Lotus Renault GP is pleased to announce that Kimi Räikkönen will race for the team next season. The 2007 World Champion, who left Formula 1 at the end of 2009 to pursue a career in rallying, has decided to make a comeback at the pinnacle of single-seater racing. He has now signed a two-year agreement with Lotus Renault GP.
Post here all non technical related topics about Formula One. This includes race results, discussions, testing analysis etc. TV coverage and other personal questions should be in Off topic chat.
scuderiafan wrote:I don't think Webber will join Ferrari. If he does, he better expect to end his career there because racing for Ferrari alongside Alonso will be just like racing for Red Bull alongside Vettel. If he thinks RB are giving Vettel special treatment, he should also expect the same from Ferrari towards Alonso.
I don't think Ferrari would have him. The only place I can see webber going if he still wants to race after 2012/13 is the pay teams.
It probably gas something to do with Lopez and Genii Capital. Spanish money, spanish driver. Plus she's a woman which could open up the team/F1 to more women.
"You're so angry that you throw your gloves down, and the worst part is; you have to pick them up again." - Steve Matchett
1. Sebastian Vettel (DEU), Red Bull Racing Renault
2. Mark Webber (AUS), Red Bull Racing Renault
3. Jenson Button (GBR), McLaren Mercedes
4. Lewis Hamilton (GBR), McLaren Mercedes
5. Fernando Alonso (ESP), Ferrari
6. Felipe Massa (BRA), Ferrari
7. Michael Schumacher (DEU), Mercedes
8. Nico Rosberg (DEU), Mercedes
9. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN), Lotus Renault
10. TBA, Lotus Renault
11. TBA, Force India Mercedes
12. TBA, Force India Mercedes
14. Kamui Kobayashi (JPN), Sauber Ferrari
15. Sergio Perez Mendoza (MEX), Sauber Ferrari
16. TBA, STR Ferrari
17. TBA, STR Ferrari
18. TBA, Williams Renault
19. TBA, Williams Renault
20. Heikki Kovalainen (FIN), Caterham Renault
21. Jarno Trulli (ITA), Caterham Renault
22. TBA, HRT/TBA
23. TBA, HRT/TBA
24. Timo Glock (DEU), Marussia Cosworth
25. Charles Pic (FRA), Marussia Cosworth
What I think will happen:
1. Sebastian Vettel (DEU), Red Bull Racing Renault
2. Mark Webber (AUS), Red Bull Racing Renault
3. Jenson Button (GBR), McLaren Mercedes
4. Lewis Hamilton (GBR), McLaren Mercedes
5. Fernando Alonso (ESP), Ferrari
6. Felipe Massa (BRA), Ferrari
7. Michael Schumacher (DEU), Mercedes
8. Nico Rosberg (DEU), Mercedes
9. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN), Lotus Renault
10. Grosjean (FRA), Lotus Renault
11. Di Resta (GBR), Force India Mercedes
12. Hülkenberg (DEU), Force India Mercedes
14. Kamui Kobayashi (JPN), Sauber Ferrari
15. Sergio Perez Mendoza (MEX), Sauber Ferrari
16. Buemi (CH), STR Ferrari
17. Alguersuari (ESP), STR Ferrari
18. Maldonado (VEN), Williams Renault
19. Sutil (DEU), Williams Renault
20. Heikki Kovalainen (FIN), Caterham Renault
21. Riciardo (AUS), Caterham Renault
22. De la Rosa (ESP), HRT/Cosworth
23. Bruno Senna (BRA), HRT/Cosworth
24. Timo Glock (DEU), Marussia Cosworth
25. Charles Pic (FRA), Marussia Cosworth
I think that De la Rosa was already separately confirmed by the team. Toro Rosso are very likely to keep both drivers and place Ricciardo somewhere with Caterham still the best option. Legal procedings will have to run their courses and that may be the reason why Trulli still remains on the FiA list. Sutil will loose his Force India seat to Hülkenberg and Williams will be happy to snap him up. Senna has an uncanny knack to get into a seat but he may have to downgrade back to HRT to find one.
