2012 Silly Season

[Aerospeed]

Saw this ad in the recruitment section of the newspaper today...

Was that a real ad? It looks like the top text was added by MS Paint... oh well, still funny as heck

[AndreaModa]

The cat's out of the bag, Williams finally admit they're talking to Kimi, and apparently they're also looking at Jules Bianchi too...
All here.

And in other news, Lola still fancy another bite of the cherry after 1997!

[shinji]

Was that a real ad? It looks like the top text was added by MS Paint... oh well, still funny as heck

You can't be.

[Londoner]

The cat's out of the bag, Williams finally admit they're talking to Kimi, and apparently they're also looking at Jules Bianchi too...
All here.

And in other news, Lola still fancy another bite of the cherry after 1997!

Could this mean, if talks succeed, that Barrichello might retire? How can that happen? I thought he would never retire

Maybe Lola saw what HRT were doing and decided 'yeah, we want to take back our crown as the most rejectful team ever', convienently forgetting about Life Racing Engines in the process!

[QuickYoda41]

The cat's out of the bag, Williams finally admit they're talking to Kimi, and apparently they're also looking at Jules Bianchi too...
All here.

And in other news, Lola still fancy another bite of the cherry after 1997!

Could this mean, if talks succeed, that Barrichello might retire? How can that happen? I thought he would never retire

Maybe Lola saw what HRT were doing and decided 'yeah, we want to take back our crown as the most rejectful team ever', convienently forgetting about Life Racing Engines in the process!

No, we just found the connection - Rubens will have a place at Lola.

[IdeFan]

I read an article in Autosport about Lola's 2009 F1 bid. With their history, modern facility and good track record in prototype racing they all but assumed they would get a spot, and had actually done a lot of research and design work on their car when the bid got rejected. This means is that the unraced 2010 Lola F1 car has had more wind tunnel time than the Virgin and possibly the Hispania!

Lola had a new factory built recently which would make them ideally suited to F1, its easy to point and laugh at the 1997 fiasco but the company has moved on since then, with new owners and have built a string of quick Sport Prototypes (they have been consistently best of the rest behind the nigh unbeatable Diesels). With the possible exception of Dallara* I think that Lola are probably the best placed outfit to enter F1 right now and had they been given a spot in 2010 they would have beaten Virgin and Hispania and would have been right there with Lotus.

I'm not sure the FIA are willing to open up the 13th spot until one of the new teams does something worthwhile. If we see Lotus (or should I say Caterham, what a terrible name) break into the midfield in 2012 then they might open it up, if they are still some way off the pace then I expect they probably wont.

*Dallara have more single seater experience, and while the Hispania was disappointing the project was plagued with finance problems right from the start, with proper funding, a good team and more commitment I think Dallara would have done a lot better.

[DemocalypseNow]

Saw this ad in the recruitment section of the newspaper today...

Was that a real ad? It looks like the top text was added by MS Paint... oh well, still funny as heck

Nah the 'ad' part was just a joke, I actually did just make this up in 2 minutes on Paint

[madmark1974]

Was that a real ad? It looks like the top text was added by MS Paint... oh well, still funny as heck [/quote]
Nah the 'ad' part was just a joke, I actually did just make this up in 2 minutes on Paint [/quote]

That Marussia logo looks suspiciously like Optimus Prime ... (Off topic and I apologise) ...

[AndreaModa]

Apparently, L'Equipe are reporting that Charles Pic has signed for Marussia (nee Virgin *sigh*) next year, or so it says on the BBC F1 Gossip Column:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/9635057.stm

[DanielPT]

Apparently, L'Equipe are reporting that Charles Pic has signed for Marussia (nee Virgin *sigh*) next year, or so it says on the BBC F1 Gossip Column:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/9635057.stm

If that is true, which probably is given that L'Equipe is usually a reliable source, d'Ambrosio loses his place...

[AndreaModa]

Apparently, L'Equipe are reporting that Charles Pic has signed for Marussia (nee Virgin *sigh*) next year, or so it says on the BBC F1 Gossip Column:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/9635057.stm

If that is true, which probably is given that L'Equipe is usually a reliable source, d'Ambrosio loses his place...

