Sorry, but another silly season thread

[Mr V]

I apologise for yet another silly season thread, but i thought i'd start this covering most of the (top) drivers with what i've read on the net and in magazines just lately...

Alfonso - McLaren (confirmed)
Fisi - Renault/Honda
Kimi - McLaren/Ferrari/Toyota
JPM - McLaren/Renault/Red Bull/Honda
Michael - Ferrari/Renault/Red Bull/BMW/Retirement
Massa - Ferrari/out of Ferrari - no other team forthcoming
Jenson - Honda (confirmed)
Rubens - Honda/out of Honda - no other team forthcoming
Mark - Williams/Renault
Nico - Williams/McLaren
DC - Red Bull/retirement - possibly management
Klien - Red Bull/Ferrari

This season could see the biggest driver change in a good few years, i just love the "theatre" of F1 and can't wait for the silly season in full swing

[Knowlesy]

Ooh, silly season is fun!

Alfonso - McLaren (confirmed)
Fisi - Retirement.
Kimi - Ferrari
JPM - BMW/Red Bull
Michael - Ferrari
Massa - No idea!
Rubens - Retirement.
Mark - Renault
Nico - Williams
DC - Red Bull
Klien - Red Bull/Toro Rosso/BMW

Not forgetting all the newbies we'll get....Kovaleinen, Hamilton are possibles!

[ralf fan]

Alfonso - McLaren (confirmed)
Fisi - Aguri
Kimi - Ferrari
JPM - Red Bull
Michael - Ferrari
Massa - BMW?
Jenson - Honda (confirmed)
Rubens - forced retirement
Mark - Williams/Renault
Nico - Williams
DC -retirement
Klien - Red Bull/ BMW

Kovalainen - Renault
Hamilton - Mclaren tester

[kipper]

My predictions (which will go awray almost immediately, given my track record)
BMW: Heidfeld, Klien
Ferrari: Raikkonen, Massa but then maybe not
Honda: Button, Barrichello
McLaren: Alonso, Can't see them retaining Montoya, so maybe Paffett
MF1: Who ever raises the most cash
Red Bull: Coulthard, Liuzzi
Renault: M. Schumacher (nice idea, probably'll never happen), Kovaleinen
Super Aguri: Sato, either a Japanese driver or Montagny, Carroll or Davidson
Toro Rosso: Speed, Jani
Toyota: Trulli, R. Schumacher
Williams: Webber, Rosberg (I suspect that after the Button affair(s), Nico'll be on a solid contract)
Obviously this could all change next week depending on who is seen chatting to who, whether Midland is sold, etc

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by ralf fan

Fisi - Aguri

Well,at least you haven't retired him.

[JeremySmith]

Anthony Davidson to Super Aguri....Perfect go Ant!

[Mr V]

Originally Posted by kipper

My predictions (which will go awray almost immediately, given my track record)

Are you saying that JPM won't be racing in F1 in 2007?

[Mark Webber]

cool these are always a laugh

Alonso - McLaren (confirmed)
JPM - McLaren
Fisi - Ferrari/ or no drive
Kimi - Ferrari
Massa - Testing for Ferrari/ or NO.2 seat
Jenson - Honda (confirmed)
Rubens - Honda
Michael - Renault
Mark - Renault
Nico - Williams
Wurz - Williams
DC - Red Bull
Klien - Red Bull
luzzi - ST
Speed -ST
Davidson - Super Aquri
Sato - Super Aquri
Ralf - Toyota
Jarno- Toyota

[Scott Moyse]

Ferrari: MS and either Massa or Kimi
Renualt: Either MS, Webber or Kimi and Fisi or Kovalainen
Williams: Webber or Wurz and Rosberg
Mclaren: Alonso and Paffett or Montoya
Honda: Button and Rubens
Toyota: RS and trulli or Massa or Fisi
BMW: Heidfeld and Villeneuve or Kubica, maybe Klien
Red Bull: DC and Luizzi
Torro Rosso: Scott Speed and Klien or one of their hot shots? maybe Monteiro
MF1: Albers and monteiro or Russian
Super Aguri: Sato and Davidson

at the end of the day who knows?

Williams Testers Alex Wurz or Narain and Joey Foster based on his pending domination of the German F3 series!!!!!!!!! Narian will be off to Super aguri in that case

[kipper]

Originally Posted by Mr V

Are you saying that JPM won't be racing in F1 in 2007?

