There are various stories knocking around today about possible driver signings for Formula 1 in 2012. Opportunities are already few and far between with the major players already signed up. At the moment we have Red Bull Racing (Sebastian Vettel, Mark Webber), McLaren (Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button), Ferrari (Fernando Alonso, Felipe Massa) and Mercedes (Nico Rosberg, Michael Schumacher) all settled. Sauber has confirmed Sergio Perez and Kamui Kobayashi and Team Lotus has announced Heikki Kovalainen and Jarno Trulli. It seems that Force India will soon announce Paul di Resta and Nico Hulkenberg and the latest rumours (not well-sourced, but logical) suggest that Kimi Raikkonen may have signed to race for Williams, alongside Pastor Maldonado.
This means that the interest in the driver market is focussed on Lotus Renault GP, Scuderia Toro Rosso, HRT and Marussia Virgin Racing.
I am not sure that everything in the midfield is as fixed as it appears, but for now I will work on that basis.
Lotus Renault GP has no shortage of candidates for the two seats, but seems to be lacking an exceptional driver. Robert Kubica fulfilled that role in the past, but we must still wait to see whether or not Kubica is able to return in that position. Vitaly Petrov and Bruno Senna are both accomplished enough, but neither has really got tongues wagging this year, and Romain Grosjean remains a guy who had a chance and did not make the most of it. Maybe he is stronger now and maybe he is a better choice than the others.
Scuderia Toro Rosso has four drivers on the list, assuming that the team remains under Red Bull control, which seems to be the case in the short-term. Jaime Alguersuari, Sebastien Buemi, Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne are all in the mix at the moment. Quite how one chooses between that lot is hard to understand. Alguersuari and Buemi have both been pretty evenly matched and who is to say that another driver would have gone quicker? Ricciardo has done OK with HRT and Vergne is highly-rated and the choice depends, probably, on what Red Bull intends to do in 2013 more than 2012…
HRT has other problems that need to be solved before drivers come into the equation.
Marussia Virgin Racing has just one seat available as Timo Glock is under contract already. The team likes Jerome d’Ambrosio, and believes he has done a decent job, but it needs funding and thus the name of Charles Pic has entered the equation. Young Pic was in Japan recently and was spotted talking to just about everyone. He has money behind him and a decent record, but there are others who potentially have similar deals. He is also French, which is important in this day and age of multiple Renault engine supplies. For a period he looked like being a potential Williams or Team Lotus driver.
The Dutch will tell you that Giedo Van der Garde is also a candidate. It is true that he needs to get out of GP2; and that he is well-connected and has money behind him, but if he wants an F1 drive, his supporters are going to have to dig deep.
The other question that needs to be asked is what happens to the drivers who will potentially be displaced by the new signings: notably Rubens Barrichello and Adrian Sutil. They have certain value, mainly in terms of experience, but it may be that the teams with drives available who would benefit from their talents, need money first…
joeblogsf1 
Time for Rubens to call it a day? Not a lot of dignity in going on in cars which really don’t offer him the opportunity of points.
Do you think there’s any chance of Sutil turning up at Renault, after the glassing incident earlier this year?
It seems very unlikely, but strange things often happen in F1, and Sutil has few other options.
ed241,
No chance at all.
I’m a Williamsf1 fan and I seem to not understand why it is logical for Kimi to come to Williams at this time. The team’s been on a 7 year decline and it is difficult to project vast improvements. Can you please explain or give some incite to that?.
awdaltima,
Because no-one else wants Kimi and he is the only big name available. It is a risk because of the question of motivation, but if he wants to come back he needs to be motivated, which is what Williams needs.
awdaltima,
Even ugly girls at the bar look pretty at closing time?
Like Joe’s article says….not really any vacancies at the top teams.
Do you think there is any chance of rubens getting a seat a Renault?
