591 replies to this topic

[HistoryFan]

My guesses:

 

DS Techeetah: Jean-Eric Vergne - André Lotterer

Virgin-Audi: Sam Bird - Nyck de Vries

Mahindra: Felix Rosenqvist - Nick Heidfeld

Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler: Lucas di Grassi - Daniel Abt

Jaguar: Nelson Piquet jr. - Mitch Evans

Nissan e.dams: Sébastien Buemi - Jann Mardenborough

Venturi: Maro Engel - Edoardo Mortara

Nio: Oliver Turvey - Ma Qing-Hua
Dragon: Jérôme D'Ambrosio - Harry Tricknell

BMW Andretti: Antonio Felix da Costa - Tom Blomqvist

HWA-Venturi: Gary Paffett - Pascal Wehrlein
 

[maximilian]

I think we'll see Felipe Massa here somewhere...

[Vielleicht]

Massa would bring upside and downsides. It could pull his fans in and provide cross over for F1 fans, which shouldn't be underestimated, but it also has a danger of reinforcing the idea that FE is a series for F1 rejects and has-beens, which isn't all that desirable.

It's a kind of secondary point because you can't really win either way, so perhaps what will be will be.

[thegamer23]

I think this year's silly season is going to be very silly. 

Two new seats to be filled in HWA, some drivers won't be confirmed, some familiar faces might debut.

 

DS Techeetah: Jean Eric Vergne - Andrè Lotterer. 

This pair is as good as it gets. No reason to change it. 

 

Virgin Audi: Sam Bird - Nico Muller/Antonio Giovinazzi/Jimmy Eriksson
Jon bon jovi already tested in Marrakesh with very good results. But Nico Muller smashed the lap record with Audi Sport ABT in the same day. The german is linked with Audi too
Also, Jimmy Eriksson tested in Marrakesh, this seat is wide open if you ask me! (can't see alex lynn being confirmed)

 

Mahindra: Felix Rosenqvist - Daniel Juncadella
Can't see Heidfeld being confirmed once again after this terrible season. Daniel Juncadella (current 3rd driver) may debut

 

Audi Sport: Lucas Di Grassi - Daniel Abt/Nico Muller

Daniel Abt has raised his game this season, but Audi has Nico Muller under its radar, and he's been mighty impressive in testing. 
Lucas di Grassi is obviously going to be confirmed

 

Jaguar: Mitch Evans - Nelson Piquet Jr/Felipe Massa

Mitch Evans has been mighty impressive so far in quali, while Nelson Piquet Jr. did some great races. 
But we can't forget that Felipe Massa has been rumored to be there for Season 5. He's a big name and may put the fellow brazilian's seat in danger if you ask me.

 

Nissan e.dams; Sebastien Buemi - Jan Mardenborugh/Nico Prost/Mitsunori Takaboshi

The second seat is wide open. Giving the Renault to Nissan switch, Nico Prost seat might be in danger. He's been underperforming massively recently, so we could see Mardenborough or Takaboshi, both Nissan guys to replace him!

Venturi: Maro Engel - Edoardo Mortara

Those two drivers can be pretty solid, Mortara is the fastest one, but Engel has been consistent when the car was allowing it. There might be no change

 

NIO: Oliver Turvey - Henry Thicnkell

Can't see Ma Qing Hua or Filippi being re-confirmed for next season. That leaves Herny Thicknell for the 2nd seat, as he's been recently nominated NIO's development driver.

 

Dragon Racing: Josè Maria Lopez - Maxhimilian Guenther 

The german has been testing in Marrakesh and he's a pretty impressive talent. Could debut next season. Alongside him, Lopez could be confirmed at the expense of D'Ambrosio. But it's tight between them.

 

BMW: Bruno Spengler - Tom Blomqvist

Da Costa's time may be over in FE. He's been abysmal this season so far, with a lot of mistakes. Bruno Spengler is already testing Gen 2 car, and Tom Blomqvist could be confirmed for an all BMW drivers lineup.

