2012 Silly Season

[Captain Hammer]

Actually, this sounds somewhat sensible. Kimi did get offered contracts from Red Bull and McLaren after Ferrari bought him out, but Kimi denied both, due to them not paying him as much as he wanted. With Kimi seeming to be done with his little journey to NASCAR, going back to WRC, maybe we'll see him replace Webber next year, or the year after. Kimi will be attracted back because of the opportunity to drive a race winning car. That's what Kimi wants, he will only come back if he can have a race winning car, and Red Bull will offer Kimi quite a bit of money now, to join Vettel, and give Red Bull the most explosive lineup on the grid.

How many times does it have to be said? Kimi Raikkonen is done with Formula 1. He does not want back in. He has never shown any enthusiasm for a return. And he has openly admitted that he was losing interest in the sport as early as 2008.

And as an aside, "explosive" is a very poor awy to describe Raikkonen, given that he shows less expression than a mime.

[Aerospeed]

My incorrect prophecies for 2012:
Teams listed in alphabetical order

Ferrari
Fernando Alonso
Nico Rosberg/Jules Bianchi

Force India
Paul di Resta
Nico Hulkenburg

Lotus
Karun Chandhok
Davide Valsecchi

McLaren
Jenson Button
Lewis Hamilton

Mercedes
Michael Schumacher
Timo Glock

Red Bull
Sebastian Vettel (obviously)
Mark Webber

Renault
Robert Kubica
Vitaly Petrov

Sauber
Sergio Perez
Kamui Kobayashi

Toro Rosso
Sebastien Buemi
Daniel Ricciardo

Virgin Piquet Racing
Nelson Piquet Jr.
Mikhail Aleshin

Williams
Rubens Barrichello
Pastor Maldonado

Green means they have a contract going into 2012

Summary:
In Ferrari, Massa goes from bad to worse to flat out spoiled rotten (like bananas, not like a spoiled brat, but that describes Alonso right now) and is shown the door. Not sure who replaces him, but Rosberg and Bianchi will be in the running. Force India will fire Sutil and replace him with Hulkenburg. Lotus will sack Trulli and Kovalainen will leave thus making Lotus to hire Chandhok and Valsecchi. McLaren keeps their lineup. Mercedes keeps Schumacher for one more year while Rosberg is shown the door for being "a nasty complainer every f-ing day" and Glock replaces him. Red Bull keeps Vettel (obviously) and Webber, who decides to leave, and then turns around on his decision after realising that McLaren had already filled up their roster, so Webber madly signs an "X" for 2012. Renault keep Petrov and Kubica returns... with a plastic bubble on his body Sauber keep their lineup of Kobayashi and Perez. STR keep Buemi but sack Alguersuari in favour of a now jobless Daniel Ricciardo, who was without a drive since HRT bit the dust before the season ended. Virgin nearly bit the dust until Nelson Piquet Sr saves the day, buys the team, and hires Nelson Piquet Jr and Mikhail Aleshin (as a pay driver), and keeps the Russian team licence. Williams keeps their lineup of Barrichello and Maldonado.

Massa runs off to McLaren to become PDLR's replacement, Sutil is convicted after fighting with someone in a bar (after the Chinese GP, if you all remember that), Heidfeld tests for Mercedes again, Grosjean becomes the #1 test driver for Renault, Trulli goes motorcycling somewhere else, Alguersuari goes to GP2, Karthikeyan and Liuzzi go home along with Colin Kolles, d'Ambrosio goes to GP3, Kovalainen tests for Red Bull (and is destined to become Webber's replacement, much to my disliking), and Mark Webber starts pouring in money for his retirement plan.

And just to be funny, let's say Raikkonen goes into Moto2.

[Captain Hammer]

I don't get why Colin Kolles is universally despised. I mean, he's a Romanian (or at least Romanian-born) dentist ... is that why he's considered untrustworthy?

[mario]

I don't get why Colin Kolles is universally despised. I mean, he's a Romanian (or at least Romanian-born) dentist ... is that why he's considered untrustworthy?

To be honest, I doubt that it is either his Romanian origins (though he has been a naturalised German citizen for a number of years) or his dentistry qualifications that are the problem - it's the fact that his uncompromising attitude has managed to alienate part of the F1 paddock, and there have been accusations that he was not particularly effective at managing the resources he had at Spyker/Force India.
Added to that, if we are honest, Kolles's attitude towards his drivers certainly tends towards the laissez faire end of the scale; coupled to that, there were his recent threats to launch formal protests against much of the grid over the blown diffusers (only to promptly capitulate).

So, there is enough ammunition for people to cast aspersions against Kolles, even though quite a few journalists do highlight the fact that Kolles has succeeded in holding the team together through a difficult period. You do have to wonder how many of the managers in the larger teams would have coped with the situation Kolles faced (i.e. almost no money, no drivers and pretty much all bridges burned with Dallara)...

