The poll that's missing right now. We all know that Nico is driving for Mercedes, it hasn't been officially announced but it's been rumoured for far too long by various sources. However, who is going to partner him? It's the last top seat remaining in this whole neverending wacky puzzle.

Nick Heidfeld - Widely rumoured, he's by far the most obvious answer to all this, but with some sources claiming that Merc is going to be an "international" team and don't wish to settle necessarily for a 2nd german, well that kinda works out against him. The biggest problem is PR-wise - while a duo of world champ brits at McLaren is a PR dream, a duo of germans in Silver Arrows is going to remind people of unpleasant images from a distant past, when Mercedes and german nationalism racing success was unfortunately heavily connected to the nazi regime. Therefore I'd imagine they're rather eager to NOT have 2 germans in the squad. However, looking at the other options in the market, Nick's position still seems quite strong. The whole "we want Merc to be an international team" might be just damage limitation in the PR camp while they line up Heidfeld for the seat.

Adrian Sutil - The other quick german in the market. Adrian's quite quick, but he's got a bit of a crasher reputation and most people would prefer the guarantee of solid performances that Nick would give, whereas Adrian is a bit more of a risk. Specially when they already have a promising guy for the future in Rosberg. The german thing works against Adrian as well.

Michael Schumacher - Well, he's the one german guy whose PR benefits would outweight the negatives. Would make headlines everywhere, and he would be a "big surprise" as Lauda hinted at. But his age and his dodgy neck makes him a huge risk.

Robert Kubica - Another possible "big surprise", because he isn't supposed to be in the market. But with Renault taking ages to confirm their plans, and Glock strangely choosing Manor to sign for, could be a sign that Renault is about to stop existing. Or maybe it's just a sign that Vitaly Petrov and russian money is about to enter that team.

Heikki Kovalainen - On the market and not german, but on a severely weakened position after two very poor season at McLaren. I think they'd much rather go with Heidfeld than with him...

Paul di Resta - Well I'm just going to start listing some crazy options. Paul is linked to Mercedes in DTM, and is famously the guy that beat Vettel in F3. He's not german and would make quite a surprise - because he's a rookie! Being 3 years away from racing in open-wheelers, he'd probably be a little out of form in them and therefore another huge risk.

Jamie Green - Another DTM guy, another F3 champ, except he's been away from open-wheelers even longer. It's not going to happen, but hey, if I'm listing Paul, got to list Jamie as well. Gary Paffett doesn't make it to the poll because he's more of a McLaren than a Mercedes man...

Ralf Schumacher - Another random DTM guy

Jarno Trulli - Well, he's a front-running F1 driver still in the market, isn't he? But everything seems to point towards a move to Lotus or even NASCAR!

I'm going to be boring and vote Nick, btw.

voted schumi , though not gonna happen, most likely I'd say Heidfeld, but why not Heikki?

Although it won't happen, I voted for di Resta because he deserves a chance with someone.

It's probably Heidfeld, but could possibly be Heikki. It would be a good reference point for Rosberg and where he's at.

Not me..


My vote goes to Kubica-just a feeling.

Sebastian Vettel.

A seat warmer for Vettel. What is Frentzen doing nowadays?

Where is Kimi?

I voted Sutil. If not him then Heidfeld.

Kimi? http://tinyurl.com/yfbmxxr Not sure I'm buying that!

I think Ross Brawn is blaming himself for losing Barrichello to Williams.

Kubica, if Renault fold it's a lock and even if they don't it's still quite possible IMO.

It won't be a German, they've said as much, which radically makes the list smaller (and just as well, two Germans in a silver arrows is just not a great image to enter back into F1 as a manufacturer team as).

Plus they need a no.1 driver, Rosberg doesn't suit and the others are also no.2 drivers, if Mercedes don't want to start life as a midfield team they need someone with some balls.

Kimi

Why not two german drivers? McLaren have two british drivers now. If the best they can get is Sutil or Heidfeld that is who Mercedes will go for.

And I think Rosberg would make a great no1 driver just look at what he did compared to his teammate this year.