 

 

HWA: Paul Di Resta - Pascal Wehrlein - Nico Rosberg

 

This is the most interesting one. 
HWA is coming to Formula E as a "Disguised Mercedes" team, preparing the arrival of the Factory Team in Season 6. 
Having said that, we can expect Mercedes drivers taking part. Paul Di Resta tested in Marrakesh and was pretty fast, he could be one of them.

Alongisde him? Pascal Wehrlein may be the man to watch, but i wouldn't rule out the champion himself, Nico Rosberg. 

If he does like the Gen 2 test in Berlin. Who knows..

Edited by thegamer23, 17 April 2018 - 12:32.

[maximilian]

Massa would bring upside and downsides. It could pull his fans in and provide cross over for F1 fans, which shouldn't be underestimated, but it also has a danger of reinforcing the idea that FE is a series for F1 rejects and has-beens, which isn't all that desirable.

It's a kind of secondary point because you can't really win either way, so perhaps what will be will be.

 

Looking at the FE entry list... not sure there is a single driver who could NOT be labeled "F1 reject" (presuming they all had aspirations to drive in F1 at least at the beginning of their careers - some made it there, some never did).  Maybe Massa would get the "has-been" label, as does Heidfeld.  Some of the other F1 vets probably hadn't been around long enough to earn the "has-been" label, which makes them "rejects". 

 

How about if Rosberg joins the fray after all... now THAT would be BIG... and not fit either label.

[maximilian]

I really hope Robin Frijns gets a shout for Audi with either Virgin or the factory team, now that he's an Audi staff driver!

 

Doubt Jaguar will change their line-up, I think Massa might end up at NIO (as early as this season)...

 

HWA lineup WILL be very interesting indeed, I think... any of those 3 would be great.

 

BMW will surely have a look at Alexander Sims, too, no?

 

Also not sure D'Ambrosio needs to go... he's doing a solid enough job.

 

Hope to see Sarrazin back!! 

Edited by maximilian, 17 April 2018 - 12:37.

[NorwegianRudo]

-I Have Di Resta as a clear odds on favourite for a Mercedes seat.

 

-De Vries would be a downgrade from Lynn.

 

-If Dragon are keeping any drivers surely Lopez would be the one. They're probably the most likely landing spot for Massa also.

[Kev00]

Call me crazy but I predict that Daniel Abt will drive for his dad’s team and Nicolas Prost will drive for his dad’s team.

[maximilian]

Call me crazy but I predict that Daniel Abt will drive for his dad’s team and Nicolas Prost will drive for his dad’s team.

 

You're crazy, but probably right.  And Nissan doesn't exactly have any great alternatives in their own stable waiting on the sidelines.  Then again, Prost has just been dismal this year!  Abt has shown he belongs, but Audi does have some great options.

 

Two more things:  DS might just decide to keep Bird, and Bird might just decide he wants to follow them to Techeetah.  As unlikely as it may seem, Lotterer might leave that team in a straight switch with Bird, and drive for Virgin-Audi as part of the VAG/Audi stable before moving on to Porsche next?

[NorwegianRudo]

As far as Prost goes, remember it's e-Dams who hold a FE licence, not Renault/Nissan. If e-Dams make Prost a condition for signing on with Nissan they really have no option but to keep him.

 

Forgot about the Virgin switch to Audi. Audi have probably the top two current contenders without a drive in Frijns and Nico Muller so if Virgin decide to remove Lynn they should have some great options.

 

I'm fairly sure Piquet signed a multi-year contract so I doubt Jaguar fire him. I'd be very disappointed if they remove Evans for Massa as well.

Edited by NorwegianRudo, 17 April 2018 - 12:50.

[SpeedRacer`]

To be fair I think Abt has been quite impressive this season.

 

Prost however seems to be going in the opposite direction.

 

I always feel sorry for Heidfeld, he seems to have a target painted on his car sometimes.

[maximilian]

Evans has raced circles around Piquet in a big way this season, the only way I see him leaving Jaguar is if he decides to take an offer from a more promising team.

 

Or!  In fact, Evans is one of those guys who may actually bring himself back into the picture for a second look at F1.  I feel there are just a couple of drivers who have the potential to "pull a Hartley" after really turning serious heads in FE:  Evans is getting there, but certainly Rosenqvist appears to have the speed.  JEV has grown tremendously as a racer, and Sam Bird has just been so consistently quick and SOLID in his performances, and may well end up winning this season's title.

