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

[Ganon83]

Rubens should stay in Indy Car.
Its not that Rubens is horrible (he isn't), but it would be like if Kimi had ran a full season in NASCAR than decided he didn't want to run it, rather than his two races at Charlotte. The whole point of the first year is to prepare yourself for a future championship run.
I hope Senna goes to Caterham and Koba to Lotus.

 

[Northstar]

Rubens should stay in Indy Car.

Rubens doesn't currently have an IndyCar ride.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

would like to see [...] Senna go to Lotus.

*facepalm*

Lotus - as Lotus Renault GP - fired Bruno Senna once for under-performing. Why the hell would they take him back?

 

[Tom]

Aaaaand here's the lastest stupid controversy: people are complaining that Mercedes gave Lewis Hamilton the number 10 instead of the number 9. Apparently, since Hamilton is a former World Champion (and Nico Rosberg is not), the team is supposed to give him the number 9 "out of respect" for his past achievements, even though this has never been done before (Schumacher got the number 3 in 2010 and the number 7 in 2011 and 2012 because he is deeply superstitious and prefers to race with odd numbers).

The only time I can think that he raced without an odd number was on his debut when he ran #32.

 

[jonnyf90]

*facepalm*

Lotus - as Lotus Renault GP - fired Bruno Senna once for under-performing. Why the hell would they take him back?

Because he's improved a lot since then, and quite frankly is a darn sight better than Grosjean IMO

 

[jonnyf90]

The only time I can think that he raced without an odd number was on his debut when he ran #32.

Indeed, and that was only for one race with Jordan before he was headhunted by Benetton.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Because he's improved a lot since then, and quite frankly is a darn sight better than Grosjean IMO

Yes, the guy who was regularly out-qualified and out-raced by Pastor Maldonado, who you yourself claim brings nothing to the sport, is a better choice than the reigning GP2 champion and the man who scored three podiums in his first full season of Formula 1.

 

[Tom]

Yes, the guy who was regularly out-qualified and out-raced by Pastor Maldonado, who you yourself claim brings nothing to the sport, is a better choice than the reigning GP2 champion and the man who scored three podiums in his first full season of Formula 1.

I don't normally like to slate Bruno, but I agree with PM that he has underperformed considering Maldonado's pace. I guess Bruno will most likely go to the States and see if he can break-through there. Bottas was the most sensible option to replace him, I'd like to see Chilton at Marussia however.

 

[Greycap]

Lotus - as Lotus Renault GP - fired Bruno Senna once for under-performing. Why the hell would they take him back?

Have you perhaps forgotten what happened to a certain Romain Grosjean? He was fired by Lotus - back then under the name Renault F1 - for under-performing after 2009 and still he drove for them again in 2012.

 

[Tom]

Have you perhaps forgotten what happened to a certain Romain Grosjean? He was fired by Lotus - back then under the name Renault F1 - for under-performing after 2009 and still he drove for them again in 2012.

Yes but he did go to GP2 Asia and become champion there before Lotus hired him.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Have you perhaps forgotten what happened to a certain Romain Grosjean? He was fired by Lotus - back then under the name Renault F1 - for under-performing after 2009 and still he drove for them again in 2012.

Grosjean was only ever a temporary solution for the team back then. They were still in turmoil over the Singapore scandal, the car was horrendous, and they just needed someone to get them to the end of the season. They were totally restructured for 2010, with most of the senior personnel cleared out, so while it is technically the same team, they underwent a major transformation. Similarly, Grosjean improved markedly in 2010 and 2011. After all, he won the premiere feeder series for junior drivers.

Senna, however, has not improved since his time with Lotus Renault GP, and has done nothing to justify getting a better car than he already has.

 

[Ardius]

Have you perhaps forgotten what happened to a certain Romain Grosjean? He was fired by Lotus - back then under the name Renault F1 - for under-performing after 2009 and still he drove for them again in 2012.

Difference is, Grosjean's manager is Eric Boullier......and he comes with Total backing.

 

[RodrigoDLL]

I suspect they are limiting the campaign to Japan to try and convince Japanese companies that sponsoring Kobayashi would be a worthwhile investment.

