Silly Season 2011/2012

[gridwalker]

They will wait until after Kubica has tested the simulator in Maranello! Rumour so far...

Dream scenario if Kubica can do a strong comeback and be teamed up with Alonso... that will be the ultimate test for him.

I sincerely doubt that a comparatively risk averse "grandee" team such as Ferrari would risk running a second driver returning from injury after Massa's relatively poor comeback form.

(By risk averse, I mean their driver selection has hardly been adventurous over the years : I can't remember them ever using a rookie and their selection of replacements for Massa were both known quantities, even if they were both pitifully out of their depth under the spotlight of the Tifosi's expectations)

[raymondu999]

Massa was as close a rookie as it gets.

[gridwalker]

He'd Spent a year in a Sauber race seat (at Ferrari's request) and took a year's sabbatical as the Ferrari test driver, back when testing was unlimited ... I don't call that a rookie : Ferrari openly groomed him before slotting him in as number 2.

[raymondu999]

Read my comment again. It's as CLOSE as Ferrari have gotten to hiring a rookie. Doesn't mean he IS/WAS one

[gridwalker]

Ah, I got the context of your statement the wrong way around ... never mind

[rock1]

Hi all,

With McLaren seemingly going to keep the current car for the 2012 season and update it for the next season what do you think may happen if it has the same bad start that it had this year?

With both Button and Hamilton seemingly not to happy with this issue they are both only contracted until the end of next season and we all know how keen other teams would be to get them both.

If the improvement does not work out the way the team plan then they could face the potential threat of both drivers signing with new teams at the end of next season and that would surely leave them in a very tricky situation.

Who would they then get to drive for them, having now two former world champions in their cars?

They really need to assess this and make sure they can get the cars up to standard as we all know that red bull will be pushing hard next year to win and so will other teams.

Will be interesting to see what happens.

[raymondu999]

Apparently a former McLaren driver has said Hamilton has too high a salary and they can't afford Button anymore.

They could scrap their cars, they could keep the car. Nobody really knows. The year isn't even 2 thirds complete yet; let's focus on 2011 first

[Richard]

Kubica+Alonso would be a dream paring like Hamilton+Alonso.

Kubica has the talent to hold a number 1 driver slot, or an equal at RB or McLaren. I can't see Ferrari or Alonso abandoning their number 1 mentality.

[nacho]

Ferrari need to replace Massa, his performances are truly dismal.

[donskar]

One more season for Massa, then Perez if he continues to improve. (Just a SWAG on my part!)

[raymondu999]

I'm still not convinced it's Perez who will be stepping in. James Allen reported several days ago they were in talks with Rosberg actually; with Massa's strong Renault links getting him a drive at Enstone.

[donskar]

I'm still not convinced it's Perez who will be stepping in. James Allen reported several days ago they were in talks with Rosberg actually; with Massa's strong Renault links getting him a drive at Enstone.

:
Would love to see Rosberg (or a fully recovered Kubica), but I wonder how much input Alonso will have. It is not unknown for Ferrari to run two alternating number 2s: remember Giunti versus Regazzoni?

[raymondu999]

I'm not sure what you're getting at with alternating number 2s. Do you mean 1 car will be (for example) Alonso, and the other rotated between (for example) Fisichella and Massa?

I think Alonso will be keen to get the strongest possible teammate, as long as said teammate is still slightly "weaker" than him.

[Donuts]

Is money also preventing Ferrari from getting rid of Masa? As long as they have him, they won't be able to fight for the WCC. In F1 you get one chance, Masa has had two(the chance that he'll turn things around this season is really small), they'll have to be crazy to give him three.

[dren]

Apparently a former McLaren driver has said Hamilton has too high a salary and they can't afford Button anymore.

They could scrap their cars, they could keep the car. Nobody really knows. The year isn't even 2 thirds complete yet; let's focus on 2011 first

That sucks if it is true. Mclaren needs to retain both for the long term. They are the best pairing F1 has seen in a long time.