F1 Drivers

[Wing_Z]

Idly moving drivers and teams around, my provisional list (which may be quite wrong) looks like this.
But where's Kovaleinen to go?
And who' s driving for the new teams?

[Ferry_vO]

Here's my list; names in red have been confirmed so far.

Brawn-Mercedes: Rosberg, Heidfeld

Red Bull Racing Cosworth/Renault: Vettel, Webber

Ferrari: Alonso, Massa

McLaren Mercedes: Hamilton, Button

Renault: Kubica, DiGrassi/Montagny

Williams Cosworth: Barrichello, Hulkenberg

Force India Mercedes: Sutil, Liuzzi

STR Ferrari: Buemi, Alguersuari

Lotus Cosworth: Davidson, Caroll, Fauzy, Trulli, Heidfeld

Team USF1 Cosworth: Speed, Villeneuve/Andretti

Campos Meta 1 Cosworth: Senna, Petrov, Maldonado

Qadbak (former BMW) Ferrari: ??

Manor GP: Glock, di Grassi

[Wing_Z]

Didn't realise Kubica had actually signed for Renault.
To my mind, two potentially good drivers looking for a place in the sun would be Heidfeld and Kovalainen.

[Ferry_vO]

Well, Kovalainen's F1 future might be decided by Raikkonen. If he decides to retire from F1 and start a career in rallying, Heikki could keep his ride at McLaren, but IMHO he's no match for Lewis and hasn't shown anything above average this year.

Heidfeld is quick and has a lot of experience, so he'll be a good driver for the new teams.

[Ferry_vO]

Slight updates to the list above; Campos confirmed Bruno Senna as their first driver, their second driver could be De La Rosa or even Piquet Jr.

Williams confirmed the use of Cosworth engines and GP2 champ Nico Hulkenberg and Rubens Barrichello (Who will drive his 300th GP next season!) as their drivers.

Button looks to be the first in line for a seat at McLaren, now that Brawn seems unable/unwilling to pay Jenson the $9 million he wants. (He voluntarily cut his wages to only $5 million this year to aid the team). Second in line for the seat is Kimi Raikkonen, but his $45 million salary ($20 million more than any other driver!) could be a issue. Third option looks to be Nick Heidfeld.

Timo Glock was set to sign with Renault, but with Renault's F1 future still uncertain he's looking at other teams as well and is linked to at drive at Lotus, as the tam have stated they want experienced and talented drivers, not paying drivers.

Rumours still persist that Mercedes could buy Brawn GP even before the start of the 2010 season; the BGP cars will be real 'silver arrows' and McLaren will become an independant team who will purchase Mercedes engines.

[wombat666]

I believe Daimler Benz/Mercedes Benz were talking about buying 70+% ownership of Brawn and selling off their 40?% share of McLaren.
It appears certain that Renault will depart by the end of the year, but I'd wait and see.
Senna to Campos is probably going to fail, seeing as the 'experts' are a bit doubtful of Campos ability to come up with a car.
Love the silly season ......

[Ferry_vO]

With the 2010 car probably almost ready I think Renault might do one more year as a team, then continue as a engine supplier..? If they pull out as well it will be a big blow for the Red Bull team too!

Meanwhile Senna went to the Campos factory to make a seat, so their car seems to be coming along quite well, and the Lotus car passed the crash tests so they are doing OK too. USF1 seems to be the one team that's behind schedule..

[Ferry_vO]

A few quick updates: Glock signed with Manor GP with Luca di Grassi in the running for the other seat, Raikkonen announced he'll be taking a year off, Franck Montagny is talking to Renault and GP2 drivers Vitaly Petrov and Pastor Maldonado are named for the second seat at Campos.
And Piquet jr. is named for Force India, but mainly by himself..

[wombat666]

And Piquet jr. is named for Force India, but mainly by himself..

As their crash test dummy Ferry!!!
Only seat he could get that he's qualified for.

[Ferry_vO]

Button now confirmed at McLaren; time for an updated list.

Names in red have been confirmed so far.

McLaren Mercedes: Button, Hamilton

Brawn-Mercedes: Rosberg, Heidfeld, Sutil

Red Bull Racing Renault: Vettel, Webber

Ferrari: Alonso, Massa

Renault: Kubica, DiGrassi/Montagny

Williams Cosworth: Barrichello, Hulkenberg

Force India Mercedes: Sutil, Liuzzi

STR Ferrari: Buemi, Alguersuari

Lotus Cosworth: Davidson, Caroll, Fauzy, Trulli, Heidfeld

Team USF1 Cosworth: De La Rosa, Lopez, Villeneuve, Summerton

Campos Meta 1 Cosworth: Senna, Petrov, Maldonado

Sauber Ferrari: ??

Manor GP: Glock, di Grassi

[Wing_Z]

Button was in a lose-lose situation.
If he'd stayed at Brawn, he would've lost financially, and Mercedes surely would've pushed a German driver at his expense in the team.
Going to McLaren for the money, he stands a good chance of being totally overshadowed by his team mate.

...Rosberg is overrated. He's quick but I don't think he can carry a team like a Schumacher or Alonso. Insiders say he doesn't have the technical skills and if things are not going his way he doesn't seem to feel the need to improve...

I believe this describes Button perfectly too.

The Mercedes team with Rosberg and Heidfeld seems a much better "fit" to me.

RBR remains a stable and experienced package, surely with a great chance next year.

That means a 3-horse race, with Ferrari the Dark Horse as ever.
Sadly Alonso will totally overshadow Massa in the team, which is a pity as I reckon Felipe was coming up to speed quite nicely.

[Panther_99FS]

Sadly Alonso will totally overshadow Massa in the team, which is a pity as I reckon Felipe was coming up to speed quite nicely.

Perhaps Massa could give Alonso the same kind of frustration that Hamilton gave Alonso...

[Ferry_vO]

If Alonso isn't 100% backed by his team, he seems t oget frustrated and doesn't perform too well, and no way Ferrari will push Massa into the #2 role..

BTW I would like to see Sutil get the drive at Mercedes, not Heidfeld..

[Ferry_vO]

Even though Mercedes GP hinted at a 'surprise line-up', it is no surprise that the team confirmed Nico Rosberg today.

[Wing_Z]

...so the surprise awaits!
Sutil is too erratic for the number 2 slot, I'm still betting Heidfeld.

Schumacher has been quoted as saying absolutely not.
(When there is no news, fabricate some, then get the subject to deny it...)