I think its a possible scenario - given that if McLaren don't retain him next year, I can't see him fitting in with one of the other top teams like Ferrari, Williams or Toyota. Therefore, I see it a case of Red Bull or nothing, which given the number of drivers available to them. may limit Montoya's chances.

[Matthopps]

Renault: two from Fisi,JPM, Kovaleinen
McLaren: Alonso, Raikkonen/JPM/Paffett/Hamilton?
Ferrari: Michael Sch and 1 from Rossi, Raikkonen and Massa, or two from those three if Mike retires
Honda: Button and Barrichello/Davidson
Williams: Webber and Rosberg/Wurz
BMW: Heidfeld and Villeneuve/Wurz/Kubica/Trulli?/Anybody else!
Red Bull: DC and Klien
Toyota: Ralf Sch, Trulli/Massa?
STR: Liuzzi, Speed
Midland: Albers, Monteiro, Massa?
Super Aguri: Sato, Davidson or A.N.Other, probably Japanese

[Alwaysfirst]

Renault-Webber & Kovalainen (Fisichella will be forced into retirement. He may even be replaced before the season is through based on current performance)
McLaren-Raikkonen & de la Rosa or Hamilton
Ferrari-Michael Schumacher & Massa (Raikkonen won't join if Michael stays)
Williams-Rosberg & Wurz
Toyota-Ralf Schumacher & Trulli with others possible
Honda-Button & Davidson or Barrichello (if he can raise his game) or Carroll or Rossiter
BMW-Heidfeld & Montoya or Kubica or Klien
Red Bull-Montoya or Coulthard & Liuzzi
Toro Rosso-Speed & Jani or Doornbos or Ammermuller
Midland-God knows who based on their current policy of recruiting drivers varying between average (Albers, Monteiro) & complete drop-out (del Monte)
Super Aguri-Sato & Yamamoto or Montagny or Matsuura or Davidson

[marzF1rocks]

Be intreating to see the results and how they all fair next year...

[arthurive]

Let me have a go here.
The two big "dominoes" that need to fall first are MSchu and Kimi.
I believe that one will be at Ferrari and the other at Renault.
I really don't see a Michael/Kimi lineup at Ferrari. I don't think that either
of them want that.
I also think that Ferrari actually wants Raikkonen more than they want Michael. The problem for Ferrari is; how do they gracefully tell Michael that
"it's been great, but we have Kimi coming on board so you need to go" ?
Kimi to Renault has not been discussed much, but why not? Could happen.
The other point to consider is, if Kimi goes to Renault, would they also run
Kovalainen? Two Finns?
There is also a fair grouping of drivers that have uncertain futures.
Fisichella, Ralf, Trulli, JV, DC and even Montoya. They're all veterans now.
The problem is, there are presently only 7 (maybe 8) teams that these type
of drivers would consider. Ferrari, Renault, McLaren, Honda, Williams, BMW and Toyota. Maybe RedBull.
Lets look at these 8 teams for 2007

Ferrari - Kimi or Michael on 1 seat. - 2nd seat wide open.
Mclaren - Alonso in 1 seat - 2nd wide open
Renault - Kimi or Michael in 1 seat - 2nd seat, Kovalainen (unless Kimi goes there)
Honda - Button in 1 seat - Barrichello probably retained (has a contract)
BMW - Heidfeld in 1 seat - JV is a goner, 2nd seat wide open
Toyota - Ralf or Trulli (one will be retained for continuity - I think Ralf will be
retained) - 2nd seat wide open.
Williams - I think both drivers will be retained, unless Flavio still has his clutches on Webber.
RedBull - They like Liuzzi,, so I think he'll move over there. I see the 2nd seat
as wide open.

So I see openings at Ferrari, Mclaren, Toyota, Renault, BMW and Red Bull.
There will be a large fight to get these seats.
I see Fisichella, Trulli, Villeneuve, Coulthard, Montoya and Massa all potentially
on the move and in some trouble for 2007.

