6542 replies to this topic

[petercar41]

If Campos have to sell their team on, they may not have much of a choice.

Yes I agree, but J Viladelprat has almost everything he just need the place on the grid, no facilities, people etc......

[Captain Tightpants]

D'Ambrosio plays down Renault rumours.

[noikeee]

A little birdy whispered some things into my ear, last night:

I find all of that very weird. You sure that's a reliable source, or did you make it up or something?

Jérôme d'Ambrosio is allegedly a dead cert for Renault, while Ho-Pin Tung would be reserve driver. Both are managed by Gerard López's and Eric Boullier's Gravity firm.

Can't see Jerome making it to race driver now that he himself announced he doesn't see it as likely. Still think the seat's going to Heidfeld. Now I'm dead sure the 3rd driver spot will either go to Jerome or Ho-Ping Tung.

Peter Paul Sauber announced that he's signed a 2nd driver, likely to be Pedro Martínez de la Rosa, but possible yet Giancarlo Fisichella.

Thinking out loud: that bird I was talking about, mentioned something about Sauber's 2nd driver being "a surprise"... so what about Ralf Schumacher?

Switzerland sources are saying it's Pedro.

— and this is rather shocking — Campos Meta Team appears to be in serious financial difficulties. Dallara Automobili stopped work on the Campos car because it's not getting paid.

There are talks between Bernard Charles Ecclestone and Zoran Stefanovic to get the team ready for the 2010 season. This would be the new Toyota car with the Toyota engine, run by the Toyota team and Toyota mechanics, just with a different badge on the nose.

Wouldn't be that weird, I just hope it isn't true.

(by Captain Tightpants)

I wonder what all of this will mean for Campos and his drivers. A Campos-Stefanovic arrangement would be see everyone win, but I'm not going to believe rumours off the bat. I think they can be traced back to the fact that we haven't seen anything from Campos just yet, and now that SUF1 has shown us something, Campos has come under fire.

Humm no, not everyone would win. That'd be 2 car designs for a single team, so would they race the Toyota or the Dallara? Can't see how could that possibly work.

[lustigson]

I find all of that very weird. You sure that's a reliable source, or did you make it up or something?

I certainly didn't make it up, but I got an email from a friend who says he knows people in lower formulae. I trust him on that and just report what he told me.

I'm new to this 'in the know' stuff. Usually I just gather what's being published online and list that here...

[Captain Tightpants]

Humm no, not everyone would win. That'd be 2 car designs for a single team, so would they race the Toyota or the Dallara? Can't see how could that possibly work.

They'd probably use the Toyota. Campos commissioned Dallara to make their chassis; they have every right to elect not to use it if they so choose.

[TheF1PERSON]

I sure hope Bruno Senna can find a new drive if his Campos team can't make it. Because if he doesn't get a seat, that will be the second time in two years that he's missed out on a seat.

Hopefully this situation will sort itself out sooner or later.

[rodlamas]

Thinking out loud: that bird I was talking about, mentioned something about Sauber's 2nd driver being "a surprise"... so what about Ralf Schumacher?

That might be something to think about, although I'd give it a 3% chance.

[rodlamas]

I agree with rodlamas on both counts. d'Ambrosio over Heidfeld?! Wtf?? And, Heidfeld has no negotiation force anymore. He can't set two bidders up against each other. He'll have to accept what's on offer, and they all know it. There's something called market value, and pride, but Heidfeld can't expect to land a contract giving him a salary close to what he's had the last couple of seasons.

Yep, that's exactly what I mean. Heidfeld totally lost his market value after Sauber himself dropped him and, of course, when Schumacher set his comeback with Mercedes.

You know, there are still some places available other than Renault, for instance the 2nd STR car and both places at USF1, being him an extremely good asset for those last two teams.

But again, choosing any of the lower Formula drivers currently available for Heidfeld (considreing his current low mkt value) would be plain BS, as what Renault needs for 2010 is to score ponts consistently so that they can get a good WCC position and therefore good Ecclestone monney and sponsors for 2011 when they intend to be fighting at the very top again.

