Driver line-up's for 2012
Discussion
So, with the seasons end drawing near, the title race sorted my thoughts are already drawn towards 2012. Will anyone get on the Redbull from the seasons off and most importantly, what driver line -up's/changes do we expect to see next year. Who may have the tallent to hold/gain a new seat and who has the money to just waltz straight in?
My main worry is that tallented drivers such as Kubica may not get a seat next year, (although I appriciete other circumstances may dictate). Would love to see Di Resta in the Merc, but will Schuey hold on for 1 more year, Will Massa try and get it together further down the grid, shake of the shakles of Alonso. Williams are that far down the pack now and with the lack of funding will only attract mercenaries, (i'm not buying this Kimmi crap, just unrealistic to me). Will Truli and Sutil jog on and give some younger more exciting drivers a chance?
Thoughts please?
My main worry is that tallented drivers such as Kubica may not get a seat next year, (although I appriciete other circumstances may dictate). Would love to see Di Resta in the Merc, but will Schuey hold on for 1 more year, Will Massa try and get it together further down the grid, shake of the shakles of Alonso. Williams are that far down the pack now and with the lack of funding will only attract mercenaries, (i'm not buying this Kimmi crap, just unrealistic to me). Will Truli and Sutil jog on and give some younger more exciting drivers a chance?
Thoughts please?
Why is the driver line-up for 2012? #grammarjoke
Aaaaanyway....
I think next year we'll be looking at a largely unchanged grid, except for Hulkenberg in a Force India, and Sutil on the sidelines for a year, Massa style, until Di Resta goes to claim Schumi's seat at Merc. Maybe in 2013.
I do think that the Kimi to Williams thing is interesting though. If he does sign, I don't think Williams are really in the position to offer KR an enormous pile of money, so I have to wonder if, during his Completely Insignificant Factory Visit (TM), they showed him some amazing innovation they have come up with for 2012.
Will my increasingly-misguided faith in Williams to at least start winning races again ever subside? Probably not.
Aaaaanyway....
I think next year we'll be looking at a largely unchanged grid, except for Hulkenberg in a Force India, and Sutil on the sidelines for a year, Massa style, until Di Resta goes to claim Schumi's seat at Merc. Maybe in 2013.
I do think that the Kimi to Williams thing is interesting though. If he does sign, I don't think Williams are really in the position to offer KR an enormous pile of money, so I have to wonder if, during his Completely Insignificant Factory Visit (TM), they showed him some amazing innovation they have come up with for 2012.
Will my increasingly-misguided faith in Williams to at least start winning races again ever subside? Probably not.
Moobs said:
I must be the only one who sees Di Reista going to Williams on a 3 year contract with a buy out clause should any of the top five teams come in for him.
I'd just like him to go...........anywhere. I just don't like him either his driving ability or personality. Perhaps it's just me but the BBC seem to have love-ins with him, Martin Whitmarsh and Christian Horner every bloody week. There are other teams in the paddock you know. For example Team Lotus, much improved over the last couple of outings. Would like to see Sutil stay at FI, he seems good there, certainly did the job in India. This is doubtful though. Would like to see Rubens still in F1 with a semi decent team, perhaps at worse he would make a good team-mate to Heikki at Lotus?
All in all, think it will be minor changes and nothing dramatic like Hill (World Champ) signing for Arrows!!
Moobs said:
I must be the only one who sees Di Reista going to Williams on a 3 year contract with a buy out clause should any of the top five teams come in for him.
Indeed you must. You are reading too much into Parr's discussion with Anthony Hamilton on the red button...FW makes the driver decisions, not Parr. And anyway, Kimi has signed a 1 year deal already 
Whatever Williams' problem is I can't believe it's down to the drivers. It would be such a sad end to one of the longest careers in F1 to see Rubens dropped, seemingly over a lack of performance that has nothing to do with him.
I can see Kimi coming in, car still crap, loses motivation, begins getting shown up by Maldonado, leaves mid-season and goes to DTM... or Indy Cars...... or Strictly Come Dancing.
