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

Montezemolo says that Massa will stay at Ferrari in 2012

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/93185

I don't believe him. Massa is contracted to race for Ferrari in 2012 so Montezemolo can't really say that he won't be driving for the team next year - not unless he announces the driver to replace him. I heard Webber was at Mugello recently to speak to Domenicali and the talks were quite serious.

 

According to Joe Saward, both Kimi and Sutil have been spotted visiting the Williams Factory. Looks like Rubens could be on the way out.

 

hmmm

Kimi and Sutil replacing Rubens and/or Pastor?

It's difficult to see that happening, although Sutil must be keeping his options open, given that Force India are undecided on whether to replace one of their current drivers (which would be Sutil) with Hulkenburg.

I thought Raikkonen would only drive for a winning team? I can't see why he'd turn down McLaren in 2010, only to drive for Williams in 2012.

 

Because he's Kimi Raikkonen, and his brain doesn't work logically. Maybe he sees something in williams that we don't, or they're offering to pay him a fortune.

 

He, he, he - let the speculation commence! May I declare the silly season officially open?

Phew, I was beginning to think it wouldn't happen this year.

So, I think it would be Rubens rather than Pastor; he's got Venezuela behind him and who'd mess with Chávez? I'd love to see Kimi back and it's always such a popular rumour but I'm not sure it would happen. I think he's got commitment issues and team bosses would be a bit wary. Then again, Williams must be pretty desperate right now.

 

Chavez has cancer, theres rumours that he's close to death. Whether the next leader of Venezuala would give williams the funds for maldonado is unsure.

 

That was 2 years ago. He's not set the rallying world or Nascar on fire so maybe he's taken stock and decided to return. Maybe it's a ploy to get other teams like Renault and Mercedes to notice him. Who knows?

 

I thought he'd been treated and was ok. I didn't know it was that serious.

 

Looks like there won't be any major changes next year then:
Mclaren will either secure Button long-term or take up the year on his contract.
Ferrari are sticking with Alonso and Massa.
Webber is staying at Red Bull and Seb is a non-starter.
Nico and Schumi both have contracts at Mercedes for next year.
Sauber are staying the same (much as I'd love to see Kobayashi move up the grid )
as are Lotus.
Toro Rosso we know will only change from within.
Renault will keep Senna and Petrov if Kubica hasn't recovered.
Virgin and HRT won't announce their drivers for next year for some time I'd expect so no point speculating.
the only question marks are Force India and Williams - namely, who are Williams looking to replace Rubens with? Sutil is oft-linked away from FI, especially with Hulk in reserve, but Williams appear to want money more than anything else.

 

The only way i can see Kimi at either Williams or FI is on a 1 year deal! That would give him a chance to get his sharpness back fro when the real musical chairs will begin in 2013! There is the potential for a Ferrari, Red Bull, Merc & Mclaren (either JB, LH or god forbid - both!) drive up for grabs and maybe he is looking at using next year to get himself in the frame for one last go?

 

why is massa still at bloody ferrari?
stefano please get rid of him

 

Same reason Kovalainen was at McLaren for two years, to be not quite as good as the #1 driver.

And it's not like he's done badly for it, don't forget how close he came to winning the WDC in 2008!

 

he's not the same felipe since hungary 2009

 

This seems plausible to me.

 

Apparently he has just gone to Cuba for his 4th round of chemo.


I would love it if Kimi came back to F1, maybe time away from F1 has re-energised him.

 

Buts he not "not quite as good as the #1. He's nowhere near as good." I wonder whether the injury has taken a good 2-4 tenths of Massa or if that 2008 Ferrari was more incredible than it gets credit for. Kovalainen is a not a great example either. He was sacked after two seasons. This is Felipe's second season of being useless.

 

I can see what Kimi is doing. He's got his eyes set on the 2013 red bull drive, so he'll need a season to get back into shape, and to get to grips with the new cars.

 

I am 98% sure Kimi Raikkonen will never drive in F1 again.

 

i'm 60% sure he will. On his day he was unbeatable. Easily the fastest driver on the grid. Maybe Vettel has taken that title now, but it would be interesting to see what Kimi could do in equal machinery.

 

kimi would get destroyed by vettel. he was easily beaten by massa in 2008 and pre-hungary 2009 massa was beating him 22 points to 10
ferrari had their no.2 driver leading the team from valencia 2008 onwards