Your predictions for the driver line-up, 2010

[The Outlaw]

I think Kimi's situation is a bit peculiar, because from what I read somewhere, he gets a lot of money from Ferrari (not sure if it's his year salary) but only if he doesn't have a salary from another F1 team.

So, basically he wins more by not racing this year (at least in F1, don't know if it applies to anmy rallying contract)

I've read that Kimi is being paid €17m to take a year out of f1 by Ferrari, this would drop to €10m if he drove for another team.

This 👍

As for point one, don't agree with it. Just because a car has been built around the No1 driver, who happens to be able to get the best out of it, doesn't mean Jenson can't do the same. Don't make any assumptions based on Kova's results, the guy is poor. I fully expect Jenson to push Lewis, though I reckon Lewis will come out on top.

Well a lot of people are just looking for an early excuse for Button in case he doesn't perform up to par next year. I'm of the opinion that if they gave Hamilton a car designed around Button's driving style he would do just as well as Button. Even then the whole "car designed around the driver" argument is a bit of BS...case in point, the MP4-24 Mclaren chassis in the beginning of 09...I mean who the hell was that designed for? Then you also have the fact that the designers always go for the most optimal design period, with things like aero balance and weight ballast and suspension/brake settings being left up to the driver and team to set-up.

I don't recall such posts here, I do in other forums.

Not really a fair comment if none of the people here who posted about there being favouritism at McLaren weren't the ones who stated the opposite previously.
.

Well that was my point that I should have made more clear - on other forums. I never specified here on GTPlanet , as there doesn't seem to be too many hardcore Alonso haters fortunately

 

[Sureboss]

Dear lord, this has to have been the most bat-flapping-insane season for driver changes we have seen..well..ever! Before 2009, could anyone have predicted Raikkonen out of a drive? Schumacher cancelling a return? Badoer returning after 10 years? Fisichella to Ferrari? Button to McLaren? Barrichello to Williams?

It seems the only predictable change was Alonso to Ferrari.

Schumacher returning again but for Mercedes will surely top the cake? Or do we really think Jacques Villenueve is coming back? Who is next? Damon Hill? Jean Alesi? Zombie Ayrton Senna?

That'd be the scariest F1 driver/son racing against each other event, wouldn't it?

"Here comes Bruno, closely followed by his late father, oh and look, Scooby and Scrappy have ended up in a doughnut van!"

Anyone reckon there's a seat for Davidson anywhere? Plenty of new seats available, he's surely been spoken to by someone.

 

[Ardius]

I hope Ant gets the Lotus seat, he has a chance at both them and Manor, but in my opinion Manor is a huge risk consdering they are designing their car entirely from CFD.

Seeing as no one has been strongly linked with USF1, I guess he has a chance there too.

Actually, it seems half the Super Aguri drivers have a chance of coming back, wiith Montagny, Sato and Davidson all linked with seats.

 

[maximumattack]

That'd be the scariest F1 driver/son racing against each other event, wouldn't it?

"Here comes Bruno, closely followed by his late father, oh and look, Scooby and Scrappy have ended up in a doughnut van!"

Bruno is Ayrtons nephew

 

[Bram Turismo]

Well, I'd like to see Heidfeld in a top car for a change

Heidfeld was in a top car last season, he blew it. Pesonally, I'd show Heidfeld the exit if I were Brawn and Heidfeld came knocking on my door. It'll be a surprise to see who's taking the next seat, but I hope Brawn goes bazookas and throw in a Kobayashi in the mix

 

[Ardius]

6th place in a car that was only 3rd best is not bad, well, he's a better choice than the other likely drivers.

Hey if we're bringing back great drivers of the past, who could forget about Alain Prost? He's been keeping race sharp in the Andros Trophy over recent years and he's a hugely experienced driver. F1 needs some great barnets

I know this will never happen I'm just being silly

Actually, this may well happen. Well, not in a race seat but he's talked a lot about taking the team principal role at Renault. I think Bob Bell is doing a good job so far it appears so I'd advise Renault to not bring Prost back if I was being sensible. However, I would love to see Renault turn into the new Prost GP, it would probably seal Renault's withdrawal!

 

[Hun200kmh]

... but I hope Brawn goes bazookas and throw in a Kobayashi in the mix

This! 👍

It would be amazing to see Brawn going bazooka and Kobayashi then going banzai all year long

 

[Ian Poole]

"Here comes Bruno, closely followed by his late father, oh and look, Scooby and Scrappy have ended up in a doughnut van!"

And bringing up trhe rear is Dick Dastardly with Penelope Pitstop just in fron of him

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Button to McLaren: Worst. Marketing decision. Ever. It'll be good for the Briitsh Isles - but not much else.

