Silly Season 2013/14

[iotar__]

With Kimi leaving Lotus will be desperate for Grojean Total's money. Logical move.
Logical choice will be the engage Hulk as his team mate.

Does Massa really have strong financial backing?

0. Lotus doesn't act logically - for good (team is still in F1) and for bad (results in the last two seasons). Having said that Massa negotiations are weird and surprising to be honest, bad/weird choice was expected, Massa as a candidate not - replacing one dead end with another. I'd go with Di Resta/Grosjean if performance was the only criterion, not that driver choices matter that much.

1. Being faster than "top driver" and many top performances don't hurt either.

2. That would be fourth different team for Hulkenberg in fourth season in F1 - Brundle's beloved journeyman with one bad decision after another. It would be funny if Lotus hires him and Sauber turns out to be as good or better

2. Massa's backing? I have no clue, if it even exists it's certainly not as big as Raikkonen's - all the Gillette, Burn money probably covered, I don't know, maybe even half of his salary (since every one is throwing made up amounts).

[SectorOne]

We have to commend Force India in these situations. They haven´t budged one bit on pay-drivers and only sign legitimate guys.
And they are mid-fielders unlike Lotus who are supposed to be a top team or at least right below.

[dren]

James Allen seems to think Hulk has the upper hand at Lotus. That'd leave a possible return to Sauber for Massa.

[JimClarkFan]

James Allen seems to think Hulk has the upper hand at Lotus. That'd leave a possible return to Sauber for Massa.

[-o< pls be true

[flattyre]

So, if Massa goes to Lotus, and Sauber are forced to kick out Hulkenburg... the only realistic option I could see for him is a return to Force India. That would be interesting, after FI did the exactly same thing to Sutil a year earlier. It's amazing that we are even talking about this - someone of his talent should not be having this problem!

I didn't mind the pay driver situation a few years ago (it only seemed to be in the smallest teams aka. Minardi. Talent always found its way to the top teams), but I'm getting more and more of a feeling that once the Alonso/Raikkonen/Hamilton generation have retired, most of the grid will be about who brings the most $$$...

[JimClarkFan]

So, if Massa goes to Lotus, and Sauber are forced to kick out Hulkenburg... the only realistic option I could see for him is a return to Force India. That would be interesting, after FI did the exactly same thing to Sutil a year earlier. It's amazing that we are even talking about this - someone of his talent should not be having this problem!

I didn't mind the pay driver situation a few years ago (it only seemed to be in the smallest teams aka. Minardi. Talent always found its way to the top teams), but I'm getting more and more of a feeling that once the Alonso/Raikkonen/Hamilton generation have retired, most of the grid will be about who brings the most $$$...

I am starting to feel that way too. I feel bad for Hulk, if he had a big sponsor behind him, he would be a shoe in.
One person who hasn't yet signed, although it seems likely that he will, is Button for Mclaren. Additionally Torro Rosso have an opening too so Hulkenburg does have options.
Another person I would like to see moving in Maldonardo - I have a soft spot for the guy.

[robthebloke]

With Kimi leaving Lotus will be desperate for Grojean Total's money. Logical move.
Logical choice will be the engage Hulk as his team mate.

Does Massa really have strong financial backing?

0. Lotus doesn't act logically - for good (team is still in F1) and for bad (results in the last two seasons). Having said that Massa negotiations are weird and surprising to be honest

It's not surprising at all. Put yourself in the situation of Lotus. If you go into negotiations with Hulk, and he's the only one you're talking to, he's the one calling the shots. If you're also talking to someone else, that's the leverage you need to make sure Hulk agrees to your terms. Massa is being used as leverage, nothing more imho.

[raymondu999]

We have to commend Force India in these situations. They haven´t budged one bit on pay-drivers and only sign legitimate guys.
And they are mid-fielders unlike Lotus who are supposed to be a top team or at least right below.

I'm not sure that's entirely true - Sutil brings some Medion backing, no?

[Kiril Varbanov]

FIA rocks the boat - Hulk pre-confirmed to Lotus:
https://twitter.com/GrandPrixDiary/stat ... 1779346432 The above is screenshot, here's the original URL - let's see the reaction speed - http://www.fia.com/2013-singapore-grand ... onferences

[johnny99]

They have corrected it now =D>

John

[skoop]

i hope hulk gets the seat. personally i'm not a big fan of him (think he's kinde boring), but i want to see if he's really as good a everyone says.

[CHT]

Will be a great for Hulk and lotus for sure. I think both he and Grojean should work together fine.

[SectorOne]

Nothing is certain yet. The above image was a mistake. Even if we would have not seen the original source from FIA, Hulkenberg would still be a Sauber driver since the Lotus drive is for 2014, not 2013.

[SectorOne]

So it seems Button signed a one year deal. Maybe Mclaren wants a clean sheet when Honda arrives.

[Joie de vivre]

So it seems Button signed a one year deal. Maybe Mclaren wants a clean sheet when Honda arrives.

of course. they'll go after alonso in 2015