Silly Season speculation

[DonJippo]

2015.

Red Bull - No changes Vett is a 4 time champion and Ricci is a future 4 time champion

Ferrari - Alonso to give it one more season for the team to get their sh1t together and produce a decent car
Raikonnen to be replace with either Jules Bianchi or Roman Grosjean

McLaren - Difficult call. One final season for JB before Alonso arrives from Ferrari
Mag has done well enough for a rookie in a difficult car.

Alonso to McLaren and Vettel to Ferrari.

[The Black Knight]

Alonso to McLaren and Vettel to Ferrari.

Yup, it is looking more and more like as if Alonso will actually move back to McLaren next year. That was something we never expected but I guess time heals all wounds. I think it would be good for both him and McLaren as Ferrari won't win a championship for another few years and the best driver on the grids career is in it's twilight.

[Firstgear]

Alonso to McLaren and Vettel to Ferrari.

If this is true, and the deal was done a while ago already - it could explain why Vettel has been having more problems adapting to the car & car failures this year.

[donKey jote]

Yes, and also why Kimi seems to be almost catching up recently

[Firstgear]

I think we all knew that Kimi was going to turf Alonso from Ferrari.

[N. Jones]

I think Alonso is going to bring Lord Hesketh back to the pitlane.

There! Showed you all how to make a pre-diction areound here! :P

[steveaki13]

So with the latest news, what do we think?

My guess is not including teams folding and 3rd cars or any such occurrence

Mercedes: Lewis Hamilton & Nico Rosberg

Red Bull: Daniel Ricciardo & Danii Kyvat

Williams: Valterri Bottas & Felipe Massa

Ferrari: Kimi Raikkonen & Sebastian Vettel

Mclaren: Fernando Alonso & Kevin Magnussen

Force India: Nico Hulkenberg & Sergio Perez?

Toro Rosso: Max Verstappen & Carlos Sainz Jr?

Lotus: Pastor Maldonado & Jules Bianchi (not likely but I would like to see this)

Marussia: ? & ?

Sauber: ? & ?

Caterham: ? & ?

That leaves Grosjean, Sutil, Button, Kobayashi of the more reputable drivers with no seat for 2015. Would Grosjean stay at Lotus? Would Button take one final year in a low car for fun?

Are some of these teams going to even be on the grid in 2015.

What about Romania's Forza Rossa Team?

[jens]

Steve, your proposals make sense. But I don't think Lotus would sideline Grosjean for Bianchi. Bianchi may have looked decent in Marussia, but I don't consider him better than Grosjean, who is a good driver in itself.

Sauber, Marussia and Caterham seats will be dependant on paydrivers. And I am unsure Caterham actually survives till next year...

I don't see Button as the kind of driver, who would stay in a rubbish car just for the sake of it. Even Barrichello, who back in the day was determined to prolong his F1 career, was in Williams, which was financially better off than current Sauber or Lotus. Those teams can barely even pay Button anything! Remember, Räikkönen didn't get paid by Lotus.

Maybe if Sauber or Lotus gets some new big investor, who has a proper vision, is prepared to spend lots of money and hire drivers, Button could be interested in the project. But in an almost bankrupt team, no.
He may try to knock on Force India's door though.

[steveaki13]

It thought some seem to think Grosjean might want to leave Lotus though, by what I have seen and heard

[jens]

It thought some seem to think Grosjean might want to leave Lotus though, by what I have seen and heard

I am sure Grosjean would like to sit in a better car, but it looks like there are no better options for him. So he has no other option than to sit in Lotus to prolong his F1 career. And I don't think he is already looking for a career outside F1. He is less than 30 years old and I think still believes that one day his great opportunity in F1 may arise even if he has to endure some tough years, like Button had 2007-2008.