Silly Season 2011/2012

[MIKEY_!]

I'd love to hear about Lada racing in F1!

I have never really subscribed to they "They must know what they're doing" line of reasoning, and I don't know why any reasonably intelligent person would in all honesty.

munudeges: These people many just be after money but... they have a reputaion to protect. If it all comes crashing down it will land on their heads to some extent.

[Robbobnob]

Its a shame for Rubens because the car is a lemon, he was showing this time last year he could still mix it with the top of the middle order, putting his car 6th on the grid at Singapore. However financially Raikonnen is the smart choice, if they can get him for cheap enough.

This also got me thinking about Massa at Ferrari, back when Raikonnen drove for Ferrari and he was outperformed by Massa, they couldnt get him out the door quick enough. Its surprising to me that even though Massa has had his horrific accident and arguably is still recovering, he is scoring at half the rate at which Alonso is, and in reality is not the 2nd driver Ferrari need or deserve anymore.

That being said, there is probably considerable pressure from Alonso to keep him as a faithful sidekick, as he already proven he'll kneel on command (Hungary '10)

[munudeges]

Williams kind of have no choice. Getting another paying driver in next season is way too much of a risk and Barrichello just isn't grabbing that car as someone like a Kubica, or indeed a Raikkonen, would do and what a team in Williams's position needs.

They need Coughlan and Somerville to come up with a focused organisational structure between them to produce a car to really jump them forward next year. It's not as if Williams don't have the resources, despite the position they're in. It's probably a straightforward position that Raikkonen would suit very well.

If it doesn't work Williams is finished, you'd have to say.

[godlameroso]

Pirelli should just allocate 6 sets of tires for the weekend, two supersofts, two softs, and two mediums, and just call them soft medium and hard compounds. At the end of Friday, teams should give back two sets of any two different compounds they choose, and have four sets for quali and the race. This would be rational given that the hard tire has been made redundant, obviously I'm just speculating, as I have no idea what are Pirelli's plans.

[ESPImperium]

Pirelli should just allocate 6 sets of tires for the weekend, two supersofts, two softs, and two mediums, and just call them soft medium and hard compounds. At the end of Friday, teams should give back two sets of any two different compounds they choose, and have four sets for quali and the race. This would be rational given that the hard tire has been made redundant, obviously I'm just speculating, as I have no idea what are Pirelli's plans.

Ive been thinking the same recently. Have 3 compounds go to each race, with a step of arround a half to eight tenths between the sets. But what id structure the tyre sets like is this:

RED: 2 Hard - 1 given back at end of Friday running (250Km total running, 125Km a set)
YELLOW: 3 Medium - 1 Given back at end of Friday running (300Km total running, 125Km a set)
GREEN: 4 Soft - 2 Siven back at end of Friday running (350km Total running, 87.5km a set)

If you take it that teams can run up to 900km on a car at some events, you need to given them enough sets to last that distance. So you have 9 sets. Id keep the Q3 runners with their fastest set start on that set, but add that if you dont go out in Q3 and set a time, you getb a 5 place grid drop. But id also chastise those teams futher as if you start on the softs, you can only use the mediums in the race as your other compound, if you start on the mediums or hards, you have a free strategy.

It keeps most people on a 2 stopper, but the fastest guys will find it hard to stay to that and will probably have to make a third stop.

As for wet and intermediate tires, id make a set of each of inters last 200km and give each car 5 sets, as for wets, each car would get 4 sets that last 250km for each set. The wets would be Blue and the Inters White.

Unused wet sets for each team would be avalable for Pirelli to use at another event if it was a dry event, so this would cut their costs this way. As for unused dry sets, the teams can either give them back to Pirelli or transport them at cost to the teams back for use of their pleasure on a 2 year old car for young driver training.

But lets not get into tire strategies in this thread too much.

[timbo]

There's rumors of macca not having enough money to renew Button's contract. Interesting situation.

[Steven]

If Proton remove their sponsorship it'll become Renault Genii... or perhaps use another existing sponsor, such as Renault Lada. I'd love to hear about Lada racing in F1!

The Renault engine deal is not yet sealed for them, and I also don't see any other reason to keep Renault in the team's name, because they really have nothing more to do with them.

I believe Renault will try to market their engines by exploiting the marketing value of reviving the legendary Williams-Renault partnership.

[wesley123]

There's rumors of macca not having enough money to renew Button's contract. Interesting situation.

I'll be the one here to start some conspiracy;

Due to Button beating Hamilton and being real competition Hamilton shows his anger in the team. The team want to keep Hamilton so they decide to not renew Button's contract and go for a new, worse driver.

Anyway, to get back on the rumor, who would be possibly there to replace Button?

[raymondu999]

De la Rosa/Paffett?

[timbo]

Due to Button beating Hamilton and being real competition Hamilton shows his anger in the team. The team want to keep Hamilton so they decide to not renew Button's contract and go for a new, worse driver.