[maximilian]

I always feel sorry for Heidfeld, he seems to have a target painted on his car sometimes.

 

Probably if he were quicker, and near the front like his team mate, he wouldn't have to scrap in the midfield where more incidents happen.  I suspect Mahindra will drop him at the end of the season, he's been nowhere near Rosenqvist.

[NorwegianRudo]

I could see Heidfeld being given a different job. They seem to really like him and appreciate the job he has done for them, but he hasn't really delivered the results.

[sopa]

Looking at the FE entry list... not sure there is a single driver who could NOT be labeled "F1 reject" (presuming they all had aspirations to drive in F1 at least at the beginning of their careers - some made it there, some never did).  Maybe Massa would get the "has-been" label, as does Heidfeld.  Some of the other F1 vets probably hadn't been around long enough to earn the "has-been" label, which makes them "rejects". 

 

How about if Rosberg joins the fray after all... now THAT would be BIG... and not fit either label.

 

Yeah.

 

In the end it's the matter of the depth of the field, not background. If a driver strengthens the field, it's all good, i.e like Wickens has been a good addition to IndyCar.

 

I think Massa is worth a shout in FE. He may become a "nearly-man" in the sense of Heidfeld, even if not an outright front-runner, but will still do well. I'd bet he'd be far better than Villeneuve though. Now with the latter I doubt he was much of an addition in terms of competition in FE, lol.

[maximilian]

I'd bet he'd be far better than Villeneuve though. Now with the latter I doubt he was much of an addition in terms of competition in FE, lol.

 

I regret that Villeneuve didn't work out in FE... the problem seemed to be more his motivation/willingness to stick it out, but who knows.  At the time of his joining, I was so excited, I actually changed my FB cover photo to him in the FE car.  Just seems like he did everything kinda half-ass after his heyday, regardless of which series or race.  Anyways, off-topic.  Massa may not be tops in terms of results in FE, but will certainly add more eyes on the series.  Wouldn't be surprised if he gets a FanBoobs or two in the process.

[RSRally]

The commentators were saying at the weekend how highly Alex Tai rates Lynn so maybe he's safe at Virgin..

 

Does Alain Prost actually own part of e-Dams, or is he just there as a Renault advisor?

 

Also, which drivers in FE have Red Bull backing, who have not been in F1 yet? Can't help but feel that Hartley is a stop-gap solution for Torro Rosso and one of 'our' guys might get snapped up.

 

I'm really impressed with Rosenqvist. He seems to have a great way of using the rear-heavy weight distribution of the FE car to swing it around and get the nose pointing in the right direction.

[NorwegianRudo]

The commentators were saying at the weekend how highly Alex Tai rates Lynn so maybe he's safe at Virgin..

 

Does Alain Prost actually own part of e-Dams, or is he just there as a Renault advisor?

 

Also, which drivers in FE have Red Bull backing, who have not been in F1 yet? Can't help but feel that Hartley is a stop-gap solution for Torro Rosso and one of 'our' guys might get snapped up.

 

I'm really impressed with Rosenqvist. He seems to have a great way of using the rear-heavy weight distribution of the FE car to swing it around and get the nose pointing in the right direction.

 

Prost and Jean-Paul Driot own e-Dams AFAIK.

 

I think Red Bull had a big clearout of their drivers, so I'm not sure there are any left.

[HistoryFan]

Prost is hareholder at e.dams?

I thought that is the same team as DAMS and Prost is just Renault ambassador.

[NorwegianRudo]

Prost is hareholder at e.dams?

I thought that is the same team as DAMS and Prost is just Renault ambassador.

 

Dams and e-Dams are affiliated of course, but it's not the same company. Driot is part owner of both.

[Vettelari]

I believe that only Buemi still has ties to RBR. Ticknum is their highest level junior driver and he is still 1-2 years away from moving up at best.

I am curious to see if another Porsche driver like Tandy gets a drive for next season in preparation for their entry. Surely Lotterer will be in 1 of their seats come time.

