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Silly Season 2013 (494 posts)

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tmekt said 7 months, 3 weeks ago:

My guesses for top teams

McLaren – Perez, Button
Red Bull – Webber, Vettel
Ferrari – Alonso, Schumacher (coming home for a one more year before retiring)
Lotus – Räikkönen, Grosjean
Sauber – Kovalainen, Algersuari
Force India – Di Resta, Hülkenberg
Williams – Maldonado, Bottas

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Bradley Downton said 7 months, 3 weeks ago:

Ok, so here’s who are the possibilities for the remaining seats, and my reasons as to why I think a certain driver will get it.
Ferrari
1. Fernando Alonso – Confirmed
2. Felipe Massa/Michael Schumacher/Heikki Kovalainen

Surely Ferrari can’t keep Massa now that their four main rivals (RBR, Macca, Lotus and Merc) all have two solid drivers. Michael would be an excellent fit, knows the team etc etc, only be there for one year as Vettel joins in 2014. Sorted. Plus, Alonso and Schumacher – What a team. Kovalainen as well has a chance, but I feel Michael would get the pick over him.

Red Bull
3. Sebastian Vettel – Confirmed
4. Mark Webber – Confirmed

McLaren
5. Jenson Button – Confirmed
6. Sergio Perez – Confirmed

Lotus
7. Kimi Raikkonen – Confirmed
8. Romain Grosjean/Jerome d’Ambrosio

This has to go to Romain, if it doesn’t, someone screwed up, big time.

Sauber
9/10. Kamui Kobayashi/Jaime Alguersuari/Heikki Kovalainen/Esteban Gutierrez/Michael Schumacher

Ah, Sauber. The loss of Sergio is a huge blow, and they may be better off starting fresh. Alguersuari and Kovalainen would be a great team in my opinion, and could continue to deliver the podiums, and that elusive race win. Kobayashi has had his chance, and proved nothing special, while Gutierrez is nowhere near ready. Some of his races in GP2 have been shocking driving standards, but then some have been beautiful drives, very much another Maldonado, but not ready yet.

Mercedes
11. Lewis Hamilton – Confirmed
12. Nico Rosberg – Confirmed

Williams
14. Pastor Maldonado – Confirmed
15. Bruno Senna/Valtteri Bottas

As much as I want Senna to stay, this seat has had Bottas’ name on it since the start of this year!

Force India
16. Paul di Resta – Confirmed
17. Nico Hulkenberg – Confirmed

Toro Rosso
18/19. Daniel Ricciardo/Jean-Eric Vergne

They have to give them another year, surely?

Marussia
20. Timo Glock – Confirmed
21. Charles Pic/Max Chilton

I see no reason to get rid of Pic, but then I said that with Jerome…

Caterham
22/23. Heikki Kovalainen/Vitaly Petrov/Alexander Rossi/Giedo van der Garde

Oh Caterham… having lost 10th to Marussia in 2012, Heikki leaves in disgust for Ferrari or Sauber, Petrov runs out of money, and Caterham start again with Rossi and Giedo.

HRT
24. Pedro de la Rosa – Confirmed
25. Narain Karthikeyan/Dani Clos/Ma Qing Hua

Gunna be the one with the most dosh. Easy.

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the_sigman said 7 months, 3 weeks ago:

@bradley13. I agree completely, except that Massa could end up in Sauber

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Master firelee said 7 months, 3 weeks ago:

This is what I think the line up will be:

RedBull:
1.Vettel
2.Webber
Mclaren:
1.Button
2.Perez
Ferrari:
1.Alonso
2.Massa
Lotus:
1.Raikkonen
2.Grosjean
Sauber:
1.Kobayashi
2.Kovalainen
Mercedes:
1.Hamilton
2.Rosberg
Force India:
1.di Resta
2.Hulkenberg
Williams:
1.Maldonado
2.Alguersuari
Toro Rosso:
1.Vergne
2.Ricciardo
Marussia:
1.Glock
2.Pic
Caterham:
1.Petrov
2.Rossi
HRT:
1.de la Rosa
2.Clos

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Meander said 7 months, 3 weeks ago:

@sigman1998 Sauber have almost always gone for rookies or up and coming drivers like Raikkonen, Wendlinger, Frentzen, Heidfeld once upon a time, Massa once, ofcourse KOB and PER, or with old names back in the midfield like Villeneuve, Alesi, Herbert. In that sense Massa would make sense, but much as I wish Massa the best I really hope this doesn’t happen.

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katederby said 7 months, 3 weeks ago:

Alguersuari and Gutierrez for Sauber? They both have talent, speed, backing and would make a typical exciting young Sauber pairing.

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sozavele said 7 months, 3 weeks ago:

Alguersauri has a drive for next year, I expect with Sauber but I wouldn’t count out Williams. I think Kobayashi had his time to shine this year and didn’t deliver enoguh, Heikki should replace him and Kamui should do WEC, I though could Michael do WEC next season.

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Meander said 7 months, 3 weeks ago:

Why all the “hate” for Kobayashi? Yes, I would say that he has been outraced by Perez, but is that a shame? He has been quite unlucky too, in some races. Being battered out starting from the front row was especially painful.
I admit that when the Sauber isn’t a good car for the track, he seems to fail to surpass it and be able to ascend from the situation like some top drivers, but I don’t feel that he has been losing many straightforward points either.

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dot_com said 7 months, 3 weeks ago:

@bradley13 – totally agree with you. Alguersauri has stated that he has a seat for next year – I’m hoping that it is with Sauber, as he deserves a decent drive. If that’s the case, I think they will stick with Kobayashi in the other seat, for consistency – and well, he’s also been pretty quick.

