2010: Where do the drivers stand?

Dmac · 09-12-2009, 09:18 AM

This is quite the complicated situation this year because of many factors.

The first thing is that two teams are uncertain to continue within the championship past 2009, which are BMW and Toyota. These teams leavin Formula 1 will obviously leave two drivers a piece out in the cold, meaning 4 drivers could be looking for a new team to drive for.

BMW

Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld

Toyota

Timo Glock and Jarno Trulli

With the speculation of these teams leaving, there will obviously be new teams coming into the equation, namely the new Team US who although have said that they are in search for American talent, could very well take two of those four. Those drivers wont be the only options for teams to pick up though.

All eyes are on Ferrari at the moment with Ferrari looking to make space for Fernando Alonso who is almost certain as it stands to be racing for Ferrari in 2010. However to get their man they will need to offload one of their current drivers and right now it looks like it is going to be Kimi Raikkonen.

Ferrari

Kimi Raikkonen

With the speculation of him leaving up in the air, it is understood that McLaren are interested in taking him back, but again with a new driver, a current driver needs to recieve his marching orders, which would almost certainly lead Heikki Kovalainen out into the cold, which is another driver that will be looking for a new team.

McLaren

Heikki Kovalainen

Then we have the new kid on the block who is being very strongly linked with Williams, Nicolas Hülkenberg, who for a 22 year old has amazing stats. He is the 2008 Formula Three Euroseries season champion and the 2006-07 A1 Grand Prix champion and is looking in poll position to take this seasons GP2 series. This would one again throw one the current team out of a car to make way for the lad and in and it's not hard to tell who has had the better season for Williams out of Rosberg and Nakajima meaning that it would likely be Nakajima who would be making way. He hasn't had the best season but he's not a bad driver by any extent and I'm sure a team will pick him up if he leaves.

Williams

Kazuki Nakajima

The main trigger for all these changes apparently hangs around Fernando Alonso's almost certain switch to Ferrari, people know that it's going to happen and it is simply a matter of when. If/When this switch does take place and is announced, all of these switches will begin to take place in a chain reaction of sorts.

All in all, we are in for an interesting 2010 wouldn't you say?

Kizza · 09-12-2009, 09:44 AM

Where did Nakajima come from lol.

Kovalainen has been a big flop imo. He started up with McLaren when they were going really well, and was unable to impress, Granted Hamilton dominated, but he really should have done more. McLaren either will want to try and make sure he has a better year next year, or just completely try again.

Dmac · 09-12-2009, 09:46 AM

Well Hulkenberg looks like he is going to be in one of the Williams cars next year and I don't see them getting rid of Rosberg over Nakajima, it's that simple really.

Kizza · 09-12-2009, 11:04 AM

I think Nakajima is unlucky more than anything. He has always been the guy who has been 9th/10th or 14/15th and then been knocked out by someone with a flying lap. He would probably be given a drive somewhere else though. Good driver, much better than Sato lol.

Dmac · 09-12-2009, 11:10 AM

Well that's what I said in the original post really, he is by no extent a bad driver, but he hasn't had a good season has he? Heidfeld's hasn't been brilliant, but as it stands there is a 6 place improvement between him and Nakajima.

Dmac · 09-29-2009, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBC Sport

Ferrari set to reveal Alonso move

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Ferrari are poised to announce that double world champion Fernando Alonso will join the team for 2010.

The Spaniard, 28, has signed a two-year contract with options to extend and will earn a salary in the region of 19-25 million euros (£17.3m-£22.8m).

The deal is expected to be confirmed either on Wednesday or Thursday, according to sources at Ferrari.

Alonso will partner Felipe Massa, with 2007 F1 world champion Kimi Raikkonen tipped to move to McLaren.

The Finn had a contract with Ferrari until the end of 2010, but they have been in negotiations to move him to another team.

Let the chain reaction begin...

The Phantom · 09-29-2009, 02:51 PM

The worst kept secret is out now.

If Kimi doesn't go to McLaren then he's off to rallying. There's some rumours of Ross Brawn wanting him, but with more involvement from Mercedes next season it's likely they'll go for a German driver.

Rubens will go to Williams. With either Rosberg or Heidfeld going to Brawn. I'd probably say Heidfeld is the most likely to move. Glock would be in contention for Williams if Rosberg moves.

I think Red Bull will stay as they are. Difficult to say who's going to replace Alonso at Renault. I'm not even sure they'll stick around for the 2010 season after all the controversy of this past week.

Dmac · 09-29-2009, 03:07 PM

Well Renault have had big blows when it comes to sponsorships, I'm not too sure that they will be able to stay in even if they want to for the simple reason of not being able to afford it.

I personally love change though tbh, so the loss of Renault would just be another teams gain.

The Phantom · 09-29-2009, 03:21 PM

I wouldn’t like to see Renault leave as I feel it’s important to have real car manufacturers involved, and not just privately owned teams like Force India and Brawn GP.

That would leave just Ferarri and Toyota as the sole car manufactures on the circuit then? Although there are doubts over Toyotas participation next season.

Dmac · 09-29-2009, 03:30 PM

I don't really see it as important, I'm not knocking your opinion on that but I wouldn't so much care if Ferarri were the last real car manufacturer participating in the circuit. To me teams are teams, what engine they use is up to them.

2010: Where do the drivers stand?

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