which drivers will have to leave next season

minirda · 4 Aug 2004, 07:28 (Ref:1055828)

Silly season has already strated yet. "New" names occur. I wonder which drivers haven't performed good enough or have to leave for other reasons. Personally I suspect we've seen the most of
Baumgartner
Bruni (too bad)
Pantano
Da Matta
Klien
Massa

At least 30 candidates waiting to replace them.

**Adam43** · 4 Aug 2004, 07:56 (Ref:1055849)

It's not looking too good for Panis either.

sonic · 4 Aug 2004, 08:12 (Ref:1055859)

Hmmm, I doubt Massa will go Sauber will want to retain some continuity

and hasnt Slowgartner got loads of cash from the Hungarian govt still?

And Klien's Red Bull reserves can't have run out yet.

But yeah - if I were Panis id be looking for a retirement home, and the others should probably try and get a top DTM / ALMS drive

Attila · 4 Aug 2004, 09:12 (Ref:1055895)

sonic at the end Baumgartner did not receive money from the government. His sponsors and his family financing his ride. I think the family fortune is about to run out, so he is out by next season.

minirda · 4 Aug 2004, 09:38 (Ref:1055920)

Even Nick Heidfeld seems to have problems getting a seat.

**garcon** · 4 Aug 2004, 09:53 (Ref:1055933)

As we all know, the further down the grid you go the more a driver's wallet matters than his talent. Fortunately there are sponsors willing to back good talent, but it's the money that ultimately matters.

For that reason, no driver of a Minardi or Jordan is certain of his seat unless and until he's got next season's money available.

So Baumgartner, Bruni, Pantano may all still be standing when the music stops.

I'm guessing (hoping) Heidfeld will get a seat elsewhere, though maybe not at Williams.

Panis is surely nearing retirement, and may have it forced on him unless Toyota decide to keep him another year. In which case Da Matta would miss out and isn't top of anyone else's list either.

I'm sure Klien will stay at Jag and Massa will stay at Sauber. But I've been wrong before...

BootsOntheSide · 4 Aug 2004, 10:04 (Ref:1055944)

Massa will probably survive, and Klien might (although they might choose to switch the backing to Liuzzi), but I can see Panis, da Matta, Bruni, Pantano and Baumgartner being in the most danger.

Kicking-back · 4 Aug 2004, 10:45 (Ref:1055987)

Panis has spoken to Norbert Haug about DTM.

Norbert has also said DC has a guaranteed seat there if he's not in F1.

alesi95 · 4 Aug 2004, 11:52 (Ref:1056047)

Panis
Pantano
Da Matta
Baumgartner
Villeneuve

minirda · 4 Aug 2004, 12:28 (Ref:1056087)

Quote:

Originally posted by alesi95
Panis
Pantano
Da Matta
Baumgartner
Villeneuve

Villeneuve?

I meant current F1 drivers

Suzy · 4 Aug 2004, 13:04 (Ref:1056118)

If the rumours coming out of Brazil are to be believed, da Matta has already gone!

Zonta is expected to race for Toyota for the rest of the season.

Kicking-back · 4 Aug 2004, 13:06 (Ref:1056120)

Hmm. Breaking news indeed. We heard something similar a few months ago and it didn't happen.

spider · 4 Aug 2004, 13:54 (Ref:1056169)

I'd be surprised?! But, he did have a dire Hockenheim - utterly pathetic...

Zonta is super-quick, so would love to see him back in an F1 race seat...

esorniloc · 4 Aug 2004, 14:33 (Ref:1056202)

What about Coulthard?

He is out of McLaren at the end of the year!

darcym · 4 Aug 2004, 15:52 (Ref:1056258)

which drivers should leave next year......