He has the technical knowledge that they desperately need
F1Puffin,
I doubt it. The fear is that they might end up with another Heidfeld
If I have learned one thing over the last decade about Williams, it is that they tend to make (to my view at least) mostly bad and quite illogical decisions on drivers. So I expect them to sign Sutil.
Schmorbraten,
Jenson Button was real error, wasn’t it?
Joe you failed to mention Robert Wickens and Marussia. Given his championship win in the Formula Renault series and as a reserve driver for Marussia, isn’t he in contention for a ride in ’12?
Hey Joe, long time reader first time commenter. I think it would be pretty unfair on Sutil if he were to lose a place on the grid next season. He’s ahead of Di Resta in the championship and I think that performance might be put in a better light a few years from now when Paul gets a fast drive against a Rosberg or Hamilton et al. Its interesting that so far fellow countryman Vettel has beaten Sebastian Bourdais and Webber as Team mates whereas Sutil has roughly matched Fischicella and is beating Di Resta. While Im not suggesting that Sutil is as good on this evidence, the two records are comparable (is Webber any faster than Di Resta at the moment?). I personally believe that if Sutil was for example in Massa’s place at the moment he could do an as good if not better job.
Excited about having Raikkonen back and would say say in an ideal world (where Venezuelan money doesn’t talk) he and Sutil would be a good partnership for Williams.
Maybe its time for Rubens to quit – don’t like to see him go but equally don’t want to see the indignity of trawling round getting lapped in a Hispania. Hoping for a crazy rain affected Brazil and a dream podium (or Victory!?) finale!
great blog as usual keep up the good work.
do you not think Robert Wickens has a chance with Virgin?
he’s their test driver and he did win Formula Renault 3.5 Series
would it be good for Virgin to have an N.American driver with new races coming?
@Joe
Sources in Poland say condition of Kubica is much better than it is officially being said and that currently he’s closer to Ferrari (either replacing Massa immediately or 3rd driver with winter testing and fridays replacing Massa as soon as he gets up to speed). Professor Igor Rosselli, a surgeon responsible for Kubica’s severely damaged right hand gave an interview to a respected polish national radio station Trójka, saying that his condition is greatly exceeding expectations, he has no bandages whatsoever since July and he’s driving a road car for sometime, the professor said that Kubica’s ability to be an F1 driver is not a question anymore. He also assured that the the abilities of his hand will not be impaired to a level which would interfere with driving an F1 car (handling the steering wheel with all of its buttons etc.) although it will not be 100% as before, he said that Robert will not be able to play piano for instance.
What’s more, Mikołaj Sokól, the closest Polish journalist to Kubica’s camp is increasingly hostile towards Lotus-Renault GP, which might suggest he’s not going back there. Rumor has its a contractual issue – Renault wants multi-year, Kubica one year.
There’s also case of recent, quickly deleted, information on Toyota Netherlands official blog saying Kubica wast testing in their simulator in Cologne. Unofficial sources in Poland say that tests were private and went well, and the person posting the information almost lost his/her job as a result.
HoldenK
The information about Robert has been fairly unreliable of late. I cannot say that I have been chasing it. As I understand it Robert is out of contract at the end of the years, so he does not have to go back to Renault. If he has been in a simulator in Cologne, then it is probably not for Renault. If Ferrari is interested I have no doubt that they would not rush things. Felipe Massa is under contract and not doing a bad job of late. it would be logical for Ferrari to give Robert plenty of time and perhaps put him in a two-year-old car and run him around at Fiorano a lot (out of the public eye) so he can build up his fitness again.
Joe
Do you think Kimi is targeting better seats (McLaren and Red Bull) end of next year, or would these doors remain closed whatever his William’s results would be?
Pierre,
No idea
When Team Lotus re-signed Trulli, many were surprised by this decision, because Jarno doesn’t seem much motivated these days.
However, Joe, you hinted a few times that he may not be signed as a 1st line driver, but potentially could fulfil a different role within the team.
Do you have more “hints” on this subject you could share?