They could still make it global and present separate country results for potential sponsors.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

They could still make it global and present separate country results for potential sponsors.

They could, except that this is Kobayashi's Hail Mary pass - it's intended as a last-minute move to try and save his career, not a long-term business prospect.

 

[mr_geez]

Kobayashi had 3 seasons to find financial backing in Japan (which is considered one of the most motorsport involved countries in the world) and didn't succeed. I think it is fair to say his managers did pretty awful job. So if it is anyone to blame for him not having a ride next year (which is looking very probable at the moment), it is Kamui's inner circle.

As for the rest of the transfer market, I don't see many surprises left. Sutil will probably come back to Force India after his legal troubles have been solved. Caterham and Marussia will give 2nd car to someone with the biggest check and I would be absolutely shocked if Grosjean wasn't signed for one more year at Lotus (especially with Boullier being his de facto manager).


And please no more "has-beens" in F1 like whining Rubens, MS (only thing missing was seeing him in washington wizards uniform) , JPM (still love you Monty! just try Diet Coke once in a while ok?) , de la Rosa or Liuzzi.

 

[RodrigoDLL]

They could, except that this is Kobayashi's Hail Mary pass - it's intended as a last-minute move to try and save his career, not a long-term business prospect.

But even as a last-minute move, it is not difficult to set up a site in english with paypal option. It would make reaching the desired funding goals much more easier. That is what I dont understand in this campaign.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

That is what I dont understand in this campaign.

They have obviously made a conscious choice to keep the site in Japanese only, even if they don't feel the need to explain why they did that. You don't have to understand that. You just have to accept that that's the way it is.

 

[RodrigoDLL]

They have obviously made a conscious choice to keep the site in Japanese only, even if they don't feel the need to explain why they did that. You don't have to understand that. You just have to accept that that's the way it is.

Right, seems you always get the last post in any argument... I shall accept your infinite knowledge about the "conscious" decision they "obviously" made to receive less funding.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Then answer me this: if they wanted to accept donations from people worldwide, why haven't they introduced multiple languages for the site?

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Alguersuari admits he may have to wait until 2013 to make an annoucement:

http://www.crash.net/f1/news/186635/1/alguersuari_announcement_on_hold_again.html

Lotus said to be interested in Kobayashi:

formula-one.speedtv.com/article/f1-kamui-kobayashi-could-replace-romain-grosjean-at-lotus/

Giedo van der Garde awaiting news on Caterham, but Petrov's result in Brazil means that the team might be able to afford him or Kovalainen:

www.crash.net/f1/news/186626/1/gp2_rivals_waiting_on_caterham.html

Senna chasing a points-scoring drive:

http://www.crash.net/f1/news/186621/1/senna_targets_points-scoring_drive.html

Where is he going to go? With Alguersuari constantly linked to Force India and Lotus said to be tossing up the merits of Kobayashi and Grosjean, there are no more points-scoring drives available. Unless he wants to try buying someone out of their contract, but I can't thik of anyone who might be an option.

 

[freshseth83]

Kobayashi story is a reprint of an article from about a week ago from another site. He currently has already around $1.9 million! Just from fans donating money for him to secure a race seat!

 

[joetruckv8]

I like kobayashi, I hope he finds a seat right at Force India!

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Latest silly season rumour: Colin Kolles is trying to buy HRT (and has been for months).

 

[Samus]

Does he have that sort of money?

 

[prisonermonkeys]

No idea. That's why it's a rumour.

 

[Tom]

Does he have that sort of money?

I would highly doubt it, seen as HRT were Campos Meta originally and they ran out of money...

 

[zippy_the_cat]

Does he have that sort of money?

I'd imagine that the "buying" part of acquiring HRT could be done nowadays for pennies on the dollar. Now the "operating" part, that's a different story.

 

[BHRxRacer]

The window's closed for constructors paying the fees for next season anyway.

 

[Lizard]

The window's closed for constructors paying the fees for next season anyway.

That didn't stop Brawn. There are some exceptions.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Yeah, new entires can reapply for entry before a certain date. I'm not sure what it is for 2013, but it's entirely possible.