The 2012 Driver transfer discussion/speculation thread

[Ardius]

Are Lotus/Caterham/OtherNewName really going to stick with Trulli? Such a waste of a seat imo.

No, I think Trulli has had it. He originally joined the team to guide them through their set-up phase. Now that the team is regularly threatening the midfield in the race, he's overstayed his usefulness. Get someone younger and faster in there who can actually challenge Kovalainen - because despite (supposedly) being Formula 1's resident one-lap specialist, Trulli has been out-qualified 14-2 this year by Kovalainen.

Every race when there haven't been any mechanical issues or other problems for either of them, Trulli has always been very close to Kovalainen.
If either driver runs into trouble, the other picks up the pieces and secures them 10th in the WCC.

Chandhok demonstrated very visibly that Trulli isn't doing a bad job and the team could do much, much worse in driver choices. May I ask why the team has to have drivers that beat each other? All that matters is they are close to each other and neither of them are underperforming. As a team they don't need a Hamilton/Alonso duo.

I don't really see why they need to replace Trulli, whoever they replace him with isn't necssarily going to be finishing much further ahead of Kovalainen.

And I've not even mentioned the well-documented power steering issue that Trulli had/has - says it all that when he could use the better power steering he was much closer to Kovalainen.

Name away a driver who would do better than Trulli right now who wouldn't demand a similar or better salary.

 

[GOTMAXPOWER]

Lol! Change Team UAE to Torro Rosso

I heard they were going to be sold and renamed after the season. And its Toro Rosso!

 

[toyotsupra]

I heard they were going to be sold and renamed after the season. And its Toro Rosso!

I havnt heard that anywhere not even on the BBC F1 website

 

[GOTMAXPOWER]

I havnt heard that anywhere not even on the BBC F1 website

BBC isn't the best place for F1 news since they make half of it up.

This link is a little old now but still relevant http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2011/09/01/scuderia-toro-rosso-ownership/

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Name away a driver who would do better than Trulli right now who wouldn't demand a similar or better salary.

Davide Valsecchi. He raced for Caterham in GP2 and GP2 Asia, and looked pretty impressive considering that it was the team's maiden season, even if his success came early in the season (he didn't score a point after Valencia). He also attracted a lot of attention when he tested for Hispania at the young driver tests last year.

Sure, he'd be a bit of a risk seeing as how he's a rookie, but he's got more life in him than Trulli does - if he started tomorrow, I could see Valsecchi on the grid come 2013 and 2014. I can't see Trulli sticking around until then.

 

[PeterJB]

I heard they were going to be sold and renamed after the season. And its Toro Rosso!

I swear people say this at the end of every season, and it never happens.

 

[toyotsupra]

Davide Valsecchi. He raced for Caterham in GP2 and GP2 Asia, and looked pretty impressive considering that it was the team's maiden season, even if his success came early in the season (he didn't score a point after Valencia). He also attracted a lot of attention when he tested for Hispania at the young driver tests last year.

Sure, he'd be a bit of a risk seeing as how he's a rookie, but he's got more life in him than Trulli does - if he started tomorrow, I could see Valsecchi on the grid come 2013 and 2014. I can't see Trulli sticking around until then.

Yeah he's a good option for team Lotus in the future hes got talent

 

[toyotsupra]

BBC isn't the best place for F1 news since they make half of it up.

This link is a little old now but still relevant http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2011/09/01/scuderia-toro-rosso-ownership/

Good news for Alguersari 👍👍

 

[F1 fan]

Good news for Alguersari 👍👍

I think that there'll be good news for Alguersuari regardless of what any mere speculation about Toro Rosso's future says. His recent performances and Buemi's reaction after his technical retirement in India suggest that both drivers have been told "the (points) winner stays on". Would be sad to see Buemi go, but if the decision was up to me, it's the way it would go.

Of course, I've contradicted myself by speculating. The Toro Rosso sale rumours seem to happen every year, but never bear fruit. It reminds me of how Vettel sandbags in P1 at almost every gp, and the media fall over themselves to print "Vettel struggling" headlines.

 

[nitrorocks]

Alexander Rossi most likely will get a rise for a few races next season

 

[Blaze_409]

Raikkonen to Williams?
Rosberg to replace Massa at Ferrari?
then who goes to replace at him Mercedes?-Paul DiResta!
Where does Massa go?

 

[YellowG1]

Massa isn't going anywhere. He's signed through next season for some reason. I just don't understand why Force India doesn't want to resign Sutil--is it because of that pesky nightclub assault from a while back?

 

[nitrorocks]

Probably is the reason, actually it also might be that their signing Hulkenberg

 

[prisonermonkeys]

If Force India were upset by the nightclub incident, they'd have dropped Sutil on the spot.

