Heidfeld had problems in 2008 yet scored only 15 points less than Kubica and the problems you mention just show Nick is able to perform better when the car is crap.

I'm not saying that Kubica isn't talented enough to be WDC, I think he's more talented than Heidfeld, just that he hasn't shown he can be consistent enough to be WDC.

Points win prizes and Heidfeld has been stronger than Kubica at scoring the points, especially when the car isn't the most competitive.

It seems that Kubica only comes alive when the car is able to win races whereas Heidfeld is much more reliable to get points and podium finishes whether the car is good or bad.

Kubica should be at a top team but McLaren and Ferrari already have two top class drivers and I don't think any other team will be able to produce a car good enough to fight for the WDC in the next few years, Heidfeld would be ideal for a mid team like Mercedes but Kubica would just be awful at a mid team.

It was reported by the French language Rue Frontenac this week that 1997 world champion Villeneuve is in intensive training in Austria to prepare for his F1 return.

Said the French Canadian, 38: "There is nothing settled, but I like the direction things have taken.

"Do you really think I'd come here to suffer, leaving my two boys, if I did not think it was going well?" Villeneuve added.

Source: SpeedTV

Michael Schumacher in line for sensational Formula One return at Mercedes

If Schumi and Villeneuve return we'll have 12 already won World Championships on the grid (MS 7, FA 2, LH 1, JB 1, JV 1). Is this a record?

And R. Schumacher's talking to Eddie Jordan (?) about an F1 return with Sauber, or Qadbak... you know, the guys in Hinwil, Switzerland.

More likely he's going to be participating in one of the feeder-series next season. If I were USF1, I'd invest in Alexander Rossi's career as I reckon he shows more glimmer of hope than Summerton does.

Please no. Ralf in F1 again? It can't happen - I won't let it happen!

So we could lose one Champion and get two back.

Barry Walsh (Ultimate Motorsport boss) is seriously negotiating to (at last!) buy an F1 team. He has time until December 20th to reach a deal. He had a meeting with this team on November 18th. If the deal is closed, Esteban Guerrieri will be one of his drivers. Now, of course it has not been revealed which is this team, but probably all of you can imagine...

Ferrari!

How does that work? EJ isn't involved with Sauber ... is he?

Ralf isn't going to be in F1 again. No chance.

He is just as good as his broother.

By that, I hope you're talking about his other brother, the one who has never raced before.

What are you smoking?

Kindly asking you the same

Are you honestly saying Ralf Schumacher (6 times GP winner, best Championship ranking 4th) is as good as Michael Schumacher (91 times GP winner, 7 times Champion)?

Yes.

This silly season really has to be renamed.

I cant think of a wierder silly season in F1. So how many WDC's or relatives with the same surname of a WDC can we fit on the grid.

Button
Hamilton
Raikkonen
Alonso
Schumacher
Villeneuve
Piquet
Senna
Rosberg

Have I forgotten anyone?

Marco Andretti (Grandson to Mario) was linked with USF1, but that was months ago.

I assume that it is a joke, but during this silliest of silly seasons I have to ask, source?

So thats 13 true WDC's and family name WDC's is 8.

Can this thread name be changed to "A Very Wierd Silly Season"

I wouldn't mind seeing Ralf back actually, I sure rank him above De la Rosa for example. He's not that old either.

MAMA MIA!

When did "Silly Season" become "Absurd Season"???

No problem: I've got 2, even.

I'm not sure which role Mr Edmund Jordan plays in this, but it could be that Dr. Mario Theissen and Mr Peter P. Sauber asked him to lead the team, should it be on the 2010 grid.

The gap was so small only thanks to ridicolous safety car rules that worked most of the time for Heidfeld who often started out of top ten in heavy car, and against Kubica who was light.



He was leading WDC in third fastest car (at best) and scored as much points as Raikkonen. He was still in the fight long time after BMW wasnt third fastest car anymore. He did it on sheer consistency. If he did it in third fastest car, basic logic suggest that he would managed something more in fastest car. Thats why some team bosse rate him.



There where a lot of factors other than drivers abilities involved in 2007 and 2009 point difference.



You are right except the last part.

it's not that I want to take part in Kubica/Heidfeld war, but...



I do understand why people value drivers who shine in really bad cars, but what we were talking about was "being WDC material". For that, the ability to be able to drive crap car well is completely irrelevant. You can't win championship in a crappy car, so it does not matter.

If a driver can't perform as well as their teammate in a crap car then you wouldn't expect that driver to be picked by the top teams. If Alonso had performed average at Minardi in 2001 he wouldn't have been chosen by Renault for a race drive.

I don't think Kubica would be considered at all by Ferrari or McLaren without his results from last year because in other years apart from the odd race (Brazil 2009, Italy 2006) he hasn't really had the upper hand on Heidfeld.

