Silly Season 2012
Author
Discussion

flasher

9,315 posts

313 months

Thursday 17th May 2012
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I'd guess that Hamilton is holding the key to who goes where.

I have a gut feeling about him going to Mercedes for some reason, but you never know...

Schumacher and Massa, I can't see either staying in F1.

DanDC5

19,991 posts

196 months

Thursday 17th May 2012
quotequote all
Autosport are reporting today that he's holding out before he signs with Mclaren again, along with this rumour appearing about a big name replacing MSC at Mercedes things might get very interesting.

StevieBee

15,284 posts

284 months

Thursday 17th May 2012
quotequote all
From the driver's and teams perspective, I very much doubt we'll see much in the way of changes announced until much later in the year. We have yet to see any clear evidence of consistent form and unlikely to for some time yet (which is no bad thing).

Also worth remembering that for next year, things technically will be pretty much as they are now but in 2014, the new turbo engines come in. I would imagine many of the top drivers will be looking more carefully at 2014 rather than 2013.

Rude-boy

22,227 posts

262 months

Thursday 17th May 2012
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If MSC walks Hamilton will have his seat. If not he will stay at Mclaren until the end of 2014.

Life Saab Itch

37,069 posts

217 months

Thursday 17th May 2012
quotequote all
Drivers:
I think Ferrari will either offer an older, known quantity driver the chance for a year or, possibly Kubica on a 1 year contract if he does well in his Ferrari sponsored sim testing. Then in 2014 it will be Perez and Alonso, before Alonso retires.

I think Hamilton would be lost anywhere else than McLaren. Red Bull hold no advantage now the EBD has been banned and Mercedes have nothing to offer over McLaren.

I think (depending on this season) that Schumi may stay for one last year in 2013. Rosberg is secure.

I think Sauber will keep their drivers.


Teams:
I think the rumour mill is in full swing at Merc. I think we may be barking up the wrong tree though. I don't think it's a driver that is their "big name"....

Circuits:

Of the ones that want back in, I'd only wish to see Yeongnam if it's properly finished as a street circuit...around a city. As it is, it's a sthole, just like Catalunya and Valencia. Lose them.

Spa seems to have done a deal to share the slot with Paul Ricard.

Budapest would be a shame to see it go. Loads of people hate it, but I reckon it's not bad...and british drivers seem to go well there...

The rest, not fussed.

EDLT

15,421 posts

235 months

Thursday 17th May 2012
quotequote all
Rude-boy said:
If MSC walks Hamilton will have his seat. If not he will stay at Mclaren until the end of 2014.
Why would Hamilton want to get into a slower car?

woof

8,456 posts

306 months

Thursday 17th May 2012
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There's no way Lewis is leaving Mclaren.
The only option would be Ferrari - but the car is crap and he's hardly likely to partner Alonso at this point. But I wouldn't rule Lewis going to Ferrari at some point towards to end of his career.



P-Jay

11,398 posts

220 months

Thursday 17th May 2012
quotequote all
Hamilton will stay with McL

Massa will be out of Ferrari, after Monaco if he has another howler I hear. I'd like to see him stay in F1 and swap places with Perez, if they don't do that I'm not sure who Ferrari could put in his seat for the rest of the season. If he lasts the season we could see Webber going to Ferrari - I'd love to see that, he's mentally tough and wouldn't take any of this "Alonso's support driver" Bullst.

MSC - not sure, I don't think he's doing quite enough to justify what's becoming a 1st class seat, but you'd guess he's bringing a lot of sponsorship and development experience. he doesn't seem to be enjoying it anymore, he might bow out anyway - hopefully they'll let one of the new young guns like Grosjean in.

DanDC5

19,991 posts

196 months

Thursday 17th May 2012
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If Massa left Ferrari before the end of the season I could see them bringing Sutil in to finish the season to be honest. The focus is all on Alonso so they'll just want someone who can bring the car home, hopefully scoring some points.

playalistic

2,270 posts

193 months

Thursday 17th May 2012
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EDLT said:
Why would Hamilton want to get into a slower car?
The obvious answer would be bags and bags of cash.

oyster

13,700 posts

277 months

Thursday 17th May 2012
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In 2013 I don't see any changes in Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull, Lotus, Sauber, Caterham or Williams.

Torro Rosso will dump at least one of their drivers as they continue the impossible search for Vettel v2.

HRT and Marussia will each hire a rookie with cash to go alongside the old journeymen Glock and De La Rosa.