I can see Kimi coming in, car still crap, loses motivation, begins getting shown up by Maldonado, leaves mid-season and goes to DTM... or Indy Cars...... or Strictly Come Dancing.
rubystone said:
Moobs said:
I must be the only one who sees Di Reista going to Williams on a 3 year contract with a buy out clause should any of the top five teams come in for him.
Indeed you must. You are reading too much into Parr's discussion with Anthony Hamilton on the red button...FW makes the driver decisions, not Parr. And anyway, Kimi has signed a 1 year deal already Its mostly static.
RBR, McLaren, Ferrari, Merc are all set to retain current drivers.
There has been chatter about Massa being paid off, it wouldn't surprise me but for now he has a seat for 2012.
Force India will decide by the next race, they have Di Resta, Sutil, Hulkenberg to choose from. Speculation is Sutil is out.
Di Resta would be mad to go to Williams.
Williams will retain Maldonado as he brings £££. Charles Pic has said he is talking to them along with Virgin and Lotus. I don't think the Kimi thing would come off, it isn't a good idea anyway. Possibly Sutil going this way.
No-one is signed for STR yet, but I think Jaime will stay, possibly Buemi too although there is talk of Ricciardo getting a seat.
Lotus will keep Heikki I think, not sure on Trulli. They have plenty of drivers to pick from.
Chandhok is allegedly talking to Virgin for a full time seat.
RBR, McLaren, Ferrari, Merc are all set to retain current drivers.
There has been chatter about Massa being paid off, it wouldn't surprise me but for now he has a seat for 2012.
Force India will decide by the next race, they have Di Resta, Sutil, Hulkenberg to choose from. Speculation is Sutil is out.
Di Resta would be mad to go to Williams.
Williams will retain Maldonado as he brings £££. Charles Pic has said he is talking to them along with Virgin and Lotus. I don't think the Kimi thing would come off, it isn't a good idea anyway. Possibly Sutil going this way.
No-one is signed for STR yet, but I think Jaime will stay, possibly Buemi too although there is talk of Ricciardo getting a seat.
Lotus will keep Heikki I think, not sure on Trulli. They have plenty of drivers to pick from.
Chandhok is allegedly talking to Virgin for a full time seat.
I hope Force India keep DiReista and Hulkenburg. Sutil is on Rosbergs(middle) level. If DiReista stays that would mean him signing a multi year deal forcing Mercedez/other to buy out his contract should they want him. But if DiReista does leave in a years time Force India may have trouble attaining a driver as good as Sutil.
Ferrari have Sauber drivers
Redbull have Torro Rosso
For that reason I think they may reluctantly let Paul go. Hulkenburg will not wait around.
Ferrari have Sauber drivers
Redbull have Torro Rosso
For that reason I think they may reluctantly let Paul go. Hulkenburg will not wait around.
Edited by Moobs on Wednesday 2nd November 02:00
Park'O said:
Buemi to Ferrari 
Nah.If I was Sutil I'd be knocking on their door though. He can't do any worse than Massa and would cut repair bills (he wouldn't keep crashing into his mate Lewis
). Add in a bit of sponsorship from medion and a cheap wage packet and Sutil could be a great No. 2 for them imho.I have a friend close to Ricciardo. He seems to be smiling a lot currently doesn't he?...Buemi doesn't seem so happy though...but it is a fickle business, F1.
Re Kimi's retainer - he is a massive draw - in other forms of motorsport we see Relentless and Monster competing for space with Red Bull - in F1, Monster partner with drivers, not teams AFAIK...so there's a firm desperate to get in with unconventional drivers - profits are massive in that fizzy drink market...even if you only have a tiny percentage of the market - so a tiny increase makes a lot of money.
So a savvy marketing person would already map out the likely sponsors...which is why there's no doubt that sponsors could pay for a drive...especially if the driver retains image rights and specific space on his helmet and overalls (check out what Rosberg and Schumacher do on this.....Sabo and DV for starters....)...so don't dismiss it on money grounds...and Kimi has already agreed more marketing commitment than ever before.