As we have learned recently, the suprise could be Kimi.

It would be great.

His manager has said today that he is not racing next year.

Raikkonen rejects F1 for rallying

Because Brawn and Mercedes have repeatedly said it won't be two German drivers.

Besides, we don't know the Kubica/Renault contract details, I work as a Lawyer and there could be plenty of outs in that contract, I would be surprised if there was not.

Still, maybe it will end up two German drivers, but if I was Mercedes I would get on the phone to Bob, discuss his break clauses and the potential penalties (if any) and then pay them. It would be quite easy for them just to buy him out if they wanted, wouldn't cost the bank, especially if Renault quit. A small price to pay to get a quick driver after such a big investment in f1.

No they haven't. They said it might not be two german drivers but it doesnt mean they wont run two germans. It is likely to be two germans because the best available drivers are german (Sutil and Heidfeld).

Kobayashi

I want it to be Heidfeld.

I want it to be Heidfeld, Mercedes turn up at this first GP and Nick drive away from the field

Well I read:

Haug: We want to have the best ones and we definitely do not want to have the pure German team or whatever. It is an international Silver Arrows team."

Zetsche added that Mercedes "certainly would not be opposed if one of them would be German but that is not a pre-requisite that we would give the team."

..as not being pro two Germans on a team.

and Brawn said he didn't want two Germans either (the quote is around somewhere), so I mean I think there is a pretty strong case for it not being two Germans. If you factor in that they are waiting, and that Renault make their decision soon, well it's not that much of a stretch.

Still, maybe they will go Sutil or something but I think a Rosberg/Sutil type line-up ain't going to get you no WCC or WDC.

Kubica would be awesome. I don't have a good feeling about renault AT ALL. Even if they do stay in F1 next year something tells me the fact that there is so much speculation can't be good for team morale and probably will translate into a crap car next year.

Kimi!

If Heidfeld is so good how come he wasn't taken up by Renault, McLaren, Ferrari and Williams and still hasn't being announced at Merc.

Heidfeld drove for Williams in 2005 and is highly rated by BMW

Absolutely makes sense for it to be Schumacher...

Was a Mercedes protege...
It's Ross Brawn , his old mate...
Still wants to race...

Heidfeld DID get an offer from Ross last year to come and drive for Brawn, which Nick declined due to the Honda pullout. (we don't know whether it was to replace RB or JB)
McLaren has never hired a German driver. In '02 Mercedes wanted Heidfeld, Ron wanted a Finn. It happened to be Ron's decision.
For most years, Ferrari already had their German in MS and now have Alonso. Massa who was soundly trounced by Nick is managed by Todt's son.
Williams loved Heidfeld and made BMW pay a lot to get him. Next year they already have their German in Hulkenberg.
Merc does not want two Germans.
Heidfeld read the situation at Renault better than Robert.

So Nick is screwed BECAUSE he is German and other circumstances.
Nobody ever questioned his ability.
Most would agree that he is at least on Kubica's level.

It could also be that Nick believes in the team at Hinwil.
Until this year, BMW was making good progress. last year they had the 3rd fastest car. This year they started developing the '10 early and are well under way. Once the grid position thing is sorted (and it will be as soon as the FIA can determine the Toyota penalty for leaving the Concord Agreement), all at Hinwil will be going ahead full bore. Heidfeld's loyalty to the team could be rewarded with a rocket. Think Button.

I'm really struggling with this one. Heidfeld is the obvious best choice out of those listed (I don't think Michael Schumacher is a valid option). The only other driver I can think of is Kobayashi. Might be worth giving him a shot.

Meh...
I voted Nick Heidfeld but I've lost a lot of interest in Brawn due to Mercedes taking over. Brawn was an underdog and independent which had a certain amount of appeal when they came along and stuck it to the big guns,
The only thing which would spark any further interest would be if they signed a big name to lead the team... Kimi or Schumacher, but that isn't going to happen.
Hopefully a resurgent Mclaren and Ferrari along with Red Bull push Mercedes down to the lower end of the points positions and Daimler question their decision.

