Article: 2013 Driver Line-ups, News & Rumours | Formula one

Anyone with a 2013 contract, with a rumoured 2013 contract, or with a 2012 contract that could be extended.

 

I wish more had this attitude

 

Some dont want to burn bridges with teams and just want to race. People like Kimi, Alonso and Webber dont really give a damn because they must feel their career in F1 wont be for very much longer or they have no intention of joining another team so they act how they want.

 

A couple of snippets on Schumacher and the Toro Rosso drivers but I don't think either of them affect expectations for 2013.

Interesting take on the Webber/Ferrari story from Joe Saward. Unlike the doubters who think that because it didn't happen last year it won't happen again this year, Saward thinks that because he reported it last year it's more likely to be true now.

 

The Sydney Morning Herald "understands Red Bull are all but ready to extend Webber's drive into next year."

 

As much as I hate to say it, Australian journalism when it comes it to F1 isn't particuarly strong. The Sydney Morning Herald, while a very successful newspaper, their articles on F1 are sparce and usually have a fair amount of discrepancies. I wouldn't take too much notice.

 

Yeah - "understands" is hardly conclusive evidence but this is the thread of unfounded speculation and dubious rumour.

 

If Ferrari have made a legitimate approach for Webber and he duely re-signs with RB, they will proabably feel a liitle aggrieved given that they made serious enquiries into Button and he then chose to re-sign with Mclaren. Whether or not the drivers serriously considered the Ferrari seat or not, Ferrari will feel that they have been used to negotiate better terms with the existing teams! How things have changed when a driver would jump at the opportunity to drive an Italian dream!

Regardless of their strength with Alonso, I believe they need another proven race winner in the other car who can help push development, Alonso and deliver consistent results! Ferrari need a WDC quickly but a WCC would satisfy the Italian press and Tifioso in the short term!

 

Webber being linked elsewhere proves what a reliable driver he really is, though I have to say I find it surprising after his disappointing year last year that he's being linked with another top, top drive. Also known for being good at feedback but somewhat outspoken about ill treatment - would he really want to go to Ferrari? ()

 

Horner talks about Webber: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/99392

 

It's a good bit of PR guff. Covers his bases, makes sure he seems to be in the loop, passes the blame onto Mark if he does choose to not renew his contract.

 

zzz, if it was sooo bad at Redbull why didn't Webber leave? Fact is not even Webber believes his own bullshit, only people who listen to Brundle.

 

Have a look at this interview. There's a quote from Webber:

He said here that if he isn't in a top team next year, he won't be in F1. I think the same thing applied when he was looking at his options for 2012, which would explain his comments from the interview with El Pais. If Ferrari are genuinely interested in signing Webber, even if it's only for one year, I'm sure he would sign.

 

This is the trouble, Massa is a proven race winner, who came so, so close to being champion. But yes, he's not good enough at the moment, but many proven race winners would struggle alongside Alonso. Based on Webber's 2011 (I know he's closer to Seb this year), then would he be much better?

 

Webber's 2011 was nowhere near as bad as the direct comparison with Vettel makes it look. You can say he had the dominant car but the RB7 and Vettel's driving style suited each other (mainly because of the EBD but also tyre usage) far better than the car and Webber did and he was pretty much level with Alonso throughout the season. As a driver using the tools he was given, 2011 wasn't such a bad year for Webber. It just looks poor because of Vettel's dominance, particularly in highlight areas like poles and victories.

Ferrari wouldn't base a decision just on 2011, though (and, if they did, perhaps that would be what they're looking for). Webber had a great 2010 and, thus far in 2012, he's much closer to Vettel in more neutral car.

On the flip side, Massa had a good run at the WDC in 2008 and he drove well then but in every season before and since he's only been a no. 2 driver because the teams only run two cars. If Ferrari ran three or four I'm pretty sure he'd've be the no. 3 or no. 4 driver.

So Massa and Webber both failed at a WDC shot when they had the chance, both by the slenderest of margins, and both are proven race winners. The difference, in my opinion, is that Massa's crap and getting worse and Webber's pretty good and maintaining that standard.

 

I agree. In terms of a replacement for Massa, I think it depends what Ferrari are looking for. Presumeably, they don't want someone who will challenge Alonso, but who is no slouch either and can score decent constructors points (where Massa is really struggling). The question is would Webber be a bit too close to Alonso for Ferrari's (or Fernando's) liking? Or do they perceive him as someone who wouldn't quite be at Alonso's level?

 

see where you are coming from genji , i personally cant see how any driver is going to get worse until age or whatever starts to effect the reflexes and as yet neither massa or webber are at that stage ,

i have allways felt in massa"s case the ferrari has been very average since alonso joined him and the spaniard just has more ability to do more with an uncompetitive chassis than felipe can - i just dont see how massa has suddenly turned rubbish since alonso has joined the team ,

i suppose you know what you are going to get with webber year in year out , i just feel vettel has elevated himself to a higher level of ability, intelligence and confidence since his first WDC and mark just cant compete with him anymore -

on the subject of webber joining ferrari , logically why would ferrari even want mark , alonso is going to decimate him in the same fashion he is beating massa , there are younger drivers out there with more potential than webber ,

i think behind the scenes the driver that ferrari are really waiting for is kubica for 2013 depending on when kubica will be up to speed again with his injuries , potentially if you think about it alonso and kubica would possibly be the most talented driver combination since prost and senna ,
--------- something that i am sure will be in the back of the ferrari hierarchy minds when choosing a partner for the spaniard for 2013 --

 

i thought perez was odds on for taking massa's seat.

 

I imagine a lot of drivers are fearful of the Ferrari 'no.2' seat and how much equality they will actually get and as Ferrari have not produced a genuine title contending car for a few seasons (even 2010 was more down to Red Bull reliability woes and Alonso's consistency in picking up points making up for the lack of out and out speed) what would be the advantage of moving there?

 

Wing-gate, the biggest non story in F1, spread by Webber and Brundle, the latter even mentioned before the change took place that Webber didn't like it.