So in my view Barricello, Trulli, Heidfeld, Liuzi and Petrow will not find a seat from the list of 2011 drivers. Kubica also will not start the year with a seat. So much is obvious. It rests to be seen how he recovers. If he makes a sensational come back and Ferrari suffer another year in third or fourth position, they may be inclined to replace Massa with him after Singapore. But that is a very long shot.
Formula One's fundamental ethos is about success coming to those with the most ingenious engineering and best ..............................organization, not to those with the biggest budget. (Dave Richards)
She brings a signed check. She will be the "Reserve Driver", which is a purchased title with no relation to actually functioning as a reserve driver.
Remember that last year Sauber was happy to cash the check and name a "Reserve Driver" (I forget who). Then when they needed an actual reserve driver in Canada they never seriously considered putting that guy in the car, they had to borrow DeLaRosa from McLaren.
By the way, please note that being a woman makes her situation no different than all the guys with purchased titles.
On a different note, I wish Williams would hold an old-fashioned shoot-out between Barichello and Sutil for their one remaining seat. These are both good drivers who would drive for near free. It's crazy that a team would make that kind of major decision without directly comparing their performance. Or does Sutil bring a bit of money?, I don't remember.
ESPImperium wrote:I can see Kubica in a Ferrari in the middle of 2012 pounding the miles in a F10 getting him ready for 2013, unless Ferrari sign Webber for Massas seat.
I tend to agree with this. I was the one saying Kubica was probably lost for 2012 when most were suggesting he would be driving (at least a 3 year old challenger) by the end of 2011. In the big picture I still think the odds are against him. Ferrari has the resources to give Kubica a decent salary to pound laps around Mugello, and Fiorano in an F10 in 2012 to see if he can rediscover his magic. Plus it’s plausible in another sense; His doctors and phyisios are in Italy. He is fluent in the language, and he has lived there for almost his entire racing life. If (and this is a very big if) the guy did actually make it all the way back it would be the “Feel good” racing story of the modern era. I have very little doubt that a major motion picture would be a made about his struggle and triumph.
The other thing is it seems that no one is giving Felipe baby a chance of finding Ferrari's 2012 challenger more to his liking, and having a good year. I wouldn't bet on it, but I wouldn't completely discount it either.
You are talking as if Kubica is Senna incarnate. As if F1 revolves around him.
Ferrari don't owe him anything. I don't think they'll put in so much effort just for him to be able to drive on a acceptable level. It doesn't make sense.
After the accident people said i was insensitive blaming Robert for his own fate, saying what he was doing was right as he need to stay sharp etc. Now we are still being blinded by the empathy for Robert. The reality is F1 is not a big happy family, it's a business. Robert is not in ferrari's interest whatsover.
In fact he isn't even in LRGP's interest. Boulier is trying to keep a thread of sincerity, but the reality is they would be better moving on and not looking back.
Robert is a good driver, but after a self inflicted accident, outside of a renault car, renault aren't really obligated to any thing for him outsisde of his contract.
Not to mention ferrari.
I think he will recover fully in 2013, but i can only see him as a test driver mid 2012, and maybe as a sauber driver in 2013. Ferrari want to win championships too much to have another "damaged goods driver" in their cars.
Kimi was the nail in the coffin. He just made the driver market ten times more competitive and unforgiving.
ringo wrote:Ferrari don't owe him anything. I don't think they'll put in so much effort just for him to be able to drive on a acceptable level. It doesn't make sense.
Nando and Kubica get along well. Ferrari may want to find a quick driver who wouldn't destabilize the team, so Alonso may point finger at Kubica. There is the impression that Kubica may not want to play a second fiddle, but Alonso may be counting on a good relationships and a fact that they giving him the best chance. But yeah, he need to prove he's quick first.
Where has all this talk linking Kubica to Ferrari come from? Someone previously said Ferrari are paying part of his salary. Are there any links or quotes to support this?
Ive been led to belive that she can come up with a 7 posibly 8 figure sum to get into F1, that would buy her a tail end race seat, but i think she is looking at a Test seat for 2012 with a GP2 program as well, whitch for forr the money she would have a good chance of getting a decent seat in F1 in 2013 if she can say bring €12m to a lower mid feild team.
