Silly Season 2011/2012

[Giblet]

For the peanut teams, money is surely an object here, what's the cost difference beween Cosworth and Renault, anyone?

My understanding is the Cosworth V8 was a 20,000 rpm engine tweaked to peak properly at 18,000 as they were not in the sport when everyone else locked their engines down. All the other engines were 're-designed' from scratch to work within the RPM and longevity rules.

The end result is an engine that was never purpose built, and from what the Cosworth guys say, has decent degradation but likely not on the same level as the top teams but since degradation numbers are a very closely guarded secret its hard to know for sure.

EDIT: Oh... you said _cost_ difference. My bad.

[scuderiafan]

Wasn't/isn't the Force India driver announcement supposed to be today?

[scuderiafan]

http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/2727 ... sing-seat/

Also, Buemi gave a scarily similar response after being cut from Toro Rosso. Not only did he thank Red Bull, he stated that just days before, he was doing simulator work...Alguersuari was supposed to do a meeting with CESPA. Kind of mysterious.

[Byronrhys]

FIA could very well allow the 13th team just to please the engine makers.

[scuderiafan]

FIA could very well allow the 13th team just to please the engine makers.

A 13th team wouldn't surprise me. Lola's been asking for approval for the 13th spot.

[WhiteBlue]

Buemi gave a scarily similar response after being cut from Toro Rosso. Not only did he thank Red Bull, he stated that just days before, he was doing simulator work...Alguersuari was supposed to do a meeting with CESPA. Kind of mysterious.

I think that the new boy will have to be a better bet than Webber in 2014. Until that time Webber will keep his seat because there will not be any massive changes to the car's characteristic. So the guys will have two years to learn the ropes. Comes 2014 with the new drive train and lots of changes of the car Red Bull will have a pretty good understanding which of the men will be suitable to replace Webber.

Until that time they will simply profit from stability at RBR and rake in the maximum points they can. Webber is a very good driver IMO, he only looks a bit old if you compare him with Vettel, who is outstanding in talent and dedication. Alguersuari and Buemi did not make the cut because they did not do significantly better than Webber. So why keep them if they could not exceed the benchmark? With the current set up at Toro Rosso Red Bull is imitating Bernie's strategy. While you are lining up all your plan A ducks you are dedicating some energy to the plan B and C in the background. The decision to go for A or B is then simply one of the higher profitability prospekt.

[Donuts]

Torro Rosso is really a driving school! They should have stickers with an "L" for learning on their cars.

[Trailer23]

Doesn't excuse the fact that red bulls conduct in the alguesari/buemi axing is very far short of what I'd call fair.
Wait till the drivers Market is sown up then tell em to go?
That's just plain wrong.

I agree. If they were sure to drop the two, then why wait to have all the cockpits taken up before finalising.

I recall a number of Team Principals speaking highly of Alguersuari during the sesaon (including Ross Brawn).

http://www.inautonews.com/alguersuari-q ... hrt-option

[FW17]

Any Chance of SB going to Caterham

and

JA going to Williams

[Byronrhys]

Doesn't excuse the fact that red bulls conduct in the alguesari/buemi axing is very far short of what I'd call fair.
Wait till the drivers Market is sown up then tell em to go?
That's just plain wrong.

I agree. If they were sure to drop the two, then why wait to have all the cockpits taken up before finalising.

I recall a number of Team Principals speaking highly of Alguersuari during the sesaon (including Ross Brawn).

http://www.inautonews.com/alguersuari-q ... hrt-option

Honestly when TP's are asked about drivers they usually say good things, this is how F1 works, RB though uses his words wisely and put a small message within what he says, Just because they say this in front the Mic doesn't mean they would hire them.

[Trailer23]

I'm not suggesting that Ross Brawn/MercGP would've hired the refugees from STR, but i'm merely suggesting that had they of axed 'em earlier like Jérôme d'Ambrosio with Marussia Racing, their market value would've been more than it is at this point.

Any Chance of SB going to Caterham

and

JA going to Williams

I think Caterham are gonna be sticking with their current lineup. Lets not forget, that they have an army of Test/Reserve Drivers as well. I call shotgun if Jarno Trulli gets replaced midway through the season.

As for Williams..., God only knows who they'll have pairing Pastor Maldonado.

[Donuts]

I'm not suggesting that Ross Brawn/MercGP would've hired the refugees from STR, but i'm merely suggesting that had they of axed 'em earlier like Jérôme d'Ambrosio with Marussia Racing, their market value would've been more than it is at this point.

Any Chance of SB going to Caterham

and

JA going to Williams

I think Caterham are gonna be sticking with their current lineup. Lets not forget, that they have an army of Test/Reserve Drivers as well. I call shotgun if Jarno Trulli gets replaced midway through the season.

As for Williams..., God only knows who they'll have pairing Pastor Maldonado.

Adam Parr is biding his time, waiting for Force India to decide. Sutil or Hulkenberg, who will it be? Neither(Adrian Sutil Nico Hulkenberg and Pastor Maldonado) is any help with the development of the car.

[spadeflush]

Hulkenberg confirmed at Force India.Will Sutil get the williams seat?

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/96780

[Trailer23]

I don't know if he's gonna get the seat at Williams or not, but, I will say that he's probably pissed like hell at Vijay Mallya. As I recall, Sutil was very eager to know about his future prior to the last two races of the season - for the very reason to search for another race seat in 2012.

This seems all to familiar. U get the feeling that Mallya has picked up a few tricks from Helmut Marko.

I get the feeling that we'll be hearing from Mr. Sutil & his actual feelings towards his former team in the not-so-distant future.

I'd say he has a 90% chance of landing that seat at Williams.

[spadeflush]

If he does get the Williams seat, he'll team up with the person who indirectly cost Sutil his Force India seat :p