[Captain Hammer]

there were his recent threats to launch formal protests against much of the grid over the blown diffusers (only to promptly capitulate).

Cosworth was behind that. They haven't been able to map their engines the way everyone else has. So they threw Hispania to the wolves to try and get a result; if things didn't go their way, Hispania would be burned and Cosworth would suffer no real loss.

[TomWazzleshaw]

I will emphasis it is only a rumour but if it is true then it's actually a real shame because this is probably the first time in his career that Liuzzi hasn't deserved the sack

[S951]

I wouldn't say he's been sacked it's only for the last race plus it's planet f1 who I don't trust bit like crashnet but not as bad

[Ferrim]

It makes no sense for Thesan Capital, whoever are running them, to put Villa into a F1 car this season. It would be much better to give him some running time in the end-of-season testing and during next year's winter testing.

BTW Villa is from the same part of Spain as Alonso.

[Faustus]

It makes no sense for Thesan Capital, whoever are running them, to put Villa into a F1 car this season. It would be much better to give him some running time in the end-of-season testing and during next year's winter testing.

BTW Villa is from the same part of Spain as Alonso.

Villa isn't a very good driver. He had every opportunity at Racing Engineering in GP2, where had parity of equipment with his teammates (di Grassi, Pantano) and he was pretty much embarassed by all of them. My mate Andy was his race engineer at Racing Engineering since 2006. Then he decided to get into a stupid argument with Alfonso de Orléans-Borbón. The team was set up around Villa and every possible opportunity was made available for him to be successful but he just couldn't hack it. He had the benefit of a free drive, use of the more experienced race engineer and mechanics, but he just wasn't good enough.
To bring him into F1 seems like an odd move, but then again, he probably can't embarass himself too much, as he won't really be competing with anyone but the 107% rule.

[DanielPT]

His GP2 outings look below par... With that description he looks like very much rejectful. But I am afraid he might end up in this post.

[Captain Hammer]

If Hispania want a Spanish driver, they'd be smarter to take Dani Clos instead.

Besides, Daniel Ricciardo is at the team because Tonio Liuzzi is. The entire point of putting him there is to compare him against Liuzzi. If Liuzzi goes, there's no point to having Ricciardo there.

[dnhrudi]

If Hispania want a Spanish driver, they'd be smarter to take Dani Clos instead.

Besides, Daniel Ricciardo is at the team because Tonio Liuzzi is. The entire point of putting him there is to compare him against Liuzzi. If Liuzzi goes, there's no point to having Ricciardo there.

If they are focusing on a Spaniard, then we could see Alguersuari there yet. He has upped his game at STR but still don't think he is secure.

[Captain Hammer]

The article suggests Hispania are looking to replace Liuzzi by the end of the season. Alguersuari is still under contract with Toro Rosso until the end of the season. it's entirely possible that he could move to Hispania in 2012, but not in 2011. Who would replace him at Toro Rosso?

[DanielPT]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/93185

Meanwhile, Montezemolo said Massa will keep driving for Ferrari next year. Which means that one of the possible top seats available next year is possibly gone...

[FullMetalJack]

If Hispania want a Spanish driver, they'd be smarter to take Dani Clos instead.

Besides, Daniel Ricciardo is at the team because Tonio Liuzzi is. The entire point of putting him there is to compare him against Liuzzi. If Liuzzi goes, there's no point to having Ricciardo there.

If they are focusing on a Spaniard, then we could see Alguersuari there yet. He has upped his game at STR but still don't think he is secure.

He certainly has upped his game, although Buemi has still been the better driver over the course of this season so far.

[Faustus]

The article suggests Hispania are looking to replace Liuzzi by the end of the season. Alguersuari is still under contract with Toro Rosso until the end of the season. it's entirely possible that he could move to Hispania in 2012, but not in 2011. Who would replace him at Toro Rosso?

Take your pick: Daniel Ricciardo, Jean-Eric Vergne, Robert Wickens or any of the many Red Bull drivers.

[DanielPT]

The article suggests Hispania are looking to replace Liuzzi by the end of the season. Alguersuari is still under contract with Toro Rosso until the end of the season. it's entirely possible that he could move to Hispania in 2012, but not in 2011. Who would replace him at Toro Rosso?

Take your pick: Daniel Ricciardo, Jean-Eric Vergne, Robert Wickens or any of the many Red Bull drivers.

I would say that Ricciardo is in pole position. Many believe that Jean-Eric Vergne comes next in the assembly line (probably becoming a Toro Rosso test driver next year to keep Ricciardo and whoever stays there on their toes) and Wickens will move onto GP2. Carlos Sainz Jr will probably stay in FR2.0 (He is currently 2th behind Robin Frijns (who, by the way, is building an impressive résumé). Daniil Kvyat is behind Carlos Sainz Jr in the same formula but will probably move on to FR3.5 next year.

