The 2012 Driver transfer discussion/speculation thread

[tibiquera]

For the way I look, this is supposed to be Massa's last chance. If he goes back to his old pace, he'll get to stay another season, if not, he's out. The problem is that the natural replacement for Massa is Kubica who at the moment no one knows if he'll go back to his old self. And if Ferrari decides against Kubica, then there wouldn't be a lot of drivers who are good enough to get the seat. Rosberg maybe, or even di Resta.

 

[mr_geez]

Massa's contract ends after next season. I can bet you some heavy money it won't be renewed. In fact Massa should build a monument for his manager Nicolas Todt, for the great job he has done with such client. Having a Ferrari seat since 2006 with so many poor results along the way is pure magic stuff by Todt. Time to move over Felipe. At least you have experience in doing so (Germany 2010).

I say we will have Kubica with Ferrari contract for 2013 season. He is resilient. Just like when he won at his debut @Norisring F3 race in 2003, driving with 18 titanium bolts in his arm and plastic brace, just 9 weeks after awful road accident while coming back from test session before the season. Plus his contract with Renault ends on January 1st 2012 and it won't be renewed. I say Kubica will spend 2012 at Maranello, testing old cars, testing pirelli tires and at the same time getting back his racecraft. Can't wait for Alonso/Kubica tag team. As you should if you are true F1 follower.

 

[Hun200kmh]

Poor results, Massa? You got to be kidding me, the man very nearly was WDC in a car/team that failed him many times through the season (remember Singapore? Remember Hungary?).

About Kubica, you know I wish you are right about his recovery getting him up to 100%. But I think you're doing some heavy wishful thinking there with that Ferrari story.

 

[Seismica]

Massa between 2006 and 2009 was actually a decent driver. Even in 2010 he wasn't doing half bad until Germany, I bet that destroyed his confidence completely.

 

[mr_geez]

Poor results, Massa? You got to be kidding me, the man very nearly was WDC in a car/team that failed him many times through the season (remember Singapore? Remember Hungary?).

Remember Malaysia? Remember Australia?

That was the reason why he lost the championship (not the car) which should have been Ferrari's anyway if they didn't have Kimi's mannequin as a second driver that year.

 

[Prince.M5]

With recent news saying Trulli is commited that he will not leave the sport at least for one more season, it seems like the seat is pretty much sealed in the Caterham.

So far:

• Ferrari - Fernando Alonso | Felipe Massa
• McLaren - Jenson Button | Lewis Hamilton
• Red Bull - Sebastian Vettel | Mark Webber
• Mercedes - Nico Rosberg | Michael Schumacher
• Lotus - Kimi Raikkonen | Romain Grosjean
• Sauber - Kamui Kobayashi | Sergio Perez
• Toro Rosso - Daniel Ricciardo | Jean Eric Vergne
• Williams - Pastor Maldonado | ---
• Caterham - Heikki Kovalainen | Jarno Trulli
• HRT - Pedro De La Rosa | ---
• Marussia - Timo Glock | Charles Pic
• Force India - Paul di Resta | Nico Hulkenberg

Kobayashi is most definitely now not going anywhere, Glock seems to be secured unless Marussia decided to take Petrov in and both Toro Rosso seats have been fully occupied.

So what we have left here is 2 more seats unoccupied. Petrov, Alguersuari, Buemi and Sutil are all fighting to get one of those 2 seats available.

 

[Peter.]

I hate the way everybody is saying that Bruno will be the next Ayrton. Remeber Christian Fittipaldi? He is Emerson's Nephew, who won 2 World Championships. Christian finished no higher than 4th in his entire GP Career and scored a total of 12 points. Just because they had a family member who was tremendously sucessful in F1, does not mean that they will follow in their footsteps.

There are other examples of relatives being not nearly as succesful as their seniors. Piquet comes to mind. But in the case of Senna, he's gotten half of a chance, and has proven himself to be able to deliver some good results if given a full opportunity. Perhaps he isn't an Ayrton Senna, but we won't know if his skill is even comparable until he gets a better opportunity. He has shown speed in the junior Formula, in F3, as well as being the runner up in GP2 in 2008, beating out the likes of di Grassi, Grosjean, Petrov, and others.

 

[F1 fan]

Oh come on. Bruno has had a fair chance. He was given nearly a full season in the HRT, which was frankly, a terrible car but he still failed to impress Colin Kolles. Then he was given 8 races in a Renault. I'm not saying that he didn't perform reasonably. He did perform reasonably at best. The season in an HRT could have been the end for him, but he was given the call at Renault. It's more than most people are given.

Despite Grosjean's lacklustre half season at Renault in 2009, it's what he has done since then that impresses me. He's won at everything he's turned to and has proven himself worthy of another chance.