Which is why he'll be driving a Williams in 2012....or so the bloke in the Eystons said
Re Kimi's retainer - he is a massive draw - in other forms of motorsport we see Relentless and Monster competing for space with Red Bull - in F1, Monster partner with drivers, not teams AFAIK...so there's a firm desperate to get in with unconventional drivers - profits are massive in that fizzy drink market...even if you only have a tiny percentage of the market - so a tiny increase makes a lot of money.
So a savvy marketing person would already map out the likely sponsors...which is why there's no doubt that sponsors could pay for a drive...especially if the driver retains image rights and specific space on his helmet and overalls (check out what Rosberg and Schumacher do on this.....Sabo and DV for starters....)...so don't dismiss it on money grounds...and Kimi has already agreed more marketing commitment than ever before.
Which is why he'll be driving a Williams in 2012....or so the bloke in the Eystons said
donna180 said:
rubystone said:
Moobs said:
I must be the only one who sees Di Reista going to Williams on a 3 year contract with a buy out clause should any of the top five teams come in for him.
Indeed you must. You are reading too much into Parr's discussion with Anthony Hamilton on the red button...FW makes the driver decisions, not Parr. And anyway, Kimi has signed a 1 year deal already Anyway, agree with the majority, largely unchanged, maybe Perez to Prancing Donkey with crybaby the other way, Vergne in at Torro Rosso if they dont bring Ricciardo, who i rate.
Castrol Craig said:
donna180 said:
rubystone said:
Moobs said:
I must be the only one who sees Di Reista going to Williams on a 3 year contract with a buy out clause should any of the top five teams come in for him.
Indeed you must. You are reading too much into Parr's discussion with Anthony Hamilton on the red button...FW makes the driver decisions, not Parr. And anyway, Kimi has signed a 1 year deal already Anyway, agree with the majority, largely unchanged, maybe Perez to Prancing Donkey with crybaby the other way, Vergne in at Torro Rosso if they dont bring Ricciardo, who i rate.
k off. 
RS404 said:
Whatever Williams' problem is I can't believe it's down to the drivers. It would be such a sad end to one of the longest careers in F1 to see Rubens dropped, seemingly over a lack of performance that has nothing to do with him.
A sad end maybe, but whilst the Williams isn't great, he at least should be able to bury his pay-driver team-mate. Which he conclusively has not. I like Rubens, but the fact is that his last few teammates (Schumacher, Button, Hulkenberg, Maldonado)have all shone rather brighter than him. It has been 13 years since Rubens truly outclassed someone in an identical car, weekend in, weekend out. That's a long time to be hanging on in there...Redlake27 said:
RS404 said:
Whatever Williams' problem is I can't believe it's down to the drivers. It would be such a sad end to one of the longest careers in F1 to see Rubens dropped, seemingly over a lack of performance that has nothing to do with him.
A sad end maybe, but whilst the Williams isn't great, he at least should be able to bury his pay-driver team-mate. Which he conclusively has not. I like Rubens, but the fact is that his last few teammates (Schumacher, Button, Hulkenberg, Maldonado)have all shone rather brighter than him. It has been 13 years since Rubens truly outclassed someone in an identical car, weekend in, weekend out. That's a long time to be hanging on in there...donna180 said:
Rubens nearly took the championship in a Brawn.... He outclassed Button for most of the second half of 2009 - something Lewis is finding difficult this year....
Exactly. 'Most' of a 'half' means the rival has been somewhat better over a whole.....I like Rubens. He's had the success he deserved. I don't think he was ever a multi World Champion in waiting, but he was, like a Webber/Trulli/Coulthard, someone that deserved their long career with wins and podiums and brought a lot to the teams he drove for. I just hope he is able to announce his retirement in Brazil, rather than waiting all winter for the phone to ring before announcing the inevitable.
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