The 2012 Driver transfer discussion/speculation thread

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I saw that picture earlier. Good on him for keeping a straight face!:lol:

King Fernando!

These Senna to Williams rumors are gaining momentum on the Twittersphere.
 
Ferrari's driver philosophy was, is and has always been for a driver to have to prove himself at another team to be a very fast, and very capable driver, then Ferrari will swoop them up, and/or they will want to hop on the Ferrari bandwagon.

Massa did it by being pretty quick in the Sauber, just like Perez is now, but the thing is, Perez has been in F1 for one year so far. Massa was at Sauber for 4 years and was Ferrari's test driver for 2003. That's a long time. Perez may find himself in a seat in the future, but it will take him at least another year of impressive results, and it would mean he'd have to get the better of Kobayashi as well, before Ferrari consider it. Not only that, but Massa would have to continue his string of bad results, for that second seat to be opened up. Even then, Perez may face competition from other drivers for that seat.

Ferrari is Ferrari, they can get any driver they want, really. I'm willing to bet my house that Ferrari buys Vettel out of his contract with Red Bull in the next few years. If Ferrari called me on the phone asking me to drive for them, i'd have sold my house for a plane ticket to Maranello already.

Ardius
I don't. As much as I'd like to see Senna with a seat...there are much better drivers available and I'd rather see Williams succeed again (one day). I'd rather have seen Alguesuari or Buemi with the seat. I don't really care for Petrov or Sutil so much but they would also be perhaps better choices than Maldonado or Senna.

I hope very much that if it is true that Williams have a highly successful season and that Senna finally shows that form he has shown on a more consistent basis and builds a strong F1 career.
But I doubt it will happen.

To be honest, I would rather see Barrichello make a 20th season. One for the records, and two because I believe he is far more useful to Williams for developing the car than anyone else as well as providing a good base for solid and consistent results. Not to mention that Rubens Barrichello deserves a proper send-off.
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We don't know if this rumor is even true as yet, but if it is, you can expect that Rubens probably retired, failed to secure enough sponsorship, Bruno brought more money to the table, or all three of those things. What Rubens brings in experience, Senna may bring back to the team with money. Plus, being a Lotus test driver for a year, means he might have some knowledge about the car, that could help Williams develop theirs. Or so i'd hope.

Anyway, my driver has found a seat, so i'll wish that Petrov himself does indeed find a seat as well. Good driver, deserves another year to improve.
 
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Well personally I'd hire the guy with 19 years of F1 experience with such a wide array of teams and successful results in almost every season over the guy people can't decide is good or just lucky. You can't really get a safer bet than Barrichello.
 
Ardius
Well personally I'd hire the guy with 19 years of F1 experience with such a wide array of teams and successful results in almost every season over the guy people can't decide is good or just lucky. You can't really get a safer bet than Barrichello.
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Agreed. But I'm affraid what really mattered in this decision was sponsorship money.

The fact it was an economy journalist who broke the news here in Brazil, not a sports one, tells you a lot about the decision.
 
But where is the information in a bunch of twitter accounts repeating the same thing over and over?
 
No, I meant where is the information other than what we already know. We know that 1 radio stationed "confirmed" it but to be told by a million people the same thing is not new information.
A 2nd radio station also "confirming" it is almost as meaningless - are they confirming their own sources or is their source in fact the 1st radio station or twitter?

If someone says "here is some information", I kind of expect, you know, information? I see nothing but the same rumour repeated or "confirmed" by other people.

I'll believe this one (as usual) when I read it in media that normally doesn't publish till its actually confirmed (or at least close). For the moment its the claim of one radio station being repeated by everyone else.
 
Ardius
No, I meant where is the information other than what we already know. We know that 1 radio stationed "confirmed" it but to be told by a million people the same thing is not new information.
A 2nd radio station also "confirming" it is almost as meaningless - are they confirming their own sources or is their source in fact the 1st radio station or twitter?