And I don't want to see Heidfeld in a Mercedes, especially if they take Rosberg. The team needs a race-winner and Heidfeld has failed to do that in ten years. Sure, he's beaten every team-mate he's ever had, but I think it's pretty telling that just about every one of thm has gone on to bigger and better things.

 

[Ardius]

Button to McLaren: Worst. Marketing decision. Ever. It'll be good for the Briitsh Isles - but not much else.

Whereas being at Mercedes would be somehow better for other countries?

And I don't want to see Heidfeld in a Mercedes, especially if they take Rosberg. The team needs a race-winner and Heidfeld has failed to do that in ten years. Sure, he's beaten every team-mate he's ever had, but I think it's pretty telling that just about every one of thm has gone on to bigger and better things.

Suggestions?

 

[Bram Turismo]

Sure, he's beaten every team-mate he's ever had,

Apart from Kubica last year

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Whereas being at Mercedes would be somehow better for other countries?

It would give Mercedes' sponsors a little bit more freedom and make it easier to market their image using Mercedes GP. Button is a British champion. Hamilton is a British champion. McLaren is a British team. But if Vodafone or whoever tries to pitch that outside the British Isles, it's not going to stick. How do you think they'd go marketing themselves in France? Button's signing gives them a great had to play in the domestic market, but it's going to be less effective internationally.

Suggestions?

Missing out on Button has hurt Mercedes, but signing Nick Heidfeld would be worse. They'd just be throwing a seat away.

1) Explore Kubica's contract with Renault - if Renault are looking to get out, he might be an option.
2) If they're still looking for a German driver, consider drafting Adrian Sutil. He's impetuous, but so was Felipe Massa, and Ferrari hammered him into shap pretty qucikly.
3) Follow the young driver development; Jules Bianchi has a Ferrari test coming up and if he impresses, make a play for him.

 

[Peter]

Rosberg is German, he's good and he's free for the taking. I bet all the money I have right now that he ends up at Mercedes.

 

[SUPER NUMBBER]

It would give Mercedes' sponsors a little bit more freedom and make it easier to market their image using Mercedes GP. Button is a British champion. Hamilton is a British champion. McLaren is a British team. But if Vodafone or whoever tries to pitch that outside the British Isles, it's not going to stick. How do you think they'd go marketing themselves in France? Button's signing gives them a great had to play in the domestic market, but it's going to be less effective internationally.

Well, I think McLaren doesn't need marketing as much as Mercedes does (at least until they release their supercar); all the more reason to think Mercedes lost out an opportunity with Button.

Rosberg is German, he's good and he's free for the taking. I bet all the money I have right now that he ends up at Mercedes.

I think that's all but confirmed; the one that's supposedly up in the air is the second seat.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Raikkonen says he's open to any offer Mercedes want to make him, so long as they can convince him they'll be fighting for race wins and the titles.

How arrogant can you get? He says he's only interested in McLaren, then bids himself out of the seat, announces a sabbatical, but then says it might not happen if one of the teams approaches him.

What the hell makes you think you're so deserving of a championship-worthy car, Kimi?

 

[The Outlaw]

What the hell makes you think you're so deserving of a championship-worthy car, Kimi?

OMG...We've already told you Because he sees no point in coming back for 2010 when he's going to undoubtedly be losing several million...so of course the only reason he'll come back and lose money is if he can be a true contender for the title. Makes more than enough sense to me I mean why in the hell would he come back for 2010, and basically pay for a seat theoretically, in a non contender team, when he's already racked up a WDC (and anything else is taking a step backwards and tarnishing his record)?

You're just making yourself sound like a hater if anything 👎

 

[tibiquera]

I read rumours that Raikkonen is going to Mercedes. I hope nobody asks for a link, but in case you do, it's not in English.

 

[SUPER NUMBBER]

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this Button-MBGP deal. Now Button says MBGP did in fact everything possible to keep him, but that he "just wanted a new challenge". This after Nick Fry cries foul about Button supposedly breaking contract with his McLaren field trip, despite claiming for months that they were looking for "the right price".

And I wondered why they call it a circus...

 

[Only_in_f1]

I read rumours that Raikkonen is going to Mercedes. I hope nobody asks for a link, but in case you do, it's not in English.

For the future possibly. If Nick gets a 1 year deal I think it'll say alot towards their thoughts to next season.

 

[PeterJB]

I heard from a friend that heard from a friend of a friend that a Russian Company of an unknown name is willing to buy 30% of Renault in exchange for them having Vitaly Petrov on the grid next year, but I haven't found a link yet.

