mx_tifoso wrote:ESPImperium wrote:....
Id think that Ferrari will look at keeping Massa or a replacement with Perez or Sutil, Perez wants one more year at Sauber before moving so id recon Sutil or Massa.
Id recon that Hamilton will now stay at McLaren as i doubt he will move to Mercedes as Schumacher will probably stay on for one more year at least.
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I certainly hope that Massa isn't extended for another season, the past few ones have been excruciating and have lost Ferrari decent finishes in the CC and have not helped Alonso fend off rivals at the sharp end of the grid. At this point I'd even gladly accept Sutil.
As for McLaren, I've read something about possible Lotus talks. This stikes me as out of the blue! But it would be interesting to see him go out of the McLaren egg shell.
I think Massa is on for being retained, however its almost 50/50 on probabilities. He has just had a decent P4 at Silverstone and is improving to closer the standard he was at in 2009 pre Hungary. Ferrari may be risk averse, but i think they could take a risk for 2013 as rumor has it they may be willing to take a risk. The risk ive heard is that they are looking at Perez and Di Resta. Perez wants another season at Sauber, that is well documented. Di Resta on the other hand is now split away from Anthony Hamilton, and is looking for a new management team and is thinking it may be time to move to the sharp end of things, he is in pole posistion for MSCs seat, however i recon that MSC will stay for one more year at Mercedes, as MSC will make a decision in October even tho Brawn wants a decision for the end of the summer break in August. Ferrari may want Di Resta as he is someone who brings the car home, safely and plugs away results that would make Ferraris Constructors total better in the long run.
Either way, there is not alot of space on the grid for the ammount of F1 quality drivers arround. The sharp end is close to locked in for 2013, only Hamilton, Schumacher, Massa and Grosjean to be confirmed, whitch of that Massa is the only one i think can go either way.
Mid pack, it is now looking as if Williams will be taking Bottas, however it may be difficult if Senna plugs away getting as many points as he can whilst Maldanado goes from one stewards meeting to another and if Senna gets a weekend where he does well and scores a hat full of points or more if Maldanado is forced to sit a GP out. I think this is probable before the end of the season. If Senna outscores Maldanado he has a good cause for retention as he has had strong consistant results this year, as this year Senna has a better posistion placing than Maldanado by one place, however the anomoly is Spain where Maldanado had a P1 and Senna had a P23, giving them their average for that race, Senna outscores Maldanado by on average 3 places every race. Senna has scored points on 5 times to Maldanados 2.
Force India are looking at confirming Bianchi, Sauber i think will keep Kimui and Perez, Toro Rosso may be the only place where a seat may be avalable, however id expect Vergne and Riccardo to stay for one more year.
As for the lower down teams, Caterham will stay with the status quo, as Heikki i think will sign a new 3 year deal with them, and they will keep Petrov. However Petrov may be a casualty if Van Der Garde, Razia or Valchecchi get the €20m to replace him, Van Der Garde can with his money from MacGreggor and a couple other dutch companies, Valchecchi may not be able to raise the finance, Razia is seeminglty getting a package of sponsors from Brazil together that can give him €20m a season if needed. However i rate Petrov over all of those drivers.
Marussia i think will keep Pic to partner Glock as his parents can afford the reported €25m a season for him as they make an anual profit of €650m+ with their haulahge firm in France, and to be honest ive been impressed with Pic this season, learning under the radar, and learning to a good standard. HRT have PdlR for next year, and they also have a new car and posible engine and KERS deal on the way, however they will have a new #2 driver in Dani Clos, who can bring money to the team, however id expect him to get his GP debut at Abu Dhabi this year as Karthekeyn has money up to India. However this may be the only realistic seat for any new blood ion F1, or any returning blood.
Sadly i think that Sutil should look towards a single year with Ferrari, and if he cant get that, he should look at a deal in LMP1 with Toyota in their 3rd car next year, or a independant LMP1 team. Alguersauri i think should look at a simmilar route, whilst keeping the Pirelli testing going.
I think there will be one or two new drivers next year, but a status quo is what i think we are looking at.
This breed of GP2 drivers may be looking at being the next breed of Pantano, GP2 champions without a F1 drive the next season.
Whitch leads me to one point, is this the best quality grid line up in F1 history? Are the drivers of such quality now that even the best of the next step down arnt quite the quality that F1 is looking for. Or does money talk and bullshit just walk now?
