2010 F1 Drivers

[Andy_Bangle]

Who's-driving-who. Feel free to add more

Williams F1:

Replacing Nico Rosberg and Kazuki Nakajima will be Rubens Barrichello and Nico Hulkenberg the reigning champion of the GP2 Series and ex-A1GP driver.

Renault:

Robert Kubica joins Renault.

Fezza:

Alsonso & Massa

Edited November 5, 2009 by Andy_Bangle

[Andy_Bangle]

Bruno Senna to race in F1 next season with Campos Meta 1.

[stooH]

I thought i'd resurrect this thread based on the list on this page here there's an awful lot of TBC's anyone think there's going to be any big surprises in the driver line ups next year?

Schuey?

Danica? :assfecking:

Villeneuve?

[AlfaMale]

I reckon Kubica will goto Mercedes if Renault pull out, hence the delay in announcing who has the second seat.

Can't see the Schumacher rumours happening either as he's too old. Prime example of this not working is Mansell back in 1994/1995.

[Mook]

I don't think age has got anything to do with it - it's commercial viability. If he was to come back, he would instantly bring a massive fan-base and hence massive sponsorship potential, but I think the risk to him is too great. He left on a high as 7 times world champion and he probably wants it to stay that way, rather than be remembered for the bloke that came back in an average car and didn't do too well.

Welcome to Tyresmoke, by the way

[Andy_Bangle]

F1 2010 newcomer Lotus has unveiled experienced Toyota refugee Jarno Trulli and Lewis Hamilton's former McLaren-Mercedes team-mate Heikki Kovalainen as its two drivers for its maiden season of grand prix competition next year

[Andy_Bangle]

Force India having recently confirmed the retention of Adrian Sutil and Tonio Liuzzi,

[Teacake]

Can't see the Schumacher rumours happening either as he's too old. Prime example of this not working is Mansell back in 1994/1995.

Mansell is a good example of how a damp squib departure can overshadow previously good performances, as you've demonstrated there. Mansell actually won the last race of the 1994 season, out-qualifying both championship leaders (Hill and Schumacher) in the process. Not bad for someone only on his third race back, but everyone forgets that while they're busy deriding his not fitting in with McLaren (both physically and culturally). If Frank Williams had picked up his option, there's no reason to suspect he wouldn't have continued to win races and challenge Schumacher for the title. I'd have tipped him to do better than either Hill or Coulthard, who finished 2nd and 3rd respectively.

So: prime example of comebacks not working? That's debatable. He proved he could still win races, so arguably the comeback worked. One could argue he should have left it there and not switched to McLaren for '95, but that's with the benefit of a shed-load of hindsight, and it's not just down to Mansell that the relationship didn't work. Schumacher in a well-funded Mercedes team led by Ross Brawn has got to have a good chance of not disgracing himself, and not falling into the same trap.

[AlfaMale]

Nigel only really had one noticeable highlight in 1994, and that was his thrilling battle with Alesi at a wet Suzuka. He won in Adelaide but it was down to Hill and Schumacher coming together and the field below 2nd placed Berger been midfield at best.

Mansell was the second choice driver for both Williams and Mclaren, as DC was forced to stop at Williams for 1995 due to the contracts recognition board putting a stop on Mclarens option on him. Also Nigel outside of the car he was a complete pain in the ar*e to deal with, hence his turbulent relationship with Ron Dennis.

[Teacake]

Also Nigel outside of the car he was a complete pain in the ar*e to deal with, hence his turbulent relationship with Ron Dennis.

Nigel and Ron was never going to work, but that kind of supports the notion that this example is inapplicable to Schumacher. There's no reason to suspect that the reconstituted Mercedes team under Ross Brawn won't be a happy home for him.

And Mansell did out-qualify Schumacher and Hill at Adelaide, as part of an improving performance back in the car for the first time in nearly two years. There's no reason to think he wouldn't have done well had he stayed at Williams, the fact that Coulthard was cheaper and easier to deal with notwithstanding.