Indeed so, which will be a little sad if I'm honest. Still it's well known that Pic brings a fair bit of money to the table which will certainly help the team for next year, particularly if they finish 12th overall again. I'm slightly surprised that Wickens hasn't got the drive though (should this turn out to be correct) considering he's backed by Marussia, but the fact he'll drive for Renault in the Young Driver Test suggests that maybe he's aiming for a drive higher up the grid?

[DanielPT]

Apparently, L'Equipe are reporting that Charles Pic has signed for Marussia (nee Virgin *sigh*) next year, or so it says on the BBC F1 Gossip Column:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/9635057.stm

If that is true, which probably is given that L'Equipe is usually a reliable source, d'Ambrosio loses his place...

Indeed so, which will be a little sad if I'm honest. Still it's well known that Pic brings a fair bit of money to the table which will certainly help the team for next year, particularly if they finish 12th overall again. I'm slightly surprised that Wickens hasn't got the drive though (should this turn out to be correct) considering he's backed by Marussia, but the fact he'll drive for Renault in the Young Driver Test suggests that maybe he's aiming for a drive higher up the grid?

If he is going for that, I am afraid he will be left disappointed. That Renault seat depends primarily on Kubica's return and even if he doesn't (and I certainly hope he does!), Rrrrrrmmmmmmmmmnnnnnnnnnn Grrrrrrjjjjjjjjnnnnnnnnnnnn has it covered unless he has 2 disastrous outings in both the remaining FPs. Probably Wickens thinks he can buy himself in, but I seriously doubt it. If he fails, the only other places left for him would be those two in the HRT's. The most probable thing to happen is for him to do a season in GP2 before trying again in 2013. It looks the most sensible solution given the myriad of potential places (2nd RBR, 2nd Ferrari/Sauber, 2nd Mercedes/Force India, then at Williams, at Group Lotus and at Caterham) that could become available.

[AndreaModa]

I agree, I think 2012 will be a very big year for driver signings. Here's hoping for some surprises!

[mario]

Apparently, L'Equipe are reporting that Charles Pic has signed for Marussia (nee Virgin *sigh*) next year, or so it says on the BBC F1 Gossip Column:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/9635057.stm

If that is true, which probably is given that L'Equipe is usually a reliable source, d'Ambrosio loses his place...

Indeed so, which will be a little sad if I'm honest. Still it's well known that Pic brings a fair bit of money to the table which will certainly help the team for next year, particularly if they finish 12th overall again. I'm slightly surprised that Wickens hasn't got the drive though (should this turn out to be correct) considering he's backed by Marussia, but the fact he'll drive for Renault in the Young Driver Test suggests that maybe he's aiming for a drive higher up the grid?

I do think that whilst d'Ambrosio hasn't always shone whilst at MVR, he has generally given Glock a run for his money more often than Di Grassi did and performed fairly solidly.
Mind you, given that there are some very influential French business men behind Pic (in the shape of Lagardère Unlimited, the company that manages his career, and the Pic family's transport firm, which is one of the largest in Europe), the potential for badly needed sponsorship will have caught the eye of MVR, and given that a few other teams were interested in him it's not surprising that MVR have moved quickly to secure him (and his wallet).

As for Wickens, whilst he'd naturally want to aim as far up the grid as possible for a seat (who wouldn't), that test drive is simply a prize for him winning the Formula Renault 3.5 championship this year. After all, Mikhail Aleshin and Bertrand Baguette have previously tested for Renault under that deal, along with Álvaro Parente and Robert Kubica (I'm not sure if Giedo van der Garde did because of the complications over his contract with Spyker at the time), all the way through Heikki Kovalainen and Franck Montagny - and out of those drivers, Renault hired Heikki and Montagny as test drivers to begin with, and considered signing Kubica (but BMW Sauber beat them to it because they hesitated for too long).
Wickens may, if he is lucky, bring himself to the attention of a few other teams, and perhaps might earn himself a test driver role for another team (possibly MVR - they do technically have a reserve driver position open to offers at the moment), but for now he's probably better off building up some more experience in the junior series before looking to move up to F1 too soon.

