Vettel to replace Alonso at Ferrari

[suffolk009]

From Joe Saward:

Nico Hulkenberg will continue to race with Force India in 2015. The 27-year-old German returned to the team in 2014 after a stopover with Sauber and has enjoyed a very good season. However, it is clear that his signing shows that he has no better options elsewhere for next year.

“It’s good to confirm my plans for next season," he said. "This is a team I know extremely well and we’ve enjoyed a great year together with some special results. The team has big ambitions and I believe we can have a competitive package once again next year. We have a strong partner in Mercedes and everyone in the team is motivated and hungry for more success. I have a good feeling for 2015 and there is a lot to be excited about as we try to build on the results we have achieved this year.”

[llewop]

williamp said:

You're not the first, and certainly not the last to associate "Alonso" and "24 hours" of le mans in the same sentence. The problem is, If Button does jump over to the WEC, will there be any room for Alonso in one of the teams, or will he be stuck if F1 for another season??

The bit that puzzles me with some of Alonso's recent 'wait and see' statements is "I will do the best for my future, the best for the future of Ferrari as well, because that has been my priority for several years." What part of 'the best for the future of Ferrari' fits with joining one of their main rivals, arguably their primary rival over the last couple of decades?

So I can't help wondering if a Ferrari LMP is being prepared?

Probably totally wrong and the received wisdom that he's already a done deal to move to Honda/McLaren will prevail, but if so - I look forward to how he explains that it is good for Ferrari!

[angrymoby]

llewop said:

williamp said:

You're not the first, and certainly not the last to associate "Alonso" and "24 hours" of le mans in the same sentence. The problem is, If Button does jump over to the WEC, will there be any room for Alonso in one of the teams, or will he be stuck if F1 for another season??

The bit that puzzles me with some of Alonso's recent 'wait and see' statements is "I will do the best for my future, the best for the future of Ferrari as well, because that has been my priority for several years." What part of 'the best for the future of Ferrari' fits with joining one of their main rivals, arguably their primary rival over the last couple of decades?

So I can't help wondering if a Ferrari LMP is being prepared?

Probably totally wrong and the received wisdom that he's already a done deal to move to Honda/McLaren will prevail, but if so - I look forward to how he explains that it is good for Ferrari!

It's a dig at Kimi, i.e Ferrari won't have to pay me off & waste resource

[Jasandjules]

Bonefish Blues said:

Wonder if he'll ultimately miss the boat - only a couple of years ago he was the next great thing, wasn't he?

I still think he is an awesome driver. Would love to see him in a very competitive car.

[Crafty_]

Swervin_Mervin said:

Crafty_ said:

Now that is interesting - Force India can't confirm Hulkenberg until Ferrari announce Vettel: http://www.crash.net/f1/news/209853/1/force-india-...

Well, the Hulk is confirmed at FI for 2015.

Yep I saw that, along with a congratulations tweet from Van Der Garde saying something along the lines of "looking forwards to racing with you.." hmmm..

[anonymous-user]

Crafty_ said:

Yep I saw that, along with a congratulations tweet from Van Der Garde saying something along the lines of "looking forwards to racing with you.." hmmm..

Crikey

https://twitter.com/GvanderGarde/status/5241349669...

That could mean that he is hoping to have a race seat anywhere on the grid though.

[onyx39]

RenOHH said:

Crafty_ said:

Yep I saw that, along with a congratulations tweet from Van Der Garde saying something along the lines of "looking forwards to racing with you.." hmmm..

Crikey

https://twitter.com/GvanderGarde/status/5241349669...

That could mean that he is hoping to have a race seat anywhere on the grid though.

Twitter page no longer exists....

[samvia]

@GvanderGarde · 12h 12 hours ago

.@NicoHulkenberg Congrats buddy, hopefully we can have some nice fights next year, like the old days 😉

Sauber for him then?

[Crafty_]

This link works: https://twitter.com/GvanderGarde/status/5241349669...

[suffolk009]

I read somewhere that the deadline for 2015 F1 team entries is 1st Nov. Is this then the default date for announcing two or three car teams?

I don't know how it works.

[Agent Orange]

llewop said:

the best for the future of Ferrari as well, because that has been my priority for several years." What part of 'the best for the future of Ferrari' fits with joining one of their main rivals, arguably their primary rival over the last couple of decades?

It's believed that Alonso was given a fair stiff dressing down by Mattiacci recently http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/f1/alonso-leaves... and if you believe the story he was told he's an employee and needs to remember that.

So maybe he's staying at Ferrari but there to support Vettel and ensure Ferrari win a WCC. Maybe the sticking point is actually what to do with Kimi - where can they land him or how do they pay him off.

