I think Kubica deserves the Brawn drive more than Rosberg but I guess he is not German and Haug wants a German and seems to be calling the shots.

I'll be curious to see just how good brawn's car is next season. I guess with rubens going to williams, this pretty much guarantees kubica in a renault for 2010. I haven't heard rumors about him going anywhere else.

At first blush, I'd agree, but Brawn have to think long-term: Nico's contract is up at the end of this season, and if they want him, they have no real choice but to sign him from 2010 onwards, and move out Rubens (who, realistically, only has one season left before retirement). In an ideal world, it would be nice to keep Rubens for 2010, but then Brawn would lose out on signing Nico.

Agreed.

Although I'd rather see Rosberg in Mclaren and Kimi at Brawn so that Button finally gets the credit he deserves (after all everyone rates Kimi higher than Nico, right? Well I know I do!)

I don't think Grosjean is confirmed for 2010 at Renault.

Anyone know if Ruby ends up at Williams, does that mean Merc engines are part of the deal?

IMO they'll sign Bourdais to suit the change of culture in teh new renault team

Merc have no interest in rubens, maybe hulkenberg

I think that rather depends on whether Reb Bull gets (...or is allowed to get...) Mercedes engines than Barichello.

I don't think there is any doubt, Williams are getting Renault engines - why else would SFW have been so gushing in his begging for leniency towards Renault in CrashGate?

based on his performances so far I don't think it will be definite either. I know its only been 2 races but he looks like a mess on track.

I don't agree.

Rubens is 37 but has shown no loss of speed or racecraft at all.

What should stop him racing to 40 and beyond?

I think he is suffering from the fact that he's the oldest man on the grid and the R word will be hanging over him because of that.

Rosberg remains an unknown quantity.

Was caned by Webber in his first season, did well against a demotivated Wurz in 07, didn't dominate Nakajima as he should have last year, but is doing much better this year.

Why a racer like Ross Brawn give up Rubens is beyond me.

As was pointed out in Autosport the other week, Brawn is a racer and a man who gets what he wants.

Hopefully that'll mean he keeps Rubens.

After all, Mercedes has been in F1 with McLaren since 1995 and they've never had a German race driver, even turning down Nick Heidfeld.

I think Rubens going to Williams to partner The Hulk would be a good move by Williams. Rubens clearly is still quick and his experience setting the car up would be invaluable for Hulkenberg, who must also be hoping this happens.

Be interesting to see Rosberg against Button next year if that happens too.

I hope so. haven't had a driver and team together that I want to win in a long time!

Glad that Barrichello is going to continue in the sport, but a bit sad that he has to move at all. He's not done a bad job for Brawn.

Hulkenberg and Barrichello,very odd combination. Happy for RB if it happens,though.

i'd be happy to see williams with a proven driver again, and barrichello / hulkenberg (spelling?) would be an interesting lineup

What kind of sponsorship deals is williams likely to have? i'm guessing hulkenberg will bring some backing from those german companies that seem to support him

Hopefully Williams will benefit from Barrichello's reputedly excellent technical feedback - and hopefully Rubens will get a shot at a few more podiums. I think Brawn did the right thing however, Rosberg will be able to prove himself against the (almost certain to be) new WDC, they might have scooped a major talent with a long future ahead of him. Williams gets a great driver, but one approaching the end of his career.

I think Rubens is a great yardstick for a newcomer. Just like Coulthard was and Trulli or Fisi is. If the newcomer can't keep up with these kind of established, experienced, solid drivers he doesn't probably have what it takes to be a top F1 driver. There's quite a few ones exposed this way (Klien comes to mind).

So from a teams perspective it makes perfect sense. Two rookies or semi rookies is always a mystery... a crappy one can beat a hopeless one.

What a great Silly season this season.

This will be one of the better combo's for next year especially if they get a Merc engine of which Rubens is used to. Williams extremely professional will suit the more mature Rubens but he will have a clean shaven policy!

Finally: Ferrari confirms Alonso will replace Raikkonen.

...this thread is going to get (even more) busy now...

