FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[bud]

Rosberg and Williams not perforning at present
Willi Weber, most famous for being Michael Schumacher's long-time Formula One manager, has made a bold prediction about the next move for another highly rated German driver.

The 66-year-old, who currently handles the career of Williams test driver Nico Hulkenberg, reckons Nico Rosberg - who races for the Oxfordshire-based British team - will be bound for McLaren at the end of 2008.

Rosberg, 23, is under contract to Williams for 2009, but currently he is refusing to say he will definitely still be driving for the Toyota-powered outfit this time next year.

Weber told Sport Bild: "He has a clause in his contract that Williams can surely not fulfil.

"

Weber claims that Rosberg will be free to leave Williams if the team fails to finish fourth or better in the 2008 constructors' championship. The team currently lies sixth, nine points behind fourth placed Toyota.

Willi Weber continued: "Rosberg will replace Heikki Kovalainen, who will change back to Renault."

i dont see this happening not for the 09 Season at least. Heikki has performed really well this year despite some badluck. im hoping he can have a strong second half of the season and make rumours like this die down

[Hanwombat]

Heikki cant go back to Renault!
MEH we will just have to see what happens possibly 2010

[Kiwi_Chris]

You never know Lewis could pull the douchebag move of the century and go to Ferrari- allowing Rosberg in.Its a long shot but hey i dont think the Hamilton Clan have much respect for the Mclaren management anymore

[nikon133]

You never know Lewis could pull the douchebag move of the century and go to Ferrari- allowing Rosberg in.Its a long shot but hey i dont think the Hamilton Clan have much respect for the Mclaren management anymore

Any more..? Try EVER.

They were flirting with Williams not long ago, were they not?

[Kiwi_Chris]

yeah i think they were flirting with williams but i dont think Hamilton could handle Patrick Head.
Still a Rosberg/ Kovy line up at Mclaren would be nothing short of awesome

[KyrosV]

Mclaren: Hamilton
Rosberg

Williams: Piquet
Nakajima

Renault: Kovi
Di Grassi

[bud]

Wili Weber is saying this is going to Happen next year, so him saying Kovi going back to Renault would mean either Alonso is definitely on the move but where? or Piquet is getting the flick!
Back to Alonso i cant see him going to Ferrari for 2009 with Kimi saying he is racing on next year and i dont think they will drop Massa. I do think that Alonso will go to Ferrari in 2010 though

Personally i hope Kovi is staying right where he is

[McLaren Fan]

From F1 Live:

Haug defends Kovalainen's form
Praise for pace, but no talks of a new contract
16/07/08 16:23

A pretty mixed season so far for Kovalainen

Contrary to claims from Willi Weber as previously reported, Norbert Haug has given a strong hint that McLaren-Mercedes may not be looking to alter its driver line-up for the 2009 season.

Team newcomer Heikki Kovalainen has so far scored 24 points compared to his high-profile team-mate Lewis Hamilton's 48 for the joint championship lead, but has occasionally shown very strong pace.

Haug, the boss of McLaren's German manufacturer partner Mercedes-Benz, revealed there is 'no firmly arranged time' for talks about renewing the 26-year-old Finn's current contract.

He told Auto Motor und Sport: "In the end only the speed plays a role, and he has shown that he has that.

"Not always consistently, but he has had some highlights.
Heikki is a star in the making," Haug added.

In an interview with BBC Newsbeat, Kovalainen seems to agree.

Referring to his own performance for McLaren this season, he said: "I think there's been a lot of promise and the pace has been good but we haven't got good enough results yet."

E.A, Source: GMM
© CAPSIS International

That sounds like McLaren recognise Kovalainen's potential and would like him to stay at the team. Personally, I would like him to stay as well. He's shown he has the speed to be a top driver, but a combination of bad luck and the odd off day have cost him. His position in the drivers' championship does not reflect his efforts this season.

[EwanM]

From F1 Live:

Haug defends Kovalainen's form
Praise for pace, but no talks of a new contract
16/07/08 16:23

A pretty mixed season so far for Kovalainen

Contrary to claims from Willi Weber as previously reported, Norbert Haug has given a strong hint that McLaren-Mercedes may not be looking to alter its driver line-up for the 2009 season.

Team newcomer Heikki Kovalainen has so far scored 24 points compared to his high-profile team-mate Lewis Hamilton's 48 for the joint championship lead, but has occasionally shown very strong pace.

Haug, the boss of McLaren's German manufacturer partner Mercedes-Benz, revealed there is 'no firmly arranged time' for talks about renewing the 26-year-old Finn's current contract.

He told Auto Motor und Sport: "In the end only the speed plays a role, and he has shown that he has that.

"Not always consistently, but he has had some highlights.
Heikki is a star in the making," Haug added.

In an interview with BBC Newsbeat, Kovalainen seems to agree.

Referring to his own performance for McLaren this season, he said: "I think there's been a lot of promise and the pace has been good but we haven't got good enough results yet."

E.A, Source: GMM
© CAPSIS International

That sounds like McLaren recognise Kovalainen's potential and would like him to stay at the team. Personally, I would like him to stay as well. He's shown he has the speed to be a top driver, but a combination of bad luck and the odd off day have cost him. His position in the drivers' championship does not reflect his efforts this season.

They could always just kick Hamilton out. I hear Torro Rosso has a spare seat

[f1maniac95]

I don't really see Rosberg going to Mclaren as Kovalainen has done really well he's just had some bad luck because he has the speed to win.

[Frosty]

I really like Kovalainen and i want him to have a better second half to the season. He has had a lot of bad luck but then i also think a great driver will somehow produce there own luck now and again somehow all the top drivers do.

[7UpJordan]

I think Weber's doing this PR stunt to try and put Hulkenberg in the spotlight. I don't think he's ready for an F1 seat yet despite his good form in the F3 Euroseries. He has been very slow everytime he tests for Williams, so I think he'll need at least a year of GP2 to prepare him for F1.

[McLaren Fan]

I think Weber's doing this PR stunt to try and put Hulkenberg in the spotlight. I don't think he's ready for an F1 seat yet despite his good form in the F3 Euroseries. He has been very slow everytime he tests for Williams, so I think he'll need at least a year of GP2 to prepare him for F1.

He's one of the drivers I took note of in the junior formulae. Generally speaking, he was pretty fast, but was prone to the odd head-stagger. I agree with you too about what Weber is trying to do. He's been saying for sometime that Hulkenberg is a racing genius, comparable to Schumacher and will be ready for Formula One next season.

[al4x]

Heikki cant go back to Renault!
MEH we will just have to see what happens possibly 2010

you cheaky girl!

renault may come good if there is a budget cap!
i would be happy to see heikki come back to renault, i like the guy,

[al4x]

Mclaren: Hamilton
Rosberg

Williams: Piquet
Nakajima

Renault: Kovi
Di Grassi

at this point in time i dont see anyone wanting piquet, but that will leave renault with 2 spare seats, which at this point seem the most likely