602 replies to this topic

[DutchAutosportFan]

I think Alonso will take a sebatical , it seems he lost the power and joy in the F1 this year.

[HeadFirst]

Yes, but I believe that 21 of those days we had no racing!

There are shopping carts you know!!!!!

[jcbc3]

 

or

 

[David Lightman]

I can confirm that I've just signed for Sauber, a 43 year old with a dodgy back and £50 in the bank was apparently exactly what they were after.

[grahamshevlin]

But...but...but...they signed me too! Get in line!

[Nathan]

I have a very hard time believing Sauber signed Sutil to an iron clad 2 year deal...

[AllenT]

Button to WEC ?

 

 

 

Joao Carlos Costa

JENSON BUTTON piloto Toyota WEC em 2015. A revelação vai ser feita no Domingo, após o Grande Prémio do Brasil de F1.

[turssi]

That's what it tweets. "Announcement to come on Sunday after the race."

[BRG]

Go for it, Jenson.  Let's hope Mclaren get left with KMag and an empty seat, desperately ringing up Sutil and Chilton to try to get them to drive....

[ollebompa]

That Toyota drive must be a dream. It's where I would be if I was a racer. 

[Exb]

Sky have just said Perez has been confirmed at Force India

[Emilvang]

Also on autosport: http://www.autosport...t.php/id/116680

 

Very good lineup

[turssi]

Yeah Force India has a nice setup for a midfield team. Too bad they are not fighting it out with Williams, but who knows, maybe next year?

[SpeedRacer`]

Go for it, Jenson.  Let's hope Mclaren get left with KMag and an empty seat, desperately ringing up Sutil and Chilton to try to get them to drive....

 

Couldn't agree more. Their treatment of both drivers, JB in particular given his service and performance has been appalling and it would serve them right.

[TF110]

Just put the button to Toyota rumor in the McLaren drivers thread. I wonder if true, will he be in the #8 with fellow Brit, Davidson?

[prpr]

Didn't they recently leave go one of the usual drivers of that car, Lapiere?

Edited by prpr, 08 November 2014 - 12:39.

[Stephane]

Yes, they did. But there is also Conway in the mix.

[emmanuelrubi]

According to Fox Sports, Esteban is heading to Lotus, hope Grosjean Stays.

[grahamshevlin]

If Gutierrez is heading to Lotus, this is going to get interesting....they will have 3 drivers under contract for 2015...do they wave goodbye to Pastor and his PDVSA dollars, or Grosjean and the Total money?  I need some more popcorn...

[emmanuelrubi]

If Gutierrez is heading to Lotus, this is going to get interesting....they will have 3 drivers under contract for 2015...do they wave goodbye to Pastor and his PDVSA dollars, or Grosjean and the Total money? I need some more popcorn...

Just went to get more popcorn, IF this is true, and its a big IF im thinking Total is leaving and Grosjean with them, i hope not, Esteban has yet to prove himself in a better car than this Sauber but he hasnt show anything great OTOH i see Grosjean as a better driver and would be really sad to see him lose his place for a paydriver as boring as Esteban.

[ATM]

Wasn't there some background rumour that Pastor's PDVSA money kind of halted following the change of state affairs in Venezuela earlier this year?

Total might be reducing their money too, seeing as Petronas will come in, via Mercedes, and maybe the French company's exposure could be diminished. It was announced indeed that Total will collaborate with Petronas, reaching already a mutual agreement, and having already some joint-ventures somewhere...  but that's no reason to pump the same amount of sponsor cash for a diluted image. 
 

So, probably neither one of the drivers are fully safe, in case a bigger wallet comes along. 

 

Come to think of it, nearly all my posts today all revolved around driver contracts/payments/belly up/belly down/2 swords in one sheath. Jeez, the state of F1 affairs is that bad...?

Edited by ATM, 08 November 2014 - 17:53.

[charly0418]

Yes, Gutierrez is heading to Lotus, but Im hearing its as the reserve driver

[ATM]

Well, that's that, then. I don't recall any reserve driver being given the chance of a come-back/stepping up to principal status in recent years. Well, maybe excepting Hulkenberg. 

 

Of course, there is always the possibility to remain as the reserve driver and hope one of the main drivers falls behind with his financial payments-  then jump the gun.  All you need is money and patience, and Sauber would seem sensible to this approach now. 

[charly0418]

Well adding to the drama, Im guessing you guys read yesterdays Mallya article saying how Perez is coming back no matter what.

 

Press over him contacted about it and he pretty much said Vijay is crazy, he also kept insisting Lotus is still an option.

 

 

 

I think Perez wants to go to Lotus and Vijay is starting to realize that

[ATM]

Yeesh, this ain't silly season anymore, it's starting to look like an all-out nuthouse.  

[Viryfan]

Yeesh, this ain't silly season anymore, it's starting to look like an all-out nuthouse.  

 

All the issue is that drivers like Perez and Grosjean have contracts already.

[emmanuelrubi]

So after what Mallya said things should either go esteban as reserve or Perez to Lotus and Esteban to force India to pair Nico (Again)

[Viryfan]

Interestingly Gutierrez said 

 

 

Interesting comments from Gutierrez post quail. Said he has made a tough decision about his future and his need to be with a big team.

 

I don't think that having a racing seat at Lotus is a tough decision if you want to remain in F1.

 

If i was Esteban i would be looking to be 3rd driver at Williams waiting on the wings that Massa retires.

 

Willams is becoming a big team.

