2010 driver line-up

Dr. Hfuhruhurr · 2010 driver line-up

Isn't Silverstone usually around the time the silly season gets under way? 2008/9 had to be the most sensible silly season ever, with one driver leaving (Coulthard), one moving teams to replace him (Vettel) and one newbie coming into replace him (Buemi), which must bring despair to any aspiring F1 driver, and must also mean that the 2009/10 driver market will be busier than ever.

Of course, given the current uncertainty about which teams will be on the grid, anything could happen, but let's assume for the moment that 2010 sees the current ten teams plus the three approved new ones. That would mean at least six new faces on the grid, but in addition I can't see anything like all of the current 20 keeping their seats. I would guess the following would be most likely to be in the same place:

Hamilton at McLaren
Massa at Ferrari
Button at Brawn
Vettel and Webber at Red Bull
Buemi at STR
Sutil at Force India

I can't see Kovalainen keeping the McLaren #2 drive, while Button's superiority at Brawn could mean they slowly edge Barrichello out of the door. Of the other veteran underachievers, Fisichella's only hope of staying at Force India is the lack of a compelling alternative, though now that Sutil has a few seasons' experience, they might consider a rookie.

Renault and BMW are the hard ones to call. Obviously we know Alonso will move to Ferrari eventually, the only question is whether it's next year or 2011. If the latter, he's obviously guaranteed a seat at Renault as long as he wants it, provided they stay in F1.

The same applies to BMW: there's always the worry the board might decide to pull the plug, and I can't see another Ross Brawn waiting in the wings to rescue it. And even if they stay, their relationship with Kubica seems to have deteriorated, plus his lacklustre performances at the end of last season may have taken some of the lustre off his reputation.

Matt

Vettel for Ferrari, I reckon.

Massa and Kimi can go somewhere.

Dr. Hfuhruhurr

I also have a feeling Bourdais will have more time to do Le Mans in future - STR didn't seem that excited about him - I reckon he only got a second year because of Vettel moving to RBR.

Don't know what Toyota will do - assuming they continue at all. What they should do is try and lure Alonso, but I reckon he's set his heart on Ferrari.

The other enigma is Rosberg: is he actually a potential top-drawer driver, or just someone who turns it on occasionally, but is too inconsistent to mount a title challenge, even given a good enough car? And does he stay at Williams and be undisputed top dog, or potentially replace Kovalainen at McLaren but then have to accept being in Hamilton's team?

TimR

I think Alonso might hold off for a while as Ferrari haven't exactly been stellar recently.

Dr. Hfuhruhurr

True, but you know they'll be up there more often than not. And don't forget that he's making the Renault look far better than it is, whereas Kimi and Felipe aren't really doing the same at Ferrari. The other factor is Renault's budget (and indeed future participation) given the loss of their main sponsor.

I suppose the real question is this: is the current upturned form book a permanent change or a blip? Will Brawn and Red Bull be the form teams next year, or will it be McLaren and Ferrari business as usual?

Big TC

I have read somewhere that Rosberg is being courted as a replacement for Heidfeld. He's the 'right' nationality, being German.

Can't seeing Kubica staying at BMW - would McLaren opt for him in a 'superteam' with Hammy....?

Big Blue

Sav

Sav

I wonder who will fill up these privateer teams? This is a great opportunity for some drivers, Pantano (GP2 title winner) has been linked to a Campos seat.

I think Kimi and Massa are fine as they are.

Dr. Hfuhruhurr

I fear the three new teams will be a repository for drivers who would otherwise have been dropped, or a way back into F1 for drivers who previously tried and failed. Perm any six from Sato, Davidson, Liuzzi, Klien, Pantano, Karthikeyan, Speed, Piquet, Bourdais, and maybe even Kovalainen and Glock.

Sav

Please not Sato, he was a fast driver, but reckless. The main reason why he ever got into F1 was his Japanese nationality, especially at BAR-Honda.

BeN

Was last season the first time all the drivers finished the season with the same team they started with? I certainly don't remember any prior seasons like that.

If Kimi performs shite for the rest of the season, I reckon he could just quit. Vettel would be a good bet to replace him.

Kovalainen could be dropped too. And perhaps even Barrichello, though it's a long shot.

Sav

I think Rubens makes an ideal number 2 to Button, he usually finishes behind him, doing a good team job. Except on the days that he goes into demolition-mode. Rubens is never going to win the title, but having Alonso/Button at Brawn GP for example could be a mess.

DaveGibson

As I recall, it was stated that the US team will have US drivers. There was some suggestion that Danica Patrick could be one of them.

Sav

That is indeed Peter Windsor's plan, of having two American drivers. Danica has been mentioned, but according to one accurate American motor racing journalist, she is leaving IndyCar to go to NASCAR - now that will be errr...interesting.