[Bleu]

Renault: Fisichella, Kovalainen
McLaren: Alonso, Räikkönen
Ferrari: M Schumacher, Massa
Toyota: R Schumacher, Trulli
Williams: Webber, Rosberg
Honda: Button, Davidson
Red Bull: Montoya, Liuzzi
BMW: Heidfeld, Kubica
Midland: Albers, Rusinov
Toro Rosso: Speed, Jani
Super Aguri: Sato, Yamamoto

[maltafan]

Originally Posted by kipper

My predictions (which will go awray almost immediately, given my track record)
BMW: Heidfeld, Klien
Ferrari: Raikkonen, Massa but then maybe not
Honda: Button, Barrichello
McLaren: Alonso, Can't see them retaining Montoya, so maybe Paffett
MF1: Who ever raises the most cash
Red Bull: Coulthard, Liuzzi
Renault: M. Schumacher (nice idea, probably'll never happen), Kovaleinen
Super Aguri: Sato, either a Japanese driver or Montagny, Carroll or Davidson
Toro Rosso: Speed, Jani
Toyota: Trulli, R. Schumacher
Williams: Webber, Rosberg (I suspect that after the Button affair(s), Nico'll be on a solid contract)
Obviously this could all change next week depending on who is seen chatting to who, whether Midland is sold, etc

Regarding Button, when he was at Williams, it as Frank who sent him to another team becasue he had Montoya on the way.

And yes, Nico has a very strinct, long term contract with Williams.

[Pro Racer]

Renault: Fisichella, Kovalainen or webber
McLaren: Alonso, Räikkönen
Ferrari: M Schumacher, Massa
Toyota: R Schumacher, Trulli
Williams: Webber, Rosberg/Wurz if Webber goes
Honda: Button, Barrichello
Red Bull: Montoya, Klein
BMW: Heidfeld, Kubica/Webber if he dosn't go to renault or stay at williams
Midland: Albers, Rusinov
Toro Rosso: Speed, Jani
Super Aguri: Sato, Yamamoto

[Mr V]

Hot off the press

Montoya signs for Honda

Ok, only joking, but the cameras did show him walking through the Honda garage before the race. He was back on the grid fairly quickly, so i can only assume it was for..

A. He quickly signed the contract

or

B. He was breaking his neck for a wee and that was the quickest route to the loo

[DeoValente]

Ferrari: Shumi, Rossi
Renault: Fisi, Webber
Mclaren: Lonso, Kimi
Williams: Rosberg, Trulli
Toyota: JPM, Ralf part 2
RedBull: Speed, Liuzzi
BMW: Heidfeld, Bourdais
TRosso: DC, Klien
Midland: Enge, some distant Abramovich nephew
Suzuki: Button, Sato part 2
Honda: Rubens, kovalainen

[Alan Raine]

I like Luca di Montezemolo' joke at an Imola press conference when he reckoned that Schui will set up his own team next year, Renault, who don't like spending money, will run a one car team for Massa and Ferrari will run 2 different drivers - Niki Lauda & Gerhard Berger!!!!!!

[speedbump]

2008
Prodrive : Villeneuve

[curveball]

Originally Posted by speedbump

2008
Prodrive : Villeneuve

Now that will add some excitement to race weekends!

[speedbump]

Could you imagin

That would be too funny

[Dutton]

Originally Posted by Mr V

A. He quickly signed the contract

or

B. He was breaking his neck for a wee and that was the quickest route to the loo

He had initially gone through causally as the quickest route to the loo, but was not desperate, but on the way signed a contract, which then caused him rushed to the loo as he couldn't contain the excitement!

[chunterer]

Surely the main points of contention are the following:

1/ Schu: will he won't he (not retire, but let in a top team mate!!)

2/ Will JPM take a load of dosh for a couple of years and join a midfiled team (possibly top team by the time he leaves??!!!) I think he's want to sign for a manufacturer backed team before that and Rossi may well be a Red Bull driver if he comes to F1.

3/ Forget Rossi to Ferrari - it ain't gonna happen unless he's mega quick.

4/ Will Toyota offload both drivers and sign one of the current top 4 (top 5 if you include Button of Fizzi!).

5/ If Kimi gets the $5mill pay off from Ferrari, does that leave him without a seat for next year? Surely Ron wouldn't resign a driver if his team was only a back up option? Perhaps Kimi and JPM will end up at Toyota!!

Reckon Rubens, DC, JV, Klien, Albers will all be out of F1.

Reckon Heikki, Piquet, Kubica will all get a race drive, possbile couple of others coming in also.