If, and this a theoritical if, Qadbak are indeed dodgy and dont gain an entry, Kobayashi gets the Renault seat and Kimi gets the Merc seat, where is Heidfeld going to end up?

Wow, that's one hell of a pay driver. Lucky Renault, if true.

Sauber, obviously.

Not read what you quoted?

I eliminated them as there are doubts about Qadbak/Sauber atm.

yeah, sorry lol

I guess he'd be f***ed then.

Doubts reported by just one source.

As I said, it was a theoretical question. Qadbak not being granted the 13th slot is not beyond the realms of possibility as is one of the new teams not turning up in Bahrain, the same with Renault.

One of the problems that Qadbak have is as a lot of people have mentioned is the fact that the Toyota wrangling is taking too long.

Unlike most silly seasons, we don't even know what teams are going to be on the grid next season, let alone drivers. The only teams we know for certain that will make it are Ferrari, Force India, Mclaren, Mercedes, Red Bull and Toro Rosso. Only 5 vacant seats in those teams. If Renault make it there are only 6 seats. Not necessarily because of that report, but the Toyota issue is the one that causes me concern as to whether we see Sauber and Renault on the grid next season.

This is not a silly season anymore, it is a messy off season.

13 drivers now confirmed then, but just one team keeping the same 2009 lineup. Quite a shuffle it has to be said, especially compared to last year's changes.

The Toyota thing is from the FIA's own doing. What the hell is a reserve entry? They're either entered or not. If they hadn't done this Qadbak would now be buying the Toyota entry/place, and Toyota wouldn't be being sued. Everyone happy. Instead Qadbak don't need to buy it as they'll get it free, once Toyota pay whatever fine is levied. But in waiting, they lose sponsorship opportunities and in driver negotiations, while Toyota lose money and face.

Mosley's last hurrah perhaps. Or not. Just stupid governance.

2010 F1 Championship Entries

Confirmed in bold

Campos
B Senna
V Petrov
N Piquet
H Kovalainen

Ferrari
F Alonso
F Massa

Force India
A Sutil
V Liuzzi
N Piquet
P de la Rosa

Lotus
J Trulli
K Kobayashi
H Kovalainen
J Villeneuve
A Davidson
A Parente

Manor
T Glock
L di Grassi
H Kovalainen
A Davidson
A Parente

McLaren
J Button
L Hamilton

Mercedes
N Rosberg
N Heidfeld
A Sutil

Red Bull
S Vettel
M Webber

Renault
R Kubica
H Kovalainen
K Kobayashi
V Petrov

Sauber
N Heidfeld
G Fisichella
H Kovalainen
C Klien
V Petrov

Toro Rosso
S Buemi
J Alguesuari
B Hartley

USF1
J M Lopez
H Kovalainen
J Villeneuve
P de la Rosa

Williams
R Barrichello
N Hulkenberg

Lotus, Campos, Manor, FI, Toro Rosso.

All of them?

I still think Heidfeld will get the Mercedes drive. Heidfeld and Mercedes are a great fit.

Expect this thread soon:

Peter Windsor say: We have signed Pechito Lopez and Nick Heidfeld for USGPE

I would like to know where and when that has come about, if it is true of course.

poor Heidfeld... :/

From hero (possible drive at McLaren and Mercedes) to quite zero (drive at a likely backmarker).

Haug refuses to rule out Schumacher

Even IF Heidfeld got the other drive at Mercedes, he has to feel like the unwanted child while there.
Not a good team-building strategy.

Why?

Because if Heidfeld would be a "wanted child" he would be signed right now or in the last weeks.

If they wanted him, they would sign him.
If he is clearly their last choice, or they sign him only after other efforts fail, it's clear to him that they preffered others.
Would that motivate you?

A theory.

Mercedes signs both Schumacher and Kimi. Schumacher's neck would not allow him to do a whole season and Kimi does not want to do a full season so he can rally. They alternate between the 2 - Fixtures would be Schumacher at Monaco and Kimi at Spa. 2 top drivers to support Nico and to help win the WCC. Kimi's salary would not be that high so he would take more of Ferrari's money and Michael gets to slowly get back into stride in F1.

You heard it here first.

I wouldn't be less motivated than I am by looking forward to fight at the very back of the grid next year...

Well, if it would mean a chance at a front-running car, why not? He's currently at Qadbak née Sauber, which was 6th in the WDC while running as the BMW factory team. N.L. Heidfeld could be in a race- and championship-winning car at Mercedes.

Seriously, what is it all about with this initials with secondary names in it? :-)

Would that be allowed? The drivers that are put on the entry list are meant to do the full season aren't they?

It would be a great idea if they could.

The rules allow for 2 driver changes per year.

Thats if a driver becomes injured like Massa this year, or gets sacked like Piquet.
What I meant was, is it allowed for a team to say they want two drivers to share a car throughout the year without injuries or dismissal.

No, I think it's 4 drivers per year nowadays. [edit]Clarification: They can swap places as far as I know.[/e]

But I think the proposal would suffice neither for Kimi nor Schumi. Kimi has indicated that he wants to be in F1 only if he can fight for the title (impossible with half-season role) - although he might do a couple of races to keep his touch for '11. I can't believe Schumi is interested unless he can fight for wins. And he would need a spring's worth of testing to achieve it - he's one of the greatest, but a puny mortal, nevertheless. So he would hardly join mid-season, and potentially get demolished by Nico.

Per team.

So Mercedes effectively gives away the WDC or do they actually put Nico as Number 1 and use MS/Kimi as support drivers? Somehow I don't see either of these two as such a good samaritans to sacrifice their chances for Nico's benefit. Then again, this being F1, anything is possible

What news about Renault? Will they take a sabbatical too?

I thought that was obvious...

And now that you mentioned:
The rules allow for 2 driver changes per year.
Per team.

You seem to have missed off K Raikonnen and M Schumacher.

That's because they are not really contenders.

Not yet anyway. If more things about the rumors appear then I will consider them.

Yeah, Nico as the #1. German driver in a german car winning the WDC. Schumacher would not be able to win the WDC in 2010 IMO unless he had a rocket like the 1992/93 Williams.

Kimi certainly is a contender.

I don't think so. My opinion, but there's nothing to suggest that he is a stronger contender than Heidfeld.

It was 2 per car in '07. Now 4 per team. My bad...

So we might see two dozen of drivers among the new teams because some drivers' sponsors don't pay their bills. Awesome!

Well there's the fact Heidfeld hasnt been confirmed yet. That indicates he isnt a certainty.

But Mercedes have definetely said they are in discussions with Heidfeld, and he is still favourite for now.

Reminds me of Lewis avoiding Croydon.

A real surprise would be if Merc confirmed Ralf Schumacher................can't see anyone liking that much.....

If Nick is favorite then why isn't the deal already done? Is he asking too
much money? Shame on him as he must have earned lot money already.

It seems there will be a British team, a latin team and a German team next year. And the rest. Yawn. Good night.

Actually Heidfeld deserves this seat, and has waited a long time for it. Too long IMO.

If Nick is their first choice, he would have been confirmed today at the same time as Rosberg.

I can see Mercedes taking their time. They can only win, because somebody like Heidfeld, Sutil or somebody similar is always available, but waiting for Kubica or M. Schumacher would be worth it.