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

Just for the sake of Argument say Hamilton has definitely signed for Mercedes


They all say unless the cars is set up perfectly Button is merely good, but if the set up is spot on then he is untouchable. And we have seen this several times, mostly in 2009 of course and more recently at Spa 2012.

This is supposedly what made Barrichello a perfect team mate for him, excellent at set up but not fast enough to beat him in it (To a certain extent this will have helped Schumacher as well)


We could possibly see McLaren get a driver just to set the car up perfectly for Button to repeat 2009.

Now what makes Force-India slower than last year?

Sutil was getting quite experienced by 2011 and when he left he had just come off the back of his best season to date, now FI have 2 inexperienced drivers. Might it be possible that Sutil had by that point become very skilled at car set up and now FI are struggling a bit due to missing out on that.

If so is it possible that McLaren might sign Sutil alongside Button? Get the car perfect for Button to do his unbeatable thing and hunt down the WDC while Sutil is certainly fast enough to help McLaren get the WCC. And on the occasions when Button falters Sutil is fast enough to take up the slack?

Would be an interesting team

 

I'd just like to see Sutil back racing. Dont know if he's World Champion material but he surely deserves a spot like that.

 

Good call sea-man, Sutil's a good driver, as Force India are noticing now that he's gone, would be good for set-up and development.

 

He would have to improve his running technique though

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foviGJQvJnw

 

Never ceases to crack me up!

 

Thinking about it what has Sutil been doing all year? Has he done any motorsport?

 

Probably playing the piano. he's supposed to be damn good at it.

 

Massa still clinging top hope!

http://www1.skysports.com/formula-1/news/12474/8089575/Massa-Strong-results-will-help

 

I get the impression things will turn ugly in 2014.

 

He said that couple of months ago didn't he? About Monaco time I think...

 

Max Chilton, tipped by some to replace Pic next year, has been promoted by Marussia to reserve driver for the remainder of this season.

Perez -> Mclaren Pic -> Sauber Chilton -> Marussia?

EDIT: Also interesting: Boullier reckons d'Ambrosio deserves to be on the grid next year... SPECULATE

 

More Interesting news.

Vijay Mallya has stated that both current FI drivers are staing for 2013
http://www.f1today.net/en/news/force-india-pair-staying-in-2013--mallya

Boh drivers have been linked to either Mclaren or Mercedes depending on the Hamilton/Schumacher decision.

Raikkonen has also stated he is happy to remain at Lotus for next year

 

That's surprising. It's not the announcement of new contracts for them, more a disgruntled "stop bothering me - their existing contracts run to end 2013" but (unless someone can correct me) I'm pretty sure both their contracts were for 2012 only. Still, he's said it so I suppose it's fact.

 

Its supprising for me as I thought they would be continuing with the theme of moving the senior driver on and bringing the test driver in.

I thought they both had exiring cotracts at the end of this year too but I guess they both had options and both will take up.

 

Personally I think Mallya is bluffing a position of strength (wouldn't be the first time) - surely Ferrari will already be leaning on him to put Bianchi in the car next year?

Unless Bianchi is taking up Massa's seat... which would be ironic given that's what Massa did to Barichello!

 

what about Grosjean, very fast from time to time but terribly erratic, worse than Maldondo IMO, will he still be at Lotus? And Williams? what will their driver line-up be? Maldonado has given them the win but Senna has been far more consistent points wise, and IMO is improving all the time where Pastor seems to be going backwards (into other drivers mainly), possibly a seat for Kovey, who can't really be overlooked for a move to a points scoring team, then there's HRT? I know the talk is always of the bigger teams but HRT need a driver who can deliver, I think that caris fasterthan it seems, but with a test driver and a bus driver in the seats it's not looking that good at all.

 

Untouchable logic, Sea-Man. However, di Resta is pretty good with set-up too.

Additionally, I think it worth mentioning that 'car-development' (i.e. its direction) should not be confused with 'car set-up' as such, since the former is the basis of the latter, rather than vice-versa.

 

Perez says no contact from McLaren.

http://www1.skysports.com/formula-1/news/12433/8094783/Perez-No-approach-from-McLaren

 

And Kimi says he has options?

http://www1.skysports.com/formula-1/news/24187/8094687/Raikkonen-cryptic-over-his-F1-future

Is he waiting on the mclaren seat I wonder?

Ted Kravits views on Kimi being a likely replacement for Lewis;

http://www1.skysports.com/formula-1/news/24187/8094574/-Raikkonen-a-likely-Plan-B-for-McLaren-

 

I dont buy into Kimi going back to McLaren or Ferrari. They are too corporate and stiff for his liking which is why he left in the first place. Lotus seems to fit him nicely