Back to Summerton and USF1 - he doesn't have a superlicence, so its unlikely that hes been signed for F1, Joe Saward thinks its as an upcoming driver rather than a race seat.

USF1 have signed a contract with Lopez, on the proviso he brings some sponsorship with him, http://www.crash.net/f1/news/154829/1/lope...usf1_drive.html

... and that he receive a superlicence, because neither Summerton nor Lopez has one. Both could qualify for one: Lopez with his lower-category experience and/or his Renault testing mileage, Summerton with testing he would have to do for US F1.

Kimi didn't qualify for a superlicence but was granted a temporary one, was it for 4 races or something like that. I remember there were a lot of concerns at the time. He proved sufficiently capable.

Joe Saward believes that Renault might be sold and then Robert Kubica could be in the frame for a Mercedes drive.

So is this the lineup so far

McLaren Mercedes
1. Jenson Button
2. Lewis Hamilton

Mercedes
3. Nico Rosberg
4. Nick Heidfeld/Adrian Sutil/Michael Schumacher

Red Bull Renault
5. Sebastian Vettel
6. Mark Webber

Ferrari
7. Fernando Alonso
8. Felipe Massa

Williams Cosworth
9. Rubens Barrichello
10. Nico Hulkenberg

Renault
11. Robert Kubica
12. Adrian Sutil/Heikki Kovalainen

Force India Mercedes
14. Adrian Sutil/Pedro de la Rosa
15. Vitantonio Liuzzi/Nelsinho Piquet/Paul di Resta

Toro Roso Ferrari
16. Sebastien Buemi
17. Jaime Alguersuari/Brendon Hartley

Campos Cosworth
Bruno Senna
Vitaly Petrov/Pastor Maldonado

Lotus Cosworth
Jarno Trulli/Anthony Davidson/Kamui Kobayashi/Fairuz Fauzy/Jacques Villeneuve

Manor Cosworth
Timo Glock
Lucas Di Grassi

Sauber Ferrari
Nick Heidfeld/Christian Klien/Giancarlo Fisichella/Vitaly Petrov

US F1 Cosworth
José Maria López/Pedro de la Rosa/Jonathan Summerton/Jacques Villeneuve

rumors intensfied today.,.

"Schumacher’s press aide Sabine Kehm played down initial rumors, but now the authoritative Italian sports newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport is reporting the possibility along with BBC pundit Eddie Jordan who says "The possibility is being actively pursued and I believe it is going to happen.

"It started with a meeting between Michael, Ross Brawn and Daimler chief executive officer Dieter Zetsche at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix,” he added. "At the moment, it is not possible for Michael to drive for Mercedes because he has a consultancy contract with Ferrari. I understand Michael was due to meet Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo with a view to him being released - and that it will be approved because it is in the interests of F1.”

According to the BBCreport, Schumacher would drive for Mercedes for a year while the team waits for Sebastian Vettel’s contract at Red Bull to expire at the end of 2010."


http://formula-one.speedtv.com/article/f1-...ercedes-or-not/

Say what you want about michael, that's some record

Is he yodelling?

It would be great to see Schumacher back on the grid, but i don´t believe it´s gonna happen.
He is 40 years old(?) + he has been away 3 years now,that is just too long(IMO).
Is he ready to jeopardize his reputation ? i don´t think so,but then again i´ve wrong so many times lately ;)

Well don't want spoil a party

People can put their kleenex away now



Who's dream though, do they mean the fans or Mercedes dream ?

If so is Michael saying no ?

Same could be said for Kimi as well...

Nick Fry doesn't agree.

Nick Fry is about to be unemployed anyway...

Why?

Like who? Heidfeld and Trulli are still two of the best 20 drivers in the world.

Heidfeld yes, not Trulli. I don't know why people rate Trulli so highly, he's quick but that's about it.

Trulli was the closest teammate to beat Alonso apart from Hamilton and he scored two podiums this year and was ranked 8th, higher than Glock.

Nick?
- Yes, a possibility, but reading what Haug has said about possibility of two German drivers, then: no!

Adrian?
- Yes, a possibility, but reading what Haug has said about surprise, then: no!

Michael?
- Yes, would be cool, but reading what Haug has said about it, then: no!

Jacques?
- Hmm, he would fit the bill, although, come on, who would fit the bill even better and has Aakbar backing also?

Kimi? (nice how you left him unmentioned)
- Maybe indeed, if yes: great!; If no: well, happens.

He was beaten by Kobayashi in Abu Dhabi..


Haug never said they wouldn't have two German drivers

If it weren't for the fact that the grid is being expanded, I'm pretty sure their seats would be under threat. Trulli isn't good for much other than holding everyone up, while Heidfeld is just slow. Get the likes of Bianchi and Petrov and Aleshin into race seats.

If the only options next to Rosberg are German than they will sign a German.




I left him out because he has said that he isn't interested in Mercedes.

Raikkonen wants top drive for 2011