Grand Prix Rejects

Klon wrote:

kostas22 wrote:Hankook is the new official tyre supplier after Pirelli, Michelin, Dunlop, Yokohama, Goodyear, Continental, Firestone, Falken, Avon, Kumho, Vredestein and Toyo all turn down contract offers by the FIA.

WOn't work. Hankook has already declared to have no interest in F1 as of yet.

watka wrote:Looks like Formula Elaborate Bluff would have been a good idea after all...

Captain Hammer wrote:

watka wrote:Looks like Formula Elaborate Bluff would have been a good idea after all...

Nope. It would have killed the sport faster than anything I can think of.

Captain Hammer wrote:Pescarolo F1 / Renault
(formerly Renault F1, sold to French LMP team Pescarolo)
#26 - Robert Kubica
#27 - Vitaly Petrov

kostas22 wrote:

Captain Hammer wrote:Pescarolo F1 / Renault
(formerly Renault F1, sold to French LMP team Pescarolo)
#26 - Robert Kubica
#27 - Vitaly Petrov

Sorry to ruin it, but that wouldn't ever happen. Pescarolo and Pegueot have had a technical agreements for years and years now, so swapping to Renault would ruin their Le Mans program.
Hmm...so maybe we could see the return of the rejectful Peugeot engines in F1?

Cynon wrote:

kostas22 wrote:

Captain Hammer wrote:Pescarolo F1 / Renault
(formerly Renault F1, sold to French LMP team Pescarolo)
#26 - Robert Kubica
#27 - Vitaly Petrov

Sorry to ruin it, but that wouldn't ever happen. Pescarolo and Pegueot have had a technical agreements for years and years now, so swapping to Renault would ruin their Le Mans program.
Hmm...so maybe we could see the return of the rejectful Peugeot engines in F1?

Rebadge the old Renault engines as Pugs?

kostas22 wrote:

Captain Hammer wrote:Pescarolo F1 / Renault
(formerly Renault F1, sold to French LMP team Pescarolo)
#26 - Robert Kubica
#27 - Vitaly Petrov

Sorry to ruin it, but that wouldn't ever happen. Pescarolo and Pegueot have had a technical agreements for years and years now, so swapping to Renault would ruin their Le Mans program.
Hmm...so maybe we could see the return of the rejectful Peugeot engines in F1?

kostas22 wrote:Sorry to ruin it, but that wouldn't ever happen. Pescarolo and Pegueot have had a technical agreements for years and years now, so swapping to Renault would ruin their Le Mans program.
Hmm...so maybe we could see the return of the rejectful Peugeot engines in F1?

Captain Hammer wrote:Okay, did you miss the whole point where it was a purely fantasy grid?

Because if you didn't, you should have notice when I put Kobayashi in a McLaren.

kostas22 wrote:But in this fantasy land, I am presuming its McLaren-Toyota now, no?

The Sun wrote:AN astonishing total of TWELVE Formula One drivers still don't know which car they will be in next year — if any!
Team pull-outs, new entrants, contract wrangles and Mercedes-Benz politics have triggered an unprecedented melting pot.

The transfer market has suddenly gone horribly quiet as drivers without deals jostle for position as if they are out on the track.

Here are the dozen who are still waiting and wondering...

JENSON BUTTON: The world champion looks like staying with Brawn but it's not definite. He is seeking a £5million salary boost which just might not be forthcoming unless Mercedes takes its rumoured 75 per cent stake in the team. Toyota were waiting in the wings at one point. But they've now packed their bags and headed back to Japan.

KIMI RAIKKONEN: His wallet may be bulging with his £25million payoff from Ferrari. But the moody Finn, unconvincing in 2009, may not be able to add to his fortune in 2010. A deal with McLaren looks close but it may depend on where Mercedes decides to spend most of its money. McLaren or Brawn?

NICO ROSBERG: Ditto. Although he won't be a Williams driver in 2010, as his current team have signed Rubens Barrichello and Nico Hulkenberg, he is yet to find out if he will be heading to Brawn or McLaren. He won't be too troubled, though. Either option looks a good career move.

JARNO TRULLI: Out of a job after Toyota's withdrawal. Hot tip for the new Lotus team. But will they be able to afford him? And perhaps, after such a long time at the top, Jarno, 35, would prefer to tend the grapes at his renowned vineyard.

HEIKKI KOVALAINEN: Looks to be on his way out of McLaren. But nothing has been said officially, so he is still in with a faint chance of staying. Was probably bound for Toyota before they waved the white flag. Now most likely to be fighting Timo Glock for the second Renault seat alongside Robert Kubica.

TIMO GLOCK: See above re Renault. He is said to be on the verge of a deal. But he may have other options, with new teams Manor Grand Prix and Qadback among those interested.

NICK HEIDFELD: BMW refugee is talking to virtually everyone —including even McLaren, for whom he was once a valued protege. His trump card is that he is an ace test driver, which would appeal to all the new teams seeking an experienced opinion.

ADRIAN SUTIL: He is holding back from signing a new deal with Force India just in case bigger names fall by the wayside in contract negotiations, in which case an opportunity with a top team could emerge. However, put your money on another year feeling the Force.