Would LOVE to see Schumi do a year at Ferrari, but I can’t realistically see it happening. Perhaps now that Perez is out of the picture, it is possible. Heikki still has a good shot though. Surely, surely they won’t sign Massa again…. will they??

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The Bucket Of Vindaloo said 7 months, 3 weeks ago:

I think it’s fair to say that Michael’s HAD his time in F1 and then extend for whatever reasons he sees fit. If Schumi still wants to race he’s going have to look outside Formula 1 and elsewhere for a drive.

DTM’s an obvious choice considering how many retired Grand Prix drivers race in that series after they’re finished with their F1 careers. But if touring cars are not to his liking then maybe the WEC would be the best choice for him. Dindo Capello’s officially retired from racing in prototypes and if I’m not mistaken that open spot along side McNish and Kristensen in the Audi is still available (correct me if I’m wrong). A German racing legend driving for a successful, multiple Le Mans winning manufacture sounds like a tasty prospect.

And one more thing. What was Michael doing before he was picked up by Eddie Jordan? Sportscar racing. I rest my case.

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Enigma said 7 months, 3 weeks ago:

A bit clearer now with those 2 announcments.

So McLaren, Mercedes and Red Bull now have both drivers confirmed. I’m sure Force India, Lotus and Toro Rosso will keep their line-ups for another year.

Alonso, Glock, de la Rosa and Maldonado are all staying where they are. Which leaves us with 8 available seats for 2013: Two at Sauber and Caterham, and one at Ferrari, Williams, Marussia and HRT.

Williams will probably be deciding between Senna and Bottas, and I think it’ll be the latter taking the seat. At Marussia it’s surely between Pic and Chilton. Very hard to say for HRT, but I think it’ll be Ma alongside Pedro. It looks like Ferrari just wants a decent driver until Vettel’s arrival, and I think Massa, in his late form, would be a reasonable choice, even if I hope someone like Kovalainen gets the chance. Schumacher having a final season in Ferrari would be nice too!

The most interesting one is probably Sauber. The car could well be reasonably competitive again, and there’s lost of drivers in with a shout. With Gutierrez’s relatively poor GP2 season I don’t think he’ll get the seat, and as fast and talented as Frijns is, I think he needs more experience. So it could be between Kovalainen, Alguersuari and possibly Pic. Even Schumacher could go there, though I can’t really see why he’d do that.

Caterham will hope to keep Kovalainen, but he could move onwards. Petrov won’t stay I think, which possibly leaves the team looking for two new drivers. It could be just about anyone, from Pic, Valsecchi, Kobayashi, van der Garde or perhaps someone experienced.

My prediction for the 8 remaining seats: Massa (Ferrari), Bottas (Williams), Alguersuari & Kovalainen (Sauber), Pic & Sutil (Caterham), Chilton (Marussia) and Ma (HRT).

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Kingshark said 7 months, 3 weeks ago:

So many of the rumors of the silly season did end up being true! Perez to Mclaren and Hamilton to Mercedes, how about Schumacher to Ferrari?

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Tommo N7 said 7 months, 3 weeks ago:

What I think the line up will be:

Ferrari:
1. Fernando Alonso
2. Felipe Massa

Red Bull:
3. Sebastian Vettel
4. Mark Webber

McLaren:
5. Jenson Button
6. Sergio Perez

Lotus:
7. Kimi Raikkonen
8. Romain Grosjean

Mercedes:
9. Lewis Hamilton
10. Nico Rosberg

Sauber:
11. Kamui Kobayashi
12. Esteban Gutierrez/Jaime Alguersuari

Force India:
14. Paul di Resta
15. Nico Hulkenberg

Williams:
16. Pastor Maldonado
17. Vallteri Bottas

Toro Rosso:
18. Jean Eric Vergne
19. Daniel Ricciardo

Marussia:
20. Timo Glock
21. Max Chilton

Caterham:
22. Heikki Kovalainen
23. Bruno Senna/Jaime Alguersuari

HRT:
24. Pedro de la Rosa
25. Dani Clos/Jaime Alguersuari/Narain Karthikeyan

I just can’t decide where I think Alguersuari will end up. Could replace Perez at Sauber, he could replace Petrov at Caterham, or he could join HRT, though I fear they’d keep Narain for another season.

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Felipe Bomeny said 7 months, 3 weeks ago:

RBR: Vettel/Webber (Razia)
McLaren: Button/Perez (Turvey)
Ferrari: Alonso/Massa (Rigon)
Mercedes: Rosberg/Hamilton (Bird)
Lotus: Raikkonen/Grosjean (d’Ambrosio)
Sauber: Alguersuari/Gutierrez (Frijns)
Force India: Hülkenberg/di Resta (Bianchi)
Williams: Maldonado/Bottas (Nasr?)
STR: Vergne/Ricciardo (da Costa)
Marussia: Glock/Chilton (Haryanto)
Caterham: Kovalainen/Pic (A. Rossi)
HRT: de la Rosa/Ma (Juncadella)

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Kingshark said 7 months, 3 weeks ago:

Why all the “hate” for Kobayashi? Yes, I would say that he has been outraced by Perez, but is that a shame? He has been quite unlucky too, in some races. Being battered out starting from the front row was especially painful.

Hate is a very strong word you’re using there. I have yet to read a personal negative attack against Kamui on this thread.

But admit the fact, Kobayashi has failed to deliver up to expectations, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he was without a seat next season. I’m not saying he doesn’t deserve one, of course. However, few people argued against him being a future champion 1.5 – 2 years ago. Back in late 2009, 2010 and early 2011 wasn’t he suppose to be the “chosen one”, or in other words, the next big thing? The hype around him is dying, it was always going to, eventually.

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