Discussion
Williams is the interesting one right now, they are loosing 4 sponsors so cash is allegedly a bit of a problem.
They'd like to retain the current drivers, but are looking at how to finance it.
At the same time Pastor Maldonado (GP2 champ this year) is looking for a drive and has $15m backing from the Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA and has had talks with Williams.
He is testing the Williams at the rookie drivers test following the Abu Dubai GP for 1 day.
Just to complicate things further next year HRT are going to buy their gearboxes from Williams. After this deal was announced HRT also announced Pastor would test with them for 3 days in Abu Dubai.
Its possible that one of the drivers will get "parked" at HRT.
Barrichello has apparently got a contract agreed, but not signed for next year. It seems its waiting on Williams to sign it off.
Williams test driver seat is already filled by Valtteri Bottas who recently re-signed.
At the same time Williams have publicly said they want Hulkenberg to sign a 5 year deal and that they regard him as a future WDC.
Renault might become Lotus next year, that is Lotus cars, owned by Proton. The Renault F1 team is mostly owned by Genii Capital, an investment firm. The thinking is Lotus may buy a stake in the team and become title sponsor. This is all off the back of the spat between Lotus Cars and Lotus Racing who are currently in F1. Lotus Racing is owned by Tony Fernandes. A month or so ago Fernandes announced that the team would be renamed "Team Lotus" (the original name of Chapmans team). Lotus Cars then kicked up a stink saying they had legal right to the name, Fernandes did not and furthermore they wanted to use the name in racing.. This is being sorted out behind closed doors at present, but if Lotus cars do buy into the Renault team there was mention of Lotus Racing being renamed - possibly to Air Asia F1 (Fernandes also owns Air Asia).
This has a bearing on what Renault do for their second driver as it could mean they don't have to rely on Petrov as a pay driver, they have talked to Heidfeld and Sutil and there are rumours they've also talked to Mikhail Aleshin who won Formula Renault 3.5 this year (part of the Renault World Series).
Its thought that Lotus Racing will retain Heikki. there was rumours about trulli going to NASCAR or simply quitting to run his vineyard, Trulli has dismissed these rumours and believes he will be staying. His management said the rumours were being put around by Senna and his management.
Aleshin is also apparently talking to Force India. Liuzzi is unlikely to retain his seat, very strong rumours that Paul Di Resta has already signed. Last week Sutil said he was close to a deal and expected to stay with the team.
Glock is signed to Virgin for 2011. The other seat is between Di Grassi, Jérôme d'Ambrosio (current test driver) and Giedo van der Garde. The latter two appear to be bidding for the seat. Virgin are holding a press conference tomorrow, so we might find out something then, there are rumours that Russian supercar company Marussia buying in (they are a current sponsor), but it seems the smart money is on a company called QNet buying in.
HRT it seems are talking to anyone that waves a few quid in their face with Sakon Yamamoto, Christian Klien, Nico Hülkenberg, Karun Chandhok, Pedro de la Rosa, Pastor Maldonado and Bruno Senna all rumoured.
Chandhok is allegedly out of the car and saving his cash for a better drive. Yamamoto apparently has backing but is not driving this weekend. Hulkenberg/Maldonado are involved in the Williams tie up.
They'd like to retain the current drivers, but are looking at how to finance it.
At the same time Pastor Maldonado (GP2 champ this year) is looking for a drive and has $15m backing from the Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA and has had talks with Williams.
He is testing the Williams at the rookie drivers test following the Abu Dubai GP for 1 day.
Just to complicate things further next year HRT are going to buy their gearboxes from Williams. After this deal was announced HRT also announced Pastor would test with them for 3 days in Abu Dubai.
Its possible that one of the drivers will get "parked" at HRT.
Barrichello has apparently got a contract agreed, but not signed for next year. It seems its waiting on Williams to sign it off.
Williams test driver seat is already filled by Valtteri Bottas who recently re-signed.
At the same time Williams have publicly said they want Hulkenberg to sign a 5 year deal and that they regard him as a future WDC.
Renault might become Lotus next year, that is Lotus cars, owned by Proton. The Renault F1 team is mostly owned by Genii Capital, an investment firm. The thinking is Lotus may buy a stake in the team and become title sponsor. This is all off the back of the spat between Lotus Cars and Lotus Racing who are currently in F1. Lotus Racing is owned by Tony Fernandes. A month or so ago Fernandes announced that the team would be renamed "Team Lotus" (the original name of Chapmans team). Lotus Cars then kicked up a stink saying they had legal right to the name, Fernandes did not and furthermore they wanted to use the name in racing.. This is being sorted out behind closed doors at present, but if Lotus cars do buy into the Renault team there was mention of Lotus Racing being renamed - possibly to Air Asia F1 (Fernandes also owns Air Asia).
