218 replies to this topic

[freaky2]

Wow! That's one to look out for (currently recruiting: substitute for Kimi worth of future blind worship).

Magnussen and Valsecchi also seem to have acquitted themselves well, even if I couldn't care less about their previous achievements. At least now I will remember their names

[Massa]

I like Frijns because he wrecked Bianchi to win the title.

(Okay, fine, he really didn't.  Bianchi made a great overtake, Frijns tried to come back, and racing happened...that happens when two title contenders are hounding each other for the trophy...get it...hounding...dogs...treated like dogs...)

Ah, well, it was probably a more interesting group than past years, even if Paffett and Turvey continue to waste our time (get it...our...Our Gary and Our Oliver...hahahaha woof....woof...get it...dogs...okay...)

[Quiet One]

Massa, on 09 November 2012 - 01:58 AM, said:

I like Frijns because he wrecked Bianchi to win the title.

(Okay, fine, he really didn't.  Bianchi made a great overtake, Frijns tried to come back, and racing happened...that happens when two title contenders are hounding each other for the trophy...get it...hounding...dogs...treated like dogs...)

Ah, well, it was probably a more interesting group than past years, even if Paffett and Turvey continue to waste our time (get it...our...Our Gary and Our Oliver...hahahaha woof....woof...get it...dogs...okay...)

Oh, I saw the move, I just didn't realize that was Frijns. Very...Schumacheresque, n'est ce pas?
Dirty cheater

[freaky2]

Worthy of any team of the grid then

[JHS18]

I'd honestly rather see Bianchi at Force India than Alguersuari/Sutil/Buemi.

I'd rather see Frijns at Sauber than Gutierrez because Gutierrez has had a ruff (couldn't resist) year in GP2 this year. But he'll probably still get the driver thanks to Telmex.

I read somewhere that Sauber have signed Frijns on a long term deal. What that is I have absolutely no idea, but I presume it'll mean he is a third driver next year and get some Friday outings and hopefully get promoted to a race seat in 2014.

Da Costa's a good bet at STR for '14 as well if he can keep up the good form he's shown this year going through to next year. I found it interesting Ricciardo and Vergne have been told they have a genuine shot at a promotion to Red Bull, which is something I can't recall Alguersuari and Buemi being told. I guess if either Ricciardo or Vergne prove good enough next year and Webber retires/Vettel moves to Ferrari, one or both will get promoted, making room for Da Costa at Toro Rosso.

A lot of "ifs" and "buts", but makes sense in my mind.

Edited by JHS18, 10 November 2012 - 01:19 PM.

[AleHop]

Last rumour today: Alguersuari will drive for FI in 2013.

It would be surprising as both NH and PdR are doing fine.

[Massa]

Well, Hülkenberg is already confirmed at Sauber, so they do need someone.

Sounds like Gutiérrez will join Hülkenberg there, too.

[Massa]

Red Bull
Vettel
Webber

Ferrari
Alonso
Massa

McLaren
Button
Pérez

Lotus
Räikkönen
Grosjean

Mercedes
Hamilton
Rosberg

Sauber
Hülkenberg
Gutiérrez

Force India
di Resta
Bianchi/Alguersuari

Williams
Maldonado
Bottas

Toro Rosso
Vergne
Ricciardo

Marussia
Glock
Chilton

Caterham
Petrov
Pic/van der Garde

Kovalainen goes rallying.  Kobayashi might get some work in a Toyota LMP1.

[freaky2]

What about Senna?

[JHS18]

freaky2, on 23 November 2012 - 01:14 PM, said:

What about Senna?

What about him?

Pic has been officially confirmed at Caterham now. Can't understand it personally. Caterham are behind Marussia in the championship at the moment, and it is hardly a big step forwards career wise is it?

Unless he knew he was out and did better than di Grassi and d'Ambrosio did by finding another team...

[Massa]

I've seen Senna's name among Force India candidates, but it didn't seem as strong as prevailing Bianchi or Alguersuari rumors.  You are correct, though, that I completely forgot about mentioning Senna at the bottom there.

As for Pic, he either sees more potential in Caterham improving (go where the puck is going to be, not where it is...) or Marussia got rid of him.  I have to say he hasn't been anywhere near as bad as I expected him to be.