[mario]

If Hispania want a Spanish driver, they'd be smarter to take Dani Clos instead.

Besides, Daniel Ricciardo is at the team because Tonio Liuzzi is. The entire point of putting him there is to compare him against Liuzzi. If Liuzzi goes, there's no point to having Ricciardo there.

If they are focusing on a Spaniard, then we could see Alguersuari there yet. He has upped his game at STR but still don't think he is secure.

He certainly has upped his game, although Buemi has still been the better driver over the course of this season so far.

On the other hand, if Alguersuari manages to keep up his recent form for a couple more races, he'll have the upper hand - Buemi might have out qualified him twice, but in the last three races it has been Alguersuari who has had the better of Buemi on race day, and Alguersuari is now a point ahead of Buemi in the WDC. If Alguersuari managed to outscore Buemi in the next few races - or, more damningly, Buemi doesn't score whilst Alguersuari does - then Buemi may be the one who starts coming under pressure, or at the very least I would expect the rumours of Alguersuari being shown the exit door to subside.

[Captain Hammer]

The article suggests Hispania are looking to replace Liuzzi by the end of the season. Alguersuari is still under contract with Toro Rosso until the end of the season. it's entirely possible that he could move to Hispania in 2012, but not in 2011. Who would replace him at Toro Rosso?

Take your pick: Daniel Ricciardo, Jean-Eric Vergne, Robert Wickens or any of the many Red Bull drivers.

Sorry, but I doubt that's going to happen. Especially since Toro Rosso have said that they're going to delay the decision about their drivers until the beginning of 2012.

[TomWazzleshaw]

Tim O'Glock to stay at Virgin until 2014

[Jeroen Krautmeir]

Tim O'Glock to stay at Virgin until 2014

I'd much rather see him back in the States.

[Cynon]

Tim O'Glock to stay at Virgin until 2014

I'd much rather see him back in the States.

Seconded, even though he was only average in Champ Car...

[Shizuka]

Tim O'Glock to stay at Virgin until 2014

That's his career pretty much ruined, it MVR doesn't finally put themselves together.

[Captain Hammer]

That's his career pretty much ruined, it MVR doesn't finally put themselves together.

1) Marussia have invested in the team, securing their future until 2014.
2) The team have parted ways with Nick Wirth, and will use a conventional approach for 2012 and beyond.
3) They have signed a techncial partnership with McLaren, that allow them access to McLaren's facilities in Woking.
4) They have already ended development of the MVR-02 and turned their whole attention to the 2012 car.

So I see no reason why Glock and Virgin cannot survive.

[DanielPT]

So I see no reason why Glock and Virgin cannot survive.

Survival until 2014 was never in question for me. The only question is in which conditions. I am afraid they will be perpetual backmarkers even behind HRT...

[Captain Hammer]

Survival until 2014 was never in question for me. The only question is in which conditions. I am afraid they will be perpetual backmarkers even behind HRT...

Red Bull went from the back of the grid to the front in five years.

[DanielPT]

Survival until 2014 was never in question for me. The only question is in which conditions. I am afraid they will be perpetual backmarkers even behind HRT...

Red Bull went from the back of the grid to the front in five years.

I know... It's just that I can't see it happen for Marussia... It is just a gut feeling.

[Captain Hammer]

I doubt they will get to the point where they can obliterate the competition - but I think they can realisitcally be fighting for points at every race within three years.

[ZsoltForever]

I stumbled across this little piece of whatever: http://bleacherreport.com/tb/baaLN

No idea how reputable the source is, but my gut tells me it's bathplugging garbage.

Your gut would be right. Bleacher Report is one of the many "content farms" out there (along with The Examiner and others) designed completely to get Google hits. They throw crap against the wall and hope they get enough hits to make some coin off of it.

They're so bad, Google revamped their algorithims to fight them off a few months ago.

[Peter]

Red Bull went from the middle of the grid to the front in five years.

Fixed. They consistently scored points throughout 2005. They were never backmarkers, and they already had a big budget. Once they got Newey and a better driver lineup, they were bound to be frontrunners. Virgin has the least money of any team on the grid, at the moment no actual designer as far as I know, and a lineup I wouldn't rate higher than any lineup Red Bull had in their lifetime in F1. Very different circumstances, though it's not impossible for Virgin to be up there in the coming years. Consistently scoring points though doesn't seem likely for now though, given their lack of large quantities of money or a good designer.

[coloni_subaru]

Except the teams at the back of the grid, i think this year will hardly have a silly season, with all teams too nervous to take a risk Next year will be chaos..
So here is my prediction..

