In addition to Glock-Renault move, TS also reports that Lucas di Grassi will sign with Manor when his Renault-option lapses in 6 weeks.

If Glock is going elsewhere, will it be Kovalainen-Kobayashi?

I distinctly remember Petrobras repeatedly stating, when they were linked to Senna and Brawn prior to this season, that they have no interest in supporting a non-manufacturer team. That may have changed, though, and they could do a deal with Williams and Barrichello for 2010 and 2011

I'd like to think so too, but 2 words keep running through my head. Damon Hill.

Looks rather stupid from Howett. We'll have to see if he can get a better driver than Glock, who's quite a race performer.

Well, they have a good reason to review that position. Had they sponsored Senna seat with Brawn they would be laughing now.

Here is something silly:

I'm amazed that Button has yet to re-sign for Brawn. What are the chances of him going to McLaren? He might still be cheaper than Kimi.

Pedro seems pretty unenthusiastic about Campos. There were stories that he was stalling in the hope that Epsilon Euskadi would be entering, weren't there? And now he'd rather stay with McLaren, like Marc Gene would rather stay with Ferrari. So Piquet - or Bourdais - would be valuable for his experience (as well as what I think is his untapped speed) alongside someone like Senna or Petrov or Baguette.

I seriously doubt the rumours that Button and Brawn were at loggerheads over his paycheck. I think that's just another rumour people have made up for whatever reason; the drivers already get a lot of money, so contracts don't really have that much to do with money. Money is simply a measure of how far a team is willing to go to secure adriver's services. It's more about having a good car and a good team.


Button is not that stupid.


He hasn't re-signed, because Brawn wanted to wait for the championship to be over before making a move on that front. It seems he knew he'd have to have a new drier for 2010, and preferred to let his drivers battle it out on-track. I also imagine that negotiations over contracts could be fairly draining, and drivers locked in World Championship battles don't need to have to worry about that sort of thing. Now that it' been decided, I expect we'll hear about it sooner or later.

Besides, I doubt Button would go to McLaren; if they offered, he would do a Damon Hill, who took issue with the fact that the teams were more interested in having the number one on their cars than in hiring him.

they had a contract with honda, not senna...

from what I remember their reason to not sponsor brawngp was mercedes/mobil 1.

Button to Toyota on $35m/season would not be so unexpected really! Toyota like to do that sort of thing.

Say: Toyota - Button/?

? - Kobayashi/Nakajima - maybe?
? - Grosjean - not that bad really, fast driver, just a few crashes.
? - Sutil - off contract? a solid driver, very Glock like
? - Kovalainen - maybe?

Perhaps: Toyota - Button/Sutil

Or indeed Raikkonen on $60m/season + Button on $35m/season:

Toyota:
#1 Button
#2 Raikkonen

I don't know what you think of the website, but GP Update are reporting BUtton and Brawn will begin negotiations, and both seem to want to work with each other in 2010. Even if the deal were to fall through, Brawn would still get first pick, and I seriously doubt Button would make for Toyota. He's in a team that won both World Champions in its maiden season; why would he go to a team that hasn't won a single race since it joined? Like I said: it's not about money, though Button is an exception because he's not being paid that much by Brawn to begin with. But the point in all of this is that Button is more likely to walk away from Brawn because they can't give him a good enough car before he walks away because they won't pay him enough.

BBC also reporting that Brawn have said the gap between what Button wants and what they are offering "can be bridged".

I don't think he'd go to Toyota.

Heres a laugh - However unlikely it is if he did go to McLaren as Paul Prost would Kimi end up at Brawn ?

On a more serious note Toyota must surely be looking at giving kobayashi a contract for next year ?

Kobayashi and Kimi Toyota 2010

The only thing I can think of that might be a deterrant is that while he was impressive on debut, the race did come about in pretty extraordinary circumstances. Had it been dry during qualifying, it's likely that Button, Vettel and Hamilton would have all been ahead on the grid. I recall Martin Brundle mentioning that Jenson Button opened a three and a half second gap on Kobayashi once he had passed, and that may have been on the lap that he got past (makes sense, since he got him at the first turn, so there was plenty of road left).

It will be Glock and Kobayashi at Toyota next year.

Virgin Racing, nice name

Tazio says BS will join LDG for the end of year testing with Renault.

Button wants to stay at Brawn. From the sounds of things, the so called dispute over pay was either a storm in a teacup, or just plain made up.

On a TV show last night, lots of Brazilian reportes and all kept asking Barrichello some trick (and silly) questions to get him to confirm his seat at Williams. Of course he did his best to deny it, bot none was convinced.

The only thing that got me thinking was when Reginaldo Leme made some comments and Barrichello replied with something along "a lot happened this weekend and there will be surprises".

I wish I knew what that meant since the Williams deal wouldn't be a surprise anymore.

Oh, it also seems Bernie is pushing for a Piquet/Senna duo at one of these new teams.