Emirates Brawn Mercedes
Brawn BGP 002 – Mercedes FO108X (Mercedes rumourd in (partly) take-over)
Team Principal: Ross Brawn ; Technical Director: Ross Brawn (?)
1. Jenson Button (negotiations for new contract ongoing, with money an issue)
2. Rubens Barrichello (one more season; may depend on Button's negotiations)
Nico Rosberg (likely dependent on Mercedes deal)
Kimi Räikkönen (rumoured if Rosberg goes to McLaren)
Bruno Senna (will he get his chance? Might be unlikely if Brawn lift the WDC/WCC)

Red Bull Racing
Red Bull RB6 – Renault RS27 (currently) / Mercedes FO108X (likely due to Mercedes' dismissal of a Williams deal)
Team Principal: Christian Horner; Technical Director: Adrian Newey
3. Sebastian Vettel (on a multi-year deal until '11, with an option for '12)
4. Mark Webber (re-signed for '10)

Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro (Santander title sponsor?)
Ferrari F2010 – Ferrari 056
Team Principal: Stefano Domenicali ; Technical Director: Aldo Costa
5. Felipe Massa (contracted until ‘10)
Giancarlo Fisichella (signed testing deal; may be recruted for race team if Massa's not fit)
6. Fernando Alonso (3-year deal '10-'12)

Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
McLaren MP4-25 – Mercedes FO108X
Team Principal: Martin Whitmarsh ; Technical Director: Paddy Lowe, Neil Oatley
7. Lewis Hamilton (contracted until '12)
8. Heikki Kovalainen ('10 option not taken up)
Kimi Räikkönen (highly likely with Alonso-Ferrari now confirmed)
Nico Rosberg (rumoured for McLaren since 2008, now poised for Brawn)
Gary Paffet (long-time McLaren test driver)

Panasonic Toyota Racing
Toyota TF110 – Toyota RVX-10
Team Principal: Tadashi Yamashina ; Technical Director: Pascal Vasselon
9. Timo Glock (re-signed for 2009; on a multi-year deal with (yearly?) options; unclear if '10 option has been taken up)
10. Jarno Trulli (a new deal is unlikely, according to team bosses)
Kazuki Nakajima (allegedly has a long-term Toyota deal, but may not have the ultimate skill to make in in the big time)
Kamui Kobayashi (current test driver)
Kimi Räikkönen (rumoured, though unlikely)

AT&T Williams
Williams FW32 – Renault RS27 (preferred option for the team, dependent on Red Bull choice, and whether Kubica is taken up by Renault) / Cosworth CA2010 (under review, too) / Toyota RVX-10 (team asked to get out of 2010 contract) / Mercedes FO108X (approached, but not possible, say Mercedes)
Team Principal: Frank Williams ; Technical Director: Sam Michael, Patrick Head
11. Rubens Barrichello (Williams said they’d like an experienced driver in ‘10)
Robert Kubica (Williams said they’d like an experienced driver in ‘10; Renault engine deal was allegedly dependent on Williams not signing Kubica, before Briatore's departure from Renault)
12. Nico Hülkenberg (test driver and 2009 GP2 champion; most likely)
Adam Carroll (GP2 race winner and A1GP champion, has been approached by 2 teams for ‘10)
Kazuki Nakajima (current driver, likely dependent on Toyota power)

Renault F1 Team (team's future in doubt due to Singapore 2008 cheat; Briatore and Symonds fired/quit, David Richards said to be in the picture as team boss)
Renault R30 – Renault R27
Team Principal: David Richards (rumoured) ; Technical Director: unknown
14. Robert Kubica (once in Renault’s Driver Development Program; may jump ship from BMW)
15. Romain Grosjean (likely)
Lucas Di Grassi (long time Renault development and test driver; admired by David Richards)

Scuderia Toro Rosso
Toro Roso STR5 – Ferrari 056 (Ferrari contract allegedly runs until ‘10) / Renault R27 (if Red Bull-Mercedes comes to fruition)
Team Principal: Franz Tost
Technical Director: Giorgio Ascanelli
16. Sébastien Buemi (hard to see him dropped after some solid drives)
17. Jaime Alguersuari, jr. (replaced Bourdais mid-season '09, likely to stay on)
Brendon Hartley (Red Bull junior driver and tester)
Neel Jani (finally he gets his chance, but 2 Swiss drivers at STR?)

Force India F1 Team (Aston Martin Racing; in Prodrive take-over)
Force India VJM03 (Aston Martin DBF1-10) – Mercedes FO108X
Team Principal: Vijay Mallya ; Technical Director: James Key
18. Adrian Sutil (another year; where would he go otherwise?)
19. Vitantonio Liuzzi (allegedly has '10-'11 deal)
Karun Chandhok (after another GP2 season, he gets the nod from Mallya; will test McLaren simulator)
Neel Jani (will test McLaren simulator)