Red Bull:
Vettel
Webber

Mclaren:
Hamilton
Button

Ferrari:
Alonso
Massa

Mercedes:
Rosberg
Schumacher

Renault:
Kubica (if he is well, if not Grosjean)
Petrov

Sauber:
Kobayashi
Perez

Williams:
Barrichello
Maldonado

Force India:
Di Resta
Hulkenberg

Toro Rosso:
Alguersuari
Ricciardo

Lotus:
Kovalainen
Sutil

Virgin:
Glock
D'Ambrosio

HRT:
Anyone from: Chandhok, Mondini, Karthikeyan, Villa, Pantano, Wickens, Liuzzi, Trulli, Bianchi, Buemi, Diniz, Sato, Villeneuve, etc...

[GwilymJJames]

Confirmation of some seats...

Sauber F1 Team confirms trio of drivers for 2012! Kamui, @checoperez17 and @estebangtz are definitely a great line-up!

[DanielPT]

Confirmation of some seats...

Sauber F1 Team confirms trio of drivers for 2012! Kamui, @checoperez17 and @estebangtz are definitely a great line-up!

Well... I can't say I am thrilled with those news. I was already imagining Kobayashi in a 2012 Ferrari!

[Aerospeed]

The poll on Eurosports' F1 had an interesting question:

"Who should Ferrari look to sign?

1. Lewis Hamilton
2. Sebastian Vettel
3. Jenson Button
4. Mark Webber
5. Michael Schumacher
6. None"

Results of the poll

[shinji]

The poll on Eurosports' F1 had an interesting question:

"Who should Ferrari look to sign?

1. Lewis Hamilton
2. Sebastian Vettel
3. Jenson Button
4. Mark Webber
5. Michael Schumacher
6. None"

Results of the poll

Are they the only other drivers?

[mario]

The poll on Eurosports' F1 had an interesting question:

"Who should Ferrari look to sign?

1. Lewis Hamilton
2. Sebastian Vettel
3. Jenson Button
4. Mark Webber
5. Michael Schumacher
6. None"

Results of the poll

Are they the only other drivers?

Yes, those drivers were the only ones given - it might have been far more interesting if they'd opened up the poll to include the entire grid (and including Kubica - Ferrari are known to be very interested in him, and even tried to poach him from BMW Sauber in 2009 to replace Massa after Massa's accident in Hungary). Yes, it is true that Ferrari have reputedly shown some interest in Vettel, Hamilton and Button, and, given the form of those respective drivers, it is hardly surprising.
I wouldn't be surprised, though, if Ferrari are possibly weighing up recruiting Perez in a few years time, given that Perez has had a pretty solid start to the season (and the potential sponsorship cash he could bring would be attractive, as even Ferrari is feeling the effect of falling sponsorship).

That said, going back to an earlier comment about Kobayashi staying put for 2012:

Well... I can't say I am thrilled with those news. I was already imagining Kobayashi in a 2012 Ferrari!

Surely it is better for Kobayashi to stay at Sauber for another year, though? If Kobayashi moved to Ferrari, there is the major risk that he would simply be steamrollered by Alonso, who would have been there for a number of years as de facto team leader and have the team built around him. It might be a bit like Satoru Nakajima when he moved to Lotus in 1987, where, against a very competitive driver (Senna) who had also installed himself as team leader in a team known for a two tier driver system, he was blown into next week (it's not to say that Satoru was a bad driver, just that the deck was stacked against him before he even sat in the cockpit).
So, a hypothetical move to Ferrari in 2012 could be a poisoned chalice indeed - he'd potentially have a fairly competitive car, but a team that would probably only give him limited attention and support.

[Klon]

So, a hypothetical move to Ferrari in 2012 could be a poisoned chalice indeed - he'd potentially have a fairly competitive car, but a team that would probably only give him limited attention and support.

But people here like to tell themselves that Kobayashi would be strong enough to overcome these odds.

[shinji]

So, a hypothetical move to Ferrari in 2012 could be a poisoned chalice indeed - he'd potentially have a fairly competitive car, but a team that would probably only give him limited attention and support.

But people here like to tell themselves that Kobayashi would be strong enough to overcome these odds.

[Salamander]

So, a hypothetical move to Ferrari in 2012 could be a poisoned chalice indeed - he'd potentially have a fairly competitive car, but a team that would probably only give him limited attention and support.

But people here like to tell themselves that Kobayashi would be strong enough to overcome these odds.

Kamui Kobayashi is like Han Solo - you never tell him the odds.

[Cynon]

So, a hypothetical move to Ferrari in 2012 could be a poisoned chalice indeed - he'd potentially have a fairly competitive car, but a team that would probably only give him limited attention and support.

But people here like to tell themselves that Kobayashi would be strong enough to overcome these odds.

Kamui Kobayashi is like Han Solo - you never tell him the odds.

But Ferrari is like Jedi mind tricks. These are not the race wins you are looking for. Fernando is faster than you.