Please, metz, I know Nick sometimes needs a friendly pat, but at times you go a bit to far in his prise.



I'd love to see Kubica in Merc but is looks unlikely. Maybe if Renault decides they want two pay drivers instead of one...

Gary Paffet. Loyal mercedes driver, not German but with a known name in the german market. F1 testing experience.

That's not right. Heidfeld was driving for Jordan for free...

Crappy Jordan or chance to drive a Williams (as it turned out not as crappy but still pretty ordinary)?

BMW may have bought him out of Williams, but it wouldn't have been much I think.

I'd had the same thought. It would certainly fit with their declared goal of keeping costs down.

Also I think Mercedes want to push their reputation as much as possible in Japan. I took a look and found the following article:

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/dr...9/06/67923787/1

which says the most desired luxury car brand in Japan is Mercedes.

other (kimi)

It would be wrong to exclude Sutil or Heidfeld from the mercedes seat because they're german, especially if they're two of the best options.

Pafett would be more a merc guy than a macca one given his DTM sucess, as for the poll i would say Heidi.

I remember an interview after the '06 season, where Heidfeld gave the praise for '05 and '06 season to Michelin and Alonso.
He never liked Renault as a team although he respected their aero group.
I think he knows the team well enough.
Anyway, I would not be surprised if Sauber is ahead of Renault next year.

Well, much as I think having two drivers of the same nationality on one team is a bit of a silly idea, I hope it's Heidfeld. He really deserves a decent car. Although if there was any chance of it being Kimi that would be amazing, but I reckon that's wishful thinking.

My recollection:
Sauber wanted to keep him but had to make room for Massa/Fisi as part of the Ferrari engine deal.
Nick's salary at Jordan was half a million dollars. That's all they could afford. He took it because he wanted to stay in F1.
It was BMW that wanted him at Williams, although Frank would have preffered Pizzonia.
So they had a run-off during a 6 day test weekend and Nick won this in almost every category.
Frank was convinced and he drove for Williams for $2mil while their number 1 driver Webber earned $5 mil.
BMW paid Frank the same $2 mil to bring Nick to Sauber.

edit :I should also add that Vettel was a tester for BMW and the team knew him well. Even raced in the USGP during Kubica's recovery.
At the end of '07 Vettel wanted a drive. BMW picked both Nick and Robert over Vettel, forcing Seb to go to STR.
This tells me that all three are at least on equal level. And I rate all 3 higher than Rosberg.

Heidfeld

Isn't he retired?

Dont rule out mercedes benz pushing the boat out and offering silly money for kimi.
Not because they think he will be worth it, but to regain some face after the jenson disapointment.

Merc engines, Brawn as a genious. Why in the h.ll Heidfeld? Come on people..

I expect the "surprise" to be Raikkonen or Schumacher.


Or uh... Niki Lauda. Now THAT would one hell of a surprise.

De la Rosa...

Ok I threw it here, just so that you can say you heard it here first in case it finally happens...

JVi back at work with Jock Clear?

(He's certainly trying hard anyway, I heard he started training with doctor Gollner (sp?) again, a real torturer I've been told.)

You must have him confused with Kimi....

It's now clear that Ross Brawn, acting on the instructions of Mercedes, was only prepared to keep Jenson for two seasons.

It can only mean that Mercedes are firmly focusing on attracting Vettel when he is out of contract at the end of 2011.

If so, maybe Mercedes will offer their engines Free Of Charge to Red Bull in exchange for an early release for Vettel for 2011 or even 2010 ????

So it could even be Vettel and Rosberg as early as 2010

But that would make two germans, and they "not intend, to have two germans", so again looking for an non-german.
And if you are looking for non-germans, Kubica is the only serious options in terms of pace, to fight for WDC/WCC.

A lot people wrote here about feeling about Robert, but, do you guys really believe, that he have in the contract an option for "if somebody, that I think will be faster next season, makes me an offer, I'm out of here after a few rally events in your cars", I don't think so.

Ooh low blow

Wait..... what's that i can hear ?...... it's the Kimi fanboys....run..run for your life!!!!!