Who should get the second Mercedes?
24th November 2009, 12:00 by Keith Collantine 167 Comments »
Heidfeld could move from one German team to another
Mercedes Grand Prix announced their first driver yesterday and few were su[prised to discover it was Nico Rosberg.
Who will end up in the second car run by the championship-winners is a much more interesting question as it's probably the most coveted vacant seat in F1. Who do you think should get it?
Who should drive the second Mercedes?
- Michael Schumacher (877 Votes)
- Kimi Raikkonen (1,535 Votes)
- Nick Heidfeld (684 Votes)
- Adrian Sutil (230 Votes)
- Robert Kubica (2,437 Votes)
- Someone else (196 Votes)
Total Voters: 5,959
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Michael Schumacher – Does Michael Schumacher really want a comeback with the team that gave him a leg-up towards F1? When he missed out on his chance with Ferrari this year it was clear how badly he desired a return. But this would be for a full championship season, requiring more commitment than just filling in for a few races.
Kimi Raikkonen – Raikkonen’s only realistic hope of staying in F1 next year, assuming Mercedes aren’t after an all-German line-up.
Nick Heidfeld – Many would like to see Heidfeld get the seat purely because despite being quick he doesn’t attract attention the likes of Robert Kubica do. And he’s been passed over for top-line drives before – notably when McLaren picked Kimi Raikkonen over him for 2002, despite Heidfeld’s history with the team.
Adrian Sutil – Shown some promise at Force India but has been erratic.
Robert Kubica – Could well end up back on the market as Renault weight up their future in F1.
Which of these drivers should get the second seat at Mercedes? Or should it go to someone different? Cast your vote above and leave a comment below.
Mercedes Grand Prix in 2010
Patrickl said on 24th November 2009, 12:11
I’d have to say there are advantages to each of those. Even to Sutil. If only to finally asses if he really can drive.
mp4-19b said on 25th November 2009, 4:22
I’d say Jochen Mass
Paul said on 24th November 2009, 12:14
How about Kobayashi.
Bertie said on 24th November 2009, 12:36
what have u been smoking?
Nitpicker said on 24th November 2009, 13:58
Has he got Kobayashi fever? Haha
adam said on 24th November 2009, 18:25
i was thinking the same, balsy and good marketing to for merc in asia
David said on 24th November 2009, 13:26
To me it would be a good idea, instead.
sato113 said on 24th November 2009, 15:57
not a bad idea actually.
EGC said on 24th November 2009, 21:13
I vote Kobayashi too….
PatrickL said on 24th November 2009, 22:34
How about Enrique Bernoldi? He managed to keep Coulthard behind him …
slr said on 24th November 2009, 22:50
I don’t think the people above are joking about Kobayashi. Kobayashi has done very well.
mp4-19b said on 25th November 2009, 4:23
Monaco 2001
Mussolini's Pet Cat said on 25th November 2009, 0:10
with you there paul, the rest on the list are sooooo yesterday!
TommyB said on 24th November 2009, 12:20
Hope its Heidfeld. He deserves to get a win. He always beats his team-mates and then they go on to be seen as future champions.
Xanathos said on 24th November 2009, 15:38
Assuming that Renault stays and Kimi and Michael are unavailable (all very likely) he will not only be their best option, but pretty much their only option. If they don’t want two german drivers (“we are an international brand…”) they’ll have to take Trulli or Kovalainen since all other half-decent drivers are unavailable.
This shows how hard they were hit by Button leaving. If they’d anticipated that, they would have kept Barrichello.
Harvs said on 24th November 2009, 22:19
i want heidfeld. i think he deserves a good drive more than ‘half asleep raikkonen’ and ‘win everthing schumi’.
yes heidfeld had a good car in 08′ but there were always better mclarens and ferraris on the track. i think Heidfeld has had a harder carrer than Kimi and he has beat him in the past.
mp4-19b said on 25th November 2009, 4:24
Heidfield!
Harvs said on 25th November 2009, 9:12
what are you yelling about Mp4? are you trying to correct the spelling because im pretty sure its Heidfeld, not Heidfield
sly said on 27th November 2009, 9:42
yeah right. He’s this same type of diver like Button. 10 years nothing and now he’s trying to get god car thats all. I don’t think so he will be ever world champion
JV said on 24th November 2009, 12:20
I don’t know why people are voting for Michael and Kimi as Huag has already denied reports regarding Michael and Kimi himself has made it clear that he is not in the talk with Mercedes.
Haug also said that it is a surprise so It can well be a completely new face and not even Nick and Adrian. So who knows?
Ed said on 24th November 2009, 12:41
Denials often mean the opposite in F1
Patrickl said on 24th November 2009, 13:31
The poll doesn’t say “who will” or “who is most likely”, but “who should”.
JV said on 24th November 2009, 13:37
Sorry I just missed it.
