Full 2010 Driver Line-up
Chad
as well post my full brainfart on the subject in case anyone else is
interested.
So far we have 10 of the 26 seats officially confirmed by teams;
Brawn -
Campos -
Force India - Sutil/
Ferrari - Alonso/Massa
Lotus -
Manor -
McLaren - Hamilton/
Renault - Kubica/
Red Bull - Vettel/Webber
US F1 -
Toyota - Trulli/
Toro Rosso - Buemi/Alguersuari (unofficially confirmed on STR website this
week)
Williams -
These 2 should end up at Brawn
Jenson Button [Brawn/McLaren]
Nico Rosberg [Brawn/Williams]
Between these 4 for Williams, with The Hulk and Rubens landing them. Heikki
to stay put and Heidfeld maybe ending up with a test drive, Manor or
something off the wall like Lotus or USF1.
Nico Hulkenberg [Williams]
Rubens Barrichello [Williams]
Heikki Kovalainen [McLaren/Williams/Renault]
Nick Heidfeld [Williams/Renault]
Glock should get the 2nd Renault seat and di Grassi the first Manor spot.
(otherwise di Grassi at Renault)
Timo Glock [Renault]
Luca di Grassi [Manor/Renault]
If it ends up being between these 2 for the second Manor seat, I'd say NPJ
is a good chance to return next year. (for money reasons) I suspect this new
team is the most likely able to attract an established driver like Heidfeld,
Glock or Kovalainen, so if someone like that can't get a top seat I could
also see one of them at Manor.
Anthony Davidson [Manor]
Nelson Piquet, Jr. [Manor/Campos]
Pedro and Bruno should score these seats, but a cashed up NPJ might put a
spanner in the works if he can't snag a Manor seat.
Pedro de la Rosa [Campos]
Bruno Senna [Campos]
Vitaly Petrov [Campos]
If Kimi ends up here Toyota will probably retain Koby as the test driver.
(If he doesn't, much of the above could change)
Kimi Raikkonen [Toyota/McLaren/RBR]
Kamui Kobayashi [Toyota]
Luizzi should hold onto the 2nd FI seat next year. Chandhok to be left
another year in lower series and Jani to get the test driver seat.
Vitantonio Liuzzi [Force India]
Karun Chandhok [Force India]
Neel Jani [Force India]
Narain Karthikeyan [Force India]
Probably Wurz for 1 seat. I'd be looking toward Davidson as a potential
partner if he is available. (but have no clue if Windsor is)
Alexander Wurz [US F1]
Jacques Villeneuve [US F1]
Jonathan Summerton [US F1]
I've only heard one name linked to Lotus so far. No real idea how likely he
is.
Fairuz Fauzy [Lotus]
That leaves me with this line-up for next year;
Brawn - Button/Rosberg
Campos - de la Rosa/Senna
Force India - Sutil/Luizzi
Ferrari - Alonso/Massa
Lotus - Fauzy/
Manor - di Grassi/Piquet, Jr
McLaren - Hamilton/Kovalainen
Renault - Kubica/Glock
Red Bull - Vettel/Webber
US F1 - Wurz/
Toyota - Trulli/Raikkonen
Toro Rosso - Buemi/Alguersuari
Williams - Hulkenberg/Barrichello
And this group of drivers chasing the last 2 seats; (ordered by most likely
to get one)
Nick Heidfeld
Anthony Davidson
Romain Grosjean
Vitaly Petrov
Gary Paffett
Giorgio Pantano
Brendon Hartley
Kazuki Nakajima
Jacques Villeneuve
Sebastien Bourdais
Jonathan Summerton
Takuma Sato
Do you know of any likely drivers I've missed or see anything you think I
have badly wrong?
--
Chad
Shevek
Kobayashi could have a seat in Toyota (being Japanese and because Toyota
has declared that he is a contender for the seat).
I see very difficult that Kovalainen keeps his seat at McLaren. If not
Kimi, will be other driver (Button?) but he will be replaced.
--
Shevek
Chad
Yeah Kimi is still a hard call. (and I agree Koby should get the Toyota
drive if KR doesn't) If he ends up at McLaren it will make for some tough
decisons elsewhere.
Heikki might bump Hulkenburg out of Williams I suppose, but not really sure
what might happen to him if he does lose the Macca drive. The noises from
the Hamilton camp about what a great team mate he is is what has left me
thinking he will retain it.
--
Chad
WebSlave
> Do you know of any likely drivers I've missed or see anything you think I
> have badly wrong?
Trulli is said to ask too much money from Toyota. He's been linked to
Lotus as well.
Heidfeld may be one potential candidate for McLaren's second seat.
Especially if it's true that Kimi asks too much. Nick is probably the
most consistant driver there is in F1, so he's perfect for collecting
points for CWC.
