2012 Silly Season - Grid lineup

[Ranger]

Just a bit of speculation ahead of hopefully some solid news:

Red Bull
Vettel*, Webber*

McLaren
Button*, Hamilton*

Ferrari
Alonso* Massa*

Mercedes
Rosberg* Schumacher*

Lotus
Grosjean? Petrov? Senna?

Force India
Di Resta* Hulkenberg?

Sauber
Perez* Kobayashi*

Toro Rosso
Alguersuari? Ricciardo?

Williams
Maldonado? Raikkonen? Barrichello?

Caterham
Kovalainen? Trulli?

Marussia
Glock? Pic?

Hispania
Clos? Vergne?

Opinions:
- As ever we probably won't find out what STR are doing until a week or so before the season starts.
- I will be extremely surprised if Raikkonen actually signs for Williams.
- I do hope Grosjean gets a proper chance next year, as opposed to being #2 in the Alonso team for 6 races or so with no prior testing.
- My guess is that Kubica won't return in 2012. I hope I am wrong but don't see any news that suggests otherwise.

[Tumbo]

as are petrov, maldonado and kovalainen as far as I know

[jens]

And Glock has a contract until 2014... Well, that's the longest deal I can remember with a backmarker team... :\

[driveace]

Surprised the Trulli and Barrichelo have a seat next year,as I feel they are both past their "Best by"date.Nice guys and maybe good at feedback,but let's have some young ,hungry new drivers please,!

[Garry Walker]

Surprised the Trulli and Barrichelo have a seat next year,as I feel they are both past their "Best by"date.Nice guys and maybe good at feedback,but let's have some young ,hungry new drivers please,!

Hungry drivers like hulkenberg who was clearly beaten by Barrichello last year? Maldonado who is at best about equal with RB?

[driveace]

Not HUNGRY enough Garry,and I was not thinking on the lines,of Hulkenburg or Maldonardo,and every man and his dog know why Pastor is at Williams,and it's not because of his driving ability !!!

[Garry Walker]

Not HUNGRY enough Garry,and I was not thinking on the lines,of Hulkenburg or Maldonardo,and every man and his dog know why Pastor is at Williams,and it's not because of his driving ability !!!

So who were you thinking of? Bianchi? Bottas?

Maldonado has had a better season than what nico H had last year.

[Stuartf12007]

You missed Sutil, who i think could be at either Williams or Lotus, but he will have a drive

[Bezza]

I think apart from Kimi Raikkonen going to Williams, 2012 will not see many changes.

2013 - this is where everything will really change!

Webber and Massa are on their last legs at top teams after poor seasons. Red Bull are content for Webber to be back up to Vettel as that suits them fine, but he is aging. Ferrari were fine with Massa being second to Alonso, but in 2011 Massa has been hopeless.

So, 2013 my best guess of the top four teams:

Red Bull - Vettel / Ricciardo

Ferrari - Alonso / Kubica

McLaren - Hamilton / Button

Mercedes - Rosberg / di Resta

[CNR]

Trulli is confirmed as far as I know..

Questions raised over Trulli's Lotus position | F1 News | Nov 2011 | Crash.Net

Suspicions that the announcement of Jarno Trulli's re-signing with Team Lotus did not include definite confirmation that the Italian will race next season are being borne out in the Yas Marina paddock, amid rumours that the Italian will be usurped by any number of rivals in 2012.