Plus GPWeek's got Loeb down for a GP2 test in a few days to prepare himself for his F1 debut in Abu Dhabi.

That could be interesting... risky, but interesting!

Hey, I think you are missing my point. Did you skip my previous post. The critique isn't aimed at Autosport, but at using that article as "proof" that some Spanish reporter has been right.

The proof just isn't in that article - it may come later, but that article surely isn't it.

And about the Spanish reporters... you know, when I see them say "Alonso to Ferrari" every year since he left McLaren, including the year when he left McLaren, it makes me feel it's wishful thinking rather than real information. So I wouldn't really be raving here about how they were right all the time.

There are only so many top teams in F1, especially with long traditions in the sport, and a driver like Alonso is likely to end up in one. So, as I see it, it's not really an amazing achievement to get that one right.

If they want to get rid of Glock and Trulli, who are the guys they have in line, not just to replace them but aswell to improve the team?!
I don't see anyone except Kubica, Heidfeld and Barichello as an improvement to Glock/Trulli. But Kubica is heavily rumoured to join Renault, same with Barichello and Williams and Heidfeld will stay at whatever becomes Sauber, I think.
So who else is there? Kovalainen? Looking at what he did in 2008 and '09 in McLaren he's no improvement. Nakajima? I don't think he's worth a real discussion - he's nowhere near Rosberg this year. Maybe Sutil? Some days ago he talked about "aming for a works team", but I'm not sure if he's a huge improvement to toyota's current pairing.

If I were Toyota I'd keep Glock.

If I understand correctly Alonso will earn £21m per year at Ferrari. Kimi shall drop down to £12m at Macca but will obviously get a huge compensation from Ferrari (funded by Santander) as well.

Kovalainen: I honestly have no idea where he goes.

Nakajima to Toyota, Nico H to Williams, and Nico R to Brawn would be perfect for all parties concerned,but Barrichello to Williams? I'll try to imagine him in a Williams,if nothing else.



The only reason Grosjean would even need replacing is if he's still unwell in a week's time.But I reckon di Grassi deserves a chance.

I have a hunch that he will go either to Renault or Toyota....

The same guy that during the Belgium GP told the world about the Crashgate.

From the day Santander renewed with Mclaren, I knew Kimi was going there. So I think lots of stuff is getting settled. It shall go that way

Brawn: Button & Rosberg
RBR: Vettel & Webber
Mclaren: Hamilton & Raikkonen
Ferrari: Alonso & Massa
Toyota: Kovalainen & Glock
Renault: Kubica & Grosjean (maybe di Grassi)
Williams: Barrichello & Hulkenberg (and Mercedes engines)
STR: Buemi & Alguersuari
Force India: Sutil & Liuzzi
BMW: Heidfeld & ???

The four new teams I haven't got a clue, except that Pedro de la Rosa will be at Campos.

Well Räikkönen should get full pay from Ferrari since Ferrari breached the contract without a valid cause.

You're bang on there I'd reckon.

Merc?

Not to contradict you but why, what's the connection? Why would Santander's renewal have any effect on whether Kimi goes to McLaren or not?

Santander wants Alonso at Ferrari and Alonso wants to be at Ferrari after what happened at Mclaren and with Briatore a week ago. That's the main fact and the most important thing. In order for them to get that done, they need to get rid of Massa or Raikkonen.

Since Massa is more of a Ferrari driver than Raikkonen (Montezemolo: "A driver at Ferrari drivers for ferrari, not for himself"), them they know they have to get rid of Raikkonen.

But Raikkonen will not let go for a shit team and without a lot of money. Santander has the money, so now they have to find a team. They have 3+2 years contract with Mclaren, with an option to renew. So they take that option and use the space and the money to put Raikkonen at Mclaren, which hasn't got Dennis anymore and where Hamilton is having to do all by his own, as Kovalainen is driving worse than in 2008.

Doesn't it all make sense?

This is what I think right now:

Brawn
1, Jenson Button (2012)
2, Nico Rosberg (2012)

This is not Ross Brawn's decision, but he knows how important the ownership by Mercedes could be for the teams' future, and that's why he'll comply and give Rosberg a presmued three-year deal, being paired with Button, who'll also commit until the end of 2012. Overall, they will be a sharp driver pairing, and the addition of Rosberg will put heavy pressure on him and Button as well, and there will be no comfort zone when Button will defend his title (I'm pretty sure he'll hold on to it now).