[kiseca]

If Kimi gets another multi million quid payoff to not actually drive the car at all - and from the same team that paid him off the first time round no less - he will in my mind become the greatest professional racing driver the world has ever seen.

[Muzzer79]

Agent Orange said:

llewop said:

the best for the future of Ferrari as well, because that has been my priority for several years." What part of 'the best for the future of Ferrari' fits with joining one of their main rivals, arguably their primary rival over the last couple of decades?

It's believed that Alonso was given a fair stiff dressing down by Mattiacci recently http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/f1/alonso-leaves... and if you believe the story he was told he's an employee and needs to remember that.

So maybe he's staying at Ferrari but there to support Vettel and ensure Ferrari win a WCC. Maybe the sticking point is actually what to do with Kimi - where can they land him or how do they pay him off.

I think we're looking for a variation that isn't there tbh.

Alonso's going. No LMP project, no supporting Vettel - he's gone.

The "doing the best for the future of Ferrari" comment just means that he's doing the best for them by leaving - i.e it's better that they part now for a fresh start on both sides.

He's got to be odds on to go to McLaren. I think the current sticking point is just for how long and for how much $. I do believe Vettel has shaken that part up for him however, as McLaren is now his only real option, thereby lessening his value.

[thegreenhell]

Agent Orange said:

It's believed that Alonso was given a fair stiff dressing down by Mattiacci recently http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/f1/alonso-leaves... and if you believe the story he was told he's an employee and needs to remember that.

So maybe he's staying at Ferrari but there to support Vettel and ensure Ferrari win a WCC. Maybe the sticking point is actually what to do with Kimi - where can they land him or how do they pay him off.

Hughes writes as if he was sat at the table with them when it happened, which I'm sure he wasn't.


Some interesting analysis of the rumours and guesswork in this article, and in the comments that follow:

http://pitlanetalk.wordpress.com/2014/10/19/alonso...

[Kaiser_Wull]

Agent Orange said:

So maybe he's staying at Ferrari but there to support Vettel and ensure Ferrari win a WCC. Maybe the sticking point is actually what to do with Kimi - where can they land him or how do they pay him off.

I doubt it. I can't see Alonso agreeing to play second fiddle to anyone. Besides, LDM has already said that Alonso is leaving Ferrari.

[Agent Orange]

Kaiser_Wull said:

I doubt it. I can't see Alonso agreeing to play second fiddle to anyone. Besides, LDM has already said that Alonso is leaving Ferrari.

But LdM doesn't speak for Ferrari anymore surely? I'm somewhat surprised that his word has been taken as gospel given I would expect him to have zero power at Ferrari.

[Kaiser_Wull]

Agent Orange said:

But LdM doesn't speak for Ferrari anymore surely? I'm somewhat surprised that his word has been taken as gospel given I would expect him to have zero power at Ferrari.

LdM may not have had the power (or desire) to influence the Ferarri/Alonso situation in the last weeks of his tenure, but I'd wager that he knew exactly what was going on. Moreover, neither Alonso nor anyone from Ferrari has come out and contradicted LdM's statement.

[rubystone]

Kaiser_Wull said:

LdM may not have had the power (or desire) to influence the Ferarri/Alonso situation in the last weeks of his tenure, but I'd wager that he knew exactly what was going on. Moreover, neither Alonso nor anyone from Ferrari has come out and contradicted LdM's statement.

This

[Bonefish Blues]

Jasandjules said:

Bonefish Blues said:

Wonder if he'll ultimately miss the boat - only a couple of years ago he was the next great thing, wasn't he?

I still think he is an awesome driver. Would love to see him in a very competitive car.

And there's the rub I was alluding to.

[VolvoT5]

kiseca said:

If Kimi gets another multi million quid payoff to not actually drive the car at all - and from the same team that paid him off the first time round no less - he will in my mind become the greatest professional racing driver the world has ever seen.

I'm almost certainly biased but I don't think Kimi is going to be terminated again. Several reasons for this:

Allison is doing the 2015 car so it can only be better and probably more suited to Kimi's style, and we have seen at Lotus that he can deliver solid results with a suitable car.
I think Vettel probably likes the idea of going up against Kimi - fast enough to keep him honest but probably not going to outpace him (or so he thinks).
Then you have to ask do Ferrari really want the embarrassment of coughing up another X million to get rid, and would other drivers, excluding Alonso, really have done any better in this years dog of a car?

Finally Kimi has been quoted in the media as 'probably' staying until the end of 2016, so he must be pretty damn confident he has a water tight contract to be hinting at such things. Seems like although he is the weaker driver this year he has gelled with the team and Mattiacci better than Alonso.