2009 Season Discussions: Line-ups, News and Miscellaneous

[Zack]

... and at the moment F1 needs stability to survive and may be some CHANGE related to standardization is ok! as suggested by FOTA. (((KERS IS CURSE)))!

[Arrows_F1]

F1 is clearly loosing audience on the TV an on the track (and not only because Schumi left F1). And if they introduce standarized engine tenders, they will loose much much more audience, and then it may be the end of F1. That's my fear at the moment.

F1 introduces standarized enignes >>> F1 looses audience all over the world >>> some countrys will drop F1 from their programme or will only show the race or even the race highlights >>> F1 loses money >>> the teams lose money >>> more and more teams will leave F1 >>> F1 will stop existing or will be only a middle class race series like A1GP or Formula3 or Formula3000

do you think this is a realistic scenario ?

[kimi and mika]

Isn't this 2008/2009 silly season?

I expect most drivers to keep their places, just the Torro Rosso and the back of the pack to sort out. They're wont be any rush, we need to see what happens to Honda.

[JoostLamers]

It's official: Buemi for STR!!

http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/n ... 5542.shtml

[shailf1]

Formula One's ruling body, the FIA, has made public the official entry list for the 2009 World Championship.

The list shows no surprises, with Lewis Hamilton confirmed as using the number one on his McLaren next season.

The entry list also includes the Honda Racing team, who are still looking for a buyer in order to be on the grid when the season starts in Melbourne.

2009 entry list

1 Lewis HAMILTON (GB) VODAFONE McLAREN MERCEDES McLAREN MERCEDES
2 Heikki KOVALAINEN (FIN) VODAFONE McLAREN MERCEDES McLAREN MERCEDES

3 Kimi RAIKKONEN (FIN) SCUDERIA FERRARI MARLBORO FERRARI
4 Felipe MASSA (BR) SCUDERIA FERRARI MARLBORO FERRARI

5 Robert KUBICA (PL) BMW SAUBER F1 TEAM BMW SAUBER
6 Nick HEIDFELD (D) BMW SAUBER F1 TEAM BMW SAUBER

7 Fernando ALONSO (E) ING RENAULT F1 TEAM RENAULT
8 Nelson PIQUET (BR) ING RENAULT F1 TEAM RENAULT

9 Jarno TRULLI (I) PANASONIC TOYOTA RACING TOYOTA
10 Timo GLOCK (D) PANASONIC TOYOTA RACING TOYOTA

11 Sebastien BUEMI (CH) SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO STR FERRARI
12 TBA SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO STR FERRARI

14 Mark WEBBER (AUS) RED BULL RACING RBR RENAULT
15 Sebastian VETTEL (D) RED BULL RACING RBR RENAULT

16 Nico ROSBERG (D) AT&T WILLIAMS WILLIAMS TOYOTA
17 Kazuki NAKAJIMA (J) AT&T WILLIAMS WILLIAMS TOYOTA

18 TBA TBA HONDA RACING F1 TEAM HONDA *
19 TBA TBA HONDA RACING F1 TEAM HONDA *

20 Adrian SUTIL (D) FORCE INDIA F1 TEAM FORCE INDIA MERCEDES
21 Giancarlo FISICHELLA (I) FORCE INDIA F1 TEAM FORCE INDIA MERCEDES

-

Massa should be no3

[JoostLamers]

Where are the latest rumours of the 2nd STR driver??

[swca92]

There are none

[iceman1]

Will 2009 Be The First Time Only One Briton Competes?

The 2009 season could mark the first time a championship has only featured one British driver. From the sport’s beginnings back in 1950, the Formula One World Championship has attracted many Britons and never before have we seen only one British competitor sign up to the official entry list. Of course, we are still awaiting for Scuderia Toro Rosso to fill their final seat, and Jenson Button may still make it if Honda are purchased. But so far, the signs don’t look too optimistic.

[metalhead188]

STR wants to hire Button so they are delaying their choice until they find out the fate of Honda... Sato looks to be the next logical choice

[kimi and mika]

aparently Bourdais is the 2nd driver, don't have the link but I think it was f1update. Not sure though.

[BMWSauber5]

Bourdais hasnt got a confirmed contract, but their gettin there

[donald29]

Yeah it seems like it will go to Bourdais. I think some of Sato's sponsorship money from Japan has dried up with the current economic climate.

[why so serious]

A French site claims Bourdais already signed for STR
(translated from French to English via Yahoo BabelFish)

After having lengthily discussed with a known French journalist much, we learned that Sebastien Bourdais should sign his contract with the stable Toro Rosso in the current of the week. Information which the ToileF1 site is happy to reveal you of exclusiveness. Our advisor who did not have to give us information refused to see his name quoted in this article. On his side, the journalist had the information confirmed by several members of the stable Toro Rosso. In spite of several rumours, in particular that launched by radio operator Europe1 last week, the French pilot Sebastien Bourdais thus sees his assured future formulates 1 for the season 2009 of them.

http://www.toilef1.com/Bourdais-signe-s ... cette.html

[karkai6]

Bourdais can scale greater heights... 4 time champcar champ... Not without stuff....

[Fr0ZzZeN]

I hope Bourdais gets another shot. I dont think he did that badly vs Vettel last year. He was just really really unlucky.