K said on 24th November 2009, 12:21
Who should as opposed to who will. The only realistic contender on the list is surely Heidfeld.
Mike said on 24th November 2009, 12:22
Pedro de la Rosa is the best option until Vettel is going to Mercedes GP in 2011 or 2012.
Fer no.65 said on 24th November 2009, 13:15
De la Rosa over Heidfeld?
why?
Mike said on 24th November 2009, 17:19
Because De la Rosa has been linked to Mercedes-Benz F1 programme since 2003.
mp4-19b said on 25th November 2009, 4:27
Why not Alex Wurz? he’s an Austrian(almost German) & he too has had a past relationship with Mercedes-Benz.
Bertie said on 24th November 2009, 12:34
I would like Schumacher to be the driver. I think Kimi would be the best driver. However, i think Heidfeld will be the driver.
mp4-19b said on 25th November 2009, 4:29
Why would Mercedes want to tarnish their brand image by hiring an old hag who’s a proven cheat ?
Ben said on 24th November 2009, 12:36
I have to agree with Paul, personally I think kobayashi, based on his performance in a substandard car, he’d be a race winner in an average car, and other than heidfeld noone else on the list is either realistic or worth the trouble.
Patrickl said on 24th November 2009, 13:36
Substandard car?
That car took two second places in the few races prior to Kobayashi’s appearance (Japan and Singapore). In Brazil Trulli qualified P4 and if Sutil had been a bit more observant or Trulli a bit less daring, he could have gotten another podium with it.
Trulli performed poorly in Abu Dhabi yes.
Nitpicker said on 24th November 2009, 14:02
It also locked out the front row in Bahrain.
Kovy said on 24th November 2009, 20:43
It came last and second last at Monaco.
The Sri Lankan said on 24th November 2009, 22:20
so what’s your point? do you forget that everyone else struggled at some point this year? how about ferrari’s winless first few races? i can go on an on but the point is that Toyota was the car that could have delivered Toyota it’s first win in the hands of a capable driver. too bad toyota Got screwed their driver lineup. that car deserved 3rd spot on the WCC.
DMW said on 24th November 2009, 17:00
Yes, the evidence is that the Toyota was one of the fastest cars over the course of the year. However, the team and drivers proved experts at turning that silk purse into a sow’s ear. Kobayashi was no where in GP2 and there is no reason to expect that this record will be shown to be misleading based on his two F1 performances driving an excellent race car.
PJA said on 24th November 2009, 12:37
If all those drivers were available and willing to sign for Mercedes then my choices in order would be
Schumacher
Raikkonen
Heidfeld
Kubica
Sutil
However I don’t think Schumacher or Raikkonen will sign, and would Mercedes be prepared to wait until Renault decide its F1 future to see if Kubica is free?
I think the choice for the second seat could well be a surprise and someone who hasn’t been rumoured yet, but at the moment I think the favourite is Heidfeld.
Nitpicker said on 24th November 2009, 14:04
That could take months. I wish they’d stop the flip-flopping about and make a decision. Unfortunately a signature on a contract no longer means anything about manufacturer commitment.
Adrian said on 24th November 2009, 15:45
Would Mercedes want to be seen to be picking up the left overs of another team?
Simon said on 27th November 2009, 13:32
Mercedes? Picking up the leftovers of another team? Heaven forbid…
mp4-19b said on 25th November 2009, 4:31
Kimi will not & should not sign!! He’s blow up too many of their engines
Rikhart said on 24th November 2009, 12:38
If they want to start the season looking like contenders, they need the only realistic top driver available, Raikkonen.
mp4-19b said on 25th November 2009, 4:32
yes correct
Ben said on 24th November 2009, 12:41
Nuthin, Kimi and schumi are both pipe dreams, neither will ever happen. Sutil Is avg at best, kubica is a pointless pick, heidfeld would be worth it though, but I’d still pick kobayashi.
Gman said on 24th November 2009, 14:34
Based on two races, over Heidfeld?
adam said on 24th November 2009, 18:29
indeed, in two races he has shown bigger balls than quick nick has in years of driving around in circles
Wesley said on 24th November 2009, 19:10
Unbelievable huh?People would chose a two race rookie over a professional that has shown he is reliable and can bring in steady points.HEIDFELD HAS EARNED HIS CHANCE AT A MERCEDES SEAT!I hope he gets a seat and shuts everybody up by proving himself.If he doesn’t prove himself then I will shut up.
TommyB said on 24th November 2009, 20:27
He’s already proved himself. He has beaten 4 top drivers as team mates
Wesley said on 24th November 2009, 21:49
Very true Tommy…..I suppose I should have said “prove himself by getting some WINS.”
Michel S. said on 25th November 2009, 7:46
Nick could be the next Webber. Remember, the latter was also win-less before this year, but look what happens when you give him a quick, (more) reliable car.