If someone says "here is some information", I kind of expect, you know, information? I see nothing but the same rumour repeated or "confirmed" by other people.

I'll believe this one (as usual) when I read it in media that normally doesn't publish till its actually confirmed (or at least close). For the moment its the claim of one radio station being repeated by everyone else.
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There is nothing official yet, you don't have to beleive it. From the sources reporting, I beleive the deal is done.

First, a very renowned economy journalist put his name on this story. Its good indication deal was done for commercial reasons. Now a second source, very good young motorsports journalist, has published that Williams confirmed Senna was at their headquartes last week. Third, one of the top motorsports journalists quotes on his blog someone from a Bruno sponsor saying "very good news this afternoon".

Given the fact that there is massive buzz on this and no comment at all from Williams or Senna, I am sure this is true. Otherwise they would have already said something. But again, you don't have to beleive it yet.
 
Ardius
No offense, but where is the information? I mean, twitter is inevitably just a bunch of people parroting things anyway but that link is just that - people just repeating the same rumour already reported.
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Brazilian Formula 1 journalists are a lot like the Spanish - they're very quick to post things like this, and it's not always true. They tend to hype the Brazilian drivers up, too. I believe they were doing it about this time last year, claiming Bruno Senna had a drive for 2011.

Ardius
^Now thats information. 👍
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"Respected" journalists were putting their name to stories of Senna signing a contract last year as well ...
 
Peter.
Ferrari is Ferrari, they can get any driver they want, really. I'm willing to bet my house that Ferrari buys Vettel out of his contract with Red Bull in the next few years.
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I'm sure we will see Vettel at Ferrari at some point as he have said himself that he would like to drive for Ferrari in the future because of their history. But as long Red Bull deliver him a good car, he will probably stay there.
 
Centura
I'm sure we will see Vettel at Ferrari at some point as he have said himself that he would like to drive for Ferrari in the future because of their history. But as long Red Bull deliver him a good car, he will probably stay there.
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Schumacher left Benetton for Ferrari when he won the title in 1995. At that time Ferrari had the 3rd best car, on a good day. He had offers from Williams and McLaren I believe, but chose to go to Ferrari.
 
He chose to go to Ferrari because he was impressed by their plans for the long-term future. Those plans came to fruition.
 
prisonermonkeys
Brazilian Formula 1 journalists are a lot like the Spanish - they're very quick to post things like this, and it's not always true. They tend to hype the Brazilian drivers up, too. I believe they were doing it about this time last year, claiming Bruno Senna had a drive for 2011.


"Respected" journalists were putting their name to stories of Senna signing a contract last year as well ...
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All bad journalists do that, its not something limited to Brazilians or the Spanish.

And I was referring to RodrigoDLL explaining the background to the sources..rather than simply posting links to stories.
"A Brazilian radio show announced this." is pretty limited information.
"A renowned economy journalist announced this on a Brazilian radio show" is much better.

The more information, the better. It doesn't mean I believe it yet, its just I wish to read more about the sources, who is who and the background to what is being said.
Simply repeating the original story is not information.
 
Well, I was reading RodrigoDLL's comments that "a renowned economy journalist announced this on a Brazilian radio show" meant that the story is more credible because he put his name to it. Which is a reasonable conclusion to make; I would be more willing to believe something that Jon Noble or Keith Collantine or Adam Cooper reports, as opposed to something printed by Christian Sylt or Joe Saward or Antonio Lobato. But as you ahve rightly pointed out, this is by no means confirmation.

RodrigoDLL
Given the fact that there is massive buzz on this and no comment at all from Williams or Senna, I am sure this is true. Otherwise they would have already said something. But again, you don't have to beleive it yet.
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I find this disturbing. "Nothing has been said, so it's obviously true"? Have you been reading The Curious Case of the Dog in the Night-Time, by any chance?

