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

AT&T have announced that they are ending their sponsorship of Williams.

So now Sir Frank has two big dilemmas. Number one: decide a second driver from a seemingly never-ending list of potential candidates. Number two: find a new title sponsor from a probably non-existent list of potential candidates.

 

So long as it's not PDVSA.

Let the speculation commence! If only there was a telecommunications company called "Just".

 

Isn't Qatar or something like that in talks with williams?

 

Embratel?

Which would mean that Senna is close to signing with Williams.

 

Wow, Williams are providing more entertainment in the off-season than they did all of last year!

G'wan Frank, sign Senna. G'wan, g'wan, g'wan, g'wan, g'wan... Remember, "Europe's finished", South America's where it's happening, as Bernie half-said.

 

Mark Webber will be the first at the wheel of the eagerly awaited, Adrian Newey penned, Red Bull RB8 – the world champion team’s 2012 Formula 1 challenger.
While Mercedes does not intend to get its new single seater up and running until the second winter test, most top teams will roll out their 2012 contenders at Jerez.
When that Spanish test gets running on 7 February, it will be world champion Sebastian Vettel’s Australian teammate – 35-year-old Webber – at the controls, Auto Motor und Sport reports.
The German magazine says Vettel will then take over for the last days of the test.

http://www.yallaf1.com/2012/01/04/webber-will-be-first-to-drive-red-bull-rb8/

 

unlikely embratel. most likely a Qatar based company

 

If its a rival telecommunications company. would that not hurt Senna's chances? Doubt its Embratel i cant really imagine them being a title sponsor.

Very hard to predict who will get this seat. The losers may be watching their careers end.

 

I really hope Sutil gets the seat, I don't want to see him out of F1 especially after his best season yet.

 

No surprise then - who does the donkey work and who benefits from it…

 

Must be honest the first thing that came to mind was Telefonica
I don't think the title sponsors will be related to drivers though. "Another telecommuncations company" could be anyone from anywhere. O2? TIM? Let's just hope it's not Orange after the last team they sponsored (and who their technical director was )
Just wish Williams would hurry up and tell us. Really hoping Sutil doesn't get dropped after his fantastic season but I can see it happening.

 

although i hate to admit it, it seems like his chances are quite low in any case.

 

Its looking like Barrichello, but i really hope it isn't. Its nothing personal on rubens, but i dont see a way back for those who miss out the seat and Senna/Sutil have more to give.

It would be sad to see their careers cut short prematurely to extend barrichello's. I feel the same about Trulli at Caterham (especially after his arrogant comments about pay drivers).

The rumors about Bruno seem to have dried up sadly.

 

Raikkonen going to Enstone for a seat fitting tomorrow according to the BBC

 

Buemi named Red Bull reserve

http://en.espnf1.com/redbull/motorsport/story/67407.html

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Sebastien Buemi has been named as the Red Bull test and reserve driver for the 2012 season.

Buemi appeared to be without a drive following his release from Toro Rosso as both he and Jaime Alguersuari were replaced by Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne. Having been part of Red Bull's young driver programme for seven years, however, Buemi will remain with the team and he said that it was the best opportunity he could hope for having lost his race seat.

"It's good to remain with Red Bull for another year and have this opportunity with the World Championship winning team," Buemi said. "I would prefer to be driving at the races of course, but working with Red Bull Racing on the development of their car and providing them with feedback throughout the season is the next best thing."

Christian Horner said that it was the obvious move to retain Buemi's services in some capacity.

"It was entirely logical for Sébastien to continue with Red Bull having been a member of the Junior Team since 2004," Horner said. "He already knows the team well from his time with us in 2008 and has gained significant race experience over the past three years. He will complete important test and simulation work for us throughout the year and will be in attendance at each grand prix."
© ESPN EMEA Ltd.
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is this because of his middle east links? otherwise why retain a driver who didnt make the grade? why note push up another red bull junior chappy?

 

Buemi confirming what most have suspected for over a season, that toro rosso is, in fact, the same team as RBR.

 

Reality check?
Suspected? ...... Its a known fact that both teams have the same owner, so whats your point?
Red Bull has done and does more for the F1 fans than anyone else in the last years. I can't remember any showrun from Ferrari.
Besides that, if Ferrari want more cars why don't they buy another team and go the same way as Red Bull does?

 

Quite!
It contravenes the ethics of the sporting regulations, but circumvents them by having two Team Principals (Marko and Tost).

The only way around this is for the sporting regulations to stipulate that any team owner (Mateschitz in this case) may only own one team, but Bernie - who heavily influences the FIA - would seem quite happy to allow the present scenario to continue…

 

Car release dates 2012!

Red Bull: RB8 Feb 5th
Mclaren: MP4-27 Feb 1st
Ferrari: F12 Feb 3rd
Mercedes: W03 Feb 21st
Lotus:
Force India:
Sauber: C31 Feb 6th
Toro Rosso:
Williams:
Caterham:
HRT:
Marrusia:

can anybody fill in the rest?