3279 replies to this topic

[jals99]

Petrov official news is finally expected in coming days, may be even tomorrow, according to reliable source from Russia

Edited by jals99, 16 February 2012 - 15:01.

[jals99]

Petrov news could be confirmed in next few hours...(probable but not 100%)

Edited by jals99, 17 February 2012 - 08:22.

[lustigson]

Petrov official news is finally expected in coming days, may be even tomorrow, according to reliable source from Russia

Petrov news could be confirmed in next few hours...(probable but not 100%)

Ehr... confirmed where? Any clues? Marussia, Caterham?

[phil1993]

Judging by Roberto Chinchero's Tweet, I'd guess he's replacing Trulli...

[Mastah]

What a surprise ;).

[jals99]

Judging by Roberto Chinchero's Tweet, I'd guess he's replacing Trulli...

yes
Confirmed by Republica
http://mensurati.blo...italiani-in-f1/

[Mastah]

Official:

http://hosted-p0.vre...be42c1c/ARCHIVE

[ferrarijon123]

yes
Confirmed by Republica
http://mensurati.blo...italiani-in-f1/

Confirmed by Caterham as well.

[lustigson]

Well, there you go.

By the way, this leaves us with exactly zero (i.e. 0) Italian drivers on the grid, which is "the first time since 1970", according to Autosport.

Edited by lustigson, 17 February 2012 - 10:23.

[lustigson]

So, let's give it a try again: a final 2012 list:

Red Bull Racing
Red Bull Racing RB8 – Renault RS27-2012
Team Principal: Christian Horner; Technical Director: Adrian Newey
1. Sebastian Vettel (on a long-term deal through ‘14, perhaps with options)
2. Mark Webber (re-signed for ‘12)
T. Sébastien Buemi

Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
McLaren MP4-27 – Mercedes FO108Z
Team Principal: Martin Whitmarsh ; Technical Director: Paddy Lowe, Neil Oatley
3. Jenson Button (contracted through ‘13 with option for ‘14)
4. Lewis Hamilton (contracted through ‘12)
T. Gary Paffet, Oliver Turvey (both confirmed by Whitmarsh), Jaime Alguersuari (rumoured)

Scuderia Ferrari
Ferrari F2012 – Ferrari 056
Team Principal: Stefano Domenicali ; Technical Director: Pat Fry
5. Fernando Alonso (contracted through ‘16)
6. Felipe Massa (contracted through ‘12)
T. Giancarlo Fisichella, Jules Bianchi, Marc Gené, Andrea Bertolini, Davide Rigon

Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team
Mercedes F1 W03 – Mercedes FO108Z
Team Principal: Ross Brawn ; Technical Director: Bob Bell
7. Michael Schumacher (contracted through ‘12, but sometimes rumoured to retire (again))
8. Nico Rosberg (on a multi-year deal beyond ‘13)
T. Sam Bird (performed testing duties on previous occasions, but was never confirmed as third driver), Jaime Alguersuari (rumoured)

Lotus F1 Team
Lotus E20 – Renault RS27-2012 (changed from ‘Renault – Renault’)
Team Principal: Eric Boullier ; Technical Director: James Allison
9. Kimi Räikkönen (contracted through '13)
10. Romain Grosjean (confirmed for '12; managed by Eric Boullier/GenII)
T. Jérôme d'Ambrosio

Sahara Force India F1 Team
Force India VJM05 – Mercedes FO108Z
Team Principal: Vijay Mallya ; Technical Director: Andrew Green
11. Paul di Resta (confirmed)
12. Nico Hülkenberg (confirmed)
T. Jules Bianchi (confirmed)

Sauber F1 Team
Sauber C31 – Ferrari 056
Team Principal: Peter Sauber ; Technical Director: t.b.d.
14. Kamui Kobayashi (confirmed)
15. Sergio Pérez (confirmed; on a multi-year contract)
T. Esteban Gutiérrez

Scuderia Toro Rosso
Toro Rosso STR7 – Ferrari 056
Team Principal: Franz Tost ; Technical Director: Giorgio Ascanelli
16. Daniel Ricciardo (confirmed; Red Bull junior driver)
17. Jean-Éric Vergne (confirmed; Red Bull junior driver)
T. Sébastien Buemi

WilliamsF1
Williams FW34 – Renault RS27-2012
Team Principal: Adam Parr ; Technical Director: Mike Coughlan
18. Bruno Senna (confirmed)
19. Pastor Maldonado (confirmed)
T. Valtteri Bottas

Caterham F1 Team
Caterham CT01 – Renault RS27-2012
Team Principal: Tony Fernandes ; Technical Director: Mike Gascoyne
20. Heikki Kovalainen (confirmed by Fernandes via Twitter on September 11th)
21. Vitaly Petrov (confirmed for ‘12)
T. Giedo van der Garde (brings McGregor money; rumour of replacing Trulli), Jarno Trulli (was confirmed as part of the team for ‘12, may stay on in some role)

HRT F1 Team
HRT F112 – Cosworth CA2012
Team Principal: Luis Pérez-Sala ; Technical Director: t.b.d.
22. Pedro de la Rosa (contracted through ‘13)
23. Narain Karthikeyan (confirmed)
T. Dani Clos

Marussia F1 Team
Marussia MR01 – Cosworth CA2012
Team Principal: John Booth ; Technical Director: Pat Symonds
24. Timo Glock (contract through ‘14)
25. Charles Pic (confirmed)
T. Robert Wickens

[F1ultimate]

Good bye to the Trulli Train.