This has a bearing on what Renault do for their second driver as it could mean they don't have to rely on Petrov as a pay driver, they have talked to Heidfeld and Sutil and there are rumours they've also talked to Mikhail Aleshin who won Formula Renault 3.5 this year (part of the Renault World Series).
Its thought that Lotus Racing will retain Heikki. there was rumours about trulli going to NASCAR or simply quitting to run his vineyard, Trulli has dismissed these rumours and believes he will be staying. His management said the rumours were being put around by Senna and his management.
Aleshin is also apparently talking to Force India. Liuzzi is unlikely to retain his seat, very strong rumours that Paul Di Resta has already signed. Last week Sutil said he was close to a deal and expected to stay with the team.
Glock is signed to Virgin for 2011. The other seat is between Di Grassi, Jérôme d'Ambrosio (current test driver) and Giedo van der Garde. The latter two appear to be bidding for the seat. Virgin are holding a press conference tomorrow, so we might find out something then, there are rumours that Russian supercar company Marussia buying in (they are a current sponsor), but it seems the smart money is on a company called QNet buying in.
HRT it seems are talking to anyone that waves a few quid in their face with Sakon Yamamoto, Christian Klien, Nico Hülkenberg, Karun Chandhok, Pedro de la Rosa, Pastor Maldonado and Bruno Senna all rumoured.
Chandhok is allegedly out of the car and saving his cash for a better drive. Yamamoto apparently has backing but is not driving this weekend. Hulkenberg/Maldonado are involved in the Williams tie up.
Edited by Crafty_ on Wednesday 10th November 21:53
It seems some contracts are less solid than others. There are rumours of Chandok going to Lotus, maybe as a 3rd driver with a race seat in 2012 when Trulli has retired. Sutil is absolutely the key, Petrov has basically signed his P45 with his performances in the last two races so that's the seat everyone is after.
Personally I'd be giving Romain Grosjean another chance as he's won pretty much everything he's tried this year but that's one rumour I haven't heard.
I wonder what the odds are on Algusuari replacing Webber at RBR as he goes to Ferrari and Riccardio steps up to the STR seat...
Personally I'd be giving Romain Grosjean another chance as he's won pretty much everything he's tried this year but that's one rumour I haven't heard.
I wonder what the odds are on Algusuari replacing Webber at RBR as he goes to Ferrari and Riccardio steps up to the STR seat...
i can see maldonado going to HRT as part of the williams gearbox deal, wouldn't be surprised if williams held on to barry and the hulk.
so i think:
webber to renault
heidfeld to renault
kubica to ferrari
petrov to virgin (new marrusia deal, di grassi out)
massa to sauber
chandhok to force india (liuzzi out)
? to redbull
the last one is a tricky one, who would you put in webbers seat? i'll say raikonnen for an outside bet
so i think:
webber to renault
heidfeld to renault
kubica to ferrari
petrov to virgin (new marrusia deal, di grassi out)
massa to sauber
chandhok to force india (liuzzi out)
? to redbull
the last one is a tricky one, who would you put in webbers seat? i'll say raikonnen for an outside bet
Edited by skinny on Thursday 11th November 13:33
Edited by skinny on Thursday 11th November 13:36
skinny said:
i can see maldonado going to HRT as part of the williams gearbox deal, wouldn't be surprised if williams held on to barry and the hulk.
so i think:
webber to renault
heidfeld to renault
kubica to ferrari
petrov to virgin (new marrusia deal, di grassi out)
massa to sauber
chandhok to force india (liuzzi out)
? to redbull
Renault have signed Kubica, Ferrari have Massa & Alonso signed, Sauber have Kobayashi and Perez signed, so I very much doubt any of those moves will happen, its too late in the day and would involve too much money to buy out signed contracts now.so i think:
webber to renault
heidfeld to renault
kubica to ferrari
petrov to virgin (new marrusia deal, di grassi out)
massa to sauber
chandhok to force india (liuzzi out)
? to redbull
Agree on Petrov to Virgin though. As above, Heidfeld in the Renault is possible.
If Webber did decide to quit (I don't think he will) I could see them taking Alguersuari to the RBR team and back filling at STR.
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