Tim said on 24th November 2009, 12:43
If Schumacher wins in a Mercedes then the story is about him not Mercedes. There must also be doubts about his fitness and motivation to come back full time.
Raikkonen would be a good option if Mercedes are willing to overlook the lack of a German passport and cough up the necessary cash.
Heidfeld is quick, experienced and under-rated. He’s also German. Nick usually brings his car home in one piece and he’s a pretty good racer on the quiet. If the Mercedes is quick enough he can make it a winner. A good choice.
Sutil has hardly set the world alight these last couple of years. Do Mercedes really want a driver who was blown away by then team mate Lewis Hamilton in F3? I don’t think so.
Kubica would have been a great choice a month ago but now he’s under contract. Until that changes he has to be considered out of the running.
LAK said on 25th November 2009, 2:12
Great analysis Tim, I agree
mp4-19b said on 25th November 2009, 4:34
Too True!
James said on 24th November 2009, 12:51
If Mercedes want a lightning quick race winner, they’ll snap up Raikkonen.
If they want a race winner that’ll bring in the bucks (although isnt the sharpest tool in the box now…) they’ll get Schumacher
Kubica is already signed with Renault, and I doubt any party wants to be involved in all the contract negotiations that will follow.
IF Mercedes wanna fail, they’ll get anybody else really. The team needs race winners to draw the PR and to stand a chance next season. I have good faith that Ross Brawn has developed a cracking car, all they need is someone to get the most out of it.
TommyB said on 24th November 2009, 20:32
If they want a racer that will be lightning quick every 4 or 5 races.
PatrickL said on 24th November 2009, 22:38
That would be Massa?
James said on 24th November 2009, 22:44
If you’re basing your argument on this year, the car was terrible and developed in favour of Massa.
If you’re talking about last year, the car was developed in favour of Massa. When he has the car set up roughly (not exactly) how he likes it, he’ll deliver the goods.
mp4-19b said on 25th November 2009, 4:36
When will Hamiloton betray McLaren? I’d be glad if he does it now.
James said on 25th November 2009, 19:22
He wont. He’s in a well paying contract until the end of 2012. If he were to break that contract and leave another team he’d be on much less money.
keepF1technical said on 24th November 2009, 12:55
what about anthony davidson? he is very well known to the team and is well thought of.
but then that would mean three brit drivers out of four for merc so its unlikely.
raik would be my bet. He has a few scores to settle with both ferrari and mclaren now.
George said on 24th November 2009, 22:44
Well that would definitely be a surprise, but Ant is even more unproven than Sutil, and he seems more of a Heidfeld-like driver than a race winner
mp4-19b said on 25th November 2009, 4:37
He’s doing a superb job with BBC, so…
AndrewT said on 24th November 2009, 13:10
i really would like Heidfeld to be picked up, and hopefully the header picture for this article suggests that he has the greatest chance for this. it’s gonna be his 11th season, without a single win nor a chance for the WDC title. he deserves this chance, he waited more than anyone else, even Fisichella has got his topcar in his 10th, and Barrichello in his 8th season.
i have to say, that although Räikkönen is a bloody good driver, and delivered a stunning performance since Massa has been injured, i don’t really like his approach to the F1. “I’d stay only if I can fight for the title” – he says. but if every other driver would follow his approach, there were only about 4 drivers on the grid.
and considering that he doesn’t contribute too much to the car development (although he is extremely fast with any car), i don’t think he’d be the best choice for Mercedes.
i still don’t get how Sutil comes into question. okay, he is German, but that’s all.
Kobayashi showed promise on 2 GPs. he is obviously talented, but that’s such a short period of activity that could be judged. Buemi started the season with 2 pointscorings then NOTHING for 13 races. and after the experienced drivers left the team, with a cummulated 458 grand prix starts, i don’t think it’s a good idea to sign a rookie with 2 starts. i hope that Kobayashi could find a seat next year, and if he performs well, he will make his way to a top team either way.
Kubica? he’s under contract and i hope he’ll be in a cockpit of a Renault in Bahrain next March. it would be so unfair to ignore Heidfeld again, and again in favour of literally anyone. no offence to Kubica, but Heidfeld could provide the experience the team just threw away.
Schumacher is still the dark horse. he says no, but as we’ve seen it in August, it can change soon. Mercedes looks much more promising than Ferrari did, and he shouldn’t have to perform against a WDC like Raikkönen. however, he couldn’t be a long term solution with 41 years old. Heidfeld with 33 could race for them at least 4-5 years, Schumi could 1-2 maybe.
if one of this years drivers would have stayed, i would have sid to give a chance for the teams long time test driver Anthony Davidson, but with so few GP starts it wouldn’t be ideal to pair up with Rosberg.
so my final choice would be: Nick Heidfeld