Telefónica Campos Meta Team
Campos CM10 – Cosworth CA2010 (Dallara-designed and -built car)
Team Principal: Adrián Campos ; Technical Director: Daniel Audetto
20. Pedro de la Rosa (experienced test driver; excellent choice to develop the new car)
Roldán Rodríguez (Spanish GP2 driver)
Javier Villa (Spanish GP2 driver)
21. Vitaly Petrov (although Russian, he drove for Campos/Barwa in GP2 successfully, and brings sponsorship, too)
Giorgio Pantano (although Italian, he was GP2 champion for Campos in ‘08)
Adrián Vallés (Spanish WSR driver, drove for Campos in GP2 in ‘06)
Pastor Maldonado (talented Venezuelan, at least speaks Spanish)

Virgin Manor F1 Team (likely renamed Virgin F1 Team)
Manor BW01 (Virgin VF1-10) – Cosworth CA2010 (car designed and built by Nick Wirth, formerly of Simtek and Benetton)
Team Principal: John Booth (of Manor Grand Prix) / Alex Tai (of Virgin) ; Technical Director: Nick Wirth
22. Anthony Davidson (experienced ex-F1 driver)
Lucas Di Grassi (GP2 race winner, did F3 for Manor in 2005)
23. Adam Carroll (GP2 race winner and A1GP champion, has been approached by 2 teams for ‘10)
Mike Conway (GP2 race winner, currently in IndyCar)

Best Buy Team US F1
US F1-10 – Cosworth CA2010 (contracted) / Toyota RVX-10 (rumoured)
Team Principal: Peter Windsor ; Technical Director: Ken Anderson
24. Alex Wurz (although Austrian, experienced test driver; excellent choice to develop the new car)
Pedro de la Rosa (although Spanish, experienced test driver; excellent choice to develop the new car)
Franck Montagny (rumoured although French, has some experience)
25. Ryan Hunter-Reay (experienced driver)
Jonathan Summerton (oft-rumoured, but still young)
Marco Andretti (some people believe he has what it takes for F1)
Graham Rahal (rumoured)

1Malaysia Lotus F1 Team
Lotus 110 – Cosworth CA2010
Team Principal: Tony Fernandes ; Technical Director: Mike Gascoyne
26. Neel Jani (allegedly aligned with the Malaysian group)
27. Bruno Senna (wouldn't that be nice)
Alex Yoong (experienced and, well, Malaysian)

Sauber F1 Team (BMW-owned team did not sign 2010-2012 Concorde Agreement, but obtained '14th place'; talks on allowing 14 teams in 2010 ongoing)
Sauber C25 – Ferrari 056 (again with Petronas badge?)
Team Principal: Lionel Fischer (of QADBAK) / Peter Sauber (unlikely) ; Technical Director: Willy Rampf
28. Robert Kubica (contracted for '09; unlikely to stay on)
Christian Klien (current test driver; could make for a typically sound Sauber line-up with Heidfeld)
29. Nick Heidfeld (contracted for '09; may stay on)

I heard Glock has been told by Toyota that they will not be taking up their option on him.

Who told you?

Some bloke down the local?

Was on F1-live.com. I posted a link to it. Can do so again if you really want.

http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news...928165305.shtml
A spokesman for the Cologne-based team also confirmed the news, but contradicted those publications who interpreted the move as Glock having been ‘fired’. Rather, he insisted that Toyota's partnership with Glock is not necessarily at an end, but that both sides had been given freedom to assess their options.

No no, I was just being cheeky!

Yeh, that was it. Cheers.

Toyota not renewing Glock's contract/not taking up their option was confirmed by many sources. But Glock said he's 100% sure he's in F1 in 2010(*) and he's in talks with three teams.

(*) Glock is not the first (german) to claim he's 100% sure to have a drive next year... remember Ralf?

If Toyota keep one man it should be Glock over Trulli for sure.

USF1 is probably the most confusing for me... I really hope Marco Andretti doesn't make it, though. I get sick and tired of his constant winging in IndyCars just because Danica's beating him fair and square, the last thing we need is someone like him in F1 badmouthing his team mates whenever they don't let him past.

I don't see why Bourdais isn't being considered, though. Bourdais has recent experience, is iconic in American motorsport and would generally help the team build itself up.

I could definitely see Ryan Hunter-Reay or Graham Rahal in the car, though. I would like to see Rahal there especially. It would be interesting to see how he does.

Swap Trulli/Glock with Nakajima/Kobayashi. That'd be... ehm... interesting. :x

Thought this was the best place to post this:



http://www.ferrari.com/English/News/Pages/..._Gold_rush.aspx

So much in there I don't know whether to smile or laugh my ass off. Singapore 2008? Alonso's only just arrived,friction already ?!

Buahahahahha

Well,we all know they haven't exactly been very discreet in the releases,this year.AS indeed.

So much for the pick engineers at random from whatever team you like theory. And 25 mill a year? That release must almost be embarrassing to some people....

