Tourist agencies have used F1 as a marketing tool before: Stewart ran with "Visit Malaysia" stickers in 1997, and Minardi had "Go KL" (Kuala Lumpur) branding as part of Alex Yoong's deal to driver in 2002.

I last posted an overview only a couple of days ago, but posts have been so abundant, that my post has disappeared into oblivion.

If true, I am sure Campos will not miss the opportunity to profit from Bruno's image (with some sponsorship thanks to him).

Heikki Kovalainen to Force India with McLaren backing.

He'd do OK there I reckon.

Sutil's shown he's a skilled driver: very quick, excellent wet weather driver, etc.. Like someone above said, a lot of it is him trying to overcompensate for a poor car.

I could see Toyota having a go at him, although a Trulli-Sutil pairing would be nothing if not entertaining given the events of the last two weeks!

Why on Earth Mclaren will be backing Heiki? Not a single reason to do it.

I think he will not accept it... Probably he will really break out of the relationships with Mclaren and Mercedes and join a better environment for him, at least for the moment.

My guess is that he will be next to Kobayashi at Toyota.

So, there was somebody who asked about the drivers and teams, I think the prospects for the moment are (on the order tha I expect the teams to finish the WCC)

Brawn -> Button & Rosberg
RBR -> Webber & Vettel
Mclaren -> Hamilton & Raikkonen
Ferrari -> Alonso & Massa
Toyota -> Kovalainen & Kobayashi
Williams -> Barrichello & Hulkenberg
Renault -> Kubica & Glock
Sauber -> Heidfeld & ??? (I fully expect them to race)
Force Indua -> Sutil & Liuzzi
STR -> Buemi & Alguersuari
Campos -> Senna & PDLR
Manor -> di Grassi & ??? (Petrov?)
USF1 -> ???
Lotus -> Trulli & ???

Williams confirms Cosworth engines and will announce its drivers on Monday.

I've been regularly posting a very long list with all the possibilities rumoured by the media (much like Lustingson's list). Now here's my latest attempt at guessing the actual final lineup:

Brawn - Button/Rosberg
Red Bull - Vettel/Webber
McLaren - Hamilton/Raikkonen
Ferrari - Alonso/Massa
Toyota - Heidfeld/Kobayashi
Williams - Barrichello/Hulkenberg
Sauber - Klien/Jani
Renault - Kubica/Glock
Force India - Sutil/Liuzzi
Toro Rosso - Buemi/Alguersuari
Lotus - Trulli/Kovalainen
Campos - Senna/De La Rosa
Virgin - Di Grassi/Parente
USF1 - Summerton/López

I'm not sure if Heidfeld has actually been linked to Toyota in the press, but it's what makes the most sense - providing they don't drop out. If they drop out, a spot for Sauber opens up and he'll be there. Kovalainen could also make it to Toyota, possibly as Heidfeld's team-mate, if that happens then Fauzy will be at Lotus.

The 2nd Virgin seat seems to have been linked to a dozen different guys, I'm going with the wishful thinking because I want Alvaro in F1 and because it's the only rumour that has recent different sources. On USF1 I don't really have an idea and am just going with 2 random names out there in the press - would be a really shit lineup though. On Sauber Klien should be there, it makes sense; Neel Jani I don't know but is the only other name I've seen linked to them, in GPWeek.

not that i want to impute smth to mclaren - as i'm mclaren supporter -, but maybe it's hush money?

IF that happens, what about either Liuzzi (who was allegedly promised a race seat in 2010) or Sutil?

Hi Lustigson,

Can you update the 1st post in this thread (like create an update section so that you can keep the original post in tact).

Thanks

Thanks...I've been looking for this list.

Heidfeld will only move to Toyota if the Sauber as 14th team deal backfires.

It's already fallen through - FOTA are blocking moves to set up a fourteenth team. QADBAK's only hope is that someone doesn't make it, but by all accounts it seems the four new teams are going fairly strongly.