Is that a sad or happy face?

So.... everyone's going to Manor? Di Grassi, Senna, Carroll, Parente, Guerrieri, Klien, Davidson. Are they going to field 7 cars?

I think he may have been referring to the driver market in general. He's most experienced driver on the grid, and I'd say he's pretty cluey about what is really going on this time of the year. He may have been approached by teams looking to secure his services for 2010, and they may have dropped a few names about potential team mates. After all, one of the reasons why Renault was apparently so appealing to Robert Kubica was that his team mate for next season was somebody he liked. Renault maintain they haven't made a decision yet, but if both are true, then evidently Kubica knows who they have in mind. The same could also be true for Barrichello: he's experienced, which has obvious appeal to new teams, and they may drop names of people they are talking with to pique his interest. Some of those nams could be the surprises he's referring to. He's been around long enough to be able to piece the rumours together into some vague idea of what is really going on.


Can't really see that happening - Piquet would no doubt be a pay driver, but there are other pay drivers (like Petrov) who can match him dollar-for-dollar and then some without breaking a sweat - but do you have a source?

That was his poker face

Montagny chez Renault F1 en 2010 ?La rédaction - RMC.fr, le 20/10/2009
Alors que l’on évoquait plutôt le nom de Timo Glock pour épauler Robert Kubica la saison prochaine chez Renault, le Français Franck Montagny serait également sur les rangs.
Si Renault n’a pas encore communiqué officiellement le nom de son deuxième pilote pour la saison 2010, aux côtés de Robert Kubica, il semble acquis que le Franco-Suisse Romain Grosjean ne fasse plus partie des plans de l’écurie au losange. Un autre pilote tricolore pourrait cependant prendre son baquet : Franck Montagny. Le Français, pilote d'essais chez Renault entre 2003 et 2005, aurait en effet été contacté.

http://www.rmc.fr/edito/sport/92396/montag...ult-f1-en-2010/

« Je peux juste vous dire que ce n'est pas faux. » Franck Montagny préfère ne pas s'étendre. Interrogé par RMC, c'est du bout des lèvres qu'il confirme qu'il pourrait bien piloter pour Renault la saison prochaine. « Il y a des discussions, poursuit-il. Je n'ai pas envie d'en dire plus car ce serait déplacé par rapport à l'équipe. C'est un peu trop tôt. »
Si les discussions aboutissaient, Franck Montagny reprendrait le volant de son compatriote Romain Grosjean, qui ne semble pas avoir convaincu les dirigeants de l'écurie française cette année. Déjà pilote essayeur chez Renault entre 2003 et 2005, il pourrait asseoir son expérience de la F1 aux côtés du Polonais Robert Kubica. Car en dehors de sept Grand-Prix disputés en 2006 avec Super Aguri, le pilote de 31 ans a encore une expérience limitée au plus haut niveau. Après Bourdais et Grosjean, Montagny sera-t-il le seul Français dans les paddocks l'an prochain ? « J'en saurais plus en fin de semaine », répond-il malicieusement.

http://www.rmc.fr/edito/sport/92415/montag...es-discussions/

Since everyone seems to agree that Renault is going to sack Grosjean... any idea on what will happen to him?

I think they just killed his career in a spectacular way.

TS:
Manor GP promoted to World Championship series will be known as Virgin Racing in the future. Brazilian Lucas di Grassi, who has been Renault reserve driver since Valencia, will be their first driver.

The Brazilian told to sign an agreement with Virgin as soon as his current commitment with Renault ends after six weeks.

- At the moment my hands are tied, the Renault has an option for a contract extension for 2010. The option expires after the Jerez test in early December. I will drive that test, because there only new drivers are allowed to drive.

- I have been informed that Renault is seeking an experienced driver Robert Kubica alongside, so they do not intend to exercise that option. Before the option has lapsed, I can not commit to anything else.

Already at this stage, Di Grassi says running with Virgin is 80% certain, although the contract has not yet been made.

- From there, I was promised that I am the team next year. I believe that together with Lotus, Virgin is the strongest of these new teams.

Di Grassi has severed all ties with Flavio Briatore and now works as a self-manager.

Campos, in addition to Virgin has decided to hire two freshmen. Portuguese Alvaro Parente also seems to be heading to F1 level.

Obviously di Grassi is going to drive for Manor, if he claims so. Perhaps they will alternate Senna, Carroll, Parente, Guerrieri, Klien and Davidson in the other car?

If he was FA's teammate he'd always be 6tenths of a second slow!

Good for both sides. Glock has excellent race pace and will challenge Kubica.

Toyota made a big mistake letting him go. They won't get anyone better than him on the market.

Well, Heidfeld is on Kubica's pace and Heidfeld beat Glock as a teamate, and he's on the market.

Between 2002 and 2008 a total of 6 drivers have ended their F1 race driver careers at Toyota.

That's almost one per year. 6 drivers in 7 years.

