Silly Season 2009-10: Making sense of it all
Posted: 03 Sep 2009, 16:25
Fernando back to McLaren?! Kubica off to Ferrari!? Kimi driving a Williams!? and a 3rd car at Ferrari for Schumacher...
Making sense of it all
This season has thrown up one of the silliest silly seasons in living memory. Just about every driver has been linked with every team so lets try and make sense of it all now that the summer is over and people start thinking sensibly again.
For reigning Constructors Champions Ferrari, it seems certain that the injured Felipe Massa will make his comeback for 2010, but who partners him is still anyone's guess. The hot tip at the beginning of the summer was that Renault's Fernando Alonso would finally wear red, seeing as Kimi Raikkonen seemed uninterested in F1, as well as having outings in rally and the move of Spanish banking giant sponsor Santander from McLaren to Ferrari. However, it is rumoured that Santander want to stay at McLaren and with Raikkonen's gain in form and desire to see out his contract, it is looking increasingly likely that Alonso won't make his Ferrari debut until 2011. However, Renault seem to be chasing a contract with Finnish mobile phone company Nokia, who would replace ING as Renault's primary sponsor and they would be keen for Raikkonen to race for Renault. This would open the door for Alonso to make his move to Ferrari. Recently announced for the remaining races of 2009 as #3 driver, Giancarlo Fisichella will move into a testing role with Ferrari and he is likely to retire, however, this is not officially confirmed and he may well seek a seat at Force India again for 2010.
With McLaren, Lewis Hamilton has a contract until 2012 and will likely stay with them until his retirement. However, the 2nd seat is up for grabs, with Heikki Kovalainen, Kimi Raikkonen, Nico Rosberg and a few others in contention. Lets start with Heikki: He is into his 3rd F1 season and 2nd with the Woking-based team. He has been destroyed by Hamilton, although this is partly due to the team favouring Lewis in terms of strategy and car set-up direction. Heikki is unlikely to keep his seat and may seek refuge at a new team, most likely Manor, or a return to Renault or a new start at Williams. Nico Rosberg is the hot favourite due to Mercedes' desire to have a German driver, and his superb outings in 2009 - only failing to score in 2 events - means his stock has been rising since the start of the season. He is also extremley good friends with Hamilton and this should help with team relations, however, father Keke may be keen to make sure his son is equal No.1, something which McLaren are unlikely to agree with. The outsider is former driver Kimi Raikkonen, who drove for the team from 2002 until 2006, amassing 9 wins with them. He is still highly regarded amongst the McLaren team and a main reason why he left was that his relationship with Ron Dennis had deteriorated to the point where it could not be repaired. Now Ron has gone, Kimi may feel like a return to McLaren is the best option should Ferrari buy out his contract.
Renault look likely to retain Romain Grosjean for 2010, however, who drives the other car depends on many things: whether a buyer is found for BMW Sauber, whether Alonso leaves or whether Rosberg joins McLaren. However, the most likely candidate is Robert Kubica, as he used to be part of the Renault YDP. If Nokia agree a partnership with the French squad, then don't be surprised if the 2007 champion joins them. Over at Toyota, both drivers are seeking alternatives. Jarno Trulli looks to be heading to the door, and Timo Glock is talking to teams due to uncertainty over the Japanese squad's future in the sport. With the team still without a win, it will not come as a surprise if the team do withdraw, but expect to see Timo Glock lead the team, with Kamui Kobayashi join him. Although Nick Heidfeld is an outsider for the seat.
At Williams, Nico Hulkenberg will race for them (yet to be confirmed, but it is undoubtedly assumed around the paddock) due to his stunning success in GP2 this season. Nick Heidfeld may take the second seat although this could be dependant on who supplies them with engines. With the team looking to exit from their contract from Toyota, and his poor performances this season, Kazuki Nakajima looks to be exiting the team.
Over at STR, they are looking for continuity and have said that it is highly likely that Sebastien Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari will race next year with the squad using Ferrari engines. Red Bull Racing are to keep both Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber, but are looking for an alternative engine supplier due to a disastrous season with Renault which may ultimately cost them both titles. The most likely engine supplier they will use is Mercedes, but the FIA may not be keen on 4 teams using the same engine.
