Hm, the phrase "McLaren have high hopes for Magnussen" sounds quite familiar - must have read it in Autosport back around 1995 :p
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Hm, the phrase "McLaren have high hopes for Magnussen" sounds quite familiar - must have read it in Autosport back around 1995 :p
Ok here is my prediction
Kimi loses out to ricciaordo for the 2nd RBR seat
so the dominos will fall
1. Kimi joins Alonso at Ferrari, they are probably the only team ready and willing to pay his salary
2. Hulkenberg moves to renault and continues in a young strong pairing with Grosjean, who retains his seat
3. STR hires Buemi back to the team to drive along with Vergne, who is also put on notice that his seat might be vulnerable for 2015 ( or sooner as STR have a habit of switching drivers mid season)
4. Sauber Hires Bianchi and Kobayashi gets a sniff during winter sessions. then gets the 2nd seat with Guiterrez relegated back to 3rd driver duties
5. some gp2 driver gets the 2nd Marussia seat
6. Massa is out of an F1 seat or gets a sniff at the 2nd sauber seat in an open competition with other drivers during winter testing. (btw I think sauber will bounce back and be an occasional podium team again in 2014)
7. No changes at Mercedes, Mclaren, Force india and williams
8. No idea what caterham is going to do, although all sings point to a retention of both drivers.
last but not least, sad that there will not be another team coming into F1.
I'm a bit baffled at the Alonso-to-RBR rumours. It doesn't make any sense for any of the parties involved. I can't see Vettel and Alonso together at any team because the fireworks would be seen from the moon (using a shoe). It might actually make sense to see that kind of change in 2015 and only if Vettel and Alonso exchanged teams, which doesn't look quite likely IMHO.
For the same reasons, I wouldn't expect Ferrari to put Fernando and Kimi in the same team. Surely they wouldn't want to destabilize their star driver? Alonso has been driving really well since he joined the team and has failed to win a championship because Red Bull has produced better cars. Ferrari needs to build a faster car and putting a fast driver alongside Alonso could hurt them more than it would help them.
As it stands now it could be Alonso to Lotus next year.
Yes. Everyone knows that Alonso is an alpha-driver who won't tolerate being on an equal footing with the other driver in the team. However, perhaps Alonso is also realizing now that moving to RBR is the only way he could possibly to take a jab at Vettel? It's hard to believe in this theory, but who knows. It's also not clear if RBR can afford to pay the salaries of two multiple WDC winners.Quote:
Originally Posted by N4D13
If Alonso joins RBR next year I´m afraid Mercedes will winn both titéls. The 2007 saga will repeat.
I think there is some substance to the rumours. Vettel knows that his achievements will never be accepted if he stays at the team. Detractors will always play the 'best car' spiel. On top of that not all's been well in the RB camp since his Malaysia antics. The team swap could come earlier than expected. Every team starts with a clean sheet next year, so that would be a much better time to roll in a new lead driver than 2015.Quote:
Originally Posted by N4D13
The big announcement in Monza: Vettel and Alonso to swap seats!
Alonso to Red Bull - not gonna happen. No way. I just can't see that happening. But I would like to see that for sure.
The problem is that Alonso has a contract till 2016 or 2017 with Ferrari, getting out of that would require the kind of money Red Bull would never pay.
Switch of Alonso and Red Bull's precious? Why would Ferrari do that? I can see that happening only if relations between Ferrari and Alonso really hit rock bottom.
It's not so difficult. Both Vettel and Alonso still have contracts. They could swap and RB pays a lower fee as Alonso's contract runs a year longer.Quote:
Originally Posted by Garry Walker
The times of Vettel being RB's precious are over. He publicly humiliated the team in Malaysia and his race engineer again at Monaco. TJ13 reports there have been a lot of forced smiles in the RB camp since then. The relationship between Ferrari and Alonso already have hit rock bottom. when was a multiple world champion bitch-slapped so publicly like Alonso yesterday and on his birthday, too. I think he's locked horns with them one time too often. And why would Ferrari want Vettel? Very simple - most of the Schumacher brigade jumped on the vettel bandwagon after 2007, so merchandise sales in germany could skyrocket again like they did in the Schumacher days and there is surely more money to harvest in Germany than in Spain, which is short of starving to death in economic terms.