Edited by F1ultimate, 17 February 2012 - 12:57.

[THE "driverider"]

Good by to the Trulli Train.

Such a shame when a veteran leaves like this, but Petrov does deserve the seat on Merit. On long with Sutil and Alguersuari he should have a seat.

Also, no Italians on the grid - has that ever happened before?

Edited by THE "driverider", 17 February 2012 - 12:07.

[William Hunt]

Also, no Italians on the grid - has that ever happened before?

well spotted, I think this must be the very first time in the history of F1 that we have a F1 race with no Italians on the grid. Maybe there was a race in the 1960's with no Italians, that could very well be in some races but very few and certainly not in the '60s, '70s, '80s or '90s and also not in the '30s or '40s when there wasn't an official world championship yet.

PS: just noticed that there was a race in 1970 with no Italians but this situations is very odd and I hope we will soon see Italians again on the grid, I've always liked Italian drivers a lot and supported them.

Edited by William Hunt, 17 February 2012 - 13:15.

[Fastcake]

Also, no Italians on the grid - has that ever happened before?

Read a couple of posts up! First time since 1970 with no Italians apparently.

Swings and roundabouts really, the Italians leave and the French come back.

[William Hunt]

Swings and roundabouts really, the Italians leave and the French come back.

traditional autosport countries like France, Great Brittain or Italy should always have a driver on the grid imho, such a shame.

[Owen]

Good bye to the Trulli Train.

We've not really seen the train for a while. The train was really only a result of his impressive qualifying ability. I'll miss that I suppose.

[lustigson]

traditional autosport countries like France, Great Brittain or Italy should always have a driver on the grid imho, such a shame.

I don't really care. F1 should have the best drivers, regardless of where they come from.

Regarding Grands Prix, however, I firmly believe that the FIA should step in to protect the one thing that links current-day's Formula 1 to pre-WWII Grand Prix racing: the Grandes Épreuves. But that's an other story.

[metz]

traditional autosport countries like France, Great Brittain or Italy should always have a driver on the grid imho, such a shame.

That's just silly.
Why not traditional autosport countries like USA, Australia, Finland, Canada, Germany, Brazil, etc.....?
Where can one draw the line.?
Let's just have the best.!

[IceSkyrim]

That makes Jules Bianchi position even more stronger.

For Ferrari there is no problem because Bianchi's career is managed by Nicolas Todt, the same of Massa.
So Todt's fee is guaranteed anyway.

The only downside is Ferrari needs a good car developer as second driver, just like Rubens used to be.

[Francesc]

That makes Jules Bianchi position even more stronger.

For Ferrari there is no problem because Bianchi's career is managed by Nicolas Todt, the same of Massa.
So Todt's fee is guaranteed anyway.

The only downside is Ferrari needs a good car developer as second driver, just like Rubens used to be.

[GhostR]

Read a couple of posts up! First time since 1970 with no Italians apparently.

Ricciardo will race under the Aussie flag, but has Italian heritage and an Italian passport. So maybe we could say there's a fraction of an Italian racing next year?

[mursuka80]

Ricciardo will race under the Aussie flag, but has Italian heritage and an Italian passport. So maybe we could say there's a fraction of an Italian racing next year?

Sounds as stupid, when Rosberg does well our commentators refer to him as a finn. I hate it, because he cant even speak our language.

[GhostR]

Sounds as stupid, when Rosberg does well our commentators refer to him as a finn. I hate it, because he cant even speak our language.

I probably should have included a at the end of my previous post .

I'm "dual-national" myself (Aussie / English) - but I was born and raised in Australia, and consider myself an Aussie first and foremost. I occasionally claim my English heritage when I need it (ie, to work in the UK/EU and when England's sports teams are playing non-Australian teams).

[billm99uk]

Ricciardo will race under the Aussie flag, but has Italian heritage and an Italian passport. So maybe we could say there's a fraction of an Italian racing next year?

Short of turning up to every race in a Crocodile Dundee outfit with a koala bear under one arm and a pint of Fosters in the other hand I find it hard to imagine Ricciardo could be any more Australian. In a nice way, that is...

[Mandzipop]

Am I right in thinking that Massa also has an Italian passport?

[Mastah]

Yes, you are.

[vas04614]

Are we done for 2012 or any more driver changes left

[Disgrace]

We are done other than what the second HRT seat merry-go-round will provide; probably Clos in for Karthikeyan at the Spanish events.

[THE "driverider"]

Are we done for 2012 or any more driver changes left

Sutil and Alguersuari, possibly regarding 3rd driver seats.

[krod]

I think that's it!