[Peeweev]

Well that means that Caterham will run petrov and pic interesting. so where does that leave Hekki? He is one of the best drivers (if not the best) in the "new" teams. I would be suprised if he is left standing when all the seats are filled he is def worth a shot by a midfield team!

Can someone confirm who is confirmed for 2013 at which team.

I know the obvious ones

These are how i think it is feel free to correct/add:

Red Bull
Webber
Vettel


Mclaren
Button
Perez

Farrari
Alonso
Massa

Mercedes
Hammilton
Rosberg

Lotus
Kimi
Fatjohn (grosjean(not sure he is confirmed but think he will stay))

Sauber
Gutierrez
Hulkenberg

Force India
Di Resta?
???

Williams
Dont know if anyone is confirmed but likely pasta.

Torro Rosso
Vergne
RIccardo
(i believe that they are staying?!)

Marussia
Glock
Someone who will be rubbish prob

Caterham
Pic
Petrov (likely)

HRT
De La Rosa - hope not
Kartykane - hope not
(both useless)

[HandyNZL]

JHS18, on 23 November 2012 - 02:26 PM, said:

What about him?

Pic has been officially confirmed at Caterham now. Can't understand it personally. Caterham are behind Marussia in the championship at the moment, and it is hardly a big step forwards career wise is it?

Unless he knew he was out and did better than di Grassi and d'Ambrosio did by finding another team...

Of course it is.  You get your backside in a seat, and you get out on the track - that is the utmost best step forwards in your career...none of this sitting around, the occasional Friday (dirty track) running, and driving the simulator.

[Massa]

Bob Varsha on Twitter says that Max Chilton is confirmed for Marussia in 2013.  He also suggests "Senna, Sutil, Bianchi, Kovalainen, Alguersuari, Petrov" as Force India candidates.  Whether that's accurate or not, I don't know, but I'm a Varsha fanboy so I'm going to make sure you know every last word he says on his final weekend as our F1 broadcaster.

[Peeweev]

I've heard strong sounds that petrov will be getting the other caterham drive and that hekki was dependent on them beating marussia to 10th so they could afford him! I think that Hekki is good enough to fight in the midfield but this maybe his last chance to do something/ win again!

[JHS18]

HandyNZL, on 24 November 2012 - 01:42 AM, said:

Of course it is.  You get your backside in a seat, and you get out on the track - that is the utmost best step forwards in your career...none of this sitting around, the occasional Friday (dirty track) running, and driving the simulator.

There's very little performance difference though, is there? Surely better the devil you know, particularly when Caterham and Marussia are so evenly matched, and Marussia is actually AHEAD of Caterham in the championship this year.

Say the same thing about Hulkenberg's move to Sauber. Can't really see the point in it - Force India and Sauber are too close performance wise to really view it as a "step up", more a "step sideways."

Edited by JHS18, 24 November 2012 - 02:39 PM.

[Peeweev]

I think the drivers look to see which they think they can win (for hulk) or do better (pic). I agree that Pic may not have really made a step forward particuarly as it looks like marussia will get the 10th spot and therefore more money and could make a bigger step next year, although caterham should have done that this year.

I think for Hulk it is a lil different as sauber could win next year or atleast get him up closer to a championship seat for 2014/15.

[Massa]

You go where you're wanted.

Pic lost his ride to Max Chilton, who brought more money than Pic does.  So Pic brought more money than Kovalainen does.  He didn't have an option to race for Marussia, and teams like Sauber and Force India passed on his offers to join them.  What else is there to do?  He's Charles Pic; he's not going to McLaren just yet.

Nico Hülkenberg, as Peeweev suggests, may have more opportunity at Sauber.  It's a better team than Force India on maximum potential, because they can get on the podium whereas Force India cannot, and both Kingfisher and Sahara aren't exactly without problems outside of F1.  On top of that, Force India is connected to Mercedes, and I think Hülkenberg took the hint that with the Hamilton signing, and with di Resta still being their guy, he just wasn't going to have a chance to be promoted there.  After McLaren chose Pérez, I think Hülkenberg's plan was to go to Sauber, get closer to Ferrari (where he was linked), and hope that Vettel stays at Red Bull so he can get Massa's seat.  Sauber's been a good place to be if you want to be promoted to a better team because they're just good enough that you get results, but just small enough that those results look really impressive and the poor ones are excused.  It's a dream for a young driver to start there because you can almost never look bad as a young guy in a Sauber.