At BMW, both drivers are looking for escape routes, with Christian Klien lingering around incase the team find a buyer, which is looking increasingly unlikely. Nelsinho Piquet may drive for the team if a buyer is found. Should the team not find a buyer, Epsilon Euskardi look favourites to take their slot and would be keen to have 2 Spanish drivers.
New boys USF1 have had many names associated with them, however, the man most likely to lead the team is 1997 F1 Champion Jacques Villeneuve, who has upped his fitness regime and has been in contact with Peter Windsor and Ken Anderson, as well as making numerous appearances in the paddock. He has also stated his desire to return to F1 now they have done away with driver aids and grooved tyres. The second seat may well be filled by anyone, but Jonathan Summerton or Sebastien Bourdais are favourites. Sebastien Loeb has been in contact with the team, but would only be willing to make a few appearances and USF1 are likely to want continuity. Talking about continuity, they may only offer Villeneuve a 1 year contract as he is nearing his 40s. Whilst this season has seen the "old dogs" shine, they may want JV to help a young driver and the team in the direction of setting up the car, before introducing a new driver in 2011.
What's happening at Campos then? Well, it seems to be set in stone that experienced McLaren test driver Pedro de La Rosa and GP2 frontrunner Vitaly P€trov drive for the team, but there are numerous young (rich) Spaniards still in contention. At Manor, Adam Carroll (A1GP winner, GP2 winner) has been in contact with the team and Max Chilton, (son of Duncan Chilton, rich businessman willing to buy a steak in the team) may well become the youngest ever F1 driver. However, with such inexperience, the FIA, quite rightly, may deny him the chance to have a superlicense... for now. Also in contention are the drivers who don't have a conract for next year with their current team. Along with these guys, Portugal's Alvaro Parente (GP2 race winner for Ocean Racing Technology) is in contention for the seat.
And finally, we get to current championship leaders Brawn GP. Jenson Button is likely to remain with the team but Rubens Barrichello's position is the one under threat. With his outbursts this year, the team were very close to sacking him after the German GP on July 12th, such was their disgust in the way he treated the team. However, his stunning drive at the European Grand Prix has all but secured his 2010 seat, which was coming under threat from 3rd driver Anthony Davidson, who himself is seeking a seat in 2010.
Article by phil1993
Making sense of it all
This season has thrown up one of the silliest silly seasons in living memory. Just about every driver has been linked with every team so lets try and make sense of it all now that the summer is over and people start thinking sensibly again.
For reigning Constructors Champions Ferrari, it seems certain that the injured Felipe Massa will make his comeback for 2010, but who partners him is still anyone's guess. The hot tip at the beginning of the summer was that Renault's Fernando Alonso would finally wear red, seeing as Kimi Raikkonen seemed uninterested in F1, as well as having outings in rally and the move of Spanish banking giant sponsor Santander from McLaren to Ferrari. However, it is rumoured that Santander want to stay at McLaren and with Raikkonen's gain in form and desire to see out his contract, it is looking increasingly likely that Alonso won't make his Ferrari debut until 2011. However, Renault seem to be chasing a contract with Finnish mobile phone company Nokia, who would replace ING as Renault's primary sponsor and they would be keen for Raikkonen to race for Renault. This would open the door for Alonso to make his move to Ferrari. Recently announced for the remaining races of 2009 as #3 driver, Giancarlo Fisichella will move into a testing role with Ferrari and he is likely to retire, however, this is not officially confirmed and he may well seek a seat at Force India again for 2010.
With McLaren, Lewis Hamilton has a contract until 2012 and will likely stay with them until his retirement. However, the 2nd seat is up for grabs, with Heikki Kovalainen, Kimi Raikkonen, Nico Rosberg and a few others in contention. Lets start with Heikki: He is into his 3rd F1 season and 2nd with the Woking-based team. He has been destroyed by Hamilton, although this is partly due to the team favouring Lewis in terms of strategy and car set-up direction. Heikki is unlikely to keep his seat and may seek refuge at a new team, most likely Manor, or a return to Renault or a new start at Williams. Nico Rosberg is the hot favourite due to Mercedes' desire to have a German driver, and his superb outings in 2009 - only failing to score in 2 events - means his stock has been rising since the start of the season. He is also extremley good friends with Hamilton and this should help with team relations, however, father Keke may be keen to make sure his son is equal No.1, something which McLaren are unlikely to agree with. The outsider is former driver Kimi Raikkonen, who drove for the team from 2002 until 2006, amassing 9 wins with them. He is still highly regarded amongst the McLaren team and a main reason why he left was that his relationship with Ron Dennis had deteriorated to the point where it could not be repaired. Now Ron has gone, Kimi may feel like a return to McLaren is the best option should Ferrari buy out his contract.