Pantano
Klien
Sato
Baumgartner
Bruni
Trulli
da-matta
panis
Massa

Who should be in

Courtney (testing)
Davidson (racing)
Parfit (testing)
Carrol (testing)
JV (racing) like it or not he's a proven driver
green (testing)

the others I don't care who makes up the numbers,

but look at the test roll call, when this lot step up to race seats....what a year

Davidson

darcym · 4 Aug 2004, 15:56 (Ref:1056263)

don't know why it stuck Davidson on the end of that post ??? I didn't type it

GP Racer · 4 Aug 2004, 20:13 (Ref:1056483)

I agree with most of your list darcym, but Sato and Trulli?

I think Sato has all the makings of a great driver, and he had some great drives already. He has certainly pushed Button hard on occasion, and kept him at his best.

Trulli can also shine on occasion, and has. He's not very consistent, but what driver besides Michael is today?

minirda · 4 Aug 2004, 21:47 (Ref:1056549)

Quote:

Originally posted by GP Racer
I agree with most of your list darcym, but Sato and Trulli?

I think Sato has all the makings of a great driver, and he had some great drives already. He has certainly pushed Button hard on occasion, and kept him at his best.

Trulli can also shine on occasion, and has. He's not very consistent, but what driver besides Michael is today?

Dave Richards is not satisfied by the performance of Sato so far.

Trulli is a great driver, but seems to have fysical problems each race. I think Fisi will do better next season.

Wouldn't be so surprised when both drivers won't come back next year.

I would miss Satosan though.

alesi95 · 4 Aug 2004, 22:25 (Ref:1056572)

Quote:

Originally posted by minirda
Villeneuve?

I meant current F1 drivers

Yes Villeneve.

He's currently having a bad season with Williams, Renault and Mclaren. Or so i'm lead to believe by certain memebers of this forum.

Add to that list Verstappen.

GP Racer · 5 Aug 2004, 00:37 (Ref:1056621)

Quote:

Originally posted by minirda
Dave Richards is not satisfied by the performance of Sato so far.

Hadn't heard that before.:confused:

What exactly was Richards looking for Sato to do, win the WDC in the first year?

darcym · 5 Aug 2004, 15:56 (Ref:1057157)

GP Racer nice to have a good debate on this.

I agree Sato has done a few "ok" things, but this is his fouth (by my counting) year in F1....and to be honest he's still doing the stupid mistakes and he is not consistant. By my harsh rules 4 years, and in the car of BAR's standard he should be a postition ahead or behind (not perfectly) of button each race showing he gets the best out of the car. He's not doing this...so he's not of F1 standard.

Trulli the same he's quick but he's been in F1 for years and if he can't keep his head about him and get the best out of the car %90 of the time...then he's not good enough.

When you say not very consistant...but who is.

Its an intereststing point.

Michael is certainly consistant.

My view of consitancy at the moment is being consistant of your own ablities

eg: Webber is a good example of this, he's not always doing something "special" but he's always performing/working/driving the same

With this in mind Alonso/Coulthard/Button/Montoya/Kimi/Rubens (yes I do mean it) and a few others are performing well.

They don't let their head go down, they try to make the most out of not ideal situations or mistakes.

**Aysedasi** · 5 Aug 2004, 15:58 (Ref:1057161)

Schumacher?

Ludicrously inconsistent.

How did he lose that one race........?

f1manoz · 5 Aug 2004, 16:03 (Ref:1057166)

Both Minardi drivers will probably be out the door. Minardi have rarely kept the same two drivers.

Pantano will be given the boot if someone else with finance is found. Heidfeld will hopefully find another seat.

IMO Klein should be safe. He's got personal backing and hasn't really done a bad job.

da Matta is already gone. Zonta won't keep the seat past this year.

darcym · 5 Aug 2004, 16:55 (Ref:1057212)

Davidson to Toyota perhaps ? a "long term" investment in a proven youth ?

Zonta won't race in F1 (apart from Minardi) past 2004.

alesi95 · 5 Aug 2004, 17:46 (Ref:1057257)

Zonta won't race next year or be Toyota third driver. Toyota will fire him.

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