When Kimi Raikkonen was talking to Williams, I saw a lot of comments (mostly on other forums) where people basically said "Nothing has been said about it for a while now, so it must be done - Raikkonen will be driving for Williams". He is now signed for Lotus.
 
I'm hoping they choose Senna over Sutil (assuming it's down to that). Williams should be moving up next season, and due to the sizable changes in the regulations, it may be by more than what's fair to assume. And in any case, I'd want the driver that rides this improvement to be someone who isn't boring.

Petrov was probably never in talks with Williams, but I can still hope that despite his pre-Grosjean-signing, williams-related comment, that he may have since thrown his name in the hat.
 
The problem with Senna (and, for that matter, Sutil) at Williams is that it just isn't a very exciting signing. For the past few years, they've signed a string of drivers who were either solid and dependable (like Wurz and Barrichello), who were underwhelming (like Nakajima and Maldonado), or who just didn't make an impression (like Hulkenberg; all anyone can remember of him was his pole in Brazil). You have to look all the way back to 2004 to find someone - Juan Pablo Montoya - who put the fire back into the team. Senna and Sutil don't have that. Sutil would probably fall in with Wurz and Barrichello, while Senna would be in link with the Nakajimas and Maldonados. Williams need an exciting driver in the team, and I think the best choice would be Kamui Kobayashi (assuming the talk of Ferrari buying him out of his contract is true). Or, failing that, Jaime Alguersuari (less exciting that Kobayashi, but more than Sutil/Senna).
 
The Outlaw
I'm not sure I agree with you guys. First of all, Perez is still a rather unexperienced/unproven commodity, and throwing him in the Ferrari seat right now to let him develop is probably not what Ferrari are after (especially after the drought they've had over the past few years), as they'd rather wait and see how he develops in a team like Sauber...as just about any other sensible top team would do (Red Bull are doing the same with their long list of drivers knocking at the front door).

I think Ferrari are more worried about delivering a really good car for next year, as that has been the bigger problem over the past few years. I think if they can deliver a car that is a legitmate contendor, Felipe (who Ferrari are fairly loyal to, and have faith in) might be able to rekindle enough form to help Ferrari become a legitmate WCC contendor. Additionally, I think it has been rather obvious that Ferrari have a ton of faith in Fernando (everyone from Gene to Luca praise not only his driving ability, but the spark he has brought to the team) , and his ability to carry the team, so I think saying otherwise is maybe a bit questionable.
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I can see where it is questionable, but I don't see any of the other top drivers moving over and if they did I don't see any bending over to Alonso. Jenson wont, Hamilton...don't make me laugh he'd wreck FA if he was asked to pull over and Vettel would tell Ferrari to shove it. I just don't see who else they could pick but a young guy that still needs to train. Perez seems like a good choice to me because of the young driver program for Ferrari and the ability to grow under Alonso and take over down the road.

I still think Ferrari should worry about being surpassed at the end of this decade or early into the next, on WCCs. I also agree it is rather obvious that they place a ton of faith in Alonso, that part I didn't agree with PM on among other things.
 
I don't think they are panicking about being surpassed in the constructors championship total just yet.

Let's face it. Other than Lewis' title, Mclaren haven't won anything for a decade.
 
F1 fan
I don't think they are panicking about being surpassed in the constructors championship total just yet.

Let's face it. Other than Lewis' title, Mclaren haven't won anything for a decade.
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Well if Jenson is given the right car he can pick up where Lewis is supposed to be or vice versa. However, the past three WCC McLaren were ahead which should be worrying for Ferrari, whether it was win or not is another story. Ferrari to me are like Porsche of Le Mans. They'll come around and give a car that will keep them the best in history stand point.

I guess I should throw in WDC too, cause it will probably happen more quickly than WCC for the other teams that aren't far behind Ferrari.

EDIT: Petrov to Ferrar? found this along with Petrov rumors to Caterham again.
 