[TheF1PERSON]

Maybe Heidfeld WILL end up with Mercedes.....












...in the DTM.

[brabham bt50]

13 teams ( Ecclestone dec 2009 said 12 ?? ) including USF1 and SGP, but no Campos in 2010

McLaren–Mercedes
1. Jenson Button
2. Lewis Hamilton

Mercedes
3. Nico Rosberg
4. Michael Schumacher

Red Bull–Renault
5. Sebastian Vettel
6. Mark Webber

Ferrari
7. Felipe Massa
8. Fernando Alonso

Williams–Cosworth
9. Rubens Barrichello
10. Nico Hulkenberg

Renault
11. Robert Kubica
12. Nick Heidfeld

Force India–Mercedes
14. Adrian Sutil
15. Vitantonio Liuzzi

STR–Ferrari
16. Sebastien Buemi
17. Jaime Alguersuari

Lotus–Cosworth
18. Jarno Trulli
19. Heikki Kovalainen

US F1–Cosworth
20. Jacques Villeneuve
21. Jose Maria Lopez

Virgin–Cosworth
22. Timo Glock
23. Lucas di Grassi

Sauber–Ferrari
24. Kamui Kobayashi
25. Pedro de la Rosa

SGP
26. ?
27. ?

Edited by brabham bt50, 08 January 2010 - 10:49.

[Captain Tightpants]

That might be something to think about, although I'd give it a 3% chance.

3% Where the hell do you get that number from?

[Captain Tightpants]

13 teams ( Ecclestone dec 2009 said 12 ?? ) including USF1 and SGP, but no Campos in 2010

I think you're reading a bit too much into this Campos thing - right now, it's only a rumour.

[lustigson]

SGP
26. ?
27. ?

If I were Zoran Stefanovic, I'd go for something like this:

Мегафон Stefan GP
Stefan TF110 – Toyota RVX-10
28. Nick Heidfeld (for experience)
29. Vitaly Petrov (for the money)

[Captain Tightpants]

If I were Zoran Stefanovic, I'd go for something like this:

Мегафон Stefan GP
Stefan TF110 – Toyota RVX-10
28. Nick Heidfeld (for experience)
29. Vitaly Petrov (for the money)

If that's the case, the team would be Gazprom Stefan GP. The MegaFon connection would only come because MegaFon would want a Russian driver.

But whatever. I just want to see him race.

[Francesc]

If I were Zoran Stefanovic, I'd go for something like this:

Мегафон Stefan GP
Stefan TF110 – Toyota RVX-10
28. Nick Heidfeld (for experience)
29. Vitaly Petrov (for the money)

Toyota sold their chasis design with the condition that Stefanovich runs Nakajima

[Captain Tightpants]

Toyota sold their chasis design with the condition that Stefanovich runs Nakajima

Got a source to go with that?

[THE "driverider"]

Renault want to move forward so they going to pick Jerome d'Ambrosio over Nick Heidfeld.

I still think Campos and USF1 should merge together.

Plus Stefan GP would use Kazuki Nakajima there was a link I can't find it either.

[TheF1PERSON]

Renault want to move forward so they going to pick Jerome d'Ambrosio over Nick Heidfeld.

I still think Campos and USF1 should merge together.

Plus Stefan GP would use Kazuki Nakajima there was a link I can't find it either.

Or perhaps USF1 and Lotus should merge.

They could call themselves LOT US F1

[lustigson]

Joe Saward has a story on Campos Meta 1 that's rather less pessimistic on its prospects, and even says that the team look "the most solid of all the new teams, at least on paper".

[TheF1PERSON]

Posted that on the Campos Meta thread.

The reaction was less than welcome.

[William Hunt]

D'Ambrosio plays down Renault rumours.

The thing is: several internet sources / F1 magazines copied this after this interview that appeared in a Belgian newspaper more than a week ago. But one week later (yesterday in fact) a rumour came up in the Belgian press (and that was after the appointment of Bouiller) that d'Ambrosio was back in the picture at Renault; here is that source: http://f1-club.clint...rslag.php?id=53

Edited by William Hunt, 08 January 2010 - 14:15.