If Bruno really wants another chance, he should follow Romain's lead and go back and prove to people that he still has what it takes. Going back to GP2 wouldn't be a bad idea, providing he can win the Championship of course.

Hell, maybe at the end of his career, he'll look back at how he lost the GP2 championship due to a stray dog as a good thing. Had he won the championship that time, going back to GP2 would no longer be an option.

 

[Tom]

There are other examples of relatives being not nearly as succesful as their seniors. Piquet comes to mind. But in the case of Senna, he's gotten half of a chance, and has proven himself to be able to deliver some good results if given a full opportunity. Perhaps he isn't an Ayrton Senna, but we won't know if his skill is even comparable until he gets a better opportunity. He has shown speed in the junior Formula, in F3, as well as being the runner up in GP2 in 2008, beating out the likes of di Grassi, Grosjean, Petrov, and others.

I say that he deserves one more chance, give him the vacant seat at Williams and if he can't prove himself there, then he's probably not going too.

 

[nitrorocks]

I think Bruno deserves a chance because he had some decent finishes this year with no practice in the Renualt. Also take note that if he hadn't stopped his karting career, he would be a phenomenal driver

 

[Jimlaad43]

Sutil and Barrichello are arguing over the last two seats IMO

Edit: 1000th post for this thread.

 

[F1 fan]

I think Bruno deserves a chance because he had some decent finishes this year with no practice in the Renualt. Also take note that if he hadn't stopped his karting career, he would be a phenomenal driver

But he did.

 

[Peter.]

But he did.

Because Ayrton died. Not because he got lazy, or for any silly reasons at all.

 

[F1 fan]

Because Ayrton died. Not because he got lazy, or for any silly reasons at all.

I know that, but there is no point in bringing it up. The past is in the past. Ending his involvement in motorsports for years is not an excuse for poor results.

 

[Peter.]

He's not saying it as an excuse for poor results. He's saying it as a reason for why his career hadn't started several years ago.

 

[F1 fan]

It's insignificant though. Why bring it up now?

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

It's insignificant though. Why bring it up now?

Because they can, isn't it obvious? Why question motive when it just is, that simple.

 

[Alex.]

If my aunt had bollocks she'd be my uncle.

 

[peter_vod69]

If my aunt had bollocks she'd be my uncle.

Not if they were in a jar on her bedside. Then she'd be the terrible family secret that no-one talked about.

 

[nitrorocks]

Not if they were in a jar on her bedside. Then she'd be the terrible family secret that no-one talked about.

Hahaha! +10000000000000

 

[Sach]

 

[Peter.]

It's insignificant though. Why bring it up now?

Says you. We can't predict the future, but chances are if his career didn't stop in 1994 and restart in 2004, he'd have probably reached F1 many years ago, gotten a decent seat, and made an impression and embedded himself in the sport. In this day and age with cars 6 seconds off the pace, and revolving doors in several teams, it's very hard to make an impression strong enough to stick around.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

chances are if his career didn't stop in 1994 and restart in 2004, he'd have probably reached F1 many years ago, gotten a decent seat, and made an impression and embedded himself in the sport.

You say that we can't predict the future. You're right. But you know what we also cannot predict? An alternate past. If Bruno Senna's current results are any indidcation of what his form would have been like several years ago, he probably wouldn't have been racing. There were less teams back then, which means less seats, which means he would have needed better performances to make a case for himself.

 

[The Outlaw]

nm

 

[prisonermonkeys]

A few interesting bits that I've picked up from SPEED. Some might be a little out of date; it's a collection of articles that were not notable enough for full articles of their own.

Bruno Senna could become Lotus' third driver:

Bruno Senna appears headed for a return to the reserve driver role at Lotus for 2012. With the Enstone-based team known as Renault this year, the Brazilian began 2011 in the third driver role before graduating to the race cockpit mid-season when Nick Heidfeld was ousted. Lotus, however, has named Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean for the race cockpits in 2012. Senna, 28, has been quoted this week as admitting a return to a reserve role is possible for 2012, especially if he is able to drive in Friday practice sessions. "We have two racers. We will see about a third driver later on," Lotus team principal Eric Boullier is quoted by the French weekly Le Nouvel Observateur. "This is an opportunity for Bruno if he does not find a seat elsewhere. He is someone who is very good on the technical side and so we could consider the role for Fridays as well." Italiaracing said Senna is an outside contender for a race seat at Williams or HRT, where he began his F1 race career in 2010.

But he is also looking at a NASCAR program (battle of the underperforming relatives of Formula 1 legends?):

Bruno Senna is considering NASCAR as a back-up option should his F1 journey end for now.