[Salamander]

Wickens may, if he is lucky, bring himself to the attention of a few other teams, and perhaps might earn himself a test driver role for another team (possibly MVR - they do technically have a reserve driver position open to offers at the moment), but for now he's probably better off building up some more experience in the junior series before looking to move up to F1 too soon.

Personally, I think Wickens is ready for F1 - he's shown great progress over the last couple of years, 2nd in F2, 2nd in GP3, and now a Formula Renault 3.5 title, and I don't think there's much for him to learn by spending another year in junior categories. That said, there are very few spots for him to go - every established team and Lotus have either confirmed their 2012 lineup or already have more than 2 drivers gunning for their seats, so he might have to spend another year waiting for a spot.

The ideal thing would be if a team put him in an HRT similar to Ricciardo this year, and wait for a spot to open up, so he's gaining some F1 experience. However, because every team seems to be spoilt for choice in terms of drivers already, I can't see any of them doing that unless Wickens does really, really well in the upcoming test.

[mario]

Wickens may, if he is lucky, bring himself to the attention of a few other teams, and perhaps might earn himself a test driver role for another team (possibly MVR - they do technically have a reserve driver position open to offers at the moment), but for now he's probably better off building up some more experience in the junior series before looking to move up to F1 too soon.

Personally, I think Wickens is ready for F1 - he's shown great progress over the last couple of years, 2nd in F2, 2nd in GP3, and now a Formula Renault 3.5 title, and I don't think there's much for him to learn by spending another year in junior categories. That said, there are very few spots for him to go - every established team and Lotus have either confirmed their 2012 lineup or already have more than 2 drivers gunning for their seats, so he might have to spend another year waiting for a spot.

The ideal thing would be if a team put him in an HRT similar to Ricciardo this year, and wait for a spot to open up, so he's gaining some F1 experience. However, because every team seems to be spoilt for choice in terms of drivers already, I can't see any of them doing that unless Wickens does really, really well in the upcoming test.

Whilst he has shown promise in the junior series, you're right to point out that the driver market is pretty much static this year - in part my suggestion that he'll be better off in a junior series is that he might find himself chasing a seat in F1 only to find that he is shut out of both the F1 world and the junior series.

What might be useful for Wickens, though, is if he can integrate himself into a team as a reserve driver where he can take part in a few practise sessions; it helped Di Resta get a place in Force India, and potentially put Hulkenberg back in the frame for a seat, so it is a possible route into a permanent position. MVR's offer of driving in practise sessions in Abu Dhabi might be a hint that they are willing to make such a deal; if he can cut such a deal, it'll probably be the closest that he'll get to a full time seat in F1, and may be enough to put him on the radar of a larger team in time for 2013 when the driver market is likely to be a lot more open.

[Captain Hammer]

I agree, I think 2012 will be a very big year for driver signings. Here's hoping for some surprises!

Indeed. I'd love to see one of the smaller teams run a young driver who impresses enough to step up to another team instead of being cast off after a year for failing to impress.

[AndreaModa]

And just as we get excited about what 2012 might bring, Rosberg goes and pisses on it all...

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/96046

[DanielPT]

And just as we get excited about what 2012 might bring, Rosberg goes and pisses on it all...

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/96046

I can't see Mercedes fighting for wins/podiums next year as no major revamp in technical rules will happen. Let's see if trundling along for minor points changes is mind. This while having the second Ferrari seat available.

[IdeFan]

It seems Bild is also reporting that Schumacher has extended his Mercedes contract, the BBC gossip column writes:

Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher has extended his contract at Mercedes for another season. The 42-year-old was due to be a free agent at the end of 2012, but has agreed to stay on until the end of 2013.

Bild Link (in German)

Now this is Bild, which has always been notable for wildly inaccurate stories about Schumacher, but this is never the less quite surprising news, I was all but certain that Michael Schumacher would retire after 2012, and at the very least this story casts some doubt over that.

None of the other F1 news websites that I regularly visit are reporting this story yet, so there is still a good chance that Bild are talking out of their arses as usual.

[mario]

And just as we get excited about what 2012 might bring, Rosberg goes and pisses on it all...

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/96046

I can't see Mercedes fighting for wins/podiums next year as no major revamp in technical rules will happen. Let's see if trundling along for minor points changes is mind. This while having the second Ferrari seat available.

