FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[bud]

Right well Toyota are out as predicted, that leaves Trulli and Kobayashi up for grabs. It'll be interesting to see what happens over Qadbak now...

you called it too! i didnt expect it but atleast Sauber will stay in!

[vaptin]

feel bad for kobyashi - hope he gets a drive.

Trulli should be ok, although can only see him at a new team

[Jensonb]

Hopefully Qadbak can get their s**t together and put a team on the grid.

[Frosty]

Lewis Hamilton would welcome Kimi Raikkonen as his new McLaren Mercedes team-mate, the British driver's father Anthony Hamilton has confirmed.

2008 world champion Hamilton has until now stated his desire to keep Heikki Kovalainen alongside him, raising suggestions he does not want to be challenged by the occupant of the sister car.

"First, I want to say that neither Lewis nor myself have any influence on the decision," Hamilton Snr told the Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat.

"But if I was deciding between Kimi and Heikki, I would go for Kimi," he added, "even if I have nothing against Heikki.
Click here to find out more!
We've always like him; he's a great team-mate and does his job well.

"Kimi is a cool guy," Anthony Hamilton added. "I think he is the prime candidate and the best driver to be at Lewis' side in this team; they would push each other on."

Source: GMM
© CAPSIS International

I think Kimi is going to McLaren very soon.

[McLaren]

Lewis Hamilton would welcome Kimi Raikkonen as his new McLaren Mercedes team-mate, the British driver's father Anthony Hamilton has confirmed.

2008 world champion Hamilton has until now stated his desire to keep Heikki Kovalainen alongside him, raising suggestions he does not want to be challenged by the occupant of the sister car.

"First, I want to say that neither Lewis nor myself have any influence on the decision," Hamilton Snr told the Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat.

"But if I was deciding between Kimi and Heikki, I would go for Kimi," he added, "even if I have nothing against Heikki.
Click here to find out more!
We've always like him; he's a great team-mate and does his job well.

"Kimi is a cool guy," Anthony Hamilton added. "I think he is the prime candidate and the best driver to be at Lewis' side in this team; they would push each other on."

Source: GMM
© CAPSIS International

I think Kimi is going to McLaren very soon.

It's been a almost cert for ages just a case of Kimi holding out for as much money as possible

[Gilles 27]

I think the delay has been to do with the Hamiltons too. They have publically expressed their support for Kovalainen in the past and to be honest, I'm certain they would be happier with someone like Heidfeld alongside Lewis. The fact that they are now saying that they want Kimi sounds like it is close to being a done deal

[Tony_sa]

kobayashi needs a drive now as well. why not mclaren ?

[Hansy]

kobayashi needs a drive now as well. why not mclaren ?

Kobayashi 2010 World Champion

[Tony_sa]

kobayashi needs a drive now as well. why not mclaren ?

Kobayashi 2010 World Champion

like the ring of that one... dont see why not. if he in a fast car he'll do very well..

[Robert182]

seing as toyota are leaving f1what do you think will happen to Kobayashi ,Trulli and Glock ?

[Gilles 27]

Glock to Renault, unless they pull out this week too... Trulli won't get a drive at a current team, he might get one at a new team. Kobayashi doesn't have a great chance imo

[cap-dude]

Glock to Renault (he already said he just needs to sign the contract), Truili to Lotus (Gascoyne will bring Truili to Lotus without a doubt)
Since Sauber will now be a team next year, I'd say it'll be Heidfeld and Klien.

Unofficial Driver listing (all driver almost certain)

Brawn - Button - Rosberg
Red Bull - Vettel - Webber
McLaren - Hamilton - Raikkonen
Ferrari - Massa - Alonso
Williams - Barrichello - Hulkenburg
Renault - Kubica - Glock
Force India - Sutil - ???
STR - Buemi - Algy
Campos - Senna - De La Rosa
Manor - ??? - ???
USF1 - ??? - ???
Lotus - Truili - ???
Qadbak - Heidfeld - Klein

Drivers left without a seat - Bourdais, Kovalinen, Grosjean, Kobayashi, Luzzi, Piquet, Nakajima

I think we could see Kovalinen in a Force India next year. Out of the seats that are left, Force India are clearly the best option, rather than a new team. Plus the Mercedes connection will no doubt help. Or he could go back to Renault, but Glock appears to have already taken that option.

Bourdais could likely land a seat with USF1, considering the connection to the USA there.

Kobayashi and Grosjean deserve drives next year. Piquet doesn't and won't. Nakajima won't. Luzzi might just end up as Force India test driver again.

Lucas Di Grassi has been banging on the door of F1 for the last 3 years, and has a host of sponsors. Looks likely that he will be picked up by a new team.

[chemax]

Glock to Renault (he already said he just needs to sign the contract), Truili to Lotus (Gascoyne will bring Truili to Lotus without a doubt)
Since Sauber will now be a team next year, I'd say it'll be Heidfeld and Klien.

Unofficial Driver listing (all driver almost certain)

Brawn - Button - Rosberg
Red Bull - Vettel - Webber
McLaren - Hamilton - Raikkonen
Ferrari - Massa - Alonso
Williams - Barrichello - Hulkenburg
Renault - Kubica - Glock
Force India - Sutil - ???
STR - Buemi - Algy
Campos - Senna - De La Rosa
Manor - ??? - ???
USF1 - ??? - ???
Lotus - Truili - ???
Qadbak - Heidfeld - Klein

Drivers left without a seat - Bourdais, Kovalinen, Grosjean, Kobayashi, Luzzi, Piquet, Nakajima

I think we could see Kovalinen in a Force India next year. Out of the seats that are left, Force India are clearly the best option, rather than a new team. Plus the Mercedes connection will no doubt help. Or he could go back to Renault, but Glock appears to have already taken that option.

Bourdais could likely land a seat with USF1, considering the connection to the USA there.

Kobayashi and Grosjean deserve drives next year. Piquet doesn't and won't. Nakajima won't. Luzzi might just end up as Force India test driver again.

Lucas Di Grassi has been banging on the door of F1 for the last 3 years, and has a host of sponsors. Looks likely that he will be picked up by a new team.

I agree about Kobayashi, I'd like to see him starting somewhere next year.

What's the connection with Bourdais & USA? I need to look that up...

[ivey]

That's really shitty for Kobayashi, by his two great performances I'd rank him much higher than some drivers who already have a seat, a douche like Nakajima gets to drive for two years :S. Now it's F1 or no racing for him. Life is unfair

[Jensonb]

What's the connection with Bourdais & USA? I need to look that up...

Bourdais won the ChampCar Series 4 times straight.