Red Bull
3, Sebastian Vettel (2012)
4, Mark Webber (2010)

Both deals were signed this summer when they were the talk of the town, so despite their clumsiness this autumn, they are still guaranteed slots in the team for next year. Vettel will gain in expereince and has a contract until the "crunch time" of 2012, when all contracts will end. Webber has a last chance to prove his worth next year, having not shone in a front-rank car this year, and scoring just a solitary win, when he really should have fought for the championship. The jury is still out on these two.

McLaren
5, Lewis Hamilton (2012)
6, Kimi Räikkönen (2010)

I didn't expect this, although it's strongly claimed that Kimi has agreed a move to McLaren, as he ponders whether to continue in F1 after 2010. It was always in his plans to race next season, and 2010 could be his swansong, as well as a start of something new that could keep him racing until 2013 or something. Lewis has a contract until the crunch deadline, having pledged his future to McLaren back in February 2008. As for the numbers, I do expect that McLaren will jump Ferrari in the WCC, by the virtue of Ferrari hacving stopped developing.

Ferrari
7, Fernando Alonso (2012)
8, Felipe Massa (2010 with option through 2012)

Ferrari is likely to offer Massa a contract extension if he's able to perform at a sufficient level during winter testing, that would mean him continuing his long-term relationship with the team until the end 2012. Alonso appears to be a done deal now, and I reckon that he will get three years, and that Ferrari thinks that he's a safe pair of hands to carry a leading role in the team. Given a top car, Alonso is always marvellous. It's also a very anticipated move by the fans, leading to huge coverage all over the world. The pressure will be manic, a bit like when Ronaldo went from Man U to Madrid.

Toyota
9, Timo Glock (2010)
10, Heikki Kovalainen (2011)

Toyota would like less unnecessary expanditure if it's to stay in Formula 1 long-term, and removing Trulli's salary, by replacing him with a relatively similarly-talented driver who is seven years younger, and probably costs less makes sense. Glock is likely to be rewarded with a new contract if he's able to match Heikki's performances, which I firmly expect him to. Overall, a solid driver pairing, both capable of GP wins, but hardly Championship material.

Williams
11, Rubens Barrichello (2010)
12, Nico Hülkenberg (2011)

Williams will start of with a completely new pairing, and I reckon the bosses would welcome Barrichello's wealth of experience, as well as his still-proven ability to win races. He's unlikely to be offered anything more than a one-year deal, but since it would give him a realistic chance to fight within the top 10, I'm pretty sure he'll agree. Hülkenberg deserves a chance, and I reckon he could might as well beat Barrichello in his first year. The boy is spectacular, and very clever in risk management, as well as real quick.

Renault
14, Robert Kubica (2011)
15, Romain Grosjean (2010)

I'm pretty sure Renault wants a French driver to excuse its F1 involvment to the main board in this difficult time. Throwing a Frenchman out of F1 would be very bad for Renault's public image, that's for sure. Kubica will be a natural replacement to Alonso, and he'll go in, dig deep and do his best. I'm a bit unsure whether he would be able to deliver at the same level, but he'll still be a solid #1 driver.

Qadbak
16, Nick Heidfeld (2011)
17, Giancarlo Fisichella (2010)

Having Ferrari engines will mean Fisi as a driver, and I don't think they'll object to keeping him race fit, should he be needed by Maranello. Heidfeld will sign a new deal, that would keep him with the team, and the combined experience of the duo will be an asset, as well as the existing workforce. I reckon they could do reasonably well, especially if Theissen is kept onboard.

Force India
18, Adrian Sutil (2011)
19, Vitantonio Liuzzi (2010)

The overrated Sutil will get another two years with the team, before someone realises that he's not great. Liuzzi is likely to stay on, with great experience form developing a car, as well as Grand Prix race experience. If their car is the best on the grid (as in Spa and Monza) this year, they might squeeze in a podium.

Toro Rosso
20, Sébastien Buemi (2010)
21, Jaime Alguersuari (2010)

Both drivers will have huge pressure on their shoulders next year, having failed to come anywhere near the performances of Vettel's last year, and both will need to deliver next year to keep their places. The loser in this battle will be out, simple as that.

Campos
?, Pedro de la Rosa (2010)
?, Vitaly Petrov (2010)

De la Rosa will be delighted to finish his career off in a Spanish team that he can help develop into a serious force. Petrov will be the perfect complement, probably able to match de la Rosa in terms of performance. The sponsorship money he brings will be vital as well.

USF1
?, Jarno Trulli (2011)
?, Scott Speed (2010)

Windsor is a well-documented fan of Trulli, and the YouTube money will give him the possibility to pay Trulli a reasonable salary. He has also stated his determination to have an established F1 driver alongside the complusory US driver. I think Speed has given up his NASCAR career, and he's likely to take the second drive. He's the only American with recent F1 experience, which will do him well.