Given that Rosberg's contract seems to be until 2013, with an option for both sides to then extend it beyond that date, it still gives Rosberg the option to transfer to another team after 2013 (maybe his rumoured appearance around the Ferrari garages was about the possibility of signing for them once Massa's contract expires, or maybe it was just a bluff to persuade Mercedes to improve the terms of their contract).

On another note, it looks like Sutil will be waiting a little longer yet to find out if Force India want him - it seems that Mallya is now pushing back any decision on his driver line up until after Abu Dhabi. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/96054

It seems Bild is also reporting that Schumacher has extended his Mercedes contract, the BBC gossip column writes:

Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher has extended his contract at Mercedes for another season. The 42-year-old was due to be a free agent at the end of 2012, but has agreed to stay on until the end of 2013.

Bild Link (in German)

Now this is Bild, which has always been notable for wildly inaccurate stories about Schumacher, but this is never the less quite surprising news, I was all but certain that Michael Schumacher would retire after 2012, and at the very least this story casts some doubt over that.

None of the other F1 news websites that I regularly visit are reporting this story yet, so there is still a good chance that Bild are talking out of their arses as usual.

It could well be Bild looking for a way to boost their sales, but it's possible that Schumacher might be flirting with the idea of extending his contract - in recent races his form has been improving to the point where he can, and has, beaten Rosberg, and he seems to be both more consistent and quicker compared to earlier in the season.
The big question, though, is whether Mercedes can move themselves closer to the front - the fact that the gap between themselves and Red Bull has remained reasonably consistent suggests that they can develop their car at a reasonable rate, but just can't seem to produce a car that's quick enough to begin with. If they do, Schumacher might just fancy his chances of one last shot at glory and stay on a little longer, or at the very least prove that he is still a force to be reckoned with.

[Klon]

I was all but certain that Michael Schumacher would retire after 2012, and at the very least this story casts some doubt over that.

And leave a record to Rubens Barrichello? No chance in hell, with Barrichello on the out at Williams, Schumacher must see his shot at becoming the driver with most races.

[DanielPT]

And here comes a 'Schumacher new contract talks' denial from the man himself.

[Phoenix]

I really believe Schumacher would fancy staying on for a couple more years, but as it's been pointed out, much of that depends on whether Mercedes can produce a winning machine - Schumacher enjoys driving in F1 right now, surely, but if he's going to stay on it for another year or two, certainly it won't happen if he thinks he's going to spend that time treading water.

[TomWazzleshaw]

Pic set to replace D'Ambrosio for 2012

Which is a shame really because Jerome hasn't done that badly this year (Other than that embarrassing spin in Hungary)

[Captain Hammer]

Wizzie, I've heard a rumour that the reason why Virgin are looking at Pic is because D'Ambrosio is already going somewhere else: Caterham, to replace Trulli.

[DanielPT]

Wizzie, I've heard a rumour that the reason why Virgin are looking at Pic is because D'Ambrosio is already going somewhere else: Caterham, to replace Trulli.

What? No way! Where do you heard that rumour, Captain?

[jpm]

Boullier says that d'Ambrosio could be considerd for the second Renault seat, as part of the Gravity scheme which he manages. Trouble is, Grosjean is alo a member... I don't understand why Marussia don't take on Wickens, as has been previously stated, he's not gonna get any better in the junior series, he's ready for F1. Pic on the other hand still has work to do, and while he's been there or there abouts, could still do with a little more 1 lap pace.

[Captain Hammer]

What? No way! Where do you heard that rumour, Captain?

On another forum. Trulli's seat is apparently available to anyone who can pay up half his salary. It appears the team felt Trulli was asking for too much for 2011, so they offered him a two-year contract at the same price, which he seems to have accepted. It's a very weird contract, but apparently anyone who can pay the 2012 portion of salary can take the seat.

Boullier says that d'Ambrosio could be considerd for the second Renault seat, as part of the Gravity scheme which he manages. Trouble is, Grosjean is alo a member...

Yeah, I can see Grosjean or D'Ambrosio in one seat, but I can't see them together.

I don't understand why Marussia don't take on Wickens, as has been previously stated, he's not gonna get any better in the junior series, he's ready for F1. Pic on the other hand still has work to do, and while he's been there or there abouts, could still do with a little more 1 lap pace.

