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

[RX-7_FD3S]

I think Bianchi gonna get it, Ferrari is pushing hard to get him a seat and he already drove the car.

 

[TheCadabers]

I believe Bianchi will be Force India's strongest bet, he's experienced the car at Jerez, and generally knows all the guys in the garage.

 

[Strawman Andy]

Sutil may be still with a good shot - hes had a seat fitting this week.http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/21457653

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Marussia have changed their testing line-up for Barcelona this week at the last minute, keeping Max Chilton in the car instead of splitting the time between Chilton and Luiz Razia, which has led to speculation that Razia's place in the team is not stable.

 

[Wardez]

Yeah I noticed that, so weird!

Someone bust bringing up a technical partnership with them somehow.

Some people say the main reason FI's torn between Bianchi and Sutil is because they both have different engine manufacturers backing them, Ferrari and Mercedes respectively. I guess FI's gonna go with the engine of the winner for a deal for 2014. Ferrari's already probably going to lose STR to Renault so they're probably really pushing for Bianchi.

But this thing about Marussia, no idea.

 

[Ardius]

Marussia have changed their testing line-up for Barcelona this week at the last minute, keeping Max Chilton in the car instead of splitting the time between Chilton and Luiz Razia, which has led to speculation that Razia's place in the team is not stable.

My first thought reading that is - sounds like the Chilton family are pulling strings again.
Its probably that Razia's sponsors are not as 100% committed as first thought..but I've already seen once before a certain Chilton benefit from family connections in the team to the detriment of a teammate.

 

[Strawman Andy]

My first thought reading that is - sounds like the Chilton family are pulling strings again.
Its probably that Razia's sponsors are not as 100% committed as first thought..but I've already seen once before a certain Chilton benefit from family connections in the team to the detriment of a teammate.

Read an article about Chiltons response to Timo's exit and how he would prefer Timo than Razia. Would be surprised/shocked if Marussia kicked Razia because Chilton didnt want him.

 

[Ardius]

I'm not implying Chilton would have Razia removed, but that he is perhaps getting preferential treatment by getting more seat time.
Why would Chilton's comments change anything? Of course he is going to say he'd rather have Timo in the team! He's not exactly going to say "yeah screw having a decent team-mate, I just want an easy one to beat" is he?
Tom Onslow-Cole also denied he had team orders but we all know that was BS.

But its probably just Razia's sponsors not coughing up the cash.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

But its probably just Razia's sponsors not coughing up the cash.

I have heard that. One alternate theory that was put up by the Brazilian press suggested that Razia thinks that the MR-02 is so poor that he would be better off back in GP2. That, however, reads like damage control by the Brazilian press; there are no decent seats left in GP2 (right now, the best he could probably hope for is a Trident, and even then, he might be partnered with Robin Frijns) or in Formula Renault 3.5 (ISR has a vacancy, but Razia would be with Sergey Sirotkin).

I've also heard the theory that Chilton has been signed on to the team for the next three years, and that his father will purchase an additional stake in the team at the end of each season, so the move to put Chilton in for the entire Barcelona test was designed to appease Daddy. But, again, this reads like damage control, saying that Razia's place is assured and that the team will get more money to be more comptitive.

 

[Wardez]

Razia confirms sponsor's lack of payment kept him from racing in Barcelona last week:
http://www.autoportal.iol.pt/despor...nao-testou-em-barcelona-por-falta-de-dinheiro
https://twitter.com/IrvineF1/status/305763421582921728

 

[Tzun]

Sutil confirmed as Force Indias new driver.

 

[CinnamonOD]

But Manfred Zimmerman has denied those reports

So, they'll keep Mercedes as their engine supplier?

 

[LS2]

Articles around internet talk about Nicholas Todt (his manager) saying Biachi is not fighting for a drive anymore. So Sutil is about to get his seat back later this week. Just saw that. They mention a French television interview (whit Todt) and AMS, but I didn't had time to get the sources.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Sutil confirmed as Force Indias new driver.

No, he hasn't.

You'll know it if and when he is - all the major news sites (like Autosport and F1 Fanatic) will be covering it.

 

[Jimlaad43]

Sutil confirmed
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/105744

 

[Wardez]

Nice, I hope he does well. I was starting to have second thoughts about Bianchi. Still wonder how they're sorting the whole deal with him not allowed in the US, iirc, thing.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Still wonder how they're sorting the whole deal with him not allowed in the US, iirc, thing.

There are only a handful of countries - I believe they are Australia, China, Canada and the USA; there may be one or two more - that would reserve the right to deny Sutil an entry visa on the basis of his conviction. However, I don't think any of those nations have publicly revealed that they would refuse him entry. And since his sentence was suspended for eighteen months, he's never actually done any prison time, and that eighteen months will have expired before Formula 1 goes to America. Sutil himself has said that it won't be a problem, and the team would have consulted on this before they even started negotiations.

 

[Wardez]

For sure. That answers my question then. I knew they had to have figured something out with him, or cleared things up on it way before his test for sure.

Still weird though

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Reports of Razia being in serious trouble are growing:

http://www.f1sa.com/index.php?optio...-marussia-drive-withers&catid=1:f1&Itemid=157

 

[Wardez]

And now, for more rumors!

http://f1blogg.teknikensvarld.se/2013/02/27/vilt-rykte/

This one says Heikki could take the seat. But seeing as he's all "against" rounding up sponsors, don't think it'll happen. Bianchi seems a better fit, don't want cucumber back.

But damn, is Petrov out for good?

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I've heard that Kovalainen, Petrov, Bianchi and Karthikeyan are all in contention for the seat. Assuming it becomes available at all.

 

[PeterJB]

C'mon, Narain!

 

[Bobert power]

I've heard Sutil will have the 2nd seat at FI.

 

[Tzun]

I've heard Sutil will have the 2nd seat at FI.

Its been confirmed allready.

 

[SilverArrow]

Marussia have confirmed Jules Bianchi will replace Luiz Razia.

 

[MUSC4EVER]

Good deal for Marussia..young, quick Ferarri backed driver who has got a bit of money...

 

[astrosdude91]

Soo... Ferrari engines for Marussia in 2014?

 

[Wardez]

lol, didn't even think about that. I don't think that a deal was necessarily made... but Ferrari does see desperate for customers, especially with Honda supposedly coming back.

I'm glad Bianchi gets to race though, hope he beats Chilton. Don't know why, but I'm already starting to really not like him. He's a cool dude in interviews and such, but he comes off as a little entitled... maybe it's 'cause he reminds me of someone in my younger years that's all it takes to dish out the bitter!

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I'm not heartbroken. I'm sure Razia is disappointed, but Bianchi is a much more exciting prospect for the team.

 

[Ardius]

I don't particularly like either Chilton or Bianchi, but I want to see what Bianchi can do as he has had so much unfulfilled promise in his career so far.
Chilton can probably do a solid job but nothing more. Razia was never going to set the world alight (and neither would Valsecchi).