TJ13? What has that source said?Quote:
Originally Posted by dj_bytedisaster
Actually yeah, you might have a point with that. If that had been the first or second time Alonso has angered Luca, then he would not have bitchslapped Alonso like that. I remember there was some incident last year with Pat Fry too at the India GP, but don't remember the details anymore.Quote:
The relationship between Ferrari and Alonso already have hit rock bottom. when was a multiple world champion bitch-slapped so publicly like Alonso yesterday and on his birthday, too. I think he's locked horns with them one time too often.
TJ13 is a specialized on F1 blog, maintained by a guy, who has several sources within most of the teams (Mechanics, soigneurs, Roadies). Usually beats the mainstream media to the big news by up to two weeks. They said immediately after Malaysia that Vettel's status as the golden boy was thoroughly thrashed after Malaysia, especially since sugar daddy Mateschitz is a Webber fanboi.Quote:
Originally Posted by Garry Walker
At India last year, Alonso threw a tantrum in the garage. He threatened the team to tweet that they haven't developed the car all year if they don't get their shyte together in a damn hurry. team play looks different...Quote:
Originally Posted by Garry Walker
Thanks, I did not know of that blog.Quote:
Originally Posted by dj_bytedisaster
:laugh: Yeah, that was it.Quote:
At India last year, Alonso threw a tantrum in the garage. He threatened the team to tweet that they haven't developed the car all year if they don't get their shyte together in a damn hurry. team play looks different...
He should be called the blackmail boy. I mean, how stupid and immature do you have to be to actually think threatning to tweet something like that would be productive? :laugh:
IIRC he also tried to pull something like that off while he was at McLaren. I have the utmost respect for him as a driver. He's capable of truly magnificent drives. Maybe not Senna-Donnington-93 or Schumacher-Barcelone-96 brilliant, but brilliant nonetheless. As a person, however, his style leaves a lot to be desired. There is a fine line between being ruthlessly determined like Senna and just being an arrogant twat. I'm afraid currently he slots in to the second category :SQuote:
Originally Posted by Garry Walker
Yep, that is why I said that. Ended up costing McLaren 100 million dollars :laugh: -Quote:
Originally Posted by dj_bytedisaster
Yes. Alonso is a great driver. That he did not win the title last year is a shame, because he was amazing in so many GPs. Yet as a person, there is a lot to be desired. I mean Senna was utterly utterly ruthless and so was Schumacher (quality that I actually rate highly), but Alonso is even worse, to the degree of being counter-productive.Quote:
I have the utmost respect for him as a driver. He's capable of truly magnificent drives. Maybe not Senna-Donnington-93 or Schumacher-Barcelone-96 brilliant, but brilliant nonetheless. As a person, however, his style leaves a lot to be desired. There is a fine line between being ruthlessly determined like Senna and just being an arrogant twat. I'm afraid currently he slots in to the second category :S
Red Bull knows of Alonsos antics, most teams do.
I admire Alonso's optimistic attitude in public interviews. Some other person could have become extremely bitter after seeing, what, like three titles slip out of his hand.
By the way, has anyone heard of Raikkonen to Ferrari rumors?
Kimi was asked about that today in Helsinki where is enjoying his holiday. No comment :)Quote:
Originally Posted by zako85
What I think for the 2014 grid is this:
RedBull: Vettel - Ricciardo/Raikonnen
Ferrari: Alonso - Massa/Hulkenberg
Mercedes: Hamilton - Rosberg
Lotus: Raikonnen/Ricciardo - Grosjean/Maldonado
McLaren: Button - Perez
FIF1: diResta/Bianchi - Sutil/Valsecchi/Calado/Nasr
STR: Ricciardo/da Costa - Vergne
Williams: Bottas - Maldonado/Magnussen/Nasr
Sauber: Hulkenberg/Frijns/Bianchi/Petrov/Sirotkin (though I think he wouldn't make it)
Caterham: Pic/Rossi/vd Garde/Nasr
Marussia: Nasr/Magnussen/Bianchi - Chilton
so basically anything is possibleQuote:
Originally Posted by lars75
lol
Here are my thoughts, for what they are worth
RedBull - Vettel and Ricciardo
Ferrari - Alonso and Hulk
Mercedes - Hamilton and Nico
Lotus - Kimi and Roman
McLaren - Button and Perez
Force India - Sutil and diResta
Sauber - Massa and Algusuari (a long shot)
STR - JEV and Bianchi (via Ferrari links)
Williams - Maldo and Bottas
Caterham - Kovalinen and Pic
Marussia - Chilton and Berthon
The rumor mill can't be wrong. Raikkonen will replace Massa at Ferrari. Ricciardo to Red Bull. Lotus probably will likely go with Grosjean and Hulkenberg.
