F1 silly season is GO!

[garagegirl]

BSchneider, i agree with you. i reckon its only a matter of time till he lives mclaren, i just hope it aint mid-season, and i think heidfeld will take his place.

[garagegirl]

opps just read back what i wrote, he being Dc, in case anyone was wondering!

[Wrex]

Originally posted by Lee Janotta
The #1 seat at BAR may be open as well.

Jenson to loose his seat?

Ferrari will see Michael partner Rubins in his final year at Ferrari. The Williams line-up won't change in a hurry either.

I would think DC is a gonner but I have thought that soooooo many time before. Agree with the sheep comment.

Pizza boy, Firman and both JV's are surely taking early (and in 2 cases late) retirement next year. As will Frenzie.

I would like to see Fisi or Coultard in the Jag next year. With 2 quality drivers, the new leaner, meaner team and Fords support they may actually break into the top 4.

[shiny side up!]

I can't see Verstappen going anywhere... he brings in a ton of money for Minardi. May not be the best/quickest (sorry Steve...), but when you are paying the bills and not tearing up machinery, you are Minardi's dream driver...

[billaboy]

I haven't seen anything said here about Eddie Irvine coming back. He's been actively talking to Jordan. Anyone have anymore info on this?

[ASCII Man]

I think he could take Firmans seat.

Irvine back in F1 should be fun!

[LittleX]

What about Justin to Jordan?
A good free driver is something Eddie needs.

[MrSal]

Originally posted by Webslinger
I think MrSal means in a Grand Prix - or at least I hope that he does!

Yes. I did mean a permanent F1 drive, not a testing role!

[MrSal]

Originally posted by Dani Filth
must it be next year .. ..

No. If Massa EVER drives full time for Ferrari I will run the entire 2 1/2 miles naked. In the middle of winter. In the snow.
While there are drivers of the capability of Alonso, MS(for a few years yet) Fisi, Montoya, Button, Wilson, Kimi and Webber ahead of Massa in the pecking order and drivers like Bourdais, Piquet jr and Rosberg jr coming up through the junior formulae there is no chance WHATSOEVER of Massa getting a drive with any of the top 4 teams.

[EERO]

Originally posted by MrSal
No. If Massa EVER drives full time for Ferrari I will run the entire 2 1/2 miles naked. In the middle of winter. In the snow.....there is no chance WHATSOEVER of Massa getting a drive with any of the top 4 teams.

We'll make a point of remembering this and sell tickets to the ladies for the nude run.

Well, the Silly Season is going full bore and the rumour of Barrichello switching to Sauber isn't going away. Heidfeld may not be a hot property, but I'll bet he lands somewhere.

What I'd like to see, (tempered by plausibility and rumour):


Ferrari
TGF
Massa

Williams
Ralf
JPM

McLaren
Kimi
Fisi

Renault
Trulli
Alonso
(Villeneuve

Jaguar
Webber
Coulthard
(Wilson)

Sauber
Barrichello
HHF

BAR
Bunsen
Sato

TOYOTA
Panis
Da Matta


Jordan(Mercedes)
Wurz
Heidfeld
(Wilson)

Minardi (Ford)
Jos
Wilson


Out: Jacques, Firmin, Pizzonia

[Coach44]

I cant believe anyone would actually "really" believe that Massa has what it take to drive for Ferrari???????? I'm no Rubens' fan but come on he is much much better than Massa (and he shuts up and do as he is told)

[Adam43]

The trouble is we know little about Massa now. A year of testing with Ferrari could have done wonders for him. Only Ferrari will have a true idea about his current level.

[Coach44]

Yes maybe but why would they get rid of Rubens (a sure thing) for a young unproven driver

[Dani Filth]

he was brilliant in the Alfa Romeo .. ... at par with a few names like Giovanardi, Larini and Muller ... he's good . but yet to see how good ... but he need a drive for a top team to show as ... and Ferrari is a top team .. still

[Knowlesy]

Massa holds the lap record at Fiorano I beleive, so he has speed. We knew that last year. What he may have developed through his year of testing is the ability to keep a car on the road for more than five laps. How many stories have you heard that say "Massa trashes new Ferrari chassis"?
However, on a personal note, I would like to see Button or Wilson in a Ferrari. A brit in the Prancng Horses saddle? Sounds good to me!