-Webs-
Chad
> Chad wrote:
>
>> Do you know of any likely drivers I've missed or see anything you
>> think I have badly wrong?
>
> Trulli is said to ask too much money from Toyota. He's been linked to
> Lotus as well.
>
Ah, you are correct. Had it my head Howett had said Glock could look
elsewhere but Trulli should wait until the Nov Toyota board meeting. (but
google tells me thats a story from Trulli about a Toyota exec saying that to
him, not Howett)
That would be a good pickup for Lotus too imho.
> Heidfeld may be one potential candidate for McLaren's second seat.
> Especially if it's true that Kimi asks too much. Nick is probably the
> most consistant driver there is in F1, so he's perfect for collecting
> points for CWC.
>
You're right, Lewis/Nick does sound like a stronger pairing than
Lewis/Heikki. One or the other seems to be the man most likely to be shafted
worst for 2010 out the established drivers.
--
Chad
erschro...@gmail.com
If Kovalainen keeps his seat at McLaren, they can say good-bye to any
hopes of the WCC.
Brian Lawrence
[snip]
> Toyota - Trulli/
I don't think he is confirmed?
> Probably Wurz for 1 seat. I'd be looking toward Davidson as a potential partner if he is
> available. (but have no clue if Windsor is)
>
> Alexander Wurz [US F1]
> Jacques Villeneuve [US F1]
> Jonathan Summerton [US F1]
Alex was in talks, but has now told them he is committed to Peugeot at Le Mans
and wouldn't be available because it clashes with Canada.
> I've only heard one name linked to Lotus so far. No real idea how likely he is.
>
> Fairuz Fauzy [Lotus]
He's Malaysian and so is the team.
Chad
> "Chad" <cbs...@safemail.com> wrote:
>
> [snip]
>
>> Toyota - Trulli/
>
> I don't think he is confirmed?
>
You're right. When I heard Glock had been told to look around but Trulli
told to wait until the Toyota board, I took that the wrong way, as tacit
confirmation. (a recheck of news reports makes it sound like he is the one
that wants to wait and Howett is happy for him to go.)
Webslave said there is rumour linking him to Lotus too.
>> Probably Wurz for 1 seat. I'd be looking toward Davidson as a
>> potential partner if he is available. (but have no clue if Windsor
>> is) Alexander Wurz [US F1]
>> Jacques Villeneuve [US F1]
>> Jonathan Summerton [US F1]
>
> Alex was in talks, but has now told them he is committed to Peugeot
> at Le Mans and wouldn't be available because it clashes with Canada.
>
Thankyou.
>> I've only heard one name linked to Lotus so far. No real idea how
>> likely he is. Fairuz Fauzy [Lotus]
>
> He's Malaysian and so is the team.
--
Chad
build
> "Chad" <cbs...@safemail.com> wrote:
>
> [snip]
>
> > Toyota - Trulli/
>
> I don't think he is confirmed?
>
> > Probably Wurz for 1 seat. I'd be looking toward Davidson as a potential partner if he is
> > available. (but have no clue if Windsor is)
>
> > Alexander Wurz [US F1]
> > Jacques Villeneuve [US F1]
> > Jonathan Summerton [US F1]
>
> Alex was in talks, but has now told them he is committed to Peugeot at Le Mans
> and wouldn't be available because it clashes with Canada.
Although likely, not sure that discounts him. He is the master test
driver .. thin but possible.
> > I've only heard one name linked to Lotus so far. No real idea how likely he is.
> > Fairuz Fauzy [Lotus]
> He's Malaysian and so is the team.
beers,
build
Chad
recent memory we have made it to mid November with more than half the grid
still unknown.
Here's my latest best guesses. Please add anything/anyone extra you have
heard or think. ;-)
Ferrari - Alonso/Massa
Red Bull - Vettel/Webber
Toro Rosso - Buemi/Alguersuari
Williams - Hulkenberg/Barrichello
Those four pairs are confirmed so far. With Hamilton, Kubica and Senna also
confirmed, that leaves 15 of 26 pilot seats still open... with about 19
drivers looking a serious chance to grab one. (imho)
McLaren - Hamilton/[Raikkonen/Heidfeld/Button/Rosberg/Kovalainen]
Brawn - [Button/Rosberg]
We still need Mercedes, their wife and the love interest to confirm who's
sleeping with who next year. [bracketed drivers in order I think most likely
to pick up the seat] (personally I'm assuming Lewis/Kimi and Jens/Nico)
Renault - Kubica/[Glock/di Grassi/Kovalainen/Heidfeld]
Force India - [Sutil/Luizzi/Kovalainen/Heidfeld/Fisichella]
These two sound fairly settled too. I expect Kubica/Glock and Sutil/Luizzi
but a recent tabloid article I read said that Fisi's contract allows him to
keep his test drive job at Ferrari and drive for another team next year as
well. Sounds very un-Ferrari like to me, but if true I guess it would be no
surprise to see Fisi bump Luizzi at Force India. If Glock doesn't get the
Renault seat, I think di Grassi is a lock there, with Qadbank/Force
India/Manor probably becoming the new options for Glock.
