Comments on: 2009 F1 driver rumours

By: George L

George L — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 12:34:41 +0000

Regarding the Bruno Senna rumour, it surprises me that it is not higher than the rating of 2. I think hes been having a strong year this year and if he keeps it up there’s no reason why he shouldnt move to Torro Rosso…given Berger’s close relationship with the great man himself, I fail to see why the doors would be no less than open to his nephew should he put in a strong performance for the remainder of the season. Given Bruno’s name, i also feel an F1 test is only a phonecall away were Vivian Senna to ask Mr. William’s or Mr. Dennis…though perhaps relating the Senna name with those teams, especially Williams, may re-open old wounds. Nevertheless, a Bruno Senna in Torro Rosso would be excellent…I shall be observing his season with great interest.

Looking at Danica Patrick, well, the F1 test she is rumoured to have been offered looks like the furthest point her F1 career will reach for now…but lets not discount her at all in the future, if not 2009/10.

An Alonso/Honda partership would not work either. Ross Brawn has worked closely with Schumacher throughout his career, imagine going from Schumacher to someone like Alonso? Hes also worked with Barrichello for almost a decade. I don’t believe Alonso would be the kind of driver he was looking for. Alonso is far better off staying at Renault, as I imagine the rumour of him going to Ferrari in 2010 is correct. Most likely an Alonso/Massa partnership – I can’t see Kimi staying in Formula 1 much longer if he wins another championship. He already stated a few years ago that he only wanted to win one championship then leave. Undoubtedly the environment of Ferrari that suits his lifestyle so well has changed this thinking…though i still can’t help thinking that he isn’t in this sport for the long run.

By: Gman

Gman — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 18:12:50 +0000

The Danica to F1 rumours are absolutley hilarious in my view- indeed, she has had some tough times on the non-oval tracks, and I believe she’d no no better than Piquet jr. is doing this year. Perhaps she would suprise, but I think it would be a disaster for whatever team took her onboard, and it would make a laughingstock out of those of us who want to see an American driver be successful in F1.

I don’t see Alonso going anywhere at the moment, unless BMW really thinks he’ll be the misisng piece to their championship quest and they get eager to dump Nick. I do also believe that Vettel will wind up at Red Bull, as he’s been their anointed star since they put their backing behind him. As for Toro Rosso, as long as Berger remains part owner, I can see Senna getting his shor there, but what happens if the new majority ownership wants a different star to get the oppertunity?

By: Derek

Derek — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 14:46:51 +0000

I agree with Tom, Coulthard is in his swansong and he is very articulate and a buddy of Martin Brundle. He has done a number of columns in motoring rags and is currently doing one for ITV F1 website.

By: Oliver

Oliver — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 12:48:30 +0000

Sons of Famous Fathers, and Piquet at the moment is the least favorite. Nakajima we all thought would be lacking in the skills necessary for an F1 campaign but little did we know, that he was more mature can capable than we all thought. Piquet May need another year at GP2 then maybe come back excepting he does a fantastic second half of season.

By: Robert McKay

Robert McKay — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 11:19:28 +0000

I’ll eat something woollen if Alonso goes to Honda next year. If he hates being in a mildly uncompetitive Renault, he’s going to be pigsick of driving a Honda very quickly indeed.

The only reason it would make any sense at all is if he has an agreement to go to Ferrari in 2010 and only signed for Renault for one year and thus is kicking his heels trying to at least stay sharp for his Ferrari debut. And even then I imagine Renault would still take him for one more season.

On the other rumours, 2008 being DC’s last season in F1 looks very likely (I think Tom’s suggestion of BBC using him in some role is a good one), Vettel to Red Bull looks a given, Grosjean to Renault in place of Piquet seems highly plausible to me and Bruno Senna to Toro Rosso is fairly possible, but I remember Berger said something like “don’t rush it, Bruno” so maybe not 2009.

And the less said about the Danica rumours, the better: she’s said herself plenty of times that she still struggles on the non-oval rounds of the IRL, i.e. street tracks and road courses. She might get tests, for the PR, though.

By: the limit

the limit — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 02:25:25 +0000

I can’t see Alonso going to Honda, but I can see him going to BMW Sauber, that is depending on what direction Robert Kubica’s career takes.
In the longterm, if Renault is not where he wants to be, BMW Sauber would appear to have the ‘package’ available for Fernando to regain some prominance again.
David Coulthard helped his cause famously in Montreal, but he has been involved in a number of ‘incidents’ this season that did not go unnoticed. That and his age go against him, so I think it is highly likely that this is his last year.
Vettel is the obvious replacement, and would make a fine team mate to Mark Webber. Mark could teach him about the ‘two second rule’ between testing.
Piquet JNR is at serious risk of losing his race seat for 2009. I have nothing against the guy, but he has to start delivering. Does he have the experience to be a longterm test driver? I am unsure on that one.
I can see him ending up like Christien Klein, Takumo Sato, and Anthony Davidson. And that is a shame, and I hope I am wrong.
Grosjean may well take Piquet JNR’s seat at Renault, but that will depend on how well he fairs in this year’s
GP2 championship.
I have said before that Bruno Senna would get to drive in Formula One, and Toro Rosso would be a great place to start alongside Bourdais. Ofcourse, the name Senna still means so much to the sport, so just having Bruno onboard wearing that familar paint schemed helmet will only generate more interest in F1.
Gerhard Berger has long been a friend to the Senna family, and I believe has always shown an interest in Bruno Senna’s career up until now.
As for Danica Patrick, if she does move, and I stress does, then it will be to NASCAR. The money, publicity, and hunger for NASCAR in America is just huge.
I seriously hope this does not happen, as this, in my opinion, would undermine the IRL series to a certain extent. In Patrick, the IRL have something NASCAR have not. A woman driver who is prepared, and on her day, good enough to take on the boys and win.
There are better drivers in IRL, but none with more higher profile than Patrick.
Formula One has only limited appeal in America, the t.v audiences are just not high enough, around 10 million I am led to believe, out of a country of 300 million. Well, atleast 10 million of us have good taste.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 02:16:54 +0000

im actually amazed that there was no mention of Webber going to BMW. it seems possible, tho the chances went down after nick’s podium at canada.

By: Wesley

Wesley — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 23:05:19 +0000

Hello Clive,where ya been?

I hope Nakajima is headed to Toyota,I don’t see Trulli losing his seat to him though George.(hope not anyway)

Alonso to Honda would be VERY interesting(don’t think it will happen though).Imagine…Button,Brawn and Fernando bringing Honda to the front.That is a lot man power there if they can get that car up to the front it would be hard to stop them.

By: Sassan

Sassan — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 22:10:54 +0000

What about Chandhok racing for Force India in 09.

Renault might hit form next year so alonso could stay.

By: Oliver

Oliver — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 19:24:03 +0000

Lets not kid ourselves, Danica is not yet F1 material.