F430-FOX
No
How much Ecclestone is helping to get Kimi in the Williams? There would be all the world champions on the grid from 2000…
Joe,
I am a firm believer of capability of Kubica. From the day one in F1, he has shown his impressive forms. Now I am a bit in short in understanding the recovery that he may produce. His operation by this doctors must have been a success. But how could a human body recover from such an damage…?
I am hoping that he will be back in F1 grid …
Joe,
about Kubica – today Polish Radio has aired an interview with prof. Igor Rosello – surgeon that has operated Kubica’s hand. Rosello says that Robert already drives a road car, now they want to put him in a sports car. Kubica can grasp objects with thumb and forefinger, and he has a sense of touch in his fingertips, they’re only planning a small surgical procedure to improve movement of his wrist.
Rosello sums up that now it’s not a question of getting RK back in good health (because he’s already healed), but to make him fit to race.
It doesn’t tell us whether Kubica will be back or not, but probability that we’ll see him in F1 car next year is getting bigger.
Here’s a link to the original article – http://www.polskieradio.pl/43/265/Artykul/466783,Robert-Kubica-prowadzi-juz-samochod – it’s not a transcript of the interview though, but I guess with some help of google translate you’ll be able to read what Rosello says.
Joe, do you fancy Nico Hulkenberg ending up at Mercedes some time soon? Or is Vettel the only young guy the team has its eyes on? I’m asking this also in the light of Nico Rosberg’s future. Will Rosberg keep hanging on at Mercedes if they don’t give him a competitive car? I think a lot depends on which teams adapt themselves best to the new rules in 2013.
Joe,
Where do you see Williams in the pecking order next season. Do you see them improving and fight for the top midfield position considering the changes they seem to have made in the technical staff.
And whats the deal about Raikkonen, is he still negotiating with them or the deal is signed and sealed? Do you think Williams have enough money to support his salary?
Thanks for the blog.
Cheers
Tarun
They should improve. Who knows whether Raikkonen is signed or not.
I love the idea of Kimi at Williams. Kimi was never really the team motivating type but when he was on he was really on and if he was to come back to F1 it must be because he misses some of that passion which could be really valuable to Williams.
@Joe
Given the performance and capabilities of LRGP over the past several years, would that not have been a better choice? They are looking for a star afterall and Lotus is willing to pay big bucks. The team as a whole has maintained decent performance in light of all the staffing moves
William’s declining performances has left the team pretty tight on funding.
kimi, kimi, kimi…which one will show up next year?
it saddened me when he would put in the fast laps of the race in the last 5 laps. when asked why he frequently did this, he said that he was bored in the race….how lame is that? i mean, why not drive like that the entire race?
i like kimi a lot and i hope he comes back and does very well…if not, it’ll be worse watching him struggle in a williams, more so than watching him struggle in a ferrari.
Mr. Saward, Kimi Räikkönen will never be motivated the way you understand motivation.
Antero Rokka,
I don’t really care how he is motivated so long as he drives a F1 car as fast as it will possibly go. If he does that then I am happy for him. He is not wasting his potential.
This is one of the things that massively frustrates me, not enough cars! Whatever happened to the plans to open up the USF1 slot again Joe? I remember Durango being linked with it?
I know they have attracted criticism but HRT have given two great drivers, Liuzzi and Riccardo seat time(and it’s been fascinating watching the interplay between them). having only 24 cars is a real weakness when there is such a strong pool of driving talent. As it stands I think
Senna,Petrov,Buemi,Alguersuari,Grosjean,Vergene,Riccardo,Sutil,Wickens,Liuzzi, Heidfeld and Barrichello all have great claims to a seat and they are all drivers I would like to see, but lots of them are not going to make it. Let’s have more cars on the grid and more talent to enhance the racing!
The problem I see with Raikkonen in an uncompetitive Williams is that he would quickly lose interest. Williams are not going to be winning races anytime soon so they could run a promissing youngster like Wickens, Grosjean, Bortolotti.
