da Costa should definitely be at STR next season. Based on past form I doubt Vergne will get another season, although you never know - stable development platform and all that.
So Ricciardo has signed for Red Bull.... HE said he doesnt plan to run around in 10 place.... Maybe he is thinking more about 6th or 7th? maybe?...lol
http://www.isdanielricciardoatredbullyet.com/ Although I never really liked the idea of going to RBR for him, the alternative was to stay at STR and be kicked out of F1 altogether with no other financial backing. I suppose even if he has to be Seb's bitch for a year or so before Vettel leaves RBR, it means he's at the front with the big guys and his career's only just getting started eith the opportunity for podiums and wins. I hope he can stick it to Vettel as much as possible. Good luck Dan, you have the CEO of your fan-club right here, right behind you all the way!
Interesting little snap. Jon Heder and Will Smith everybody please log in to view this image Also, apparently it's a whopping 3-year contract! That's longer than Vettel signed when he transferred from STR to RBR and it's longer than Vettel has on his current contract! Bloody hell.
Yeah pretty much. It's also good to see the big teams, i.e. McLaren and RBR taking a punt on young drivers instead of watching the same revolving door amongst the top suspects, and a separate revolving door in the midfield. This generation (Raikkonen, Button, Massa, Alonso) of drivers aren't going to last forever so you may as well get the jump on other teams by developing new talent early on
Great news for Ricciardo but like I said before, it's disappointing that Red Bull decided against a more entertaining Raikkonen-Vettel line-up. Now it's up to Ferrari to make 2014 interesting, and according to James Allen:
Hopefully Daniel will shut up a few people and challenge Vettel for the majority of the season. He's quick in qualifying but seems to struggle in the race and with consistency even more so than Vettel did back in 2009, but given time he came good so the same might be with Daniel. Also with the new regulations we have no idea how it will shift for driver ability, Vettel might become **** and Massa becomes the best driver on the grid. All we know from 2014 is that the drivers will start from scratch again, top 4 drivers included! Though I found it strange with Newey pretty much hinting that Daniel would be the Damon Hill of the Williams days and giving a small hint that Vettel would be the Prost.
According to La Gazzetta: Still on the subject of the market, Kimi Raikkonen and close to return to Ferrari, but for now there is only an option in black and white (also have the option remains alive Hulkenburg, but also someone throws them: sabbatical to Alonso). Kimi and the strong man among the available saw that Button will stay at McLaren. The problem is that Ferrari wants fast riders, but also skilled pr for the product series and sponsors, on which Kimi was not in harmony with the president Montezemolo. The question will be defined before Singapore. But the Lotus and Eric Boullier still hope to retain the Finn, but Kimi wants to stay in a team without the big budgets and free of Allison? So maybe I could open a gap for Valsecchi, tired of making the reservation. please log in to view this image
Valsecchi won't replace Kimi, they'll get Hulk and tell Total to pay up more for Romain's stupidty or they will ask Total to buy out Bianchi or something, maybe Nasr with his Brazilian millions will come. But I know for fact Valsecchi just doesn't have the talent (of even Grosjean), he's too old and he doesn't have that much money backing him... plus 12 years in junior categories it's far too long without getting into F1 when for example Vettel who only spent 4 years in the lower categories. I don't know any F1 driver who spent so long in the junior series and then do well in F1.
I think the Valsecchi suggestion is wishful thinking form the Italian media. I think if Grosjean is out, it's between Hulkenburg and Bianchi. I say that because in June Lopez said that Grosjean "is a natural talent and there are not too many others like him; Hulkenberg, Bianchi but I can't think of many others". Hulkenburg is the more experienced of the two so I think he would be the favourite, assuming he isn't signed by Ferrari.
Despite The Horse Whisperer's comments, I get the feeling Ferrari will announce someone at Monza, probably Raikkonen. If Raikkonen is currently close to a return, I think Ferrari will push to get the deal done so they can announce it at Monza.
We need something to spice up the market and create a buzz for next season - I can't stand the thought off Vettel cruising to a 5th straight championship with even less competition, both from within the team and out!