If USF1 can get Danica, then it is likely that she will bring Motorola sponsorship to the team. A very good Formula Ford driver has been mentioned, Conner Daly.

Gooner

I don't think McLaren would want another 'star' driver. They tried that before with Alonso and Hamilton (although I do wonder if they weren't expecting Lewis to be as good as he turned out to be!). I don't see why they wouldn't want to keep Heiki, he's proven he's fast when he has the car to do it. He's just had a lot of bad luck, but could still provide a good support drive for Lewis if they can put a competitive car under him.

If Kimi goes this year and Alonso replaces him, I wonder if Massa might want to move to avoid playing second fiddle. Ferrari will then need an up and coming driver and I reckon they might even look at Buemi.

To be honest though, there's not much point in any of the guesses we're making because most the big teams have to work out whether they're going to bother competing and then even if they do, they need a car that's actually going to be competitive! If neither of these happen, the drivers might not be so quick to support their stand. Teams last a lot longer than the careers of their drivers so these new up and coming outfits could attract some real big names if the members of FOTA pull out.

Big TC

Rodge

A1GP winner Adam Carroll has been courted by a number of teams for next season. I reckon he needs to get into a team that can win though if he's to have a chance of staying in F1. I'm not sure what (if any) sponsorship he'd bring so he'd have to do it on skill alone.
Mind you, he's fairly good in that area.

TimR

The USF1 team are supposedly considering that well known American driver Alexander Wurz

Humphrey The Pug

Matt

Big Blue

Wurz - great development driver; shit racer.

Eff One

Post-Singapore, some of this can be firmed up.

Alonso to Ferrari
Kubica to Renault
Raikkonen to Mclaren
Rosberg to Brawn in a straight swap for Barrichello.

Dumped - Kovalainen and Nakajima
Retiring - Fisi

Dr. Hfuhruhurr

It'll be interesting if Brawn and Red Bull can deliver front-running cars again next season, or whether we'll be back to the usual Ferrari/McLaren lockout. Though with both teams having such strong driver line-ups, it could still be exciting.

Big Blue

BeN

I've heard rumours that Fisi could stay on at Ferrari in a testing capacity.

DaveGibson

Dr. Hfuhruhurr

Which means he's calling time on his racing career, or planning to poke Massa in the eye when nobody's looking.

Eff One

Renault have just confirmed Kubica for 2010 and beyond:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/79319

Dr. Hfuhruhurr

Which means, by implication, they've also confirmed themselves.

TimR

Is Grosjean in there for next year too?

Dr. Hfuhruhurr

They haven't confirmed him, which is significant. Given BMW's withdrawal, they could do worse than signing Heidfeld as well.

TimR

Reubens has said he's talking to Brawn and Williams for next year.

Big Blue

Perhaps Reubens will be sticking his feet through the floor and running with the Williams as they have no engine for 2010 yet......

Eff One

According to Autosport, Nico Rosberg has just confirmed that he will be leaving Williams when his contract ends this weekend - but refused to say where he's going.

Got to be Brawn, surely?

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/79812

DaveGibson

It's also showing as 'Breaking News' on the BBC site but, again, there's no confirmation of where he's going, only Brawn speculation.

Dr. Hfuhruhurr

And elsewhere, Nico Hulkenberg's manager, Willi Weber, has said he's going to Williams, where he'll partner Barrichello. Again, nothing confirmed though.

Dr. Hfuhruhurr

It is now:

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/11/10187.html

So we have

Mercedes (Brawn)
Rosberg, Heidfeld

Red Bull
Vettel, Webber

McLaren
Hamilton, Button

Ferrari
Alonso, Massa

Williams
Barrichello, Hulkenberg

STR
Buemi, TBA

Renault
Kubica, TBA

Force India
Sutil, TBA

Campos
Senna, TBA

Manor
Glock, TBA

USGPF1
TBA, TBA

Lotus
TBA, TBA

Qadbak/Sauber/BMW
TBA, TBA

Sav

I'm not sure if I am right, but I don't remember Buemi or Button being officially confirmed.

"him"

Sav

Ah yes, my mistake.

Big TC

renault were rumoured to be talking to Tim O'Glock for their 2nd seat - I reckon they should get that deal signed pretty quickly.

BeN

Toro Rosso confirms Buemi:

http://www.worldcarfans.com/10911...rms-buemi-no-alguersuari-deal-yet

Eff One

Glock joins the new Manor team: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80177

Something of a surprise, I thought he was in line for the second Renault seat - but I guess there are still question marks over their involvement.

Dr. Hfuhruhurr

Apparently, American driver Jonathan Summerton put a message "F1 here we come" on Twitter, which has since been removed, so presumably he's being lined up for Team USF1

Gooner

Eff One

Rosberg finally confirmed at Mercedes:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80316