 

[Ardius]

It would give Mercedes' sponsors a little bit more freedom and make it easier to market their image using Mercedes GP. Button is a British champion. Hamilton is a British champion. McLaren is a British team. But if Vodafone or whoever tries to pitch that outside the British Isles, it's not going to stick. How do you think they'd go marketing themselves in France? Button's signing gives them a great had to play in the domestic market, but it's going to be less effective internationally.

It doesn't sound like they didn't provide the right deal because they didn't want his marketing appeal.
Nor did McLaren hire Button because he will be more marketable in Britain. Its simply a added bonus.

McLaren did however choose Button over Raikkonen because Kimi is allegedly very lazy when it comes to doing his bit for the press and marketing.

Missing out on Button has hurt Mercedes, but signing Nick Heidfeld would be worse. They'd just be throwing a seat away.

1) Explore Kubica's contract with Renault - if Renault are looking to get out, he might be an option.
2) If they're still looking for a German driver, consider drafting Adrian Sutil. He's impetuous, but so was Felipe Massa, and Ferrari hammered him into shap pretty qucikly.
3) Follow the young driver development; Jules Bianchi has a Ferrari test coming up and if he impresses, make a play for him.

Sutil is not a better option than Heidfeld. Its highly unlikely they will somehow steal away Kubica, if Renault were going to pull out, they would have done it before now. I remember they had an "emergency meeting" not so long ago and didn't release the result of the meeting, but I doubt they will leave. Although I wouldn't be surprised if it did happen.

Young drivers are a possibility. But they had the chance to do that last time (Senna) and went for Rubens.

I don't see where Heidfeld gets this hate, sure he hasn't been blistering quick in most of his career. But he is not a bad driver, certainly better than rookies or crash-magnets like Sutil.

I mean, if Heidfeld was a bad driver, he wouldn't have managed this:

 

[Ian Poole]

I mean, if Heidfeld was a bad driver, he wouldn't have managed this:

But if he was a good driver, he wouldn't have done this (NOTE: incriminating evidence is at 1:21)

 

[maximumattack]

But if he was a good driver, he wouldn't have done this (NOTE: incriminating evidence is at 1:21)

Come on, its not like he lost control of the car and ploughed through the crowd, as the comment on youtube says he probably thought he could make the corner, everyone makes mistakes from time to time

 

[Ian Poole]

Come on, its not like he lost control of the car and ploughed through the crowd, as the comment on youtube says he probably thought he could make the corner, everyone makes mistakes from time to time

Yeah right(!)

 

[maximumattack]

Yeah right(!)

Ok, I accept he hasn't been outstanding in F1, his best season was 2007 where he came 5th in the drivers championship but prior to this out of 11 different race series he's finished in the top 3 in all but 3 series winning 4 outright.

In F1 he's either been in the wrong team ie. they haven't had a competitive car or he's been outpaced by team mate Kubica. I don't think you should overlook his 10years of experience in the sport, how long did Jenson have to wait for success for?

 

[yeti]

Ha ha - that video was funny... nothing like making a tit out of yourself doing donuts eh!?!

Anyways - back on topic...

Who do we have confirmed now then?

Ferrari
Massa
Alonso

McLaren
Button
Hamilton

Mercedes
Rosberg
?

Williams
Barrichello
Hulkenburg

Red Bull
Vettel
Webber (if he bins Briatore)

Toro Rosso
Buemi
Alguesauri

Force India
?
?

Renault
Kubica
?

Lotus
?
?

Manor
Glock
?

Campos
Senna
?

US F1
?
?

Sauber QADBAK (Assuming they're in cos Toyota are out)
?
?

C.

 

[Ardius]

Webber already binned Briatore - he said he'll just manage himself "its either Flav or no one".

Alguesuari and Rosberg have not been confirmed yet. Both are likely to be at those seats but they are not officially confirmed yet.

 

[Ian Poole]

Ok, I accept he hasn't been outstanding in F1, his best season was 2007 where he came 5th in the drivers championship but prior to this out of 11 different race series he's finished in the top 3 in all but 3 series winning 4 outright.

In F1 he's either been in the wrong team ie. they haven't had a competitive car or he's been outpaced by team mate Kubica. I don't think you should overlook his 10years of experience in the sport, how long did Jenson have to wait for success for?

One could make the argument that it might not help when you are under the shadow of a certain Mr. Schumacher

 

[maximumattack]

One could make the argument that it might not help when you are under the shadow of a certain Mr. Schumacher

Very true, I was of the impression you didn't rate Heidfeld as a driver and I was trying to point out that he is actually a very good driver

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Joe Sward and Argentine media reporting that USF1 has signed Argentine touring car driver Jose Maria Lopez. An odd choice, since he hasn't been in an open-wheeler since 2006 and has a reputation for crashing ...