Kubica's replacement... (It's Heidfeld!)

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Originally Posted by Dave B

Massive gamble for Kimi, though. If he came back and was beaten by Petrov his reputation would be massively dented, if not destroyed. Don't laugh: most of us thought that Schumacher would make mincemeat of Rosberg and look how that ended.

It'll be Senna for the first few races, then likely Heidfeld. No-brainer.


I almost wish someone would employ him just so we can get this over with. Every year there's a rumour linking him to some team or other (last year it was even a non-existent make-believe team) with a handful of fantastists claiming he'd blow the opposition away - forgetting how utterly embarrassing he was on his last comeback in 2004, what was it, two P10s and a P11?

Go on Eric, stick the old boy in your Renault so we can all have a laugh! :D

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So , don't laugh about Vitaly beating Kimi ?
Yeah , right , Dave .

I don't think Kimi would be all that worried about it .

Michael is getting up to speed now , and a guy who's younger , and has beaten him before , is ready to go .

At least you call me a "fantastist" , instead of a fanatic . That must mean you really are chuffed with it , as it sounds like I am a follower of a great idea .

So , you're right .
Go on , Eric , stick Jacques in your car .

What have you got to lose ?

Of course , only do it if you want a big budget , and lots of press lines , the backing of North America , and a hungry WDC driving on a performance based contract.

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Originally Posted by skc

I hope they encourage Kimi to return...They need Kimi.

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But why? Kimi's lack of commitment/interest has been evident at times, as has his blinding, speed but it's up to him which you get.

Kimi's 'go/do things his own way' attitude is all fine and admirable if things are working well, but if they're not he does not have the ability or apparently interest in working with the team to turn things around. That's great if you can afford to be like that (and Kimi most certainly can on his earnings) but I don't see him being the kind of driver a team will unite around in the kind of circumstances we're seeing at Renault.

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Originally Posted by ArrowsFA1

Kimi's 'go/do things his own way' attitude is all fine and admirable if things are working well, but if they're not he does not have the ability or apparently interest in working with the team to turn things around. That's

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Yeah right.. Just like we saw in the 2009 season!

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Originally Posted by ArrowsFA1

But why? Kimi's lack of commitment/interest has been evident at times, as has his blinding, speed but it's up to him which you get.

Kimi's 'go/do things his own way' attitude is all fine and admirable if things are working well, but if they're not he does not have the ability or apparently interest in working with the team to turn things around. That's great if you can afford to be like that (and Kimi most certainly can on his earnings) but I don't see him being the kind of driver a team will unite around in the kind of circumstances we're seeing at Renault.

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That's the impression people have which is based on his years at Ferrari, but one has to remember that much of the lazy, uninterested stuff originates from either the Italian or Spanish press or from people who do not understand him. I'd say the truth about Kimi's laziness is still out there.

I don't think Kimi is interested in driving for Renault, it's a midfield team with a limited budget and one paydriver. Not something that will persuade a WDC to come out of retirement. Many people seem to fancy the idea, though.

Lopez says :
"There are drivers who have had good races, for example Nick Heidfeld. We all know that Nick is rather good, but we don't know what level he is in now, we don't know how he does with our car. Same goes for Vitantonio Liuzzi, same goes - I don't know for Bruno Senna, who last year was in a team with a car that could do nothing."
The Spanish press has PDLR as having been contacted . I don't think he has much chance , but he does have Pirelli experience .
And , Kimi is still rallying , with team ownership , so he seems to be having fun where he is .


If they want experience in the seat , and that's what they've said , they need Jacques .
With only one test in the books , it is square one for anybody .
They know his set-ups , and there's likely still a seat in the back room somewhere .

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Originally Posted by DexDexter

That's the impression people have which is based on his years at Ferrari, but one has to remember that much of the lazy, uninterested stuff originates from either the Italian or Spanish press or from people who do not understand him. I'd say the truth about Kimi's laziness is still out there.

I don't think Kimi is interested in driving for Renault, it's a midfield team with a limited budget and one paydriver. Not something that will persuade a WDC to come out of retirement. Many people seem to fancy the idea, though.

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I think Renault need a faster driver than they have at the moment and I can't see so many possibilities. I'm sure it would be difficult get Kimi to Renault, but (maybe?) not impossibly, if Lotus Renault want and do it a right way.. $$$
The car looks fast this year, so why don't give Kimi a chance to test it..

if they can test a handful of drivers in last years car then that would be the answer

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Originally Posted by Bagwan

If they want experience in the seat , and that's what they've said , they need Jacques .

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If Renault don't know what level Heidfeld is after his recent experience in F1 and therefore sound doubtful of signing him then JV has no chance of even being considered.

I'm a fan of Jacques. I loved watching him race and I admired him for taking a punt on BAR but his F1 days are long gone IMHO.

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Originally Posted by gm99

While I don't see Kimi driving for Renault, there's one szenario I could imagine:

Kimi gets the Red Bull Racing seat alongside Vettel, thus keeping his Red Bull sponsorship.

RBR lend Webber, who they are not entirely happy with anyway, to their engine-supplier Renault.

That would give Renault the best available driver, Webber a number-one-drive in a competitive team, RBR a driver unlikely to complain about his team-mate being given preference (and an excellent marketing tool - vodka Red Bull anyone?) and Kimi a chance to get back to F1 without severing the ties with Red Bull.

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is ;)

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Good Sense, Also consider a Massa move if he is so inclined

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Originally Posted by RS

Boullier says the options are Senna, Liuzzi, Heidfeld. If those are the options, then I can't see a reason to choose the other two over Heidfeld. He is the one with the most experience and probably the most speed.

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I think that was said before he knew that Kubica is probably out for the year...and maybe longer.
Better to get a proer driver to fill that seat and score some crucial points than employing a patchwork driver to simply fill that 2nd seat. No Senna, No Heidfeld, maybe Grosjean, but I'd deal for Webber, or Hulkenberg, or even kilen and digrassi.

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Originally Posted by skc

I hope they encourage Kimi to return but he seems quite happy with Rally at the moment. Mind you, a Team where nobody expects and a Team mate that's a walk over is not a bad platform for a return.

Of the other 3, Nick is safe but boring, Toni a gamble and Senna will make Petrov look good.

Renault have no plan B at the moment that makes sense. They need Kimi.

As for JV, get real.

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yep.

I do like JV but I'm not sure he's got any juice left

Ha look at the losers renault is putting in the car! well I am obviously rooting for alonso so this just means renault will not be a player in the championship.