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It's possible, but absurd given he denied Alonso the 2010 title. And you don't just join Ferrari for a year or two, Ferrari is a deep commitment.
 
More news on Senna. He said he is in England right now but denied having signed anything yet to another famous motorsports journalist. He said he took physical tests and had meetings with technical people, as part of evaluation process.

Another source said Williams asked the Renault engine people (now a Williams supplier) for data about Senna.

To prisonermonkeys: I know some Brazilian journalists, the ones linked with media giant GLOBO, are very biased on brazilian drivers. But I dont follow them. The ones I am quoting are usually the ones criticizing Bruno for his (lack of) results and pointing that currently Bruno is still more of a pay driver than a real talent.
 
OMG Bruno Senna is in England!?!?!?! He must be joining Williams then, he couldn't possibly have gone to any number of other F1 organisations...
 
LMSCorvetteGT2
I can see where it is questionable, but I don't see any of the other top drivers moving over and if they did I don't see any bending over to Alonso. Jenson wont, Hamilton...don't make me laugh he'd wreck FA if he was asked to pull over and Vettel would tell Ferrari to shove it. I just don't see who else they could pick but a young guy that still needs to train. Perez seems like a good choice to me because of the young driver program for Ferrari and the ability to grow under Alonso and take over down the road.
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I certainly can see Ferrari possibly picking up Perez in the next few years (no disagreement there), but again, he needs to prove himself first. He's young and still has plenty of years ahead of him. I think as Peter said, Ferrari have always tended to let a driver develop elsewhere over several years, before picking them up (which I think is the smart/safe thing to do), so I'm sure it will be no different if they happen to pick up Perez in the future (unless he becomes some mega talent next year...which he hasn't really shown as of yet). Ferrari also have Jules Bianchi in their Academy who they seem keen on having drive alongside Perez at Sauber. So if at all possible, I'm sure Ferrari would be just fine on letting those two have their little shootout (like Ricciardo & Vergne next year) to try and impress and earn a seat in the Scuderia camp in the following years.

Beyond Perez and Bianchi, with Ferrari's strength and prestige in F1, they certainly have a lot of power to lure strong drivers their way. I could see someone like Rosberg possibly going to Ferrari, if MGP happens to not live up the expectations in the next year or 2. Also, we can't forget Kubica, who if returns to strong form, could also be a candidate as well. The same could be said for Sutil or even Di Resta...the list is quite long really, given how many strong drivers there are in the sport, or who are knocking on the door.

Straying a bit OT - Personally I don't feel there has been enough evidence thus far to suggest that even IF (I don't think it would hapen to begin with) Alonso were paired up with say Vettel at Ferrari, that Ferrari would automatically favor Alonso and tell Vettel to pull over even if both were evenly strong contendors midway through a season. The situation at Hockenheim in 2010 was a bit blown out of porportion IMO. Yes, it was sad not see Massa get the victory he deserved, but then again, improving the possiblity to gain a WDC at the end of the year is WAY more important to Ferrari then letting Massa get his return to glory by winning a race. And despite what Ferrari might say, I don't think they would knowingly sign a driver that could compete/be a threat/or create tension with Fernando to begin with, as I'd imagine they rather only have 1 driver compete for the WDC while the other picks up enough scraps to get the WCC (kind of like what RBR had last year). I think having a situation like at Mclaren, where both drivers seem quite evenly matched (although I think last year was a bit of an anomoly, mainly because of the technical regs. & tires suiting JB like a glove IMO, and Hamilton's mental breakdown lol), can create unneccesary tension between the team on track and off track. Recent examples of this would be Mclaren '07, Red Bull '10, and to an extent this year at Mclaren where we saw some hairy moves between Lewis & Jenson on several occasions. Of course there are benefits to have having 2 very strong drivers to, but generally it tends to be a more volatile situation unless both drivers are very fair & have a similar mindset.

I know I've probably expanded a bit unneccesarily on your points...it's an interesting topic to me though :lol:
 
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