Silly Season 2011/2012

[banibhusan]

There are rumours that Maria de Villota is close to becoming Kimi's teammate

I guess she is trying for a test driver role. Or is it for a race seat?

[blokkie]

from (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsp ... efault.stm)

Spanish woman racer Maria de Villota has an agreement to be the Lotus (formerly Renault) team's reserve driver next season. "Really it's just a matter of the contract being signed, but all parties agree," she said.

I guess test-driver at first

[xDama]

That would really be a stupid decision by LRGP. Unless it's only for the publicity and they let a real driver test.

[ESPImperium]

She would have to do 300km in a car to be able to get a International A licence as well as compete in a high enough international series for at least a year.

Id recon its a thing that Bullier is doing to attract more monet into the team, like what he did with Ho Pin Tung, put her in a DAMS GP2 car for a year and then have her test at the young drivers test to get her A licence and then try and place her in a lower team for 2013.

Id recon that it will be her and Charuz in the DAMS GP2 team next year.

[dren]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/96604


This almost reads like Boullier is on the way out.

[ESPImperium]

Id love for Lotus to pick up Pascal Vasseselon from Toyota GmBh as i think that modren F1 is what he was looking forward to with Toyota and id love to see what he could come up with in a top team.

And from what ive been reading, Kimi wasnt a signing from Bullier, it was from Lopez and GenII Capital.

[cbbcisace]

ESP is it right that HRT are picking up ex Toyota staff or trying to create a Toyota link again?

[dren]

I thought a lot of the Toyota staff fled to Lotus/Caterham?

[cbbcisace]

something the BBC posted, due to HRT design office still being in Germany for the moment.

[Mr Alcatraz]

Where has all this talk linking Kubica to Ferrari come from?

In last weeks we have also many roumors about Kubica and Ferrari, especially that Italian team is preparing special comeback plan for Kubica which includes tests on Fiorano in 2010 year model. Now Stefano Domenicali, team principal, denied such roumors.

http://robertscomeback.blogspot.com/201 ... rrari.html

Just rumors bro

[ESPImperium]

ESP is it right that HRT are picking up ex Toyota staff or trying to create a Toyota link again?

I thought a lot of the Toyota staff fled to Lotus/Caterham?

Hispania have about 30-40 former Totota and BMW staff, mainly native German speaking staff tho as the majority of the 200-250 odd native British staff that worked for Toyota and BMW respectivly have now relocated and integrated back into English life and have been snapped up by most of the UK based teams, with as many as 120-150 (of the 235 Caterham employees) to the numbers ive heard being snapped up by 1Malasia F1 Team (Who have traded as Lotus Racing, Team Lotus) who have been taken under the Caterham umberella.

Williams, Force India and Red Bull Technology have taken on quite a bit more of the ex-Toyota/BMW English speaking staff.

Hispania have quite a bit of staff from Kolles staff from his Kolles Audi LMS staffing in their staffing as well.

Some of the Staff that Hispania have at present will relocate to Valencia, but id recon that about 15-20% of the 185 staff they have at present wont, but this will be good for the team as they will be able to promote and hire fresh Spanish blood for the team, especally when there is a decent GP2 staffing cluster in Valencia and quite a bit of the old Epsilon staff as well looking for work as well as Epsilon are currently in Admistration/Liquidation.

If Hispania bolster up to to arround 260-280 staff over their 2 campuses at Valencia and Brackley, they will be fine and a strog force for the future. Ill be giving them till arround mid 2013 to make my opinions on the team. They will be quicker next year, but just how quick is what id like to see.

[ESPImperium]

Maldanado Confirmed for 2012 race seat with Bottas in a TD role: http://www.williamsf1.com/news/view/2028

8 seats to go.

[scuderiafan]

Maldanado Confirmed for 2012 race seat with Bottas in a TD role: http://www.williamsf1.com/news/view/2028

8 seats to go.

Sort of a shame. In my mind, Bottas is ready to begin his F1 career. Oh well, maybe next year. As for the other seat, you can guarantee it'll be Petrov, Senna, or Grosjean.

[bill shoe]

I hope Petrov stays at Renault so Kimi can be measured against a good but not great driver. If Petrov leaves Renault then Kimi will be measured against some relatively unknown reference.

[fritticaldi]

The Italian media was reporting that Sutil will be driving the Williams alongside the now confirmed Maldonado. The vacated seat at Force India will be taken most likely by Nico Hulkenberg.