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

Blimey, I never expected this to turn into two separate debates about HRT and Nazism. Any more Hitler comments will be removed. I will (grudgingly) allow the Hispania chat to continue though.

Could Webber be under pressure as well? Horner has confirmed he met with Hamilton last weekend, and by the sounds of it Toro Rosso are keen for both Buemi and Ricciardo to be driving, but also wants Alguersuari's cash. If Webber doesn't start matching Vettel he could have both Buemi and Hamilton after his drive.

 

I think Senna is one of the most overrated drivers in the last X years. Imo Chandhok was much better especially in the race. Also if Ayrton was never in F1, I doubt he would be.

 

Same with Piquet Jr. And you could maybe argue the same about Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve, even though they won world championships I never rated them that highly.

 

Basically I'm saying, he was only ever given a chance because of his name.

 

Well your wrong. How is he overated? 90% of people slag him off because of his surname IMO. Chandhok was slower, Bruno just broke down a lot. That is why Chandhok has better race statistics. Yes the surname helps but you don't get in to F1 without some talent (or financial backing). 2nd in GP2 for example. Chandhok is a pay driver he would never have been close to F1 without that fact.

 

I do not think that is really fair to be honest, he would of got the 2009 Honda seat if they did not pull out and Ross Brawn would not hire a driver who he did not see something in. Also in GP2 Senna beat Maldonado, Petrov, Chandhok, Buemi, di Grassi, Grosjean, d'Ambrosio, and Kobayashi.

In my opinion he is much much better that Chandhok, people just have a rose tinted view of Chandhok because a) he had way better reliabilty that Senna meaning he could plod about in last place for longer, and b) people like him of 5live so they think he is a good driver.

 

b) I think that is actually quite close to the truth, Miggins. I like Chandhok on 5 Live, which means I don't want him to be crap. It makes me wonder if team bosses use this sort of information when judging which driver to hire for the coming season. I remember thinking when Chandhok binned it on his first lap out of the pits in practice in Melbourne, "But how could this happen? He's so likeable on 5 Live."

 

Ok guys, I feel this has slightly got out of hand. I never said that Chandhok was outright better than Senna, Glock and Di Grassi. I just said he performed better in his 10 races and so finished higher than them in the 2010 table, meaning that that was sufficient evidence for me that he would be able to hold his own if he were promoted to the Team Lotus drive replacing Trulli.

Chandhok is the reserve driver for Team Lotus, thus, if Trulli left, Chandhok would presumably be the natural choice.

 

And Senna's in line for a possible drive at the other Lotus/Renault team so it's all good.

Gotta love how a debate about the two guys who drove sporadically for the worst team right at the back of the grid can be just as spirited as one about Alonso and Hamilton.

 

Indeed!

I haven't given a list of my predictions for 2012 line ups, so here it is.

Red Bull - Vettel & Webber
McLaren - Button & Hamilton
Ferrari - Alonso & Rosberg
Mercedes - Schumacher & Di Resta
Renault - Glock & Petrov
Sauber - Kobayashi & Perez
Williams - Massa & Maldonado
Force India - Sutil & Hulk
Torro Rosso - Buemi & Ricciardo
Lotus - Kovi & Chandhok
HRT - Who knows!?
Virgin - Not sure

 

Interesting article on line ups possibly changing this year here by James Allen

 

I think Massa to Sauber is a likely outcome, going back to Sauber with his ferrari experiance. The rest of his carear will be to the note of Trulli and Fisico

 

If Massa does go to Sauber then I could see Glock going to Williams (should Rubens retire). I don't think they'll be a space at Sauber next year. Despite his Ferrari links, I can't see Perez ending up there in 2012. He'll only have 1 year of experience in F1 and I don't think he'll perform any better than Massa at the moment. Kobayashi as he has said he wants to honour his contract at Sauber first before considering a move. However, I'm sure if Ferrari bought out his contract Sauber wouldn't be too unhappy. I just don't think it's likely, though I'll probably be proved wrong!

 

I think Peter sauber is ok with his drivers going to better teams. I think hes proud of being a stepping stone for young drivers. He is very very pleased with Kobayashi though this season

 

Yeah that's true, I think he knows that Kobayashi isn't likely to stay long.

 

I think Massa will go to Williams, I do not think there will be room for Massa at Sauber because I think they will keep their current drivers, and I think Massa will bring experience to replace Barrichello at Williams.

 

Indeed regarding massa not going to Sauber. When you also look at what other young talents are coming through with Telemax, like Esteban (19) could replace Kamui if he did leave Sauber for a bigger team. The kid has sponsors backing him and looked pretty good in the lower series'. The only problem I heard he has, is that he is a fast lap master but not very consistent doing it all the time.

 

He won at silverstone last year I think. GP3(?). He wasnt too bad then

 

RED BULL RACING -
VETTEL
WEBBER

- MCLAREN MERCEDES -
HAMILTON
BUTTON

- FERRARI -
ALONSO
MASSA

- MERCEDES GP -
SCHUMACHER
ROSBERG

- LOTUS RENAULT -
KUBICA
PETROV

- SAUBER FERRARI -
KOBAYASHI
PEREZ


- FORCE INDIA MERCEDES -
HULKENBERG
Di RESTA

- TORO ROSSO FERRARI -
ALGUESUARI (Red Bull prefer him to Buemi)
RICCIARDO

- WILLIAMS COSWORTH -
SUTIL (have a weird feeling about it happening)
MALDONADO

- TEAM LOTUS RENAULT -
KOVALAINEN
TRULLI (I don't think he'll retire)

- HISPANIA RACING COSWORTH -
LAVAGGI
DELETRAZ (Just KIdding)

- VIRGIN RACING COSWORTH -
GLOCK
CUSTARD

I don't think there will be major changes. 2013 lineups will be the vastly altered ones.

 

As you can see i'm not being serious about HRT, as i don't expect them to compete next year.