That was my thought to. Although S. Bourdais not an American, I gather he's a household name in the US racing scene. I'd like to see him teamed up with J.J.C. Villeneuve, too... another well-known name, plus an Indy 500 winner and former F1 WDC.

supposing kimi is coming to mclaren, how motivated will he be to win ferrari third place and a better pitlane position and extra funds over mclaren? course, he'd need the contract in his pocket before turning in 'lacklustre' performances.

similarly, supposing he's not going there, are there now three ferrari drivers on the grid, aiming for 3rd place, a better pitlane position and extra funds? could we see alonso move over to let kimi or fisi through to secure ferrari in third? and if so, would anything happen?

Here is the AMuS take so far. Not too different than most of the German press
Ferrari with Alonso and Massa
McLaren with Hamilton and Kimi
Brawn, Rosberg (for sure) and either JB or RB
Rubens probably gone to Willams to join Hulkenberg, although, Heidfeld still an outside chance at Williams.
Kubica's manager Daniele Morelli believes Nelson Piquet, with the help of Brazillian sponsors, will buy a ride at Williams.
If Toyota survives, it will be Glock and Nakajima, unless Glock can't wait and signs with Sauber.
In that case Kovi goes to Toyota.
Renault plans on Kubica, but Robert is not that sure until he sees who will run the team next year.
Trulli could be the other Renault driver, now that his arch enemy Flavio is gone. Flav was Grosjeans protector.
Sutil stays at FI. Liuzzi's future will depend on the next 3 races.
Most logical for Sauber would be to keep Heidfeld.
Torro Rosso is all set with Buemi and Alguersuari, according to Trost.

Feel sorry for Kovalainen,basically left stranded until all the moves are done.

The more relevant question is how capable is Ferrari of scoring points in the remaining races given that they have stopped developing the car and it's a pretty safe bet they are outside of the top 4 teams now unless some of the remaining tracks particularly suit them. MS didn't score many points towards the end of 2005, motivated as he was...

how do they count that? There are 60 titles to win, and they have 18 - and that's by including 1979 and not 2009 - 16 by including 2009 and not 1979. and then 19/17 if you rewrite 2008 under some bizarre delusion.

and then, of course, there's this

Max will find a way

Could be a good battle at Suzuka between Hamilton and Kimi I think. Would like to see them in equalish cars for the rest of the year. Not the best, not the worst, podium challenging quality. Will there be a MS/Kimi Kimi/JPM Brazil type moment?

Why should Renault take Trulli? Flav proctected Grojeans from what?

If Jenson doesn't stay at Brawn, where should he go?

most of the new teams will be looking for experienced drivers.

Lol, that would be funny. Jenson to take the #1 to USF1!

I think the point being made is that Flavio made the decisions at Renault and it was his decision to give Grosjean the second seat. Grosjean hasn't shown much since he came (except perhaps a certain penchant for crashing which actually reminds me of someone else ) and until we know who is going to take over at the helm, it's impossible to know if he will be as taken by Grosjean.

It is also primarily Briatore that Trulli fell out with and therefore with Briatore gone, the main obstacle between him and Renault is likely to be removed. Don't know how Trulli would take it, but I'd say at the current moment he would be a better No2 than Grosjean.

Let's face it, the only reason Grosjean is racing the now is not because he's super-talent, but because Briatore wanted to remove a poisonous element from his team.

I don't understand the Piquet rumour unless Frank and Patrick have some weird fetish for sons-of (Hill, Villeneuve, Rosberg, Nakajima) and surely it would be a particular hurdle to get a Renault engine. Can we have your engines, oh, and we're hiring the driver that just blew apart your organisation

What I'd like to see and what is:

Brawn Mercedes Button Rosberg
Red Bull Mercedes Vettel Webber
McLaren Mercedes Hamilton Raikkonen
Ferrari Massa Alonso / Schumacher Alonso (it's wrong, but i can't deny curiousity)
Toyota Glock Nakajima
Williams Renault Kubica Barrichello
Renault Heidfeld Trulli
Force India Mercedes Sutil Liuzzi
STR Ferrari Buemi Loeb
USF1 Cosworth Villeneuve Andretti
Campos Cosworth De La Rosa Piquet (for the amusement alone)
Virgin Cosworth Hulkenberg Fisichella
Lotus Cosworth Kovaleinen Senna
Qadbak Sauber Ferrari Jani Petrov

glock's already been told that his services will no longer be required at toyota for 2010. i reckon he's off to sauber, with toyota probably leaving f1. if not, toyota has the powerful combination of kobyashi and nakajima.....