Williams were in a similar position back in 2000 when they took on a youngster by the name of Jenson Button, so rather than bringing Raikkonen back why are’nt they trying to find the next Jenson Button.
Denis,
Maybe there isn’t another Jenson Button out there.
I heard that Williams is not obliged to keep Maldonado in order to get the Venezuela-oil-money..,
So I’m hoping for van der Garde / Raikkonnen line up at Williams…
verstappen
Hope away.
Joe,
Any opinion/thought/insight on Trulli’s role at Team Lotus (Caterham) moving forward?
Understanding that he his signed, but with Barrichello, Sutil and possibly other names like Liuzzi or Buemi becoming available, not to mention the long list of Renault Motors and/or Gravity associated drivers like Senna, Grosjean or Van Der Garde who could be leased out to a Renault supplied team, why why why does Fernandez persist with Trulli?
You would think either the experience and development skills of Barrichello or the speed of the like of a Sutil, Senna or Grosjean to help push Heikki would be valued well and above what Trulli contributes to the team?
Do you think Tony will see sence and push Trulli the reserve role?
How Trulli remains in F1 baffles me. Decent driver, but lots of decent drivers have come and gone. Not sure whether winning once at Monaco is a positive or an indictment of unfulfilled talent or just plain luck. He’s never seemed to be one to get the best out of a car- my understanding is that he is the type of driver who must have the car suit him, and that hasn’t happened often.
I hope Kimi comes to Williams. As inscrutable as they come, but a hell of a driver. I also am glad Pastor will return- he has been better than expected, not a huge drop off from Hulk if any considering he’s a rookie, and it will be interesting to see him in a hopefully decent car. This would be a cool lineup for Williams.
@Joe
I don’t know if you want to answer this, but who do you think will end up where? Just from your info and a bit of speculation.
RBR, Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes, Lotus, Sauber, Force India and STR (will be red bull drivers) are all out.
Renault: _______ & __________
Williams: Maldo & ______
Marussia Virgin: Glock & _______
HRT: $$$$$ & Euro sign
Pretend that Kubica isn’t driving so it’s just who there is now capable. Who do you think is most likely to be where?
I hope Senna and Grojean (renault), Raikkonen (williams) and who ever (marussia virgin) and I think with money that could be likely.
What are your thoughts (not on mine, just your 4 fill in the gaps)
apasapas,
I don’t know.
Joe,
Could Kimmi bring sponsorship of his own from his WRC team? The articles at the start of the year seemed to indicate that his team was fully funded for a couple of years.
Elfredore,
No
Ugh, Kimi, really?
After the way he behaved during his last season I have zero interest in seeing him back, I’d much rather see the position go to an up and coming driver.
I am surprised Marussia doesn’t seem more eager to put Wickens in the car, even if just for some FP sessions, especially since they sponsored his ride in Formula Renault.
Perhaps the manner of his championship victory has lowered his stock with them.
Hi Joe,
How long will it be before all the teams, with the exception of the big four will have pay drivers who, in a lot of cases, have more money than talent ? It’s getting a bit like dial-a-ride instead of the cutting edge of motorsport.
simon fehr,
I disagree. The number of real pay-drivers in F1 is relatively small. Sponsorship that follows talent is a different thing.
@ Joe
Great blog, my first time commenting.
I was reminded recently of an article before he moved to Ferrari, where Sir Frank Williams expressed frustration watching Kimi not make the most of his talent, he said that hopefully Jean Todt would straighten him out, the interviewer also asked Sir Frank what he would do with Kimi, to which he responded by saying he would give Raikkonen ‘a good talking to’. Jean Todt as we know ‘sorted him out’, could Sir Frank and Patrick also ‘fix’ Raikkonen. It would be excellent to see FW with a twinkle in his eye again.