Renault look likely to retain Romain Grosjean for 2010, however, who drives the other car depends on many things: whether a buyer is found for BMW Sauber, whether Alonso leaves or whether Rosberg joins McLaren. However, the most likely candidate is Robert Kubica, as he used to be part of the Renault YDP. If Nokia agree a partnership with the French squad, then don't be surprised if the 2007 champion joins them. Over at Toyota, both drivers are seeking alternatives. Jarno Trulli looks to be heading to the door, and Timo Glock is talking to teams due to uncertainty over the Japanese squad's future in the sport. With the team still without a win, it will not come as a surprise if the team do withdraw, but expect to see Timo Glock lead the team, with Kamui Kobayashi join him. Although Nick Heidfeld is an outsider for the seat.
At Williams, Nico Hulkenberg will race for them (yet to be confirmed, but it is undoubtedly assumed around the paddock) due to his stunning success in GP2 this season. Nick Heidfeld may take the second seat although this could be dependant on who supplies them with engines. With the team looking to exit from their contract from Toyota, and his poor performances this season, Kazuki Nakajima looks to be exiting the team.
Over at STR, they are looking for continuity and have said that it is highly likely that Sebastien Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari will race next year with the squad using Ferrari engines. Red Bull Racing are to keep both Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber, but are looking for an alternative engine supplier due to a disastrous season with Renault which may ultimately cost them both titles. The most likely engine supplier they will use is Mercedes, but the FIA may not be keen on 4 teams using the same engine.
At BMW, both drivers are looking for escape routes, with Christian Klien lingering around incase the team find a buyer, which is looking increasingly unlikely. Nelsinho Piquet may drive for the team if a buyer is found. Should the team not find a buyer, Epsilon Euskardi look favourites to take their slot and would be keen to have 2 Spanish drivers.
New boys USF1 have had many names associated with them, however, the man most likely to lead the team is 1997 F1 Champion Jacques Villeneuve, who has upped his fitness regime and has been in contact with Peter Windsor and Ken Anderson, as well as making numerous appearances in the paddock. He has also stated his desire to return to F1 now they have done away with driver aids and grooved tyres. The second seat may well be filled by anyone, but Jonathan Summerton or Sebastien Bourdais are favourites. Sebastien Loeb has been in contact with the team, but would only be willing to make a few appearances and USF1 are likely to want continuity. Talking about continuity, they may only offer Villeneuve a 1 year contract as he is nearing his 40s. Whilst this season has seen the "old dogs" shine, they may want JV to help a young driver and the team in the direction of setting up the car, before introducing a new driver in 2011.
What's happening at Campos then? Well, it seems to be set in stone that experienced McLaren test driver Pedro de La Rosa and GP2 frontrunner Vitaly P€trov drive for the team, but there are numerous young (rich) Spaniards still in contention. At Manor, Adam Carroll (A1GP winner, GP2 winner) has been in contact with the team and Max Chilton, (son of Duncan Chilton, rich businessman willing to buy a steak in the team) may well become the youngest ever F1 driver. However, with such inexperience, the FIA, quite rightly, may deny him the chance to have a superlicense... for now. Also in contention are the drivers who don't have a conract for next year with their current team. Along with these guys, Portugal's Alvaro Parente (GP2 race winner for Ocean Racing Technology) is in contention for the seat.
And finally, we get to current championship leaders Brawn GP. Jenson Button is likely to remain with the team but Rubens Barrichello's position is the one under threat. With his outbursts this year, the team were very close to sacking him after the German GP on July 12th, such was their disgust in the way he treated the team. However, his stunning drive at the European Grand Prix has all but secured his 2010 seat, which was coming under threat from 3rd driver Anthony Davidson, who himself is seeking a seat in 2010.
Article by phil1993