Manor - [di Grassi/Kovalainen/Piquet, Jr/Heidfeld]
Haven't heard much talk about Manor drivers lately. Early news reports left
me thinking di Grassi was a virtual certain signing. Lack of any other
speculation since leaves me thinking that was probably true. With their
strong connections to the powers that be, and perceived sporting/financial
credibility, I think they are most likely to be able to sign an established
driver. Kovalainen seems the most likely partner for di Grassi to me, mainly
because he is more experienced than Piquet and probably cheaper than
Heidfeld. (plus Nick might see Qadbank as a better option)
Lotus - [Trulli/Klien/Kobayashi/Villeneuve/Fauzy]
Latest gossip suggests Lotus are close to announcing Trulli and Klein for
2010. Kobayashi has publicly expressed interest in Lotus. Having already
worked with Trulli, probably being a better sponsor draw in the Asian region
and, to me, sounding like a better pairing "for the future", Kamui may still
be a chance to bump Klein imho.
Campos - Senna/[Petrov/Maldonado/Piquet, Jr/de la Rosa]
Campos say it's Senna plus whoever can bring the most sponsor dollars to the
team. That seems to have ruled out Pedro, with the team saying it's
currently between Petrov and a Venezuelan named Maldonado. Personally, I
think the publicity and instant supporter base a Senna/Piquet pairing would
bring, on top of the money NPS would pour in, will mean NPJ is still a big
chance to end up here.
Qadbank - [Heidfeld/Kovalainen/Kobayashi/de la Rosa/Fisichella]
Just guessing here. Process of elimination from above leaves me expecting
Heidfeld to be partnered with the next best leftover driver. The tabloid
article I mentioned above tied Fisi to Qadbank.
US F1 - [de la Rosa]
The last wishlist I read had Pedro at the top. Who knows, who cares, what a
spectacular disappointment this mob have been to date.
For easier reading;
Ferrari - Alonso/Massa
Red Bull - Vettel/Webber
Toro Rosso - Buemi/Alguersuari
Williams - Hulkenberg/Barrichello
McLaren - Hamilton/[Raikkonen/Heidfeld/Button/Rosberg/Kovalainen]
Brawn - [Button/Rosberg]
Renault - Kubica/[Glock/di Grassi/Kovalainen/Heidfeld]
Force India - [Sutil/Luizzi/Kovalainen/Heidfeld/Fisichella]
Manor - [di Grassi/Kovalainen/Piquet, Jr/Heidfeld]
Lotus - [Trulli/Klien/Kobayashi/Villeneuve/Fauzy]
Campos - Senna/[Petrov/Maldonado/Piquet, Jr/de la Rosa]
Qadbank - [Heidfeld/Kovalainen/Kobayashi/de la Rosa/Fisichella]
US F1 - [de la Rosa]
--
Chad
Bob Dubery
> Things are very slowly becoming clearer but it has to be the first time in
> recent memory we have made it to mid November with more than half the grid
> still unknown.
>
> Here's my latest best guesses. Please add anything/anyone extra you have
> heard or think. ;-)
>
> Ferrari - Alonso/Massa
> Red Bull - Vettel/Webber
> Toro Rosso - Buemi/Alguersuari
> Williams - Hulkenberg/Barrichello
I think in many cases, and especially with the new entrants, a
driver's ability to bring money with him to the team is going to count
for a lot. What strikes me is not that Brawn and Renault haven't
confirmed their driver lineups but they they still haven't identified
a title sponsor.
Chad
Brawn could be waiting to make a big PR splash if anything is lined up, and
maybe also waiting until Virgin publicly announce their intentions.
--
Chad
Paul-B
Or it could be that Ross has just finished Frank Williams' book
"effective driver management"... ;-)
--
Paul-B
Mike
Particularly the chapter "Effective Current WDC driver management" :D
WebSlave
> Toro Rosso - Buemi/Alguersuari
As already stated, Alguersuari isn't officially confirmed yet, but
Tost talked about how Jaime would drive next year, so it seems pretty
certain.
> Renault - Kubica/[Glock/di Grassi/Kovalainen/Heidfeld]
> Force India - [Sutil/Luizzi/Kovalainen/Heidfeld/Fisichella]
>
> These two sound fairly settled too. I expect Kubica/Glock and
> Sutil/Luizzi but a recent tabloid article I read said that Fisi's
> contract allows him to keep his test drive job at Ferrari and
> drive for another team next year as well. Sounds very un-Ferrari
> like to me, but if true I guess it would be no surprise to see Fisi
> bump Luizzi at Force India. If Glock doesn't get the Renault seat,
> I think di Grassi is a lock there, with Qadbank/Force
> India/Manor probably becoming the new options for Glock.
