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

That's just a week away.

 

HRT blank, anyone surprised?

 

7 Feb Circuito Permanente de Jerez
REDBULL MCLAREN FERRARI SAUBER FORCEINDIA WILLIAMS
8 Feb Circuito Permanente de Jerez
9 Feb Circuito Permanente de Jerez
10 Feb Circuito Permanente de Jerez
21 Feb Circuit de Catalunya
MERCEDES
22 Feb Circuit de Catalunya
23 Feb Circuit de Catalunya
24 Feb Circuit de Catalunya
1 Mar Circuit de Catalunya
2 Mar Circuit de Catalunya
3 Mar Circuit de Catalunya
4 Mar Circuit de Catalunya
IN SEASON TESTING
1 May Mugello Circuit
2 May Mugello Circuit
3 May Mugello Circuit

 

They have at the very least made noises about getting to the first pre-season test this year.
The utter silence of Marussia I find more worrying.

 

Perhaps they were waiting to hear what HRT and Caterham were going to do?

EDIT - Seems their debut will probably be at the Barcelona test.

 

What I'm looking forward to is seeing what the new Williams is going to look like now that they'll have Renault engines and Bruno's Sponsorship. I hope they don't go to far and make a carbon copy of the '94 livery though.

 

Rather amusingly, whilst looking at Autosport to check about HRT I found out our list of launch dates is more up-to-date than theirs.

Well discovered WestCoast. Didn't see that.

 

No problem, it'll be interesting to see how Marussia do after dumping Virgin's 'CFD only' approach.

 

Yea exactly . It hasn't really helped them the last 2 years and stupid me ive only just realised that HRT have finished in front of them aswell so really it was a bad choice in the first place , oh well thats hindsight i guess lol

 

A couple of other snippets of news: Sauber have passed their crash test, and Barrichello's wife has vetoed any move by Rubens into Indycar. As for Sutil, apparently 2012 will be a transition year.In the article, his manager hints at a possible 'surprise' which may see him still involved in F1 in 2012, and also says that negotiations with Williams broke down over the length of contract.

Going off the last point, either Williams wanted to sign him long-term and Sutil maybe only wanted a single year - hinting at plans for the 2013 season, or Sutil wants to secure a drive for a while, and Williams weren't sure if he was the man they wanted long term. Personally I reckon it's the former, and with potentially Massa and Webber retiring around 2013, maybe Sutil has something lined up with Ferrari or Red Bull, if Kubica doesn't return, and Ricciardo/Vergne don't impress?

 

Sutil's probably got a test driving role with Mercedes, though I'd have him in the race seat over either of their drivers.

 

Rosberg is miles better. I don't get the hype over Sutil, he's fast but not spectacular. He hasn't produced a moment where I think "WOW that was amazing".

 

100% agree with this. Rosberg is good and I have never been a fan of Sutil, he usually has one or two decent drives a season and the rest of the time he is struggling to beat his team mates. Massively over hyped in my opinion.

 

Monaco...07 I think it was before Raikkonen took him out? His drive to 9th in the WDC this year (in the sixth fastest car)?

Sutil's a good driver and if the main problem at Williams was one of overambition he might just come to regret that decision. The reserve driver role is essentially the beginning of the end for the non-rookie.

 

I still think Sutil would have been the best choice for Williams but unfortunately he screwed over his own career with the glassing incident.

 

I'd say the same about Rosberg. Sutil has produced some great drives over the years, especially in the rain. Rosberg's reputation is built on beating a former legend who's a shadow of his old self.

 

I thought his driving in Brazil last year was amazing.

On DHC's point, Senna has a one year deal so I'd be surprised if Williams weren't able to give Sutil that option.

 

That seems odd. That surely means Sutil was after a longer deal, maybe he's more desperate for a drive than I'd thought.

 

His options for 2013 were already quite limited. Red Bull will probably promote a TR driver. Mercedes are looking more at Di Resta and possibly Hulkenburg. Ferrari have their eye on Perez and Kubica.

 

Clearly that wasn't the sticking point then. I wonder if it really was the glassing incident that caused Williams to pull the offer - as has been mentioned, Sutil brings his own sponsorship...

I wonder if Williams will be hiring two more new drivers next year at this rate.