Lotus
?, Anthony Davidson (2010)
?, Fairuz Fauzy (2010)

Davidson is a solid choice given his F1 experience, and Gascoyne probably knows he is a really good driver. Fauzy will be taken because of his nationality, despite not offering F1 quality.

Manor

?, Paul di Resta (2010)
?, Takuma Sato (2010)

Di Resta is a well-known driver within the team, and their is a shortage on experienced F1 drivers, which will lead to Sato's popular comeback in F1 after two years absence.

There are only 2 truths.
1...McLaren must have a Finn
2...Kovi is not cutting it

Short of bringing Mika back, it was the only choice...

I does but at the end of the day Kimi could move to McLaren with or without Santander's blessing. It is much more important to have Mercedes support which it seems he has plenty of in the case of his fanboy Haug than rely on a secondary sponsor.

I almost full agree with Jeze, but there's some minor additions and changes I'd make:

Bild (take it as you will) is reporting that Glock has not had his contract renewed for 2010. Kind of stupid decision.He was told about it just before Singapore.

That would be quite a surprise, but the thought occurred to me this morning that Toyota might once again renew their entire line-up, and sign H.J. Kovalainen and K. Nakajima.

Just read it. Surprised.

So Toyota will have Nakajima next to Kovalainen next year? They really want to find some reason for the board to takem them out of F1.

toyota would be dumb not to go after heidfeld - although I'm not sure he'd want to go there. If the car is good enough he will get the results. Kovaleinen is decent but not fast enough - Kazu is not fast enough.

That's what DSF (german sports television) said a few weeks back during FP-session at Spa or Monza, i'm not sure which one.



that'd be the (by far) worst they could do. Trulli/Glock >> Kovalainen/Nakajima. Even considering Nakajima... c'mon, they can't be that blind and driven by patriotism.

You know, if that McLaren seat is vacant come season's end and Haug still wants a German driver, I wouldn't be surprised if Glock gets called up. He's quicker than Kovalainen when he's got the right machine under him, he's shown that he can shoulder his team's worldly hopes for the weekend if it goes pear-shaped for the other, he's not o fast that he'll consistently challenge Hamilton and unlike Toyota, he seems to know why he's in the sport.

GP week report that neither Toyota driver has had his contract renewed ...

Glock surely helped his cause this weekend.

A strong second, which would have been a strong 4th had it not been for the Vettel and Rosberg penalties.

But Trulli's time has passed in my view.

He is fast on his day, but that day doesn't roll around enough.

Kova is in truble for a drive it seems, Toyota need to step up and sign a good lead driver at least. Heiiki doesnt cut the mustard.

The Mclaren seat isnt available anymore. Its Kimi's seat and i dont think lewis is a happy pappy

His pole lap in Monaco 2004 was one of the most incredible displays of "on the limit" driving I've ever seen.

There was a rumor a couple months ago that linked Glock to Mac.

But I don't believe it. There's better drivers available.

It's not true, according to Glock:
http://www.motorsport-total.com/f1/news/20...e_09092821.html

GP Week have yet to earn credibility in terms of reporting.

Does Haug run the show at McLaren and Brawn? Cos seriously, it sounds like he is the one that makes all the decisions.

Unless toyota manage to sign a kubica, barrichello then theres really no one that is going to do more than the drivers they already have. Build a good car first you morons

But that was 5 years ago.....he's not cutting the mustard this year.

Seems they arent that bad after all. http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news...928165305.shtml

While the mag's only been around less than two years I can't really recall a time when it has been considerably off the mark... can you?

It's managed to gain some pretty good exclusives in that time too... which isn't easy for a new publication. There aren't many start-up operations to have reporters at every round of all the events it covers either.

Frankly, I don't think it is doing a bad job at all.

Why the beef Timstr11?

As quoted by Stuck:

“How is it possible for Hamilton to win with the best car but Kovalainen is blown away by the brilliant Nico Rosberg in the weaker Williams?” he told Germany’s Sport Bild.

It is speculated that Mercedes is trying to convince McLaren to pit Hamilton against 23-year-old Rosberg for the 2010 season.

But Stuck isn’t convinced.

“I am forming the impression that either Haug doesn’t want a German driver or he has no influence at a team where Mercedes is the majority owner.”

Stuck said he believes a figure like Gerhard Berger, a former Toro Rosso co-owner and once joint BMW motor sport director, would have put Rosberg under contract with McLaren long ago.