Well, both of them are running in the YDTs. The team might be assessing both of them. Or they might want him to run in GP2, since GP2 uses Pirelli tyres when Formula Renault 3.5 do not.

[Jeroen Krautmeir]

Well, both of them are running in the YDTs. The team might be assessing both of them. Or they might want him to run in GP2, since GP2 uses Pirelli tyres when Formula Renault 3.5 do not.

So long Robert doesn't become the next David Empringham, I think that a move to GP2 will pay off.

[DanielPT]

What? No way! Where do you heard that rumour, Captain?

On another forum. Trulli's seat is apparently available to anyone who can pay up half his salary. It appears the team felt Trulli was asking for too much for 2011, so they offered him a two-year contract at the same price, which he seems to have accepted. It's a very weird contract, but apparently anyone who can pay the 2012 portion of salary can take the seat.

I see... If someone takes it I can see Trulli waving bye bye. And it his known what would it cost to snatch the seat under Trulli's nose?

[Aerospeed]

Pic set to replace D'Ambrosio for 2012

ANOTHER young driver? Geez, all that Virgin Racing seems to do well is to ruin the careers of anyone who drives with them.

[AndreaModa]

Pic set to replace D'Ambrosio for 2012

ANOTHER young driver? Geez, all that Virgin Racing seems to do well is to ruin the careers of anyone who drives with them.

That's a bit harsh to be honest, what do you expect them to do? I, and I think many other people on the forum, believe that D'Ambrosio has performed pretty well this year, and deserves another shot, if not at Virgin, then elsewhere. I have a feeling he might wind up as Renault/Lotus' third driver next year with Petrov and Grosjean driving, which would be a pretty impressive achievement, considering the performance of the MVR02 this year.

As for di Grassi, well he hasn't performed on the same level as D'Ambrosio has this year, and wasn't able to match Glock as often as Jerome has. The fact he wasn't even considered anywhere else for 2011 suggests more about the deficiencies in his driving rather than anything related to the team.

And Pic is an unknown, he may turn out to be better than both of his predecessors and give Glock a good run for his money, I'm expecting something slightly less spectacular though, although it'll be interesting to see how he does, particularly as the MVR03 will be the first of the team's cars with wind tunnel testing.

[Captain Hammer]

And it his known what would it cost to snatch the seat under Trulli's nose?

I believe it would be half his current salary.

Like I said, the team seem to have offered him a two-year contract for the price he was asking for 2011 alone, and Trulli accepted. With half his salary paid in 2011, then according to the reports, anyone who wants the seat could pair the remainder of that salary up-front and have the seat.

[DanielPT]

And it his known what would it cost to snatch the seat under Trulli's nose?

I believe it would be half his current salary.

Like I said, the team seem to have offered him a two-year contract for the price he was asking for 2011 alone, and Trulli accepted. With half his salary paid in 2011, then according to the reports, anyone who wants the seat could pair the remainder of that salary up-front and have the seat.

Yes, but I was talking in numbers... Never mind though, as Trulli appears to be finished despite the two year contract. Which, in itself, is amazing.

[Captain Hammer]

Without knowing how much Trulli is being paid by the teams, it is difficult to say how much it would cost a driver to buy him out of his contract.

[TomWazzleshaw]

Without knowing how much Trulli is being paid by the teams, it is difficult to say how much it would cost a driver to buy him out of his contract.

If my memory is correct, Caterham's budget is about 100 million pounds for this year so I'ld find it hard to imagine it'ld cost much more than 5-6 million to buy out his seat.

[Ed24]

Well we know Sutil and Senna have some money behind them, so they would be logical choices to replace Trulli should they be displaced from their current teams.

[Jeroen Krautmeir]

Well we know Sutil and Senna have some money behind them, so they would be logical choices to replace Trulli should they be displaced from their current teams.

I doubt Senna would move to Caterham, considering he's driving for Renault this year. Maybe Sutil, but I'd much rather see a new driver get the seat, such as Sam Bird, Wickens or van der Garde.

[Captain Hammer]

Wickens won't join Caterham. He's backed by Marussia.