SRT77

710 posts

247 months

Thursday 17th May 2012
quotequote all
Too early to say if Schumi will leave. One crap race from him, although not entirely his fault and four crap races caused by his team.
That rumour has just come from some blurry photographer who can't stand him.
Hamilton has got to be better off at Mclaren, still a better team than Merc.
Massa who knows.
Then again if the tyre lottery continues and everyone takes it in turn to win, it'll be hard to judge who's doing a really good job.

Rude-boy

22,227 posts

262 months

Thursday 17th May 2012
quotequote all
playalistic said:
EDLT said:
Why would Hamilton want to get into a slower car?
The obvious answer would be bags and bags of cash.
ANd that it will not the the slower car for long, especially when no one knows how fast a 2015 Mclaren will be with a home spun motor in the back.

P-Jay

11,398 posts

220 months

Thursday 17th May 2012
quotequote all
playalistic said:
EDLT said:
Why would Hamilton want to get into a slower car?
The obvious answer would be bags and bags of cash.
Don't see it. He's many things - but he's not a money mad driver - yeah he'll 'play the game' come contract neg time, but I don't seem him ever taking a slower car for more money. He's hardly poor already ether.

Rude-boy

22,227 posts

262 months

Thursday 17th May 2012
quotequote all
Rude-boy said:
playalistic said:
EDLT said:
Why would Hamilton want to get into a slower car?
The obvious answer would be bags and bags of cash.
And that it will not be the slower car for long, especially when no one knows how fast a 2015 Mclaren will be with a home spun motor in the back.

CurvaParabolica

7,007 posts

213 months

Thursday 17th May 2012
quotequote all
DanDC5 said:
If Massa left Ferrari before the end of the season I could see them bringing Sutil in to finish the season to be honest. The focus is all on Alonso so they'll just want someone who can bring the car home, hopefully scoring some points.
I agree. Would love to see Perez there but he's constantly said that he will not leave Sauber mid-season; I know the lure of a Ferrari seat must be powerful, but I don't see him going anywhere (if at all) until the start of next year.

Life Saab Itch

37,069 posts

217 months

Thursday 17th May 2012
quotequote all
I'd have thought that Heikki or Tim may be in with a chance for a half-season ticket at Ferrari.


On the other hand, is it "better the devil you know"? After all, if the st's getting flung at Massa, it ain't getting flung at Steffano or Fernando.


Massa is actually quite handy to have around when the cars is supposed to be a dog (not that it's that bad, evidently).

P-Jay

11,398 posts

220 months

Thursday 17th May 2012
quotequote all
Life Saab Itch said:
I'd have thought that Heikki or Tim may be in with a chance for a half-season ticket at Ferrari.


On the other hand, is it "better the devil you know"? After all, if the st's getting flung at Massa, it ain't getting flung at Steffano or Fernando.


Massa is actually quite handy to have around when the cars is supposed to be a dog (not that it's that bad, evidently).
Love to see Heikki back near the front, he seems pretty committed to developing the Catherham (but he would say that).

dom180

1,180 posts

293 months

Thursday 17th May 2012
quotequote all
P-Jay said:
Hamilton will stay with McL

Massa will be out of Ferrari, after Monaco if he has another howler I hear. I'd like to see him stay in F1 and swap places with Perez, if they don't do that I'm not sure who Ferrari could put in his seat for the rest of the season. If he lasts the season we could see Webber going to Ferrari - I'd love to see that, he's mentally tough and wouldn't take any of this "Alonso's support driver" Bullst.

MSC - not sure, I don't think he's doing quite enough to justify what's becoming a 1st class seat, but you'd guess he's bringing a lot of sponsorship and development experience. he doesn't seem to be enjoying it anymore, he might bow out anyway - hopefully they'll let one of the new young guns like Grosjean in.
I don't see any motivation for Ferrari to fire Massa - a happy Alonso makes a happy Ferrari - why bother to get couple of extra constructor points at best or an increased risk Alonso issues. I'm sure Fernando will want a clean run at this/next years championships and will have some say in the matter...


DanDC5

19,991 posts

196 months

Thursday 17th May 2012
quotequote all
P-Jay said:
Love to see Heikki back near the front, he seems pretty committed to developing the Catherham (but he would say that).
I think he genuinely is to be honest. Just doesn't seem to be getting the rewards for the work he's putting in. Would be good to see him in a good car again though.