[thegamer23]

Felipe Massa to Mahindra?

https://www.motorspo...-massa-1030198/

[NorwegianRudo]

Felipe Massa to Mahindra?

https://www.motorspo...-massa-1030198/

 

I hadn't considered that one before Sam Smith mentioned it on his podcast, but it does make sense. Hopefully it would be to partner Felix, not to replace him.

[NorwegianRudo]

Prost is hareholder at e.dams?

I thought that is the same team as DAMS and Prost is just Renault ambassador.

 

According to Sam Smith's latest notebook, while Prost is still a director at e-Dams, he has sold his share of the company.

[Jthorn97]

 

Virgin Audi: Sam Bird - Nico Muller/Antonio Giovinazzi/Jimmy Eriksson
Jon bon jovi already tested in Marrakesh with very good results. But Nico Muller smashed the lap record with Audi Sport ABT in the same day. The german is linked with Audi too
Also, Jimmy Eriksson tested in Marrakesh, this seat is wide open if you ask me! (can't see alex lynn being confirmed)

 

Surely you mean Joel Eriksson? It was Joel not his brother Jimmy who tested in Marrakesh. 

I think he's a lot more likely to get a BMW seat since he's one of their development drivers. 

[HistoryFan]

According to Sam Smith's latest notebook, while Prost is still a director at e-Dams, he has sold his share of the company.

 

I don't think he'll play a role when Nissan takes over.

 

[thegamer23]

Surely you mean Joel Eriksson? It was Joel not his brother Jimmy who tested in Marrakesh.

I think he's a lot more likely to get a BMW seat since he's one of their development drivers.

Yeah indeed joel

[RSRally]

I don't think he'll play a role when Nissan takes over.

Fairly certain Nico Prost will be out then, unless his contract is very robust or expensive to buy out.

[Kev00]

Joel Eriksson is driving for BMW in DTM this year, so i can’t see him driving for Audi in formula E.

[Burai]

Alain Prost has sold his shares and will be leaving e.dams at the end of the season.

 

Nico's contract is until the end of next season (as is Buemi's), but Jean-Paul Driot has suggested that Nissan may decide to buy him out.

 

 

 

 

[Disgrace]

It would be worth every penny.

[HistoryFan]

As I understand there is a possibility that the season will start at Abu Dhabi rather than Riyadh as some teams are concearned about the safety in Saudi Arabia.

[NorwegianRudo]

As I understand there is a possibility that the season will start at Abu Dhabi rather than Riyadh as some teams are concearned about the safety in Saudi Arabia.

 

Saudi Arabia are desperate for western entertainment to show how "progressive" they are, so I expect them to pay far more than Abu Dhabi would, and make guarantees about safety.

 

Rumour is WWE is being paid $25 million a year to run a couple shows there.

[thegamer23]

Andre Lotterer confirmed for Season 5 alongside Vergne

 

https://e-formel.de/...son-5-3514.html

 

https://www.formulae...confermato-2019

 

 

 

From the german article

 

- Abt & Heidfeld still doesn't have a contract for S5

- Engel will be there in S5, in Venturi or in HWA

- Mardenborough spotted in Paris

Edited by thegamer23, 03 May 2018 - 15:16.

[maximilian]

Lotterer!     

 

Engel.  

 

Mardenbourgh? 

[Vettelari]

Alright, I figured out what is best for all the teams. Make it happen. Sign the contracts and let's go racing!

DS Techeetah: Jean Eric Vergne - Andre Lotterer
Virgin: Sam Bird - Rene Rast
Mahindra: Felix Rosenqvist - Felipe Massa
Audi: Lucas di Grassi - Nyck De Vries
Jaguar: Nelson Piquet Jr. - Mitch Evans
Nissan: Sebastien Buemi - Pipo Derani
Venturi: Maro Engel - Artem Markelov
Nio: Oliver Turvey - Harry Tincknell
Dragon: Nick Tandy - Laurens Vanthoor
BMW: Joel Eriksson - Robert Kubica
HWA-Mercedes: Nico Rosberg - Pascal Wehrlein

Other talented drivers I'd enjoy seeing in the field: Antonio Giovinazzi, Oliver Rowland, Pietro Fittipaldi, Daniel Kvyat, Nick Cassidy...