 

[Ardius]

Davide Valsecchi. He raced for Caterham in GP2 and GP2 Asia, and looked pretty impressive considering that it was the team's maiden season, even if his success came early in the season (he didn't score a point after Valencia). He also attracted a lot of attention when he tested for Hispania at the young driver tests last year.

Sure, he'd be a bit of a risk seeing as how he's a rookie, but he's got more life in him than Trulli does - if he started tomorrow, I could see Valsecchi on the grid come 2013 and 2014. I can't see Trulli sticking around until then.

Valsecchi? Its been his 4th year of GP2. Its clear he isn't much. Maybe a joker in the pack like Kobayashi but I doubt it. He's certainly a solid driver and appears to be quite dependable (he doesn't crash much, usually brings the car home). But his consistencey is sorely lacking and he struggled to beat his even more lacklustre teammate in the second half of this year. I question his outright pace, it doesn't seem to be particularly brilliant - and being faster is not something experience helps.

I really don't see any potential here for replacing Trulli. Valsecchi is better than Chandhok, Razia, Texeira and the rest who are connected with the team but that really isn't saying much at all.

Alexander Rossi most likely will get a rise for a few races next season

Rossi is maybe looking at a GP2 seat with AirAsia. And thats got to be at least a 2-season deal. Even after that I'm not entirely convinced with him yet.

This is the best you guys can come up with to replace Trulli? Case closed. Maybe if you suggested van de Garde, Vergne, Ricciardo, Wickens or someone else of that calibre..

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Maybe Charles Pic? He fell apart in the last two rounds of the GP2 Series, but until then, he was pretty strong - he was, after all, racing for Addax and they are the teams' champion. Ranting Joe reckons he's off to Marussia next year.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

How often is crazy Joe, correct? Cause I've heard from F1 fanatic (my f1 site of choice) users and other F1 sites that Joe isn't always the best of sources.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Very rarely to almost never. This year alone, he's predicted that Toro Rosso would be sold - when they just got a new sponsor in CEPSA. Then he predicted that Gerard Lopez and Genii would buy into Group Lotus - only for the team to deny it. Then he claimed that a "Chinese investor" was in the paddock looking to buy a team - but no-one else ran it, and the phantom investor was never heard from again. Finally, he claimed that Force India would be sold - but Vijay Mallya just got a new business partner in the Sahara Group. Saward then attacked Mallya for "lying" about the sale, but Mallya never ruled out getting an investment from someone else. But then, Saward has had a problem with Mallya ever since he dropped Liuzzi (of whom Saward is an unashamed fan; there was an embarrassing episode earlier this year when Saward made out that Liuzzi would sue Force India to keep his seat, and implied that legal opinions thought he had a case). After the internet critcised him for unfairly attacking Mallya, Saward then threatened to take his blog offline to make everyone stop and appreciate him more, as if we were all hanging onto his every word.

So, in short, he is as unreliable as Pitpass.

 

[astrosdude91]

I'm starting to think maybe Rossi is the next in line to replace Trulli. Rossi is signed up for Fernandes' Team airAisa GP2 team and will be in a Lotus for the Young Drivers Test in Abu Dhabi. And on top on that, Jarno's contract expires at the end of next season. So if Rossi has a decent year in GP2, he could end up at Caterham F1 in 2013. Of course, this is all just speculation.

 

[Ardius]

^Unless Rossi storms GP2 Hulkenburg style, I doubt it. And that is unlikely.
If Trulli retires or leaves, he will surely be replaced by either:
1. Another experienced F1 driver which can be anyone from Heidfeld, Barrichello, Buemi, Glock, etc.
2. An experienced and proven GP2 winner or at least regular podium contender.

Rossi is still a little bit of an unknown. He must be at least in the top 4 or close to it in GP2 next year for him to have a sniff of Trulli's seat. Otherwise I'm pretty sure he's going to need a couple of seasons to show what he's made of. His GP2 Asia form from 09-10 was decent and he has been good in FR and GP3. He just needs to show the same form in GP2, which is much higher pressure.

Basically lets stop hyping up Rossi's chances before he has got there. I notice its several Americans understandably talking him up with hopes for an F1 seat. Lets not give him a reputation of being over-rated, eh? We've already had enough of that with Danica.

Maybe Charles Pic? He fell apart in the last two rounds of the GP2 Series, but until then, he was pretty strong - he was, after all, racing for Addax and they are the teams' champion. Ranting Joe reckons he's off to Marussia next year.

He's got money at least. He's another decent driver but I'm not sure he's much of an improvement over Trulli.

I'm rather wondering why people are valuing Trulli's ability so low based just on his battle with Kovalainen. It wasn't that long ago this man was fighting with Hamilton for race victory at Suzuka. I've not really noticed much sign that Trulli is that much worse these days beyond he has mostly been behind Kovalainen on pace by a tenth or two. But then so was Button at Honda in 2007/2008 behind Barrichello...

