2012 Predictions / Driver Line-up / News etc...

Assuming Di Resta and Hulkenberg get the Force India seats, there will be four seats left (2 STR, 1 Williams, 1 HRT). Also possibly Trulli's seat if the rumours are true.
Buemi, Alguersuari, Ricciardo, Senna, Sutil, Petrov, Barrichello, Liuzzi and Clos are the likely fighters.

 

I know this is the biased Aussie in me, but I wouldn't count out Ricciardo either for that last Williams seat. Frank Williams hailed him as "the next big thing", plus he'd have the backing of Red Bull's pockets.

 

And a good Renault link up as Red bull are now the works team

 

The way I see it:
FI will choose DiR and Hulk. The way it's been talked about for weeks now suggests it's a done deal.
Sutil will get the Williams seat. The way he's led FI for the last couple of years says to me he's too good not to get a drive for next year.
STR is too close to call. We seem to get contradictory reports on a daily basis.
Caterham will get Vergne or Ricciardo; whichever one doesn't get the STR seat.
And HRT could get frankly anybody.

 

Boullier is a clown but then we all knew this already.
I suppose at least he should be an improvement on Petrov and that's something.

 

Williams need an experienced driver. If they ran with Ricciardo/Senna partnered with Maldonado (worst driver in F1) it would be suicide, coming from a fan of theirs. I am 90% sure it will be Sutil.

 

Two rookie drivers are pointless.

 

Just my opinion though, not stating a solid fact even if it is a crazy one.

Yes Eric did say Grojsean to be highly considered for next year if Kubica didn't return, but he never said anything about involving Petrov last time I checked. I would of assumed the way they were talking for next year, it would be a Petrov/Grojsean pairing. At the time people thought Kimi would be with Williams only a few months ago and never really linked to Renault entirely let alone at all!

Kimi must of been last moment since it's likely Kubica wont be extending his contract.

Yeah the race of champions is meaningless, but it surely supported Eric's thought to do it as Romain beat Petrov by a decent margine. I'm not saying Eric was there like some football manager and went "Hmmm yes Romain has proved his F1 talent entirely" It just seems funny how after beating Petrov a few days ago he gets the seat next to Kimi, that's what I'm pointing at.

And another reason, why would Petrov even be caught dead in Renault gear if his contract was already broken by the team? They cant tell him to do anything if they're the ones sacking contracted people when only striking a deal start of the season. If it was decided only just a few days after, ok they covered their tracks well, but months away in advance? I don't think so somehow as there were no whispers from the F1 media what so ever.

Petrov had the money so it just seemed unlikely at the time.

 

Agreed. This is very likely.

I don't mean to be rude Silver but I find it difficult to put this any other way: nonsense!

I think the following post from Mifune is far more accurate:

 

Just bringing it up again for those to see.

If it was decided "ages ago" why not say it far sooner, just after the Brazilian GP or something and not 3-4 weeks after...

Basically I'm saying it was one of the many factors that got him that seat, not 100% entirely as people are trying to make out.

 

I do not know the reason for the timing of the announcement but I am sure that it is just coincidence, if even that, that is happened a week after the R of C. Most likely it was to do with when the contract negotiations finished, both Grosjean's and Total's, contract negotiations are usually long drawn out affairs so Lotus could of decided to sign Grosjean months ago but only finished the contracts a few days ago. To be honest I doubt Boullier even watched the R of C or was even aware of any of the results.

 

A reckless risk by Renault/Lotus. Hiring two drivers which haven't competitively raced in F1 for 2 years is madness in my opinion.

 

My Prediction...

Grosjean will be ahead of Kimi after 6 races but Kimi will finish 30 points clear by the end.

 

Bold.

 

You're not being specific enough...........

 

... back to the drawing board, I'll be back in 176.2 Hours

 

You'd better be. I'll be back here on Saturday 17th December at 04:17 to make sure

 

Damn

 

I have far too much time on my hands.................

 

I'm really pleased about this, I rate Grosjean highly and think Lotus have one of the strongest line ups on the grid now, probably fourth behind the big three, ahead of Mercedes in my opinion.

Disappointed they've extended the Total deal, their branding spoils what is an otherwise beautiful car.