Edited by Viryfan, 08 November 2014 - 18:54.

[DutchQuicksilver]

Interestingly Gutierrez said 

 

I don't think that having a racing seat at Lotus is a tough decision if you want to remain in F1.

 

If i was Esteban i would be looking to be 3rd driver at Williams waiting on the wings that Massa retires.

 

Willams is becoming a big team.

I doubt if Williams stays a front runner for the next few years, they'd move Gutierrez into a race seat when Massa retires. There will be better drivers available by then and with Williams being a front runner, they have the luxury of choosing strong driver.

[turssi]

Heikki Kulta reports that Carlos Sainz Junior has been asked to bring 20MUSD for the Toro Rosso ride.


http://ts.fi/moottor...Ukkosta radalla

Edited by turssi, 09 November 2014 - 01:33.

[charly0418]

Heikki Kulta reports that Carlos Sainz Junior has been asked to bring 20MUSD for the Toro Rosso ride.


http://ts.fi/moottor...Ukkosta radalla

 

what the crap!

[Viryfan]

Ocon to make official F1 Gp debut at Abu Dhabi during FP1.

http://formularapida.net/?p=3722

[SirVanhan]

Imagine this: Button wins Le Mans, then he tries the Indy 500. He's also a Monaco GP winner, just like Graham Hill.   (Andretti and Villeneuve who attempted the triple crown of motorsport never won at Monaco.) 

[Kristian]

Heikki Kulta reports that Carlos Sainz Junior has been asked to bring 20MUSD for the Toro Rosso ride.


http://ts.fi/moottor...Ukkosta radalla

 

But isn't his sponsor Red Bull? 

[InSearchOfThe]

Imagine this: Button wins Le Mans, then he tries the Indy 500. He's also a Monaco GP winner, just like Graham Hill.   (Andretti and Villeneuve who attempted the triple crown of motorsport never won at Monaco.) 

JPM has 3 biggies also.

Indy 500, Monaco, and 24 Hours of Daytona 3 times.

[Viryfan]

Gutierrez confirmed Grosjean to Lotus on FOX Sport.

[jals99]

Gutierrez confirmed Grosjean to Lotus on FOX Sport.

As i understood from twitter he told FOX he is talking himself with Lotus, so he still may take Grosjeans seat )

Edited by jals99, 09 November 2014 - 15:54.

[grahamshevlin]

When teams are asking for $20m for a driver for a season, you know that any pretence of F1 being a driver meritocracy has gone out of the window. 

[Viryfan]

As i understood from twitter he told FOX he is talking himself with Lotus, so he still may take Grosjeans seat )

 

The english meaning of Gutierrez interview was:

 

 

GUT told @GP1FOXSPORTS that he spoke with Lotus about a deal, but they told him they are commited with GRO for a long term.

@GP1FOXSPORTS GUT is looking now for a test drvier role in a good team.

[Viryfan]

Lopez to RMC:

"Normally there should be no change for next year. He has this opt out clause if he wants to leave but if everything goes according to plan no change"

http://rmcsport.bfmt...ent-845574.html

[Viryfan]

Mclaren to announce their line-up on thursday of Abu Dhabi race week-end according to Canal Plus.

[Viryfan]

Grosjean : "This week we should see something clearer for the future."

[grahamshevlin]

Sheesh...I need more popcorn...quick, somebody resurrect the rumour that RoGro is going to Mclaren alongside Alonso...

[Nathan]

Let's say there is a third RB11 on the grid next season.  Who pilots it?

 

I'd like to see Vergne get the seat with Buemi filling his role at TR.

 

Does it make more sense why Alonso would hold out so long?

Edited by Nathan, 10 November 2014 - 16:10.

[Viryfan]

According to Crashnet Lotus and Grosjean should expect an announcement that Grosjean will stay within the next 7 days.

[Viryfan]

According to Auto Hebdo if there is a revival of Manor (Marussia), Esteban Gutierrez will be one of the drivers.

[Thespianoid]

When teams are asking for $20m for a driver for a season, you know that any pretence of F1 being a driver meritocracy has gone out of the window. 

 

F1 has never been a driver meritocracy. It may have been marketed (by word of mouth) as the series with the "greatest racing drivers", but that's fundamental advertising. 

[KavB]

Let's say there is a third RB11 on the grid next season.  Who pilots it?

 

I'd like to see Vergne get the seat with Buemi filling his role at TR.

 

Does it make more sense why Alonso would hold out so long?

I doubt Buemi would be interested in going back to TR. He's on the verge of becoming a WEC champion and has a solid chance of being a Le Mans 24 Hours winner next year. It certainly beats scrapping for 9th place in F1, especially when it is very unlikely he would be promoted to Red Bull.

[emmanuelrubi]

According to Auto Hebdo if there is a revival of Manor (Marussia), Esteban Gutierrez will be one of the drivers.

 

Marussia & Caterham are where either rookies get their first chance at F1 or where drivers go to see their F1 career die.

[Laura23]

Let's say there is a third RB11 on the grid next season.  Who pilots it?

 

I'd like to see Vergne get the seat with Buemi filling his role at TR.

 

Does it make more sense why Alonso would hold out so long?

If Red Bull and Ferrari run third cars next year they will either have to fill the seats with a rookie or with guest drivers. That's the rules, they can't have an experienced full time racer in the third car for the full season so that rules out Vergne. 

 

Red Bull, if they do run a third car, would just stick Verstappen in the seat.