2009 Season Discussions: Line-ups, News and Miscellaneous

[Zack]

Fernando Alonso and Nelson Piquet will continue to drive for Renault next year. The French team confirmed an unchanged driver line-up on Wednesday, and ended speculation about a possible switch to Honda from the Spaniard. Alonso will also be a Renault driver in 2010, Piquet only has a one-year deal.

Full report to follow.
http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2008/11/ ... -for-2009/

*shocked* ... Probably Alonso has requested to keep Nelson!.

[Arrows_F1]

wow, never expected Renault would keep Piquet jr.. But maybe they will drop during next season him, if he doesn't score good results

[AzShadow]

*sigh* I wonder if the "Alonso to Ferrari in 2010" rumors will end now. But of course they won't and at least the press will be talking about 2011 fairly soon. Anyway, I think too that it's Alonso who wants Piquet to say because as we know, he prefers to have a substantially weaker teammate (Fisico in 2005 and 2006) and thus Renault can make Alonso the number one driver and fight for the championship. It's also the way McLaren works nowadays. That's not very helpful in the constructors championship, but there's been suggestions about sharing the money equally so the WCC might not matter so much for long.

[koinek]

How in the hell did Nelson Piquet Jr. hold on to his job? Sure, he had flashes of good driving but they were far too inconsistent for a top team (Renault still qualify for this I think). Alonso needs a solid team mate and Nelsinho is not fitting that mould at all. They should have gone for Grosjean or Senna. Hell even Pantano might have been a better pick.


Thoughts?

[fclen]

Alonso's detractors will tell you that keeping Piquet is all about Alonso having a No. 2 driver that will not threaten him in 2009. Truth is, Nelson has only had one season in F1 and in a crappy car to boot. I am glad they gave him a chance to develop with the team for next season. If next year he's c**p, he should be sacked...

[koinek]

Sure it is a c**p car but look at what Fernando has been able to do so far. I mean the least we can expect is consistent points finishes but he hasn't even given that. After testing F1 for a year, you really come to expect more from Nelsinho. At the very least, keep it off the walls.

[koinek]

^Alonso to Ferrari rumors will never end. Unless he actually ends up there. I really think that Kimi will retire after 2009. Hopefully then we can see it happen.

What do you guys think about Rubens? I feel sorry for the guy especially because of the c**p car he's had for his last two seasons but I really doubt we'll see him in 2009.

[Haukinen]

I guess, that they don't want to do the same thing, what they did to Kovalainen...

[jayb7]

i was sure he was going to get the boot from fabio.
alonso out qualified him in every single race this season. not even schumacher managed that.

[TwistedArmco]

Sure it is a c**p car but look at what Fernando has been able to do so far. I mean the least we can expect is consistent points finishes but he hasn't even given that. After testing F1 for a year, you really come to expect more from Nelsinho. At the very least, keep it off the walls.

But Fernando is a double World Champ, and possibly the best driver out there right now. Piquet was a rookie in a low confidence environment. He will do better next year.

[Zack]

Sure it is a c**p car but look at what Fernando has been able to do so far. I mean the least we can expect is consistent points finishes but he hasn't even given that. After testing F1 for a year, you really come to expect more from Nelsinho. At the very least, keep it off the walls.

But Fernando is a double World Champ, and possibly the best driver out there right now. Piquet was a rookie in a low confidence environment. He will do better next year.

I agree with koinek ...actually Piquet Jr. makes car look bad than actually it is.

Piquet Jr. 2008:
He gave the first podium finish and first victory to the Team.

[JoostLamers]

I am happy with this decision! Give the man a second chance! , but I don't understand why Nando has sigend a new deal for 2009 AND 2010

[AzShadow]

Why not? Renault is the best option he's got in F1 at the moment.

[iceman1]

looks like senna will go to torro or honda

[TwistedArmco]

Piquet Jr. 2008:
He gave the first podium finish..

Yeah, I remember that..

and first victory to the Team.

Singapore.. hehe. I didn't get what you meant at first.