I will list them for you:

- Mika Salo
- Allan McNish
- Olivier Panis
- Cristiano da Matta
- Ricardo Zonta
- Ralf Schumacher

Should it be called a retirement home instead of a F1 team.

I have to say I wouldn't be surprised if Jarno Trulli would be the next one to add to that list.

All I've heard is he is hoping to stay with Sauber... i do think they'll be on the grid.

you forgot Kimi & Kova


Manor is gonna piss Sir Frank off royally.....

Gee you know, Button would be ideal at McLaren ..... ideal.

Barrichello offered a drive at Brawn in 2010?

Barrichello Confirms Brawn 2010 Offer

It's amazing to read that Rubens was only contracted for 4 races at the beginning of the year.

I hope Di Grassi-Parente at Virgin is true. Because I don't rate Di Grassi, think he'd make Alvaro look good.

Don't see why a british team sponsored by Virgin would want to have a brazilian-portuguese duo though? I mean, Virgin doesn't even sell products here as far as I'm aware!

Think he killed his own career dont you ?

Yes and no. He failed to impress when given the chance. But they gave him the chance at the worst possible time, and he couldn't say no.

true...what was howett thinking letting glock go?...sure he hasnt particularly set the world on fire but hes shown consistent race pace.and he is only going to improve.
renault with kubica and glock seems very solid..i just hope they make a quick ride next year.im really looking forward to seeing kubi in a fast car.
maybe howett can get heidfeld now.

I thought the journalist speculated on Parente going to Campos, but he put it in a very confusing way.

Here in Portugal our press reported his move to Virgin as a near certainty.

Can the french speakers translate into english plz....? or at least give us a general idea what's in the article?

Thanks in advance

An announcement will be made after Abu Dhabi.
Timo Glock is the favorite for 2nd seat at Renault however he could not sign with Renault because of his marketing impact in french market.
Grosjean should not be retained at the team.
Renault wants to forget Briatore.
Franck Montagny has very advanced with the team.

"Grosjean should not be retained at the team."

He deserves an F1 seat though.

"I can just onnly say that's it's not false.There are discussion,i don't want to say more because of the team.It's a bit too early.I will know more about situation at the end of the week."

Had it been earlier they could have offered Grosjean with free Renault engines to someone, but I guess all the new teams will have designed their cars around Cosworths etc.

I actually think Grosjean has the potential to be quite good, but he's just been thrown into at the deep end and he's sinking at the moment. I certainly would choose him over both Bourdais and Montagny though, if through possible potential if nothing else.

Itaipava, the beer that sponsored Brawn this weekend, were apparently so pleased with the exposure and return that they have decided to continue in F1. With Barrichello, whever he goes. And they even have a emissary (sp?) in Europe negociating numbers and values. In England. At Grove.

http://colunistas.ig.com.br/flaviogomes/2009/10/19/gelada/

From the portuguese version of Autosport

- Nobody knows what will happen with Sauber. Kubica is going to Renault, Heidfeld is looking for a place. He might end at Mclaren if the Raikkonen deal misfires.

- At Brawn it's certian that Rubens is going to Williams and that Jenson should stay. No clue at the 2nd driver. (What about Rosberg? )

- At Ferrari is Alonso and Massa. It remains to be seen if Fisi will remain as the 3rd driver or if he will driver somewhere else.

- At Mclaren it will be Lewis and probably Raikkonen, but there are no certainties around the Finn. There's some speculation about him joining Toyota, but AutoSport knows this is not true.

- At RBR and STR: the four drivers (Vettel, Webber, Buemi and Alguersuari) will be kept .

- Kubica is confirmed at Renault and the most probable 2nd driver is Timo Glock.

- Toyota has the longest list of drivers, with Raikkonen on the top of it. But the shot is at the wrong Finn. Their 2010 pair? Kovalainen and Kobayashi

- Williams: Barrichello and Hulkenberg

- Force India: Liuzzi is certian for 2010, Sutil is almost there too.

- The Manor/Virgin driving pair should be Lucas di Grassi + Alvaro Parente

- They have no ideia about the USF1 drivers.

- At Lotus, Trulli is a possibility

- And finally, Senna is certain at Campos, but the shocking thing is that they are considering Pastor Maldonado for the 2nd seat.

kova at toyota..im not too sure hed like that..but realistically what other option does he have

Ferrari
F Alonso
F Massa

McLaren
L Hamilton
K Raikkonen

Red Bull
M Webber
S Vettel

Toro Rosso
S Buemi
J Alguersuari

Renault
R Kubica
H Kovalainen

Brawn
J Button
N Rosberg

Williams
R Barrichello
N Hulkenberg

Toyota
T Glock
M Kobayashi

Force India
A Sutil
A Liuzzi

Campos
P De La Rosa
B Senna

Lotus
J Trulli
A Yoong

Manor
A Carroll
L Di Grassi

Sauber
N Heidfeld
C Klien

No USF1