Müle]

Favourite driver leaving favourite team. I don't like this.

I still don't like Button, either.

halp

 

[ghskilla]

How do you think I feel as a Schumi/Merc fan?

 

[Tom]

Confirmed by the BBC. Although I assume this means as mentioned previously that Michael's off into retirement and Perez/Di Resta will join McLaren.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/19755236

 

[Tzun]

How about Adrian Sutil? Jaime Algersuari?