Even with so few seats available, there is still plenty to talk about. I think the potential moves all make sense, Kimi and Williams are a perfect fit for each other, as they seek to restore their battered reputations. Hulkenberg has earned a full time seat, and I guess we know all we need to know about Sutill, no doubt he will take his Medion millions to one of the smaller teams, as Steve-USA has said, beer goggles have a powerful effect!
Red bull have too many drivers, I wonder if either Buemi or Alguersuari has shown themselves to be truly top drawer? Maybe it will be the long walk home for Buemi this year, as Ricciardo takes his place, to be joined by Vergne for 2013.
The real point of interest for me is the Kubica situation. I hope the reports coming out of Poland are accurate, but sometimes things can be said more in hope than truth. A season at Ferrari with plenty of private testing and Friday practice sessions when he is able would be the perfect way for him to return. he would also be close to his Doctors. If as has been reported Alonso has been pushing for his friend to join him at Maranello, then kudos to him! Fernando doesn’t have a good reputation for dealing with a quick team mate, maybe he has matured of late, and perhaps recognised the value of having a team mate who can take points off the opposition.
Joe,
how do you rate D’Ambrosio? He had a decent start, a few setbacks, but been doing pretty good.
Were Trulli not in contract for 2012 with Lotus/Caterham, then maybe Rubens could go there but surely he won’t go to HRT or a Marussia Virgin?
Sutil isn’t convincingly beating a rookie teammate, I don’t think that’ll be lost on those at Force India. Di Resta is a talent, they know someone else will take him if they don’t. Williams?
Williams will be hopeless if they end up with Kimi and Maldonado. If Kimi genuinely wants it he’ll be great when the car allows (which it won’t) but he’s not a guy who can move things on in terms of leadership in or out of the car. Better to keep Rubens for a year to keep one variable in the technical equation the same and look to the future once the new engine and designers are bedded in. But there we go, Parr isn’t in it to score points is he?
from one of your responses, i’m guessing you don’t expect to see heidfeld back in a seat for 2012 then!
First time comment:
After following Rubens when he started while I was at school it will be sad to watch F1 without him involved, but I fear that is the only route for him now. His promise to give direction to Williams seems to have not worked, and he shouldn’t be trawling round right at the back!
Are we so sure that Massa is safe in his seat in 2012 or is he just keeping the seat warm for a young Mexican?
I can’t believe that Renault will leave Kubica out of the car. I know evidence of his recuperation is not clear but given that they designed the 2011 car around him, surely that carries over to 2012. Also, that team needs sponsors. Petrov’s cash is in the bank, Senna brings Brazilian cash but a race-winning, title contender on the come-back trail has to be a big draw! Why not admit that their championship effort is solely behind Kubica and run Petrov AND Senna on half season deals for maximum sponsor income dependant upon whose sponsors care more about the different markets?
Joe, the way I see it you have great drivers (Hamilton, Vettel, Alonso) who can find that extra 10th and are consistent……
Almost great drivers (Rosberg, Kubica, Schumi (now), Button, Webber) the first 2 of which need a chance at a top 3 team to prove if they are great. gain these guys are generally consistent
Out of the rest of the current pool and the up and comings do you see any potential great/almost great drivers?
I think the rest on a good day provide points but are inconsistent.
have to agree with Paul Holst
I have little time for a driver who had a competitive car but simply couldn’t be bothered to drive it fast.
How he’d be in a midfield team that needed him to lead the team and help develop a car doesn’t bear thinking about.
Kimi to Renault
Sutil to Williams.
Just a hunch.