 

[prisonermonkeys]

He's got money at least. He's another decent driver but I'm not sure he's much of an improvement over Trulli.

How about Robert Wickens or Jean-Eric Vergne? Wickens is being trailled by Virgin in Abu Dhabi, while Vergne is running for Toro Rosso. If Virgin don't sign Wickens in 2012, he might be a free agent. And given that Toro Rosso is 'auditioning' drivers through other teams (the way they are suppsoed to be preparing drivers for Red Bull), Verge - or maybe even Ricciardo - may look elsewhere if they feel they're going nowhere in their current poitions and have an exit clause in their contract. And I'm sure Renault wouldn't mind, since all three graduated from Formula Renault 3.5.

 

[Ardius]

Wickens and Vergne have done enough to warrant a test and consideration for a seat. But since Trulli is contracted till the end of next season and these 2 drivers have pretty much done everything they can, I'm not sure they are going to get the chance. A year is a long time to wait and another season of GP2 or FR is a waste of time for these guys.
But if we were talking about replacing Trulli next year (if it were possible) then yes, if I was Gascoyne/Asmat I would probably stick Wickens or Vergne in the seat and see if they were any good. I'd be more tempted to plump for Ricciardo or Buemi though or to try and steal Glock...

 

[prisonermonkeys]

The current rumour in the paddock suggests that Felipe Massa will be shown the door by Ferrari, and replaced by Nico Rosberg. There is no word on who might replace Rosberg at Mercedes if this happens.

While I wouldn't put it past Ferrari to insist that Massa's seat is safe even as the ink dries on his replacement's contract before throwing Massa to the wolves, I just can't see this happening.

 

[Blaze_409]

If Rosberg goes to Ferrari.I'd like to see Kubica head to Mercedes... because i dont like the looks Eri Bouillier is giving about Kubica's return. And to Lotus? no offencse to them but i imagine Kubica wants a drive with a higher profile team.

Raikkonen could also go to Mercedes but supposedly he is going to williams.... Barichello to mercedes!?! hahahaha Schumacher and Barichello. Fat Chance!

DiResta to Mercedes? If Rosberg is on the way out?

exscuse my wild speculation. But i'd like a pretty solid grid shakeup!

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I'd like to see Kubica head to Mercedes... because i dont like the looks Eri Bouillier is giving about Kubica's return.

If Boullier is downplaying Kubica's return, it won't be because he doesn't want Kubica in the car. It will be because Kubica physically cannot race (either because his recovery is taking too long or because he does not have a full range of movements in his arm). And if Kubica cannot race for Renault, then he cannot race for Mercedes - or for anyone else.

 

[astrosdude91]

According to SPEEDtv.com, Rosberg has denied visiting the Maranello factory or making a move to Ferrari.

 

[hampus_dh]

According to SPEEDtv.com, Rosberg has denied visiting the Maranello factory or making a move to Ferrari.

Both of the Ferrari drivers have a contract for next year.

 

[mattythedog]

Both of the Ferrari drivers have a contract for next year.

So? Raikkonen had a year left on his contract when he 'left' for Alonso. Contracts dont mean much, as teams can just pay the driver and off he goes.

 

[hampus_dh]

So? Raikkonen had a year left on his contract when he 'left' for Alonso. Contracts dont mean much, as teams can just pay the driver and off he goes.

Alonso is one of the best drivers on the grid. To turn down that opportunity would be idiocy.

If Hamilton calls tomorrow and say he wants to drive for Ferrari Massa would be out by noon.

Rosberg, who have yet taken his first win does not hold anywhere near as much status as the black guy or the spaniard

No dount Rosberg would do a great job but they wont send Massa out the door for him. And pay him..

Massa is still one of the absolute quickest guys in the field. over a lap.

 

[Seismica]

Alonso is one of the best drivers on the grid. To turn down that opportunity would be idiocy.

If Hamilton calls tomorrow and say he wants to drive for Ferrari Massa would be out by noon.

Rosberg, who have yet taken his first win does not hold anywhere near as much status as the black guy or the spaniard

No dount Rosberg would do a great job but they wont send Massa out the door for him. And pay him..

Massa is still one of the absolute quickest guys in the field. over a lap.

This is probably the most ridiculous statement i've seen on this page (And there are quite a few).

After the season Hamilton has had I don't think Ferrari would touch him with a barge pole. Plus i'm sure Alonso would have something to say about that after their 'partnership' at Mclaren.

Massa's seat is at risk and there are plenty of drivers who could fill it, but I honestly can't see anyone outperforming Alonso. First Schumacher and now Alonso, is Rosberg just going through the field trying to outperform the best? I guess he'll be at Red Bull with Vettel in 2014 then.

The rumour is probably just a cue from Ferrari for Massa to up his game.