I think if that's the case Ham would lose quite a bit of team loyalty and if he doesn't manage to sort his act on track he would face his team not willing to renew his contract in future.

As for Button/Macca it seems like lose/lose situation for both parties if they split. Macca would lose solid scorer and there's no mature drivers free to compliment Hamilton. Button don't seem to have options in a top-team. Maybe he would take a sabbatical?

[lebesset]

the macca / button problem is quite simple .....he will commit to longer than next year if they give him a better deal starting in 2012 ...macca have already stated that they will take up their option on him for 2012 , come what may

[RB7ate9]

Due to Button beating Hamilton and being real competition Hamilton shows his anger in the team. The team want to keep Hamilton so they decide to not renew Button's contract and go for a new, worse driver.

I think if that's the case Ham would lose quite a bit of team loyalty and if he doesn't manage to sort his act on track he would face his team not willing to renew his contract in future.

As for Button/Macca it seems like lose/lose situation for both parties if they split. Macca would lose solid scorer and there's no mature drivers free to compliment Hamilton. Button don't seem to have options in a top-team. Maybe he would take a sabbatical?

I hadn't heard about this, but it would, indeed, be lose-lose. Just wanted to agree with you.

If Button were to not be at Mclaren, then a good option would be to go to Ferrari (fat chance, I know). He is the smooth operator along with Alonso and is ideal to replace Massa, who apparently has a guardian angel preventing anyone from firing him. Alonso/Button in an improved Ferrari would be a rather terrifying/electrifying sight!

[wesley123]

Due to Button beating Hamilton and being real competition Hamilton shows his anger in the team. The team want to keep Hamilton so they decide to not renew Button's contract and go for a new, worse driver.

I think if that's the case Ham would lose quite a bit of team loyalty and if he doesn't manage to sort his act on track he would face his team not willing to renew his contract in future.

Imo it is quite clear Hamilton and McLaren dont go quite along the past year. The Way Whitmarsh talks about him, Hamilton stance, rumours around and the way they react upon as well as Hamilton completely not being in form for the past year is enough evidence for me. After the Canada incident I can imagine Button and Hamilton being less close to each other. Point is, to keep Hamilton, and keep him happy they have to listen to him, and one fo these things might be sacking Button and bring in a new Kovalainen. Because be fair, since button drives at McLaren Hamilton seems to be making mistake after mistake. In 2007 and 2008 he was pretty much flawless and I think we all would like to see that Hamilton again, including McLaren and whole formula 1.

If McLaren still doesnt suit Hamilton and the situation is the same next year I have no doubts at all of Hamilton leaving McLaren and most likely joining Red Bull as an replacement for Webber. The way Red Bull, Horner, McLaren and Hamilton himself have been talking about these rumours more prove he will go to Red Bull then that he stays.

[RB7ate9]

Due to Button beating Hamilton and being real competition Hamilton shows his anger in the team. The team want to keep Hamilton so they decide to not renew Button's contract and go for a new, worse driver.

I think if that's the case Ham would lose quite a bit of team loyalty and if he doesn't manage to sort his act on track he would face his team not willing to renew his contract in future.

Imo it is quite clear Hamilton and McLaren dont go quite along the past year. The Way Whitmarsh talks about him, Hamilton stance, rumours around and the way they react upon as well as Hamilton completely not being in form for the past year is enough evidence for me. After the Canada incident I can imagine Button and Hamilton being less close to each other. Point is, to keep Hamilton, and keep him happy they have to listen to him, and one fo these things might be sacking Button and bring in a new Kovalainen. Because be fair, since button drives at McLaren Hamilton seems to be making mistake after mistake. In 2007 and 2008 he was pretty much flawless and I think we all would like to see that Hamilton again, including McLaren and whole formula 1.

If McLaren still doesnt suit Hamilton and the situation is the same next year I have no doubts at all of Hamilton leaving McLaren and most likely joining Red Bull as an replacement for Webber. The way Red Bull, Horner, McLaren and Hamilton himself have been talking about these rumours more prove he will go to Red Bull then that he stays.

A Hamilton move to Red Bull could prove problematic. I don't think Vettel and Hamilton would play nicely. It'd be better for RBR to have new blood like Ricciardo - someone that may look up to Vettel - rather than Hamilton, who feels he was rather usurped by Button and Vettel.

[Fil]

2012 will remain the same for McLaren's lineup. The option on Button is a simple one to take up.

But what we are seeing the beginnings of in the current silly season, is what will culminate in the decision for Ferrari's second seat in 2013.

Button is surely using that possibility as his bargaining chip for a significant pay-rise & long-term deal at McLaren.

Ferrari will use 2012 to see what's up with Kubica (with whom they apparently had signed an option with in 2011 for 2012), with Button being a close second choice, and Massa/Perez being the backups failing the signing of one of other two.


In a sense, Button's negotiations hinge somewhat on how Kubica recovers. His bargaining chip may evaporate should Kubica return strong & sign with Ferrari for 2013.