Personally I think Kimi will hate driving around on Pirellis and having to manage his tyres, harvest KERS, etc. I can’t see the logic of signing Kimi when they have a motivated, experienced driver like Rubens who really wants to race and seems to be pushing the team. I can’t imagine the cash injection will be massively different between Kimi and Rubens so unless Rubens has made himself a massive pain in the arse at Williams and they can’t wait to get rid of him then why sign Kimi? It’s taken Schumacher a good while to get back up to speed so why would Kimi manage it any quicker? Sutil would be a better bet for me if Rubens isn’t re-signed, Medion money, good experience, reasonably consistent. Unless he’s been blacklisted by Renault for his incident in Singapore…
As for Team Lotus, it looks like Fernandez is lining up Chandok to take Trulli’s seat when Trulli has had enough of whining about the power steering judging from the press release about Chandok not taking part in the Indian GP.
Rubens has to go. Good driver, but no excitement and he’s not THAT good. He talks a better game than he races and his talking has grown stale. Rather have Sutil. Hopefully Kimi, but Sutil would be fine. If the team is going to turn around it’s not going to come from a driver’s input, but rather an improvement of the team that will in turn provide the drivers with a fast car. Hell, it can’t get any slower.
joesaward
> it would be logical for Ferrari to give Robert plenty of time and perhaps
> put him in a two-year-old car and run him around at Fiorano a lot (out
> of the public eye) so he can build up his fitness again.
Of the many things I don’t understand, one of them is what is and isn’t permitted re: driver practice and testing (testing the driver, not the car).
Is your mention of a two-year-old car revealing? Is that the car-age threshold which makes it OK for a driver to run additional non-race laps without violating the testing prohibition?
RShack,
Yes
Nick Spriggs
> I love the idea of Kimi at Williams. Kimi was never really the team
> motivating type but when he was on he was really on
Very true.
> and if he was to come back to F1 it must be because he misses
> some of that passion which could be really valuable to Williams.
Well, we don’t know if what he misses is the passion or whatever juice he got from competition. It could just as well be the money and/or the adulation he wants more of. I have no clue which it might be. Perhaps a combination. I expect a handful of races in which he’s not given a front-row car will give us a clue.
Don’t misunderstand, I really, really enjoyed the guy for the first most-part of his career. But the last phase seemed a sin against the sport and against the great talent which he was given. I’m not one who normally thinks in terms of “sin”, but the word popped to mind while watching him putt around in 7th place without much effort, while Massa was fighting hard far in front of him.
Williams is his chance of redemption for offenses worse than just a bad season. The man had it all, but he just took the money and shrugged. I hope he’s had the cosmic wake-up call. I hope it’s not just about money and stardom, I hope it’s about striving to be the best one there.
Although I’m no particular fan of Kimi Raikkonen, it does seem to me that the legend of him lacking motivation in 2009 is exaggerated.
It is true that he was generally behind Massa in the first half of the season, but from Massa’s injury onwards he drove very strongly, with a win, a second, two thirds and a fourth. Maybe the Ferrari improved, but it didn’t look like that from the difficulty that Fisichella had with it. It seemed as though KR took on a new lease of life once the team was dependent on him. Admittedly his contract was in the balance, but those are good results for somebody who was supposed to lack motivation.
It is also true that he didn’t seem too bothered whether he drove in F1 in 2010, but from what I could see that was down to Ferrari. They had to pay him because he had a contract, but they said (quite understandably) that anything he earned from racing for another F1 team would be deducted from what they owed him. He could earn nothing extra from racing in F1, but he could earn extra from racing outside F1. For choosing the latter, he was accused of lacking motivation, but I felt the circumstances rather pushed him in that direction.
He wouldn’t have the motivation of winning any races in 2012, but his main aim would be to beat his team mate, and by the biggest margin possible. That is the main motivation for every driver on the grid, whatever the merits of their car. If he could smash Maldonado, I assume he could be in line for a faster seat for 2013.
People complain of Kimi lacking motivation, but in 2009 he was competing in motorsports MORE than the other F1 race drivers. This of course does not mean that he was motivated to do anything. What a lazy bum! And especially because he does not always report to us on everything he does! He should be like Lewis, explain how he does this and that and how he feels about whatever. He should blabber about irrelevant things like all the others do! That way he could show TRUE motivation!