[Arion]

You know, there are still some places available other than Renault, for instance the 2nd STR car and both places at USF1, being him an extremely good asset for those last two teams.

But the smaller teams are probably looking for pay drivers though. It could be just negotiation tactics from Renault, but I don't see Nick asking for a lot of money. I don't understand the d'Ambrosio rumour, is it a official policy at Renault to have a different rookie every season or what? you'd think they want a solid, stable drivers lineup after the last few years.

[TheF1PERSON]

When will the next entry list be released?

[craftverk]

Posted that on the Campos Meta thread.

The reaction was less than welcome.

I didn't mean anything negative towards you, no worries

[TheF1PERSON]

I know, it was towards Mr. Saward.

I could tell it wasn't towards me.

[rodlamas]

3% Where the hell do you get that number from?

Out of nowhere.

[rodlamas]

But the smaller teams are probably looking for pay drivers though. It could be just negotiation tactics from Renault, but I don't see Nick asking for a lot of money. I don't understand the d'Ambrosio rumour, is it a official policy at Renault to have a different rookie every season or what? you'd think they want a solid, stable drivers lineup after the last few years.

That's what I've been saying. Renault needs money (both from sponsors and form 2010 WCC position) so they should hire someone that will be able to develop and set-up their car (and also finish races strongly) so that they can bring in tons of points.

Bringing in someone like D'Ambrosio that will have 2,000-2,500 kms on an F1 car that will be 5 seconds per lap faster at the end of the race than it was the beginning it is pure nonsense.

[rmac923]

http://formula-one.s...but-in-america/

USF1 rules out De La Rosa, Wurz and Villenueve as drivers. (Further down article)

So at this point, it's gonna be Lopez and Rossiter after all (unless Senna ends up there if Campos falls through).

[TheF1PERSON]

Yep. But having another British driver on the grid wouldn't be too bad. Especially since there no expectations from him.

[billm99uk]

Yep. But having another British driver on the grid wouldn't be too bad. Especially since there no expectations from him.

Well, in the sense that everybody will expect him to start and finish last, that's true enough. But I'd still much rather have one who'd actually done something to justify his seat

[robracer]

A have a very strong feeling that Nick Heidfeld will be confirmed at Renault F1 as a race driver next week.

[TheF1PERSON]

Indeed, I hope we get a flurry of driver announcements soon.

I also think Alguersuari will be replaced mid-season. Why?

When Scott Speed retained his seat, contract negociations took ages. He was fired after 10 races.

When Sebastien Bourdais stayed on at Toro Rosso, he was the last driver to be confirmed before the Brawn drivers. He was fired after 9 races.

I don't expect to see Alguersuari after the Canadian Grand Prix.

Edited by TheF1PERSON, 08 January 2010 - 18:30.

[MortenF1]

I wouldn't mind seeing Alguersuari replaced before Melbourne. I'd like to see one of the experienced drivers alongside Buemi, Heidfeld for instance. Or Ralf Schumacher (was a candidate when Berger ruled STR). Pantano(!) Davidson. Wilson(!)

Edited by race addicted, 08 January 2010 - 18:43.

[tom]

Duller and duller alright.

[TheF1PERSON]

Well, I see it as a forgone conclusion in a way.

Alguersuari was only given his debut so that Toro Rosso could claim the record of having the youngest driver to start a GP. That and they were fed up of Bourdais.

[rmac923]

Indeed, I hope we get a flurry of driver announcements soon.

I also think Alguersuari will be replaced mid-season. Why?

When Scott Speed retained his seat, contract negociations took ages. He was fired after 10 races.

When Sebastien Bourdais stayed on at Toro Rosso, he was the last driver to be confirmed before the Brawn drivers. He was fired after 9 races.

I don't expect to see Alguersuari after the Canada Grand Prix.

That's not the Toro Rosso way, they fire their drivers after the German Grand Prix.