Only Williams is blocking it.

Um, aren't Red Bull and Toyota blocking it as well?

i was reading james allens blog today,a poster asked him would kovi would be in f1 next year,his anawer was short and sweet,with 1 word.......no

Arrogant. Never liked JA.

http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2009/10/an-a...rulli/#comments

What about USF1 or whatever?

They've released prelimianry CFD drawings, as well as photos of their factory in operation and they say they'll have a rolling chassis on the ground by November - but even if they miss that deadline, they'll still be ahead of all the other teams; the other three claim they won't have anything ready before the new year.

The rumours of their stuggling were just hyperbole, born out of a dislike for Americans in general and Peter Windsor in particular.

so currently the guys at hinwil are working just as normal on their 2010 car, crossing fingers that one of the new teams (or toyota...) drops until...when? march 1st?
that's so stupid... give them a guaranteed entry! this uncertainty just svcks for everyone involved - staff, drivers, sponsors, fans.

Going by some of the reports on F1 Live, it seems the FIA is trying to work with all the teams to grant a fourteenth entry. McLaren have said they'll back it if Sauber get the spot - they won't support anyone else - but Williams have sreiterated that they're having none of it.

They can't be given a guaranteed entry because the Concorde Agreement sets thirtee teams as the maximum number allowable.

to me it would be a sad moment if they dont agree to let sauber back as a 14th team

But they won't be Sauber. The current team isn't Sauber; Peter Sauber sold his stake in the team after BMW acquired it and they decided to keep the name for the weight it brought. The team defaulted to Sauber when BMW withdrew, but Sauber intends to sell it in its entirety to QADBAK. If they kept the SAuber name, it would be like the Lotus F1 team and their relationship with Team Lotus: in name only.

Whatever happened to "Force Majeure"? Is that still in effect? How does it work?

i meant the people in the team,not he name sauber,i should have said ,soz.the whole personal of the team has been aquired by QADBAK tho so it will only be sauber personal,not sauber team

That was not James Allen's answer. It was just some wise-ass.

With four new teams for 2010, its not as if they're going to be queueing up at Centrelink.

So McLaren ceased to be McLaren when Teddy Mayer acquired it?

my mistake ,you were rite.soz

Is Frank giving the game away:



http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/79835

Does that last sentence confirm that Rosberg is going to Brawn?

Not much of a secret there ...

It could mean McLaren - Raikkonen has said that McLaren is his only option, but that's by no means a confirmation - or even Force India, as they use Mercedes engines.

Yeah I guess he could know nothing at all and is just trying to explain away Rosberg leaving the team as more to do with what Mercedes want, than with what Rosberg thinks of Williams.

Autosport thinks that Glock is between Renault and... Manor, which is a surprise to me.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/79837

Manor are said to be after two rookies ...

This is news.
The current team is BMW Sauber.
Peter still owns 20% of the current team.
We don't know if he is part of the QADBAK purchase. (probably not, since he was competing to purchase)
BMW is the one that intends to sell the team in it's entirety.
The team did not "default" to Sauber.

I'm just repeating what I've read elsewhere.

Davidson-Rosberg duo at Brawn in 2010?

Bruno Senna on Twitter:

Guys, I'd like to thank you all for the great support! After many weeks of hard work and negotiations, me and my management finally made it!

and

Lots of hard work to come and, hopefully a great starting point! All the best! Valeu!!

So Senna to Campos is a done deal?

Well Senna is going somewhere. Its going to be wierd having the Senna name in F1 again.

Brazilian media reports that yes, Senna to Campos is a done deal.

I find it a bit strange that the Button to McLaren rumour is being raised again.

only in the British media I think? who else would find it believable?

Strange? Horrible! Of all options we know - Kimi, Heidfeld - that's the worst, imho

http://twitter.com/BSenna

I actually think it has no significant substance but is convenient for both Button AND McLaren to achieve their real respective goals...