[Redlake27]

Here is my 04 line up................

Ferrari M Schumacher G Fisichella
One year contract with a very cheap Fisi, whilst they assess Massa and wait for JPM/Alonso availability for '05
Williams JP Montoya J Villeneuve
Ralf gets sick of FW's snide remarks and jumps ship, leaving FW to get a very cheap JV!
McLaren K Raikonnen R Schumacher
Ralf.Smooth, unobtrusive, German, better than DC.Very McLaren.
Renault F Alonso J Trulli
Same as before
Sauber R Barrichello F Massa
A true Ferrari B team
BAR J Button T Sato
No surprises there
Jordan N Heidfeld C Albers
A Mercedes B team. Sponsored by Smart!
Toyota C Da Matta D Coulthard
DC does an Irvine and gets a few quid for his profile and expertise
Jaguar M Webber J Wilson
Solid, no frills team
Minardi J Verstappen G Pantano
Italian investors buy BE shares and take Minardi back to its roots again

What dyou reckon?

[Knowlesy]

That would be a great line up, but I can't see that much change over the grid.

[Inigo Montoya]

I would love to see Redlake's linup for sure!!!

[Thorstone]

I think it will be like this next season

FERRARI
Michael Schumacher
Felippe Massa

WILLIAMSF1 (BMW)
Juan Pablo Montoya
Ralf Schumacher

McLAREN (Mercedes)
Kimi Räikkönen
Mark Webber

RENAULT
Jarno Trulli Until he goes to Ferrari
Fernando Alonso

SAUBER (Petronas [Ferrari])
Rubens Barrichello
Justin Wilson

JORDAN (Mercedes)
Giancarlo Fisichella
Nick Heidfeld

JAGUAR
David Coulthard
Alexander Wurz

BAR (Honda)
SATO
Jenson Button

MINARDI (Cosworth)
Heinz-Harald Frentzen
Jos Verstappen

TOYOTA
Olivier PANIS or Jacques Villeneuve
Cristiano DA MATTA

[EERO]

Thor, are you suggesting that Ron would buy out Webber's three year contract at Jag? And Wilson at Sauber? No rumour, not even the merest whisper of one, suggests it.

[Thorstone]

Originally posted by EERO
Thor, are you suggesting that Ron would buy out Webber's three year contract at Jag? And Wilson at Sauber? No rumour, not even the merest whisper of one, suggests it.

Yes I think that is the reason why Wurz didn't go to Jaguar this year,I'm sure of Ron and Jaguar have made that agreement early this year

[bosch!]

The most bizzare rumour ive heard (read)is that Ron is going to sell the whole MP4-17/D/E/F package to EJ (he used to be a 2nd hand car dealer didnt he?) in return for his vote on technical matters. lets face it mclaren are going to have an awful lot of those chasis lying around.

Wurtz was probably offered somethin for next year in return for turning down jag,

so wurtz to Jordan <payoff>
Fisi to Maccers <ron has been being awfully nice to fisi>
DC to BAR <why not? a move will do him good>
JV to cart <heres hoping>
RS to Toyota <because he doent deserve the seat>
wilson to Jag

Do you want to know the numbers for next weeks lottery too?

[Mark Webber]

Martin B commented on a possibility of both Ralf & jpm NOT being at Williams next year as both contracts end at /end of 04
After the BMW contract was signed Williams was possibily going to go along Ford WRC lines and dump both drivers and reuse the cash on R & D and use young guns instead
maybe Pizza & Rosberg?

[Adam43]

I don't know about that. Williams like both Montoya and Ralf and I think Montoya is still pretty cheap at the moment.

[Mark Webber]

yeh but it has some logic to it and maritn also went on to say both r up for a $5 million rise in pay which would take them both to $25 mil each .$50 mil is a lot of chassis development and fw does have Pizza on his books . Does he still have Button ? and Rosberg is held in high regard with fw .
even with two young guns and the extra millions spend on chassis and with M Power units I'am sure they wouldn't be to far setback. would they?