[Andrew Hope]

Toro Rosso sucks. I miss Minardi.

[MortenF1]

Duller and duller alright.

Alguersuari is so much fun. You're right.

[TheF1PERSON]

That's not the Toro Rosso way, they fire their drivers after the German Grand Prix.

I was going by the logic of 10, 9, 8 rounds, but failed to notice they were all fired after German Grand Prix.

So that's an extra 3 races Alguersuari has a chance of lasting

[Captain Tightpants]

Alguersuari was only given his debut so that Toro Rosso could claim the record of having the youngest driver to start a GP. That and they were fed up of Bourdais.

I think you'll find it was more to do with the fact that he was the only person they had for the job. Brendon Hartley stepped down from the test-driver role to focus on other race series, leaving Alguersuari as the test driver. Toro Rosso were dissatisfied with Bourdais and they needed a new driver; Alguersuari was the only person who was both willing and eligible fo a superlicence.

[brabham bt50]

Campos is already for sale !!!!!!!!

According to the reliable ( Autosport editor/ part-time journalist ) Dieter Rencken.

http://www.motorspor...t_10010814.html

[monza2001]

Campos is already for sale !!!!!!!!

According to the reliable ( Autosport editor/ part-time journalist ) Dieter Rencken.

http://www.motorspor...t_10010814.html

I don´t think the team is for sale, probably Adrian is looking for someone who puts a lot of money (something like Richard Branson have done with Manor).

[metz]

I don´t think the team is for sale, probably Adrian is looking for someone who puts a lot of money (something like Richard Branson have done with Manor).

Einer davon ist der Chef der A1GP-Serie, der Südafrikanische Geschäftsmann Tony Teixeira.

This says otherwise.
Seems Tony has been in the hunt for a team for several years.
He almost bought Spyker but, like Richards, was foiled by the customer car rule.

[monza2001]

Einer davon ist der Chef der A1GP-Serie, der Südafrikanische Geschäftsmann Tony Teixeira.

This says otherwise.
Seems Tony has been in the hunt for a team for several years.
He almost bought Spyker but, like Richards, was foiled by the customer car rule.

Campos NEED this man, well Teixeira´s money.

[Rob]

I wouldn't mind seeing Alguersuari replaced before Melbourne. I'd like to see one of the experienced drivers alongside Buemi, Heidfeld for instance. Or Ralf Schumacher (was a candidate when Berger ruled STR). Pantano(!) Davidson. Wilson(!)

Give the guy a chance! He doesn't deserve to have his career killed off before it has even started.

[SoL]

If I were Zoran Stefanovic, I'd go for something like this:

Мегафон Stefan GP
Stefan TF110 – Toyota RVX-10
28. Nick Heidfeld (for experience)
29. Vitaly Petrov (for the money)

or


Stefan GP
Stefan TF110 – Toyota RVX-10
28. Bruno Senna
29. Kazuki Nakjima

[SAFC09]

Give the guy a chance! He doesn't deserve to have his career killed off before it has even started.

Lewis sort of created a monster for rookies, he was that good some people expect all rookies to perform, not upto Lewis' standard but if they don't show something there labelled as not good enough

I agree with you, the lad hasn't had a fair crack of the whip, how old is he 19/20 ? I hope STR give him and Buemi the time to develop

Somehow though i don't think they will. which is a shame

[robracer]

Kicking Bourdais out last year for Alguersuari was a stupid decision, they replaced a decent driver with plenty of miles under his belt with a kid who had no experience. Bourdais wasn't even bad, he had scored a couple of points so there was no reason to replace him. I hope the guy that made that decision was replaced himself because it was shocking IMO.

STR need an experienced driver alongside Buemi, not an inexperienced rookie, somebody like Bourdais, Heidfeld, Fisichella or Ralf Schumacher would be ideal.

[robracer]

This is Boullier's shortlist.

• Nick Heidfeld
• Takuma Sato
• Jerome d'Ambrosio
• Ho-Ping Tung
• Romain Grosjean

In that order.

[Captain Tightpants]

As I asked in the other thread: what's you source?