[Rainmaster]

Pretty much nailed it again. Although, you can very easily look bad as a young guy at Sauber. But it's true that it's the best team for young drivers, which is just as well as it's also one of the best teams at evaluating and signing talented young drivers.

To understand driver decisions you always have to look deeper than just the surface, e.g. championship position. I think Hulk's move ultimately makes sense from the perspectives Eric mentioned. Also, NK may just feel he'll have more support at Sauber with an incoming team mate (becoming effective team leader), and maybe realises it'll be easier to differentiate himself at Sauber with its arguably better potential, and with a different team mate (di Resta and Hulk currently perhaps suffering from the problem of both being quite capable drivers, but neither standing out because they're so equally matched).

[JHS18]

Bottas confirmed at Williams as expected. Senna could go to Caterham I'm hearing.

Interesting rumours too linking Kovalainen to Lotus for an all Finnish driver line-up.

[BradSpeedMan]

JHS18, on 28 November 2012 - 04:07 PM, said:

Interesting rumours too linking Kovalainen to Lotus for an all Finnish driver line-up.

That would be really interesting, and they are great buddies

Edited by BradSpeedMan, 28 November 2012 - 04:20 PM.

[Ikyrotz]

JHS18, on 28 November 2012 - 04:07 PM, said:

Interesting rumours too linking Kovalainen to Lotus for an all Finnish driver line-up.

Doubt it's gonna happen. I think it's still most likely that Grosjean will continue, and if they decide to drop him, there is also Kobayashi, who would bring enough speed (the racing kind ), some money and lots of interest from Japan.

Edited by Ikyrotz, 28 November 2012 - 05:47 PM.

[Rainmaster]

From Heikki's interview with the BBC at the weekend, where he seemed pretty downbeat and p**sed off, I think at least at that point he certainly hadn't had any contact with Lotus. It's a shame to see a GP winner with still something to offer leave the grid.

[Massa]

I've probably said it before, but Bottas interests me as the first in a sample that may never grow of drivers who bypassed GP2 and took the Friday driving route.  It will be hard to make any kind of generalization on one driver, obviously.  Nevertheless, I still want to see how it pans out because you hear a lot on the side of "well you need to be racing every weekend, you won't learn anything if you aren't racing" and a lot on the side of "F1 cars are so specialized, you need to be in an F1 car."  They're probably both correct to some degree.

[JHS18]

Kind of reminds me in a small way of how Raikkonen bypassed pretty much every single junior formula category and got an F1 ride straight out of Formula Renault.

[JHS18]

Apparently Kobayashi may be a contender for the Lotus seat. Japanese fans have already raised over 1 million USD to help him find a drive.

[AleHop]

Rumours today, Alguersuari very unlikely in F1 next season. Truth is he won't have a seat in F1 ever again.

[freaky2]

JHS18, on 28 November 2012 - 11:57 PM, said:

Kind of reminds me in a small way of how Raikkonen bypassed pretty much every single junior formula category and got an F1 ride straight out of Formula Renault.

Exactly. Interest doubled
See, Eric, you have 2 people for your studies now XD

I think the most important thing is to love racing. The guys that make the biggest impression on fans are pure racers (like Kubica) that stop at nothing. I was just taking a look at Autosport's article about Zanardi. Whatever happens you still want to race, that's it. Doesn't matter if you've never been in an F1 car, if you're excited and love racing it will work out somehow. And what the heck, Bottas has been in an F1 car for this whole year, I don't think anyone doubts his abilities to drive around a circuit. And it gets better when the team let you compete!

[Rainmaster]

Just adding my name to the Bottas fan club. Could replace Perez as my favourite up and coming driver. Frank Williams seems to think he's one of the most talented drivers he's had in his cars - high praise indeed. Look forward to seeing how he goes.

[AleHop]

I think Hulkenberg will be the next big thing. Very soon I expect. A pitty he made that mistake in Brazil.