Interesting rumour. I can't see Kimi willing to be #2 to Fred, though... :vader:
I don't think Ferrari would mind too much about 2 #1's/ I think though that the garage will be firmly split into 2 campsQuote:
Originally Posted by TheFamousEccles
I also think ( a bit hopeful) that Alonso has learned from his lessons in 2007 and has matured to accept a driver equally as capable.
...then again the whole thing could blow up in their face, especially if Kimi starts winning and if they do have a few on track battles
I'll get my popcorn ready for those radio communications
I see that it is the time of year when Massa admits his drive is in doubt for next year.
It's become an annual event.
For what it is worth, which is nothing, I would not be surprised to see a driver in the Ferrari who is already employed to drive a Ferrari, and raced in F1 last year.
The year off hasn't noticeably hurt Sutil's speed, so I don't expect it would hurt Kobayashi's.
Personally (and I am often way wrong :) ) I doubt that Ferrari would take Kimi back, he hardly covered himself in glory for them in the seasons after his title, so much so that Massa completely out performed him.
I too cannot see Kimi back at Maranello.
Despite the success of 2007, it was never a beautiful relationship.
More likely it is a Robertson-fuelled rumour designed to extract the best offer elsewhere.
The only time I can see Kimi return is if Alonso goes to Red Bull. That would leave Ferrari needing an A+ driver.
True but would Kimi be that? If the car is as poor as the ones Alonso has had for the last few seasons, would Kimi be able to or be interested in hauling it up to the front, or would he give up?
Don't misunderstand me I think Kimi is a wonderful driver... when he is motivated, but I do question his ability to keep motivated when things aren't working well for him
I belive, weird ofcourse, that Ferrari wants Kimi back. They cant afford him.
I believe Massa is out at the end of the year. In past years when Massa was being evaluated, the question of whether any available drivers would be an upgrade was highly doubtful. But this year there seems to be more evidence that Massa is not the best option, and that there are several drivers who could do better. Hulkenberg and Raikonnen surely, and perhaps even di Resta, Perez (not sure is he is contracted to McLaren for '14), Grosjean, and Maldonado.
I agree that sadly for Felipe he will probably fall out of Ferrari this year.
However I cannot see Kimi going back to Ferrari (Could be wrong), but as people above said, it wasnt a great period between them before after the title season. Just cant see it Im afraid.
I think Kimi will stay at Lotus one more year if the Red Bull deal doesnt come along then maybe retire again?
IS: Kimi Räikkönen siirtymässä Ferrarille - Formula 1 - Urheilu - Helsingin Sanomat
According to this, Kimi is going to Ferrari next year. The source, HS (via Iltasanomat) is the biggest newspaper in Finland, not a tabloid.
I won't believe it until I will see him sign a contract, but I would love to have him back :up:
I would also like to see Kimi back at Ferrari, almost as much as I'd like The Boss there. However whatever happens, as fans we should appreciate the fact that we have several former world champions in the field, instead of having petty little arguments about who got slighted where, and when. This is a great period in time for F1 talent wise. Dig it :cool:
BTW It's time for Felipe to go :(
Yep, I think it's impossible but then again what do I know.Quote:
Originally Posted by pino
Maybe I am wrong about Kimi going back to Maranello.
This from Germany - Bild correspondents Nicola Pohl and Helmut Uhl report that Ferrari "has made the Finn an offer".
But as mentioned by others. Until there is ink on paper it is just talk
Hello everybody!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr Alca-Tazizzle
Absolutely, the driver lineup among the top runners, Hamilton, Vettel, Alonso,and Raikkonen, can only bring a smile to most F1 fans. Along with the cast who are nipping at their heels...(talent wise) Button, Rosberg Hulkenberg, di Resta, Sutil, and Grojean when he settles down is all good.
Daily #F1 News and Comment: Wednesday 14th August 2013 | thejudge13
BBC Sport - Kimi Raikkonen 'wants Ferrari return' claims Eddie Jordan
TJ13 and Eddie Jordan have both been on the money with big announcements recently.
I'd be amazed if it wasn't true.
Ricciardo to RBR seems a certainty.
It will be interesting to see how close to Vettel Daniel can be. In my opinion he is a better driver than Webber (no disrespect aimed at Mark, it is simply a big tick for Ricciardo's talent)Quote:
Originally Posted by Ranger
I´m troubled, I can´t see any in the current field who could develop to the level of the "big four" in the future.