That is the claim of the Italiaracing website, in the wake of the Brazilian's loss of his Renault/Lotus race seat.

It is rumored Senna, 28, could return to the team's reserve role for 2012, but Italiaracing said NASCAR is another option, where his countryman Nelson Piquet Jr headed after his own F1 career foundered in 2009.

The report said Senna has ruled out America's premier single seater series, IndyCar.

"My family would not let me (race there)," he is quoted as saying.

Senna's fabled uncle Ayrton was F1's last fatality in 1994, when Bruno was 10.

The driver market hinges on Petrov and van der Garde:

Vitaly Petrov and Giedo van der Garde are the keys to the remaining seats on the 2012 driver market. That is the claim of Finland's Turun Sanomat, revealing that the management of Russian Petrov – ousted by Lotus/Renault – has been in talks with Toro Rosso, Williams, Marussia and HRT. It is believed that, given the fact he had a year to run on his existing contract, Lotus must have had to pay Petrov in full for the 2012 season. On top of that money, he has two years of F1 racing experience now in the bag, and at least EUR 10 million in other sponsorship to offer. His manager Oksana Kosachenko has revealed that his future should be clear within the next 10 days. Dutch GP2 driver van der Garde, meanwhile, has had a low profile on the 2012 driver market, but very real sponsorship to offer a potential employer. His manager Jan Paul ten Hoopen doubles as the commercial director of the fashion house McGregor, and his father-in-law is the billionaire Marcel Boekhoorn. Turun Sanomat said he is the frontrunner to be Pedro de la Rosa's teammate at HRT.

Then there's Vijay Mallya's status at Force India:

There may be changes afoot behind the scenes at Force India, according to a veteran F1 newspaper correspondent. Roger Benoit, who has written for Switzerland's Blick for decades, has this week reported new "speculation" about the Silverstone-based team. "Is (team boss and owner) Dr. Vijay Mallya in real financial trouble?" he wrote. "Will the new co-owner, the Sahara Group, soon take over the whole team?" Benoit's report follows news the bank accounts of Mallya's debt-ridden airline Kingfisher have been frozen due to tax payment defaults. His Blick report also linked Mallya's problems with the delays about confirmation of Force India's 2012 driver lineup. Italy's Autosprint agrees: "There have recently been differences between Vijay and his new partner, Sahara." Nonetheless, it is expected that Paul di Resta will be confirmed for next season on Thursday, with 2011 reserve driver Nico Hulkenberg to be his teammate. Benoit said the Ferrari-contracted rookie Jules Bianchi could replace Hulkenberg as Friday driver.

Maria de Villota wants in:

Female Spanish driver Maria de Villota has hinted she may find out before Christmas if she will have an official role at Lotus in 2012. The 31-year-old said recently she is close to signing a contract to become third driver for the former Renault team in 2012. "You cannot assume something before it is assured," she is quoted by Marca sports newspaper, admitting that a F1 contract "would be the perfect Christmas gift." The last woman to enter the World Championship was Italian Giovanna Amati, who failed to qualify for Brabham three times in 1992 before she was replaced by future title winner Damon Hill.

And AutoGP champion Kevin Ceccon is looking at a third-driver role:

Kevin Ceccon is in talks with three teams about becoming a reserve and 'Friday' practice driver in 2012. The 18-year-old Italian, who ran in GP2 this season, drove the Toro Rosso during last month's young driver test in Abu Dhabi. Specialist Italian magazine Autosprint reports that his talks about the 2012 season are with Red Bull's Faenza based junior team as well as Caterham and HRT.

Make of that what you will.

 

[Sach]

Ugh, Bruno Senna racing in NASCAR. Please, no.

 

[astrosdude91]

I wonder why Bruno's family wouldn't allow him to sign up for IndyCar? Perhaps it's related to the Wheldon tragedy.

Actually in 1993, when Ayrton's career in F1 was in question, he tested with Emerson Fittipaldi's IndyCar in Pheonix, eyeing a move to Indycar for the '93 season.

 

[nitrorocks]

I wonder why Bruno's family wouldn't allow him to sign up for IndyCar? Perhaps it's related to the Wheldon tragedy.

Actually in 1993, when Ayrton's career in F1 was in question, he tested with Emerson Fittipaldi's IndyCar in Pheonix, eyeing a move to Indycar for the '93 season.

Yeah and i raced on the same track he tested a few times since i live in phoenix. Made the track a lot more special than I thought it wqs

 

[hawkeye122]

(Senna), (Raikkonen), Piquet, Montoya, Speed... You'd think that you'd hear some of those names in the top 3 on "Road courses" being F1 drivers and all... But no.

 

[nitrorocks]

Bruno would do good in Indy car I think.