KAMUI KOBAYASHI: Looked a cert to be signed by Toyota after two terrific drives when he stood in for the injured Glock at Suzuka and Abu Dhabi. The Japanese company's withdrawal has left him high and dry. But his performances did not go unnoticed by other teams.

GIANCARLO FISICHELLA: A huge disappointment at Ferrari but he will stay on as reserve driver when Felipe Massa returns. And his contract will allow him to race for other teams. He may head back to Force India but Qadbak are another option.

NELSON PIQUET: Anxious to return to F1 following his Crashgate shame. His name is still mud in some quarters. But he is well-backed and funding is all-important, particularly to the new teams. Campos Meta might give him another chance.

PEDRO DE LA ROSA: McLaren's highly-experienced test driver is said to be wanted by Campos Meta and the USF1 newcomers from across the pond. But McLaren will want to keep him if possible as he is almost part of the furniture at Woking.

Wizzie wrote:http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80125
Hmm... the more I think about it the more and more likely Trulli to NASCAR 2010 becomes

Captain Hammer wrote:Bruno Senna's partner likely to be Pastor Maldonado or Vitaly Petrov:

http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/n ... 1609.shtml

Maldonado coms with backing from oil giant PDVSA, while Petrov is sponsored by natural gas conglomerate Gazprom (but if they sponsor Campos, I think it would likely be in the shape of Gazprom Neft, their oil operations).

Phoenix wrote:My humble opinion is, if you have to choose between speed and consistency, it's better to choose speed. This is racing, and a quick driver can put in showings that catch the eye.

thehemogoblin wrote:

Phoenix wrote:My humble opinion is, if you have to choose between speed and consistency, it's better to choose speed. This is racing, and a quick driver can put in showings that catch the eye.

Also, sponsors get much more airtime when they're showing your car disintegrating in slow-motion.

thehemogoblin wrote:

Phoenix wrote:My humble opinion is, if you have to choose between speed and consistency, it's better to choose speed. This is racing, and a quick driver can put in showings that catch the eye.

Also, sponsors get much more airtime when they're showing your car disintegrating in slow-motion.

Phoenix wrote:

thehemogoblin wrote:

Phoenix wrote:My humble opinion is, if you have to choose between speed and consistency, it's better to choose speed. This is racing, and a quick driver can put in showings that catch the eye.

Also, sponsors get much more airtime when they're showing your car disintegrating in slow-motion.

Indeed, but if you don't look for speed above any other thing (which doesn't mean there has to be no mean term), why do you found an F1 team in the first place?

kostas22 wrote:So now Campos have a new dilemma (sp?). Go for the raw speed of Maldonado or the consistent if unspectacular Petrov?
It could go either way with both of them. Vettel was a bit crash prone but super quick at Toro Rosso, but most just cause a huge repair bill without much success. On the other hand, with Petrov you could end up with another Montiero.

Captain Hammer wrote:

kostas22 wrote:So now Campos have a new dilemma (sp?). Go for the raw speed of Maldonado or the consistent if unspectacular Petrov?
It could go either way with both of them. Vettel was a bit crash prone but super quick at Toro Rosso, but most just cause a huge repair bill without much success. On the other hand, with Petrov you could end up with another Montiero.

Petrov has more going for him: he's worked with Campos before. I daresay he'll be able to get more out of the team than Maldonado. And while you say "consistent if unspectacular", I'm pointing at his results: no-one in GP2 has improved faster than him. In his first year - he only did a handful of races, bu it counts - he was 26th. Now he's 2nd.

kostas22 wrote:I agree, he is a good driver. But he hasn't really put in any blindingly fast performances that made you think 'Wow, where did he come from?!'

kostas22 wrote:Yep, its a lottery. It brings the age old tale of Schumi pre-F1, the one which nobody expected to succeed, in the shadow of Frentzen and Wendlinger throughout his junior career...and then looks what happens.

CarlosFerreira wrote:

kostas22 wrote:Yep, its a lottery. It brings the age old tale of Schumi pre-F1, the one which nobody expected to succeed, in the shadow of Frentzen and Wendlinger throughout his junior career...and then looks what happens.

Are we suggesting that Vitaly Petrov could be the next Schumacher?

Phoenix wrote:In the other end, two featured drivers of this site (Corrado Fabi and Yannick Dalmas) were thought to be future stars of the F1 and they ended being stars of F1 Rejects (which is no mean feat, BTW).

Captain Hammer wrote:Timo Glock is heavily conneced to Manor as well.

Also, post number one thousand!

Henrique wrote:I just read on one of the best Portuguese newspapers a small interview with Álvaro Parente, currently the Portuguese driver closest to F1. He says that he's in "advanced talks" with Manor and that there are three other teams he's also talking to. He says he knows a lot of ppl inside Manor too.

Waris wrote: Glock-Parente at Manor 2010 FTW?

CarlosFerreira wrote:I get so heartbroken every time a Portuguese driver comes and does awfully, I'm not even sure I want Alvaro to sign up for Manor. He'll be essentially racing on a Simtek...

Henrique wrote:

CarlosFerreira wrote:I get so heartbroken every time a Portuguese driver comes and does awfully, I'm not even sure I want Alvaro to sign up for Manor. He'll be essentially racing on a Simtek...

I couldn't agree more. I'm hoping he goes to a better team, even if he has to spend another year in GP2. Manor is just another Simtek to me.