Edited by Vettelari, 04 May 2018 - 03:27.

[NorwegianRudo]

Alright, I figured out what is best for all the teams. Make it happen. Sign the contracts and let's go racing!

DS Techeetah: Jean Eric Vergne - Andre Lotterer
Virgin: Sam Bird - Rene Rast
Mahindra: Felix Rosenqvist - Felipe Massa
Audi: Lucas di Grassi - Nyck De Vries
Jaguar: Nelson Piquet Jr. - Mitch Evans
Nissan: Sebastien Buemi - Pipo Derani
Venturi: Maro Engel - Artem Markelov
Nio: Oliver Turvey - Harry Tincknell
Dragon: Nick Tandy - Laurens Vanthoor
BMW: Joel Eriksson - Robert Kubica
HWA-Mercedes: Nico Rosberg - Pascal Wehrlein

Other talented drivers I'd enjoy seeing in the field: Antonio Giovinazzi, Oliver Rowland, Pietro Fittipaldi, Daniel Kvyat, Nick Cassidy...

 

-Virgin now has access to Audi's backups, like Nico Muller and Robin Frijns. I'd put them way above Rast in FE terms.

-De Vries is reasonably fast but has terrible racecraft. Would probably run out of energy with 5 laps to go judging by his tire management in F2. Abt is probably staying anyway, he has 2 race wins this season.

-Markelov is an F2 driver I could see succeeding. Smart with excellent tactical driving skills.

-Chanses of Rosberg are very slim. I could see him being involved, but I don't see him driving. Di Resta is my #1 guess for HWA/Mercedes, with Wehrlein a possibilty, but hardly a certainty.

[maximilian]

I'd take Daniel Abt over de Vries anytime - and yes, if Audi has a slot to fill either in the werks team or at Virgin, Frijns is the man!       Audi has a good stable of drivers now, overall.

 

Massa at Mahindra seems to be a badly-kept-secret already, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him pop up at NIO, either - they badly need a replacement alongside Turvey.

 

Rosberg at HWA would be megacool, tho I don't think we would see him until Mercedes has its werks team in place... if ever.  Lucas Auer could be a really good option alongside Wehrlein.  Paul di Resta is another.

 

BMW definitely need better drivers than they have now.  Kubica would be fascinating, but I think also unlikely.  Alex Sims should probably get a shot at some point.  Timo Glock is still around, too...

 

Pipo Derani needs to be in IndyCar.

 

Not surprised that DS Techeetah retained Lotterer, even though I was speculating there could be a straight swap between Bird and Lotterer.  If I was DS, I would have wanted to keep Bird.  The guy is just SOLID - and Lotterer at Virgin-Audi would also have made sense.  But I am elated he's staying with JEV in my favorite team   

Edited by maximilian, 04 May 2018 - 12:01.

[Vettelari]

Nyck is blindingly fast and I don't think he's going to get his F1 chance. Maybe he can learn energy management. You can't teach speed like he has.

Rast was pretty incredible in DTM last season. Jamie Green, Nico Muller, Robin Frijns, Christopher Mies etc are also good drivers. I wish Frijns had a bit more luck in his first FE campaign. Rast is a bit higher ranked right now after last season's DTM, in my mind.

Markelov to FE needs to happen ASAP.

Derani to Dams makes sense. He already drives for Nissan DPI. He needs to be in a single seater.

I have thought about Glock to BMW, but starting a program with a 38 year old driver doesn't make sense to me. They definitely need a lead driver though. I'm not sure Sims, Joel, Farfus, or Blomqvist is that. Kubica returning to lead their campaign would be BRILLIANT.

Edited by Vettelari, 04 May 2018 - 20:17.

[Kev00]

Vettelari, what makes you say De Vries is ‘blindingly fast’? I hear him describes as ‘fast’ or ‘quick’ but I don’t really see it. I don’t see him producing any special qualifying performances or having many stand out races where you think he is something special? He’s good, but I don’t see any special qualities in him.

[NorwegianRudo]

Nyck is blindingly fast and I don't think he's going to get his F1 chance. Maybe he can learn energy management. You can't teach speed like he has.