Haug said in Budapest last weekend that it would be “nice” to see a countryman at the wheel of a silver arrows.

“I have stated that for 15 years and it is still the truth,” the German said.


The fact is McLaren will not hire a German.
I used to think it was Ron, but with him gone, they still would rather go back to a Finn than a German.
They had a chance at Schumacher, they took Mika.
They had a chance at Heidfeld (Mercedes choice) they took Kimi.
They had a chance at Ralf, they took JPM.
They had a chance at Vettel, they took Kovi.
This year they have a chance at Glock, Rosberg, Heidfeld but once again go with the Finn.
See the patern here?
See why Mercedes is buying into Brawn?

Well, I understand Santander's throwing money at them. It's entirely possible they'd rather have Rosberg, Heidfeld, Glock or Sutil if it wasn't for that 25-million sweetener (or however much it really is).

Siemens, SAP amd BOSS have been throwing money at them for years.
Didn't make any difference.

AFAIK Schumacher-McLaren did not happen because of some sponsoring issus back then.
I don't think anyone had a chance at Vettel last year, unless (ofc) you want to pay a sh1tload of € £ $. And as much as I'd like to see Rosberg or Heidfeld at McLaren, I think Kimi is reasonable choice there. He's not that expensive anymore (read about 12M somwhere on this board... even paid by some sponsor?!), he's proven fast - ok, so are Rosberg and Heidfeld - and not know for bitching unlike other top drivers *harrumph* Alonso *harrumph*... McLaren knows what they get when Kimi comes on board. "Never change a winning horse" ;)

They tried to get Rosberg from Williams 2 years ago so it's not true that they won't hire a German.

Some forum members should be "pay posters", too. I mean, pay to post.

First of all I doubt it's the best car, second Rosberg wasn't that brilliant, he blew it yet again.



Don't think nationality plays a big factor but quality, and second Mercedes is a 40% shareholder, not majority.



I don't take Stuck for a second serious, his statements are always somehow weird ...

It's pretty amazing, isn't it? Since 1994 McLaren have had a Finnish driver almost every year, only 2007 is an exception. And it isn't like a Finnish equivalent of Santander sponsoring them is the reason.

...and any publicity is good publicity.

I think the McLaren-won't-hire-Germans-myth is just that: a myth. Perhaps Mercedes hasn't been too fixated on getting a German driver in one of their cars, and just get the best available drivers every time around? Or perhaps team and manufacturer tried to get a German driver, but simply failed to do so? Check out this list:

• McLaren already had M.P. Häkkinen under contract when M. Schumacher was at Benetton (on a 1994-1996 deal). It was the German who then got out of that contract, and consequently opted for Ferrari. McLaren tried, but apparently didn't offer the right deal.
• McLaren allegedly had a deal with N.L. Heidfeld after sponsoring him in F3000, but picked up K.M. Räikkönen at the first available occasion, possibly to team him up with Heidfeld later.
• Who would you pick when you'd have a choice between the R. Schumacher and J.P. Montoya Roldán at the time?
• S. Vettel was contracted first to BMW and then picked up by Red Bull halfway through 2007. McLaren had F. Alonso Díaz and L.C. Hamilton at the time, and the troubles had not really started at that point, but later did try to get Vettel to replace Alonso when it was clear the Spaniard would leave. Red Bull's D. Mateschitz refused to let the German go.
• Toyota offered T. Glock a deal for 2009, and he took it. Never was he in frame for a drive at McLaren. And, when he had driver for Jordan in 2004, they decided not to pick him up. I can understand why.
• N. Rosberg had a Williams contract until the end of the current season, so simply wasn't available.
• N.L. Heidfeld was tied to BMW Sauber for 2009, and was not approached by McLaren, because of better names being available.

Lustigson, don't bother. I've made those points quite a few times, but apparently McLaren's xenophobic against german drivers and will never hire one for the rest of eternity, just because.

Thanks. I just thought I'd give it a try. The McLaren-don't-want-no-Germans myth is just about the same as Dutch-multinationals-won't-sponsor-Dutch-racers crap.

after the news, that glock is out of toyota I fear, that toyota is history
http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news...928165305.shtml

Well, if Toyota decides to quit, that'll just confirm to me their big failure in understanding F1 and the attitude needed to become successful there.

I wouldn't be happy to see them quit, but it wouldn't surprise me. A fair thing would be to let their drivers know about it well in advance. I'm not sure if that has happened, but I guess they wouldn't tell us about that until an official announcement that the team will quit have been made.

Let's hope they'll stay... I want them to prove that I have been wrong about their management style.