Assuming Renault does not leave, Glock has been the #1 candidate. But
if MegaFon (Russian teleoperator) is in discussions to continue their
sponsorship next year, there might be a Russian connection: Vitaly
Petrov. Of course, Petrov and the Russian money coming with him are
more likely to go to CamposMeta (who need the money more).
Fisico at Force India seems logical enough, but he's a Ferrari driver
now. Would Mercedes accept him to drive at FI? Ferrari has promised
Qadbak-Sauber their engines, so maybe Giancarlo is more likely to
drive there. He's been at Sauber before too.
> Lotus - [Trulli/Klien/Kobayashi/Villeneuve/Fauzy]
>
> Latest gossip suggests Lotus are close to announcing Trulli and
> Klein for 2010. Kobayashi has publicly expressed interest in Lotus.
> Having already worked with Trulli, probably being a better sponsor
> draw in the Asian region and, to me, sounding like a better pairing
> "for the future", Kamui may still be a chance to bump Klein imho.
The last I read is that Gascoyne talked positively about Sato. So if
there's going to be a Japanese driver at Lotus, it's more likely Sato
than Kobayashi. Mike wants more experienced drives, because of the
strict testing ban. Klien (not Klein) might have a better chance at
Sauber, his current employer.
> Qadbank - [Heidfeld/Kovalainen/Kobayashi/de la Rosa/Fisichella]
>
> Just guessing here. Process of elimination from above leaves me
> expecting Heidfeld to be partnered with the next best leftover driver.
> The tabloid article I mentioned above tied Fisi to Qadbank.
If Qadbak Sauber gets the slot to drive, Nick will probably remain in
the team. He may have hopes of McLaren, but they only live if Kimi and
Mac can't reach an agreement. I already wrote about Fisico an Klien,
so no more on them. As an "old" team, I would assume that Sauber won't
necessarily take any new talents in this situation, where more
experienced ones are available.
Kovalainen could have a chance at Sauber too, I guess. But I don't see
him as the preferred choice for any team really.
-Webs-
Chad
> Assuming Renault does not leave,
I wonder if uncertaintity over Kubica could be partly behind the Brawn and
McLaren slowness to sign drivers.
--
Chad
Chad
Now we know Lotus have confirmed Trulli and Kovi I thought I'd have another
go at working out the final lineup.
That's 17 confirmed seats now and 9 to go. We have only had 2 new drivers
confirmed so far too, so the pickings are getting slim.
Ferrari - Alonso/Massa
Red Bull - Vettel/Webber
Williams - Hulkenberg/Barrichello
McLaren - Hamilton/Button
Force India - Sutil/Luizzi
Lotus - Trulli/Kovalainen
STR - Buemi
Merc - Rosberg
Virgin - Glock
Campos - Senna
Renault - Kubica
Sauber -
US F1 -
Here's the 9 I think look most likely to fill the rest at the moment;
Alguersuari - STR
Schumacher - Merc
di Grassi - Virgin
Piquet, Jr - Campos
Tung - Renault
Heidfeld - Sauber
Kobayashi - Sauber
Lopez - USF1
de la Rosa - USF1
And these guys are the known chances to knock them out;
Villeneuve
Fisichella
Parente
Petrov
Maldonado
Soucek
Carrol
--
Chad
build
beers,
Chad
> I think Virgin - diGrassi has been confirmed if not it will be.
>
> beers,
We will need a nickname for him. Digger or Grassy maybe?
--
Chad
Bob Dubery
> I think Virgin - diGrassi has been confirmed if not it will be.
>
> beers,
Di Grassi's management have announced that he will be in F1 next
year, but did not stipulate with which team.
Bigbird
Christian Klien?
--
Bigbird
#
You'll be laughing when I'm dead!
Chad
Oh yeah, him too. I had him listed as a potential for Lotus only and dropped
him off the list, but I guess he has to be some chance at Sauber too.
Wouldn't be totally shocked to see Heidfeld end up at Renault either (or
Merc of course), which would open up a Sauber seat for Klien... or Petrov...
or JV... or Fisi.
Grosjean could be another wild card I missed on that list too.
--
Chad
build
It's Manor-Virgin, believe me I'm a rat.
beers,
build
build
MS or JV at merc.
that leaves NH and KK at Sauber.
beers,
Chad
I think that's how it will pan out, but Kubica sounds like he is sniffing
around that Merc seat too now. (not that I expect he will leave Renault)
--
Chad