 

I think you're overselling him a bit here, he's got a grand total of zero pole positions in his F2 career. I'm not sure I'd bank on teaching him anything either, he's still by far the worst driver in the field at taking care of his tires.

 

Markelov would be a great choice; De Vries, I don't see it.

[Vettelari]

Actually, I might have a bit more insight into him as a driver compared to the average person. I was able to watch him when he drove in CIK karting world championships. In an unbelievably competitive field, Nyck won twice in a row in 2010 and 2011. He made me a fan in 2010 and I couldn't believe he repeated. In spec karts with enormous fields, he won consecutively. It takes a crazy amount of talent and luck to even win once. Heck, Max Verstappen only managed to get 3rd in KF two years later. Norris won in 2014. Anybody else into karts knows what kind of accomplishment that is. Nyck has truck loads of natural talent. I hope to see it click this year.

Edited by Vettelari, 05 May 2018 - 00:07.

[Vettelari]

Here's a link to the top 3 finishers in the main divisions for past years. Check out the drivers on this list and then put it into perspective what Nyck accomplished. It's crazy competitive between young drivers and ringers like Ardigo who stay at the level and win for a decade. They're cleaning up the classes these days to let the young drivers shine. https://www.driverdb...d-championship/

Edited by Vettelari, 04 May 2018 - 23:51.

[noikeee]

He's not been showing that same level of natural talent in cars though.

Plenty of drivers were amazing in karts but didn't fully translate those skills to cars. Liuzzi comes to mind.

[Ben1445]

Jan Mardenborough is interested in driving for Nissan in Fe, but is Nissan interested in him? 

 

http://e-racing365.c...s-future-radar/

[maximilian]

Jan Mardenborough is interested in driving for Nissan in Fe, but is Nissan interested in him? 

 

http://e-racing365.c...s-future-radar/

 

I hope not.  He's been nothing but mediocre.

[HistoryFan]

HWA entry confirmed:

 

DS Techeetah: Jean-Eric Vergne - André Lotterer

Virgin-Audi: Sam Bird - Nyck de Vries

Mahindra: Felix Rosenqvist - Nick Heidfeld

Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler: Lucas di Grassi - Daniel Abt

Jaguar: Nelson Piquet jr. - Mitch Evans

Nissan e.dams: Sébastien Buemi - Jann Mardenborough

Venturi: Gary Paffett – Pascal Wehrlein

Nio: Oliver Turvey - Ma Qing-Hua
Dragon: Jérôme D'Ambrosio - Harry Tricknell

BMW Andretti: Antonio Felix da Costa - Joel Eriksson

HWA-Venturi: Maro Engel - Edoardo Mortara

[NorwegianRudo]

Mercedes (HWA) taking both Venturi drivers while placing Wehrlein in the Venturi makes absolutely no sense.

 

I expect them to let Venturi keep their drivers and put two of their other drivers in the HWA and let them fight it out for the factory seats.

[thegamer23]

This Silly Season is set to be very silly

Two new seats for the grabs, likely changes in top teams like Nissan, Audi & Mahindra, BMW pushing for their factory drivers..

I think it be more about who's going to retain his seat.
For the moment, only Techeetahs, Lucas Di Grassi, Seb Buemi & Felix Rosenqvist seems safe.

Edited by thegamer23, 09 May 2018 - 14:37.

[NorwegianRudo]

This Silly Season is set to be very silly

Two new seats for the grabs, likely changes in top teams like Nissan, Audi & Mahindra, BMW pushing for their factory drivers..

I think it be more about who's going to retain his seat.
For the moment, only Techeetahs, Lucas Di Grassi, Seb Buemi & Felix Rosenqvist seems safe.

 

-Buemi may not be safe because of politics. He's a Toyota driver in WEC, which may not sit well with Nissan. They don't really have any good alternatives though...

 

-Sam Bird, Nelson Piquet, Mitch Evans and Oliver Turvey (don't know about his contract) seem safe to me.

 

-It's kind of strange, with Porsche and Mercedes I'm trying to think which of their great choices they will go with, with BMW I'm trying to figure out if they have any great choices.

Joel Eriksson is a big talent, but I'd want to pair him with a much more experienced driver. Maybe Glock and Eriksson?